The OP-Z was my gateway gear // How has it gone under the radar?

[@LiamKillen]

Distribute your music with DistroKid - 7% Discount Link: ►distrokid.com/vip/liamkillen My Patreon! Join up for exclusive content, discounts and digital goods ►www.patreon.com/liamkillenmusic

[@pocketspell]

GUYS!! Here’s the deal. The op-z is the best instrument ever made. Forget the internal synth engines, this is the complete powerhouse brain to any studio rig. I have a ton of external synths that are all sequenced by this thing. The real beauty of it, and best use of the internal synths and sounds IMO, is that your projects can go with you anywhere, and you can arrange on the go using the internal sounds as a stand-in for the real thing. When you get back home, plug in that midi cable and play the track out through your whole rig and it all comes to life. The op-z is everything to me. Just thinking about it brings a tear to my eye.

[@LiamKillen]

Yeah the portability with TE products really does make a huge diff

[@jaguarvssnake]

/\ 1000 times this!

[@mairinger80]

That's exactly it, well put

[@margg_names]

Yep, I have RK006 by Retrokits and they both make my whole studio sing for me 🥲

[@Two-Eyed_Boy]

Are you limited to MIDI controlling a single external synth or is there a way to control multiple?

[@anthony87fiorillo]

One thing has definitely been a bummer for my op-z relationship has been the double trig/chassis bending issues.. otherwise this device is best in class.

[@LiamKillen]

Mine hasn’t bent at all

[@Honestjon1966]

The first one I had had these problems, replacement also had the same problems.

[@sichtbeton]

I had 3. all bent and double trigs.

[@DECIMA1]

@@sichtbeton three?! that all have the problems.... yikes...

[@sichtbeton]

@@DECIMA1 they did. Had to replace them in a period stretching 3 months with Thomann. Never again.

[@AaronMcClintock]

What killed it was the poor manufacturing quality that to this day TE hasn't addressed. The forums and sub-reddit for it are filled with issues like the infamous double-triggering, encoders popping up / falling out and being lost, units bending due to poor rigidity, etc. My unit had both loose encoders and double-triggering despite being taken care of perfectly. The poor response from TE and their unwillingness to release an updated version with higher build quality has made it a last resort option for most people. Now there are plenty of better options from better companies that have come out since, but if you're lucky enough to have a flawless unit they're pretty fun devices, while they work.

[@BIG1TOWER]

Yeah I’m afraid to spend $600 on a groove box that will bend. They need to make a version 2 with harder material

[@rhakka]

Mine has never bent. Super straight still. The buttons are just problematic. Sometimes they don’t work. Sometimes they trigger multiple times on one press. I didn’t use mine for a year and now it won’t charge anymore. There are some fixes for buttons with varying results. There’s also a fix for the battery but it requires getting another similar battery and charging them in serial. I’d absolutely take mine apart and get another battery just to make it chargeable again. IF I didn’t already know that I’d be back at complaining about the buttons not working.

[@LiamKillen]

Valid points!

[@LiamKillen]

Fair

[@LiamKillen]

Mind too actually/ I haven’t had any issues with it

[@RedHedDes]

Agree 100%, it's a very fun and friendly instrument for people trying to get into making music, who don't necessarily have the timing or performance ability, being able to do so.

[@LiamKillen]

Yes! It's very user friendly :-)

[@planetfour]

Have you used yours for that long and not had double trigs? Mine is starting to show some more and more after 2 yrs though i did get a refurb. But always wondering how these perfect non double trig units exist out there, the oopsie daisy high hat trig around 9:55 or so seemed like it might be a double trig?

[@LiamKillen]

Yes that oopsie daisy was indeed a double trig my friend.

[@SONWU]

Great video! Absolutely the best sequencer. We need a FIELD version of this!

[@MDWeezer]

Sup everybody, you know who this is!

[@LiamKillen]

Opz field!!!

[@LiamKillen]

😏

[@LiamKillen]

Thank you for watching! Love all your TE videos 😊

[@SONWU]

@@LiamKillen Thank you 🙏

[@eyeballhopscotch2268]

Bought the OPZ when it first came out, the sequencing options, the conditional trigs is great, if not the best outside of a eurorack setup. They took what Elektron was doing and improved it. Elektron should include some of TE ideas into future updates, it would dramatically update their conditional trigs/generative thang. I played with a lot of these groove boxes, drum machines music hardware whatevers, and its all about the UI/UX. You can see a lot of work went into the UI of the OPZ. They did something different, and it worked very well but I don't think people want to spend that kind of money on what looks to be a small toy.

[@LiamKillen]

It’s true some of those trig features would do really well with Elektron gear

[@mastaboog749]

never seen a custom skin on one that is so cool! also your digitone thats even better. I'm not into the all black anymore, i used to be, but i've been rocking bright yellows and all sorts of colors. I might have to look into elektron skins and cases. get my digitakt done and my model cycles

[@LiamKillen]

Yeah! I get all my stuff from Style flip

[@vagueversatile]

My gateway too! After that I bought the Op-1 and so on. Now I am selling the Elektron sequencers that I bought after the OPZ but I keep the OPZ. What is that sticker btw?

[@LiamKillen]

Oversynth! :-)

[@vagueversatile]

@@LiamKillen cool thx

[@MarcusKnappMusic]

I think I'm already in too deep on groove boxes, but if I'd heard this a year ago, I really may have considered the OP-Z. I went with a Deluge most recently (the OLED was a game changer), and I absolutely love it... Though I must say this thing looks so small and portable that you could bring it everywhere without a second thought. Thanks foe the video as always!

[@AaronMcClintock]

You're much better off with a Deluge! It's a lot more powerful and IMO more intuitive to use. My OPZ got sold for a significant loss due to the double-triggering issue and encoder magnets failing after only 9 months of using it.

[@LiamKillen]

Both great options!

[@LiamKillen]

😏

[@MarcusKnappMusic]

@@AaronMcClintock I'm definitely not second guessing the Deluge! I also think I'd probably get lost without the visual feedback. I just wish it would fit in my pocket sometimes, hah.

[@iamYork_]

Just ordered one today… Your channel has been a great help luring me towards Teenage Engineering…

[@LiamKillen]

Awesome! Glad to help :-)

[@MrJansteiner]

Where did you get this nice skin for the OP-Z from? Or is this a special edition?

[@LiamKillen]

Here's a link: www.oversynth.com/

[@Two-Eyed_Boy]

I'm glad you revisited this! Your OP-Z workflow explanation made so much sense. At one point I really really wanted one of these but I've cooled off on it. Now it seems like the M8 would be a mean competitor, like an OP-Z with a screen, tracker workflow and more synth tweaking. Hmmm....

[@LiamKillen]

That “hmm…” is just the dawless way lol

[@HD-tj2uo]

I love the OP-Z, we need a new Version!

[@LiamKillen]

Opz field!

[@GarethThomasTunes]

I bought one, loved it but sold it. Every time I came back to it I forgot all the button press combos. Without a built in screen it became annoying and cumbersome quickly. Yes the phone/iPad screen interface was beautiful but very impractical to link every time you want to use the thing. It was actually my gateway out of buying dawless gear!

[@djsandy303]

As far as groove boxes go. This one seems pretty goated. I have the first groove box ever made called the mc303 and i can say that design and usability is the most important aspect of a groove box and opz gets a lot right.

[@LiamKillen]

It certainly does

[@davidcooke779]

Great video. I would argue that the OP-Z is too expensive to be considered gateway. I’d always recommend the Novation Circuit instead.

[@LiamKillen]

I just got one of those - can't wait to explore :-)

[@koalemos1679]

This thing likes to break after a while though right? Like, the case bends and borks the motherboard is what I heard. Plus I got a whole MPC Live used for similar money…..

[@LiamKillen]

Oh you're good with the live then- although I actually like the OP-Z's sequencer better.

[@LiamKillen]

In terms of buiild quality i've heard a lot of things- all I can say is that mine has no issues with it and it's been like 4 years.

[@omarverone]

El mio funciona bien, viene doblado un poco pero así venia y no ha empeorado, lo que me gusta es como groove box, es excelente

[@LiamKillen]

Thank you for watching! :-)

[@avrilcadabra]

I was looking at getting one of these last year and everyone I spoke to that owned one liked it, but said it double triggered and was bent so they didn't recommend it. I'm guessing it being IOS only for the longest time hurt it a lot too.

[@LiamKillen]

It does double trigger- there were a few examples of that in the vid too

[@LiamKillen]

Like most TE products it’s pretty specific!

[@avrilcadabra]

Did it double trigger from new?

[@SquarepulseMusic]

I’ve heard the sound likened to video game soundtracks! Personally I think with enough finessing and sound design the OP-Z can really be quite lush and full sounding and borderline analog - maybe about the same as a minilogue. Love your vid tho! OP-Z is my most used synth and made its way into almost every jam I’ve filmed. Pairs wonderfully with nature and any trip where I want to make music but don’t want to bring a whole kit and caboodle! ❤❤❤

[@LiamKillen]

I’m glad you’re finding solid use with it!

[@tomruppel]

Love it but hate how it won’t pass pitch bend midi messages thru - limits its usefulness as the centre of a DAWless setup. It also doesn’t record pitch bend. TE have no intention of fixing afaik.

[@LiamKillen]

Yeah that's kind of annoying for sure.

[@henrikpersson4698]

got one, liked it. chassi got bent, sold it. it's a great kit but i'm sorry, you can't make a product for that kind of money where the chassi warps to the point that encoders pop out. nope.

[@LiamKillen]

I'm sorry to hear this - i've had mine for close to 5 years now and haven't had this issue. I'm wondering if they cheaped out on later generations.

[@intriguedviewer501]

Have you experienced any of the build quality issues?

[@LiamKillen]

Mine hasn’t fallen apart at all- the knobs are slightly loose that’s the only issue I’ve had

[@bux77]

I see all the comments for an OP-Z Field, I always wished there was an OP-Z XL, maybe the size of an OP-1

[@LiamKillen]

Maybe it'll happen! lol

[@videolabcreators]

Nice review Liam! lmk if you want to learn more about the videolab portion of the synth or want to check out some interesting videopaks to demo =)

[@LiamKillen]

Thanks for the offer! 😊

[@Yesternow]

Thanks! OP-Z is great and line module is a game changer with MIDI and audio mixing fx loop stuff. Would like to hear your take on it! Sold my Digitakt and bought OP-Z based on your vids…then you bought Digitakt lol much happier with it tho, portability is key, if I have 2 mins I can turn it on. Keep up the good work! Cheers!

[@LiamKillen]

Oh wow we swapped! 😂

[@wes2819]

my oplab module won't work because of wonky build. Do you also have this issue?

[@LiamKillen]

unfortunately, the OP LAB module is not very efficient- I know...kind of ridiculous. Check this video, I pair up the OP-Z + Digitone and talk about what might be a work around solution for you: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gqTSpZ2PlN55rq8

[@coachangeln]

What is the name of those headphones? Are they they ones with really low latency?

[@LiamKillen]

Super low latency- couldn't recommend more! AIAIAI TMA-2 wireless plus :-)

[@jessiebotelho8695]

I have an OP-Z question. Do you need the op lab if u want to sync the op1 to the OP-Z if you want the sound from both to come out of one device? I connect them via usb and that only gives me the ability to control one with the other

[@LiamKillen]

If you want them to sound together you’d need some sort of mixer / audio interface.

[@jessiebotelho8695]

@@LiamKillen thanks! Still a beginner over here but your videos and others help a lot!

[@freezerman5871]

I have a love/hate relationship with the OPZ. I am a samplist first and foremost and find that the OPZ w. line in card has the potential to be a beast. My main gripes are 1) the sample memory limit (39Mb total on the unit???) 2) the bulky sample management (moving samples within the unit, and between tracks) 3) The onboard synths are super boring and don't get me anywhere in terms of sound editing. Everything sounds very cheesy to me and 4) the build quality is terrible, my unit is very warped, and I have so many double triggers on buttons that the unit is barely usable at times. ON the PLUS side the sequencer: The sequencer is absolutely brilliant and I can't think of a more friendly live sequencer, just amazing, but... the double triggers... are killing it. I wish TE made a solid version of it, with more onboard sample onboard memory. The minimum would be to have enough sample time for 8*12 second samples for each project, so about 16 minutes worth of sample time, or about 400-500Mb onboard sample memory.

[@LiamKillen]

Thank you for your addition!

[@Soundwrecker]

I've heard about hardware issues such as warping and key bounce on the OP-Zed. I think this reputation limits it.

[@LiamKillen]

If by key bounce you mean double trigs- then yes you are correct.

[@ardlersaint9429]

Mine bent so much the Oplab module couldn’t make contact. Endless on/off battery issues. Great idea. I love it when it works but just as I’m starting to believe in it again it won’t charge. Teenage Engineering suck as a company with customer service so bad it borders on unethical. Never again.

[@rawclaw.x1]

I love the sequencer in it but I hate the sample management and the fact that you can't export single stems. I'm selling mine as soon as I figure out a way to export stems for the songs I made. I tried underbridge on three different laptops but it keeps crashing so yeah it's not for me

[@LiamKillen]

Yeah I wish it was able to do that as well.

[@AndrewPRoberts]

Did you ever look at the Circuit Rhythm?

[@LiamKillen]

Not yet!

[@osrthejourney]

Less go! First piece of hardware was the MPC One. Do you own the field? I feel like I’ve seen you with it.

[@AndersonPaaquiao]

That's wassup! Mine was a beat up MPC 2500!

[@LiamKillen]

I do own the Field!

[@LiamKillen]

Gatewayyy!

[@rhakka]

I started with an OP-Z and the build quality was crap. Still bought the OP-1 Field after the OP-Z build quality issues. Absolutely love the Field. Wish I could get my OP-Z to work properly.

[@osrthejourney]

Oh god you guys have triggered my GAS. I can actually afford one. Is the experience really that great? Actually too late. It’s on the way lolololol.

[@alehandrosimplicano6228]

Where’d you get that paint job on yours?

[@LiamKillen]

that's an overlay I got from oversynth ! :-)

[@kathleencoveny3860]

Amazing how a mini .. compact app such as this .. can pack such a punch .. and it does ! .. cheers to all the pint sized gear out there as well as you... for unpacking the endless stream of possibilities .. shout out to Miss B...

[@LiamKillen]

🍻

[@BloodmoneyPerez412]

Does it come out the box ready to sample?

[@LiamKillen]

Hell yeah it does.

[@BloodmoneyPerez412]

@@LiamKillen okay. Got it. Made my first best. Got the line in module. But I’ve not found many videos on sampling in with it and chopping samples.

[@throdwobblermangrove6200]

Thank you very much. Maybe this could be my next years christmasgift...or maybe I should wait for the op-t field :D

[@LiamKillen]

😏

[@HansyPants184]

Op-z is like the Megazord of Pocket Operators. Always wanted one. A lot of KZbinrs I follow have had issues with the build quality having a finite lifespan. Have you had any issues or is this still your original unit?

[@LiamKillen]

I actually haven't had any issues and yes this is my original unit. I've read forums though and a lot of people complain about how theirs is calling apart lol.

[@jaguarvssnake]

The OP-Z was also my gateway box. I don’t use the onboard synths much anymore but it is still my go-to sequencer and “brain” and I still feel like I haven’t explored it all fully (I’m a filmmaker too and want to use my own footage for Photomatic sequences). I carry it in my bag every day because…why would you not? And I recently got an (OG) OP-1 that I’m thinking of selling, because I just don’t like it anywhere near as much as the ‘Z. I think it’s a brilliant instrument.

[@LiamKillen]

True! Brilliant design and still one of my fav sequencers

[@DanielRoberts-vn6ox]

Is the OP-Z like having all the POs in one package?

[@LiamKillen]

mmmmm something like that-

[@jordanWAH]

Just ordered the op-z and if it IS anything like the polyend play I am going to be really happy. I was in a state of perpetual gas purchasing until I got the play. So I can't wait.

[@LiamKillen]

It's got its percs in comparison but overall is def the lesser version of the play.

[@jordanWAH]

@LiamKillen yeah, I'm definitely reaching that conclusion. Still, it feels like the best portable device for making music. I have the mini tracker, and I am thinking about selling it.

[@rathnapish]

love my op/z. always in my bag for travel. TE .. please make a field version !

[@LiamKillen]

Opz field!!! 🤯

[@matthewdavis473]

What kind of headphones are those?

[@LiamKillen]

Aiaiai tma-2 wireless +

[@nnbvehjp-gv2bl]

My question is, how has ZED gone and turned into ZEE everywhere...i suspect it has something to do with UNvelopes...

[@LiamKillen]

Canadian vs USA pronunciation

[@danielemilazzo432]

What headphones are you using good sir?

[@LiamKillen]

Teenage Engineering ML1's :-)

[@martinthompson2584]

My gateway was a handful of pocket operators, then a Deluge... then a MC101 and... well... you know

[@LiamKillen]

Yes…I know very well 😂

[@SonicVibe]

Love the synth and idea 💡 price was right downside is the bending like a banana 🍌 and the double trigger buttons, build quality held it back but man I think a opz field at the price of a opz would have sold like hot cakes

[@LiamKillen]

Opz field!! Wonder if they’ll hit us with it!

[@callumalston5755]

When it came out that was the big issue, everyone was saying the build quality wasn’t good enough. I think that really hurt sales

[@redxheartxshapex]

Liam, did you paint your Z ? It’s looks a breeze! 😄 Awesome video!

[@LiamKillen]

It’s an overlay from oversynth!

[@w-h-y-]

You’re sending the hot modular signal through maths and straight into the tx-6. Next time you can just patch that to the output of the case….

[@LiamKillen]

Thx for this!

[@specialk1287]

Selling my opz and getting a deluge was the best decision I have ever made.

[@LiamKillen]

interesting.

[@badoedipus2551]

Wait, so what’s the deal on synch? I have an OP-Z.. and I got it in part for a part of my live rig. The big issue I’m dealing with for my live rig is I have to be able to schlep it.. walking great distances.. public transportation.. to gigs. So in this context the OP-Z is a weight / bulk rounding error.. so awesome. I was planning on getting the signal processing expansion.. cause it has a thing for MIDI AND Synch.. and I don’t REALLY see an advantage to using CV to sequence stuff over MIDI.. mostly. I DO have iOS devices with audio interfaces connected to them.. so I could just blue tooth my synch and sequencing anyway… but for live I like the idea of having some redundancy.. just in case. So are you saying it doesn’t take synch well, or what’s the story?

[@LiamKillen]

You mean sync? I’ve had a few bugs with mine in particular and even with the op lab module it’s super reliable with other TE gear. I’ve found that syncing via usb has been the most reliable (and cheapest) This has been my experience.

[@leewightman8619]

How much do they cost

[@LiamKillen]

The price has fluctuated they were 650 USD now on perfect circuit it’s back down to 600- 🤷‍♂️

[@smellymala3103]

I think that it’s like when people are like I wish I was an artist and you are like you can be just get in there! You are already an artist! Life is an art! Don’t tell ‘em the ugly truth, they can’t even recognize the remote control that still rubs my flipper zero into the sand!!

[@LiamKillen]

a men !

[@Yehiskia12YehuDANaphtali12]

OUHMAANN!!!!!! THAAAAAATS IT!!!!!! LOOK: I'am traveling now---- on La Gomera, Canarian Islands---- for 1 Month----- and i'm full of Inspiration, from sun in the winter, people i met, the jungle-- etc..... and i miss it so much to make worthy music....not playing with music....no... make music thats more like playing around----- in the nature----- without to have a lot of baggage to carry around.. or even worse......a space eater that have more weight then you want to carry around, and at the end you can not make music while traveling because no Digitakt.....also no Model:Cycles......and even no MPC One!!!!!!!!!....... and the rest is just toys when you are like me and WANT IT SO BAD--- that you have the oppurturnity to dive reeeeeeeally deep.... its a other question if you do, but to know that you COULD dive reeeeeeally deep.... WHILE TRAVELING!!!!!!!.... WITHOUT BAGGAGE OR SPACE EATING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!..... MANN!!!!!!!! for THAT!!!!... This thing is made!! Thank you so much for making this video in the oerfect moment... i thought i have everything i need with MPC One, Digitakt, Digitone and my Model:Cycles.......but now i know......one thing more i have to buy. And then my ultimate Gear Imagination is fixed and the rest is just addiction.....hmm ok....maybe the Nice legendary reverb pedal you have gets the way to me!! XD But after that im REALLY---- FULL --- of everything i need----- THANKS LIAAAAAAAMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!

[@LiamKillen]

TE videos always get the most bonkers comments! Thanks for your addition l

[@LiamKillen]

Lol

[@sodiumlights]

Very good video. But the op-z unavoidable on KZbin. Under the Radar is most certainly is not. The Polyend Play is now taking over though in the ubiquity stakes.

[@LiamKillen]

Yeah maybe on YT…ish. In terms of artists using it im not seeing it as much - maybe just my feed

[@kettlecup]

Are they called trigs?

[@LiamKillen]

That’s what cuckoo calls em so I went along with it 🤷‍♂️

[@smashboy64]

The lack of display is definitely what turned me off about it lol

[@LiamKillen]

Fair

[@vinylarchaeologist]

It’s not gone under the radar, it’s just that everyone lost the OP-Z in the couch.

[@LiamKillen]

lol!

[@callumalston5755]

I use the rumble… absolutely pointless sounding until you use it

[@LiamKillen]

oh really! :-)

[@FuZZbaLLbee]

Get away from the computer screen. OP-Z how about your phone screen.😋 I did some sampling from my phone to the OP-Z but did the chopping in koala sampler on the phone first.

[@LiamKillen]

Ahh smart move

[@MRunar007]

50 bucks for a opz module its ok, but 160 is a robbery

[@LiamKillen]

C’est beaucoup

[@w-h-y-]

The narrative on getting away from the computer screen is laughable at this point in time. The majority of these people don’t make music anyway

[@LiamKillen]

Rude AF

[@darrensandford3331]

Cannot recommend due to poor quality build. Buttons not working 100% of the time and double triggering…

[@LiamKillen]

Oh really that bad? Shite

[@darrensandford3331]

@@LiamKillen I have to use a midi keyboard connected to it to avoid frustration

[@Acavando]

I hate you, you made me pull the trigger on an OP-Z.

[@LiamKillen]

I’m not sure if this is serious or not but if it is, I don’t even know you so actually I didn’t make you do anything 😂

[@Acavando]

@@LiamKillen Being silly haha, but I seriously bought one. Thanks dude

[@rewris]

If I'm in the spot and you pull this thing out of your little hipster jacket and started plugging up I'm walking out.

[@LiamKillen]

Oh yeah? Cool- thx for doing us all a hypothetical favour.