There is Nothing Like the OP-1

[@djvanzz]

I used to hate that the op1 didn’t quantize but that limitation made me more creative and I love my op1 so much because of it

[@FreeBeat]

Yeah! I think that the available sequencers give the user just enough options to combat the feeling of "I need to play it perfectly in time with nothing," and the way they blend together with live overdubbing is really cool. Thanks for watching :)

[@RhenishHelm]

I've long wondered why the OP-1 has such a dedicated following - this clears it up. Sounds like a very appealing way to make music.

[@FreeBeat]

Yeah it certainly is. It only appeals to a very specific audience, but if you're in that group it's the best thing ever haha.

[@bigkingsha]

Bought mine for $800 back in 2013. It is still one of the very best pieces of gear I own. Sampler, synth, sequencer, multitrack recorder, effects, radio station, splice editing, mixer, DJ effects, LFOs, rechargeable battery, built-in speaker, built-in mic, and track mute/solo. You are 100% correct. There is absolutely nothing like it.

[@ndguardian]

Honestly, the tape recorder is why I ended up getting an OP-1 for a very specific reason - it forces you to decide when a take of a track is "good enough". You can't go back and tweak specific notes or anything like that. If the take isn't good enough, you have to re-record the section/take/song/etc. By proxy, it forces you to focus on just creating, rather than getting stuck in the "well what if I changed this C# to a D" and stuff like that. It's far from perfect, but it forces you to think more creatively, and it gives you the tools to implement that creativity.

[@FreeBeat]

Yeah, it just puts you into a completely different mindset! Really a creativity booster haha.

[@Leo9ine]

You can grab a cheap multitracker and have the same limitation without spending a month's rent on it.

[@AlexanderShelestov]

@@Leo9ine will it be the same size and portable all-in-one solution? :)

[@coltranius]

I’ve never really been interested in an OP-1, but this video is the first one I’ve seen that makes me think I actually understand what the device does without diving into minutia.

[@josepaz700]

Hi again! I'm little by little catching up with your videos after so long hehe. Nice! So you finally ended up getting one of these! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 I got one around those days when you started and sadly didn't have the time to use it much but it's one of my favorite pieces of gear to take everywhere. 👌🏻😍

[@FreeBeat]

Yeah it's a fantastic piece of gear, IF you enjoy the tape workflow haha. Can't believe I've almost had mine for 2 years now!

[@SonicVibe]

it still sounds dope but im really glad ya explained tape machine and workflow i didn't know any of that informative and justifies price better

[@AlexanderShelestov]

When I was a kid, we recorded our little school band on a tape recorder. We only used one tape-track. I don't remember we suffer a lot back these days, because we didn't need to sync many insruments overdubbing. We just played all together at once! It's not the same as record a song layer by layer, trying to quantize everything without a possibility to move different tracks back and forth until they synced well. And as I know, many musicians in the past were able to use more than one recorder to edit and sync their parties. So 4-tracks tape is fine, but wasn't a limit back those days - you could use 2 and more recorded tapes and mix them. So I'm gonna say that the way OP-1 works is much harder :)

[@FreeBeat]

Thanks for watching!

[@photoexpert3771]

Brilliant. Great explanation.

[@FreeBeat]

Thanks so much!

[@sofiejensen3804]

Thx for the explanation! Good to know!

[@iosmusicman]

Fast & furious delivery. I love it. I still need to find time to master mine as I’m only scratching the surface still. Cheers. Lee

[@FreeBeat]

No worries, there's a lot to unpack in the keystep!

[@DomDomPop]

That’s why the single most important OP-1 tip I’ve heard is to lift and drop everything you record. Everything. If you overdub over it and screw up, drop it again to overwrite and try again. I’m sure that lots of people recorded something on a track they just laid down, screwed up, and gave up on the device when they realized they couldn’t undo.

[@FreeBeat]

Absolutely, lifting and dropping after a successful take is critical! Thanks for watching :)

[@DomDomPop]

@@FreeBeat For sure! Thanks for making informative videos!

[@GerenM63]

It’s so much like what I did back 35-40 years ago … everything went to a real tape track … I still like to work that way in a DAW, too. In fact, although I currently use Studio One, my favorite recording software is Adobe Audition, which really works mostly like a big multitrack tape deck.

[@FreeBeat]

Exactly! That's why I always break it down into being a groovebox AND a tape recorder. Thanks for watching :)

[@returnofthegoth2220]

I have been coming to terms with this same audio/midi issue with my Tascam 006. The 006 does the same stuff as the OP1 but doesn't have the synth/drums/sequencer. So it is for people who are recording each track from various instruments or chaining all gear together. Personally, I am excited for the back-to-basics style of recording bc it forces me to think of my track construction in different ways. Great video!

[@FreeBeat]

Sometimes it's all about getting into a different mindset! Thanks for watching :)

[@nickpritchard7130]

Great vid of the OP1..thanks..

[@FreeBeat]

Thanks for watching :)

[@deanisplemoni]

I always considered the OP1, but ended up getting the MPC One. It's a hell of a lot bigger, but the workflow is so much better for my uses.

[@Roguetrainer]

And, well, Audio Tracks. 8 of them. Admittedly they don’t have the gimmicky tape animation of the OP-1. And I don’t know about overdubbing in the Audio tracks. But you can re sample.

[@FreeBeat]

Yeah the OP-1 is probably not for most haha, and the MPC One is such a powerful device, especially for the price! Thanks for watching :)

[@FreeBeat]

The audio tracks are very very different from the OP-1 workflow. The "gimmicky tape animation" has nothing to do with what makes them unique. It's the fact that after something is on tape, it can't be touched. Aside from a few master effects and eq settings (that effect the entire track), once it's on tape, it's set in stone. Not at all like the MPC or Deluge. I seem to have a hard time conveying what sets them apart, sorry lol .

[@pepejul]

There's a makeshift undo to remove a bad take in overdub if you think about lifting and pasting the track before overdubbing. If you mess up, the pre-overdub take is still in memory.

[@paolofanin]

You perfectly hit the point there. I loved my OP-1 and used a lot in my productions. I have recently sold it because I am a maniacally crazy lover of CONTROL on the notes I record so the tape recorder was really the only weak point of the OP1 for me, alas being its major characteristic. I am more a piano-roll guy than a tape-recorder guy. As I said I used it a lot as a standalone device for composing music (in my youtube channel I posted some of that) and I still think it is an UNIQUE and AMAZING instrument, but it is just not for me anymore, as I prefer to spend time on my Deluge or on my Dirtywave M8 (tools that were not on the market when the OP1 where created). I found my personal workflow on the OP1.. using the endless sequencer and the finger seq for drums but after the tenth identical song that came out ... mmm, time to sell it lol

[@mrclaytron]

Yes, the Deluge and the M8! These two are my darlings right now. They are both incredible! The M8 is seriously blowing my mind - I was big on trackers in the 90s (Amiga + Pro Tracker, and later OctaMED) - so having this power in a hand held device is like a dream come true!

[@FreeBeat]

Yeah that seems to be a fairly common story from what I can tell. It's certainly not for everyone haha. What are your thoughts on the M8? I'm still not really sure I understand how it works lol.

[@paolofanin]

@@FreeBeat it's a classic tracker, but absolutely powerful. Three synth engines, unlimited sample player, ticks and tables, lots of effects... all in a pocketable device with batteries and speakers!

[@wiggesobk]

Great video! Yes the OP1 is very unique.

[@FreeBeat]

It is! Thanks for watching :)

[@Joel-re1jz]

It would be interesting to see your assessment of the Blackbox from 1010music. The advantages OP-1 has over it is of course the synth engines, but the advantage the Blackbox has over even the MPC One is limitless sample time and the ability to load samples while playing.

[@jantuitman]

I don’t know about the MPC, but the audio tracks of the Deluge actually do let you emulate the workflow of the OP1, should you desire to do so. Just record with the resample function from one track to another track. Work in the arranger to be able to start the audio tracks at random positions. immediately delete synth and clip tracks after resampling them to audio. Requires a bit of discipline, but if you want to work unquantized with audio only you’re totally free to do so.

[@juliuscanus1568]

I've got a couple of grooveboxes which could, with a lot of effort, emulate the workflow, but I just wouldn't. It's more work for something that's still not intuitive and guided like on the OP-1 where you can see the tape track and copy/cut/splice the tape. This isn't a missing feature that a different vendor could add in a firmware update, it's a whole workflow with dedicated buttons and display. I don't think I"ll get an OP-1, but I'd sure like to know about a dedicated multitrack recorder that offers a similar workflow. I shopped around a bit and didn't find anything that seemed as useful for when you're coming up with a song, and not just wanting to record all of your instruments.

[@jantuitman]

@@juliuscanus1568I think some devices can do it just fine. A cheap daw can work with audio only, as long as the user doesn’t keep midi around.The deluge arranger looks like a classic daw timeline and coping audio around or trimming it isn’t hard. That people don’t do this and tend to stick to midi whenever the device supports it makes OP1 maybe unique in some psychological sense: it entices you to use audio workflows because it simply doesn’t let you do midi arrangements. But that doesn’t make the OP1 unique in a functional sense. And the claim that you make and that the video makes is that the workflow is somehow unique in functional sense, you can do it only on OP1s. That is certainly not true, if you can find a way to engage psychologically with an audio only workflow, there are more devices that can do that.

[@FreeBeat]

Although other gear might be able to come *somewhat* close to the OP-1, it's workflow is still unique. Even after the process you described in your comment, the Deluge still gives you the ability to change quite a bit after the fact. You never have to truly commit to anything on the Deluge (which is awesome, a great feature). Once you've recorded your audio on the OP-1, it's basically unchangeable, outside a few master effects and master eq (which effect the entire track anyway). Aside from that, on the Deluge, whether you're sequencing the parts or resampling them as audio, you're working with the same grid and timeline. On the OP-1, you work on your sequences and parts in an entirely different section of the device. You only take them to the tape recorder once they are perfected. These may seem like small differences on paper, but I can assure you they add up to an incredibly different and unique experience on the OP-1. Like I said, some gear might attempt to come close, but nothing is truly like the OP-1. Hope I cleared it up a bit haha.

[@jantuitman]

@Free Beat I hardly ever change notes in my patterns anyways. But I can get stuck in an arrangement, deciding the order of the fragments, and how many instruments join in in a certain part. I wonder if that would be less on the OP1, but I think you can still copy/paste fragment orders on the tape and still have 4 tracks to experiment with the number of instruments. But changing it is probably somewhat more tedious so perhaps the op1 would encourage to be more decisive about arranging. Not going to test it though, since I’ve recently spent money on modular stuff, which I am learning right now. Which is also a dumb way of not buying a PO and not going on a long vacation 😹

[@Imetalman2000]

This would be a good segment of Op-1 VS series’s. You make a jam using 1,400 worth of gear, and then try to recreate that jam with the OP-1.

[@mrclaytron]

The OP-1 is definitely very unique. It's the only device I've used that I both love and hate! Personally, I think it's brilliant for working on small sections of music, basic jams and sound design - but I don't have the patience to record a full track with it (not saying it can't be done, and many people do, but it would be incredibly frustrating compared to using other devices for me! I can't count the number of times I've accidentally lost parts of a track because I lifted and dropped to the wrong track/section!). I do wish it had the ability to save multiple songs on separate WIP tapes (it's kind of shit having multiple songs on the one tape!) I'll never sell mine though, and you've mentioned previously that it's a very inspirational instrument - I really agree with that statement, and I think that's why it's kind of magic... Incredibly annoying at times, but still magic.

[@FreeBeat]

I feel this comment wholeheartedly haha. It's a brilliant and frustrating device all at once haha. When I first got it, I thought I was going to produce complete songs on it. I quickly realized this wasn't going to happen lol. Instead, the OP-1 helped me start to learn the basics of Ableton! I found that using the OP-1 to get the skeletons of my song sections made working in Ableton a whole lot easier (it had been really daunting before), and the combination of the two have become one of my favorite workflows. Thanks for watching :)

[@larrylynch8113]

The firmware update just put this little box at the absolute top of every gear I ever had ; plug it into an iPad an possibility are endless

[@FreeBeat]

It's definitely an awesome update, thanks for watching!

[@FuZZbaLLbee]

The downside to this workflow is that you need to be a musician 😋 😀

[@FreeBeat]

Not necessarily, the sequencers are actually pretty intuitive to use! If anything, trying to ignore the sequencers and just record directly to tape will improve your timing :)

[@steveedwards4495]

Is the tape function really worth getting the OP1 for though. Is it a case of, if its there you'll get into using it? Is it better than other work flows? I'm a newbie BTW lol.

[@frakaelectrosonparis7819]

it is why I will never leave without my op1 ( second one)…even if I use also deluge and octatrack

[@davidcorrea3729]

hola ...a video on how to make a trance song with op1 would be nice

[@AndecIunson]

haha.. i kinda have the same workflow but not as slick with a bunch of 90ies keyboards and my zoom r24.

[@Brontosauredumarais]

Now there is 😀

[@magnuseriksson8081]

Nothing using it much anymore? ☀️🎶😃

[@FreeBeat]

I use it all of the time, just not on camera :)

[@leewightman8619]

I would be good if u could bounce ur tracks ..as four tracks is pretty limiting

[@FreeBeat]

You can!

[@AutisticCuriosity]

So I’ll ask again … ‘what’s the difference between song writing and beat making’ please as you clearly in this video say that this machine makes it better for song writing rather than beat making - please let us know what you mean. I’ve asked this question numerous times and got some rude comments from people but no real answers. Thank you 😊

[@FreeBeat]

I come from the world of traditional music. There, "beat" typically refers to either the tempo (pulse) of the song, the heart"beat" if you will, OR it refers to the drum beat of a particular section or song. It seems that the term "beat" is used a lot more loosely in electronic music, typically referring to a section of a song, or an individual pattern. I've seen the term reference both just the drum part of a pattern (like I described in the traditional music world), or all of the parts of a particular pattern (Drums, bass, keys, vocals, etc). The "song" is the end product. It does not matter if there are vocals or not. An instrumental song is still a song. Songs are typically comprised of different beats/patterns/sections combined together. You've probably heard the term "song structure" before. This references the structure of a song, with different parts of the song typically referenced by either letters, or their respective section names. Song Structure Example 1: Intro, Verse 1, Chorus, Verse 2, Chorus, Bridge, Chorus 3, Chorus 3, Outro. Song Structure Example 2: A, A, B, A, B, B, C, B, B. Each of those sections can have their own beats and patterns. Songwriting is simply the act of working on music with the intent of the end product being a song. You can be "beatmaking" in order to work on your song, which could be considered songwriting. Also, a lot of these terms get easier to understand with context. For example "I'm working on the beat for my chorus right now, I've been songwriting all day!" There are also "songs" that have just the same "beat" repeated over and over again. This is a lot more common in electronic music. Basically, both words are pretty loosely thrown around, and, at least in the world of electronic music, you almost have to know who is talking to understand exactly what they're referencing lol. Hope that helps.

[@AutisticCuriosity]

@@FreeBeat it helps SO much and I have my answer. Thank you fir taking the time to answer my question fully it really means a lot to me. Best wishes Luke

[@lanoyee28]

A U D I O

[@julienborrelli4614]

Maybe the Sp404 mk2 is a bit similar because there it not a proper sequencer as well and you resample your patterns

[@emilianoescalante4418]

In truth and obviously one of the most obvious things about the OP-1, is that it does what it does in such a sexy small package that nothing else does. Aside from what you already said of course. Great video BTW.

[@FreeBeat]

Oh yeah the form factor is just icing on the cake haha, and that battery life!

[@emilianoescalante4418]

@@FreeBeat LOL, Yes! Let us not forget about the battery life. 4 months and mine is still at half! Nothing else I've had, or anything electric for that matter, compares.

[@antonychigurh8939]

my entire OP-1 workflow (when making songs) revolves around sending midi from my op-z (that’s also how I back my songs up). The OP-1’s workflow would be a nightmare without the opz’s sequencer. For me at least.

[@siniquezu]

I didn't know there was a 6 minute limit. That's not great

[@FreeBeat]

The intent with the OP-1 is that you work on one song at a time, so feel 6 minutes is pretty fair. You can also slow down the tape in relation to your tempo and stretch it out I believe.

[@pongtrometer]

The OP1 is the truth.

[@thomasclarkharris9241]

Just out of i interest what did you pay for yours

[@themed7434]

Well there is something better it’s called the op 1 FIELD

[@FreeBeat]

This was made before the field was even announced lol

[@themed7434]

@@FreeBeat 😝🤣 hahahah forgive me I was being petty but it’s a reply to your title

[@theinnermostsanctum]

Waaaaay overpriced.