How to use MIDI CC messages // OP-Z Tutorial

[@techtinkerin]

Great tutorial, I've just got a Yamaha qy70 and was dreading trying to set it up with a controller but I realised it's not that hard. They really thought of everything when designing midi! 😄👍❤️

[@SONWU]

Thanks, glad this helped :)

[@darwiniandude]

Yes! That's ideal. the QY70/QY100 are great, but by assigning CC numbers from the OP-Z you have dials for filter cutoff, resonance, attack/release etc

[@jaguarvssnake]

Thanks SO much for this - bought you a coffee and signed up at Patreon!

[@SONWU]

Woah! Thank YOU so much, I really appreciate it 🙏

[@vertigev]

Awesome! Had no idea the OP-Z could do this.. Thanks!

[@SONWU]

Thank YOU!

[@deliciousramyun5980]

Thanks a lot for the tutorial! It was really helpful. Have a good one

[@SONWU]

Thanks you Ramyun!

[@mauriciomandara5946]

Very interesting the Op-z! Would love to see this sequencing more than one synth + the use of the module ! Thanks for sharing!

[@SONWU]

I sold my module a while back to fund my newly acquired Octatrack ;) But yes, it should work fine with many Synths attached...you could for example control many iPad apps at once. If you want to use the module for multiple synths, you need a MIDI splitter, or synths that all have MIDI thru.

[@Odedss44]

Only you master @sonwu can answer me (: You can connect and synchronize opz with keystep 37. Only with cable! without a computer

[@Odedss44]

@@SONWU Only you master @sonwu can answer me (: You can connect and synchronize opz with keystep 37. Only with cable! without a computer

[@LateNightBeatsOfficial]

Wow, I was initially intimidated by CC sequencing from the OP-Z, but your tutorial made it super easy. I'm thinking it actually makes sense to assign CC in a similar fashion to what the encoder pages are doing on the OP-Z. So for example page 1 green and blue encoder would be osc1 and osc2 waveforms, yellow - filter frequencies and red resonance: that would make it super easy to remember without using a cheat sheet. Thanks for making this excellent tutorial!

[@SONWU]

Hey! Great to see you here :) I have watched many of your videos...my Octatrack is arriving tomorrow. Yes, I think keeping the CC similar to the original Layout is the easiest way. That way you can make a beat on the go and then hook up an external synth to substitute for one of the internal engines. Thank YOU for watching!

[@LateNightBeatsOfficial]

@@SONWU Thanks! ...and congrats on getting the Octatrack: I actually sold mine a while back (I was defaulting to the same 5 tricks on it and it got a bit stale as it got too easy), but I'm definitely going to buy one back at some point. Right now, OP-Z is my main synth and sequencer (for me the Z is the best electronic instrument I've ever had) and I was actually thinking about going back to making a few tutorials, but actually most topics are already really well covered, so I'm not sure if I have an interesting angle... Anyway, do you know if we can also use the LFO to control CC's?

[@SONWU]

@@LateNightBeatsOfficial Alright, I was wondering why you got rid of it. I am thinking of using mine like a big OP-Z with more focus on the sampling aspect...wish me luck ;) Regarding the CCs, I am not 100% sure (I don't use it so often)...but if you have mapped your CCs to the parameters/encoders that are usually affected by the LFO, the CCs should be getting the LFO as well. You can also use the sweep step component as a simple 2nd LFO which can control P1,Cutoff, or Pan.

[@SONWU]

@@LateNightBeatsOfficial PS: The OP-Z is a great bit of kit...I just wish they would release one with better built quality. Hence the new Swedish metal box

[@LateNightBeatsOfficial]

@@SONWU Yeah, that build quality is a joke: literally feels like it was designed by teenagers 😅😅😅. I'm getting double triggers on everything and the ground loop is making my life super hard even with the OPLab module. I see your yellow encoder popped too... What a nightmare for 600 EUR.

[@RianTrost]

Love it. Helped calm down my Digitakt GAS. Going to try and see what kind of horrific CC troubles I can get into using AUM and iOS synths.

[@SONWU]

If you are into iPad synths, I think the OP-Z is the perfect companion! and funny you mention it...I am very much in the market for a Digitakt at the moment 😉 While it won't be able to completely replace the OP-Z (no synth engine, punch-in FX, tape track...), it has some things going for it (stable MIDI, Overbridge, longer samples, better FX, better file management...and most importantly sturdy built). But first I must sell some other gear, as sadly money still doesn't grow on trees around here! Have a good day!

[@RianTrost]

@@SONWU with the latest updates on the Dogitakt it jumped way up my list. Gonna try and stay strong, but I’m in the same boat. I’d end up selling something I’d want to have samples from or some other dumb impulsive shit. One day. Until then, I will study the (flimsy, but satisfying) sword that is the Op-Z.

[@RianTrost]

@@SONWU If you’ve got Drambo: patchstorage.com/digitakful/

[@SONWU]

@@RianTrost Thanks! I even have Drambo, which is a great tool...but sadly I am one of those people who just can't make music with the iPad. I wish I was though...much money to be saved.

[@SimonToth83]

It would be great to see a tutorial on how to do this with the OP-1F as the synth. I watched your dawless setup, but that's a bit different.

[@RetroPlus]

Very cool

[@SONWU]

Cheers!

[@murmurelamusique]

awesome vid. thank you. question : i’d like to use the opz to control via cc messages a sequencer ( on my organelle - which use the orac app). problem is that i hear the red steps i put on the opz, which i don’t want. how can i keep the cc messages infos when changing patterns, if there is no trigs ? i would need the yellow trigs alike on the digitakt, which allow that. hope it can be done, and that i’m not to confusing. ty bests. gregg

[@SONWU]

Thank Gregg! I think you can either: 1. Turn the volume of the track to 0 2. Mute the desired Track 3. Mute + Shift the Track (hold down mixer button, press shift, then press the track) I think one of these options should do the trick!

[@murmurelamusique]

thanks 👍

[@murmurelamusique]

looks like it’s working, mute track and mute shift. 😀 i’ll keep you in touch if i see prbs ahead. thanks again.

[@SONWU]

@@murmurelamusique Great, thanks!

[@murmurelamusique]

well, unfortunately, it doesn’t work. weirdly, only on the lead, arp and chord tracks there is allways the sound of the opz. cc’s are all taken : a way so i can’t allow myself to get rid of that cc control. it works on all drum tracks.

[@Dekalboy]

Does the op z is capable of recording a knob mouvement from the monologue ?

[@marzbitenhaussen]

I have a low pass filter pedal that I want to control sending trigger from the OP-Z (using oplab module), in the pedal (paragraphs from vongon) here is what the manual says: “The M​IDI​connection can be used to activate the T​RIG​switch when the Paragraphs is in h​old​or ​once​mode. The paragraphs listens for a “Note On” and “Note Off” event on all midi channels (1-16), key numbers (0-127), and velocity values (0-127).” how can I do this, I am learning about the OP-Z thans for any help

[@SONWU]

It's hard to tell without knowing what the specific problem is but in general: Connect OP-Z MIDI Out to paragraphs MIDI IN, make sure OP-Z is sending MIDI Out (open MIDI menu with TEMPO + SCREEN button), make sure only the desired track is sending MIDI...other than that I need more specific info ;)

[@vertigev]

Hey Son Wu, I just got around to trying this and it doesn't work for me. When I try to follow your directions to enter the midi settings, I just get flashing green lights. I looked in the manual and it says to do something different but it doesn't work for me either (says to hold SCREEN and TEMPO together, and then press the numbered keys for the settings). I'm just trying to set the midi channel and I don't have a smart phone. Thanks!

[@SONWU]

Hey! Yes, they changed it some time ago. SCREEN + TEMPO brings you to the MIDI menu. Then press and hold the track you want to change the midi channel of. Now that track should be the only one highlighted and the LED under the green encoder should be lit as well. Now you can use the green encoder to select the MIDI channel. Hope this helps!

[@vertigev]

@@SONWU Thanks so much for the response man! It wasn't working for me but turned out I had to update the firmware, it works now! Thanks man 🙏

[@JazzyFizzleDrummers]

I'm having an issue where the opz is sending out a message on cc60 which bypasses my zoia which is what I'm trying to control. I want to send notes to other syths and have all the clocks synced to the opz. Is there a way I can keep the opz from sending anything out on cc60?

[@SONWU]

I don’t know what cc60 is for in general…but check all your tracks if any of them have cc60 assigned.

[@JazzyFizzleDrummers]

CC60 is step count and is global. It shouldn't have been sending. I think I found the issue. My best guess is that when active track to midi 1 was on some of the tracks were set to channel 1 - and again just a guess - but I think because multiple tracks were set to channel 1 their CC messages were moved up. Since somehow 4 tracks were set to channel 1 the CC for the 4th one was 49-64. When I looked at the json file it showed several tracks stuck on channel 1. No issues since I restored default values.

[@johnflaherty6293]

Hello! I’m a few days into learning the OP-Z which came with the Line Module. I’m trying to sequence a Volca FM2 in a similar fashion as your video, but am having trouble getting the input sequences to play the FM2. Is this something only the op lab module can do? I have my chords track assigned as channel 1, and can hear the audio playback fine of the FM2 when playing the OP-Z on chords track. Op-Z midi out is going to FM2 midi in, and OP-Z midi in going to FM2 midi out. Any ideas what I am missing? Thank you!

[@SONWU]

That sounds to me, like your chords track might be muted...go to the mixer and check if it is! Let me know if that solves it. If a track is completely muted, it won't send MIDI when playing back (only when inputting notes). To mute a channel while still sending MIDI, you need to go to the mixer, press & hold shift and then press the track you want to mute.

[@johnflaherty6293]

@@SONWU that was it! Thank you so much man I was wondering what that red arrow meant while I was fiddling around earlier

[@SONWU]

@@johnflaherty6293 Great, glad it worked! Enjoy your Volca :)

[@f073y3]

You have good flow but it would appear that mine is broken! When I press and hold SCREEN and then tap TEMPO 3 times, the OP-Z app shows me the TEMPO page, not the MIDI CONFIG page, so either the device has a physical button problem or I am missing something obvious (though I could find no mention of that button press combination in the official documentation, so pointing me to something with that detail would be amazing). Could you share your thoughts on that? Many thanks also for the great tutorials here - brilliant!

[@SONWU]

Have you updated it to the newest firmware? This was added in a later version. Hope this helps!

[@chriskonsultant725]

These instructions were great. Does this midi control work even without the module? e.g. when using he Bluetooth into iPad apps for example, in my case using Audiobus.

[@SONWU]

Thanks Chris, it SHOULD work just the same :)

[@Dekalboy]

You did not talk about something important to me = does the op z is capable to record midi cc when a move a knob on the monologue ? Thank,you

[@SONWU]

Hi! Yes, incoming MIDI can also be recorded check this for more info teenage.engineering/guides/op-z/midi

[@jimicrumb3700]

Is this possible using opz to control on op1f like this? Or a way to use the midi lfo with the opz?

[@SONWU]

You can certainly use the MIDI Lfo with the OP-Z. Just make sure you are sending and receiving on the same channel, activate the MIDI LFO and then send MIDI CC 1-4 from the OP-Z, these will then control whatever you have assigned the MIDI LFO to.

[@jimicrumb3700]

@@SONWU I tried a bunch only sending to channel 1 testing different cc values. Where are the cc numbers for the op1, or do I use the opz ones? I really should get you for a lesson next month. I only need the usbc right?

[@SONWU]

@@jimicrumb3700 You can't change MIDI CC values on the OP-1...it's just 1-4. But you can turn MIDI CC messages on in the com menu. make sure you are sending and receiving OTHER. Sure, hit me up for a lesson or more. You know where to find me ;)

[@jimicrumb3700]

@@SONWU then how would I know what cc numbers to use? What controls what here? Not sure what midi settings I should have on either, I’ll have to send TE a message about it. I really wish you did a video on the midi lfo setting. Is this something you could teach me, I’m definitely up for a lesson in march. Love your videos and hope you’re doing well.

[@alexeykurilo4381]

What about another step components? Do they work well?

[@SONWU]

Basically you can say that whichever step components affect certain encoder functions can be transmitted as MIDI CC. Other step components like multiply also can be used to influence your MIDI sequences. hope this helps somewhat

[@ryanhursh6322]

Fuuuck. I Just rebought a Digitakt for midi sequencing because I’ve been an Elektron user for the last 5 years but recently switched my whole setup, and then realized I need at least one machine with a sequencer I like. However, I had never used the midi aspect of the devices because all my machines were Elektron and it wasn’t necessary and found that it’s MIDI sequencer is pretty fucking weak. Only 8 cc’s, no arp ability (which I knew) and no ability to re-trig!?! Wtf?!? I always got along well with the OP-Z because of the Elektron background but never bought one, I think I made a mistake. This would have been a far more useful and fun sequencer. Great demo of this.

[@SONWU]

A used OP-Z can be had for quite cheap sometimes ;) It's worth it!

[@ryanhursh6322]

@@SONWU Not usually a fan of second-hand gear because people are gross, but for a “cheap” midi controller… already thinking about that!

[@ryanhursh6322]

@@SONWU Thinking about pulling the trigger on one of these this weekend but I'm curious, are the 16 tracks of midi in addition to the 8 instrument tracks or is it 16 in total? My SP-404 MK2 would eat up 10 of those tracks on its own, then I've got other synths and I'd like a track for sending CCs to my Bluebox as well. And would of course still like to use the OP-Z... Of course I don't always need all those tracks I'm just hoping it doesn't come at the cost of internal OP-Z tracks.