Tagged “op-z”

Pad the keyboard with some paper

incredible op-z project organization tips

some great and helpful tips

• Punch (yellow encoder on mixer page): this is the most important. To my hobbyist ears, it seems to both set the threshold and the release, but I’m not sure. Note: it seems to take a second to apply changes to this value.
• Master Drive (Blue encoder on Master track): seems to add saturation and makeup gain.

1. Increase Punch at least a bit
2. Increase synth group gain (blue encoder on mixer) until it’s just triggering the punch/compressor, which is shown when the yellow encoder’s LED slightly turns blue while the sequencer is running
3. Increase drum group gain until the kick and/or snare are running into the compressor, creating that sidechain-like sound
4. Make small adjustments to Punch, Synth group gain, and Drum group gain until it fits the song
5. Adjust Master track drive for each section of the song according to how “full” or saturated I want it to sound to be.

I also do stuff like eq/tape-saturation/compression/wow-flutter etc. on most of my samples beforehand.

Regarding my regular workflow on the Z I use it like below:

Tr1 - One shot drum kits containing a full kit (not only kick/snare/hi-hat/fx like you ‘should’ use it on the Z)
Tr2 - Sliced Drumloops
Tr3 - Multisampled instrument (synth/bass/piano/guitar etc.)
Tr4 - Multisampled instrument (synth/bass/piano/guitar etc.)
Tr5 - Bass samples
Tr6 - Melodic samples (pads and plucks)
Tr7 - Melodic samples (plucks and short notes)
Tr8 - Melodic samples (pads and long notes)
FX1 - Half wet or full wet delay with LFO on Pan for ping-pong effect
FX2 - Full wet reverb and bit of LFO on Pan or something else as well
Tape - Effecting chosen melodic content (most of the time Track 8) Fine on 100 (+12 semitones) or Fine on 0 (-12 Semitones) Filter on 30 with a bit of resonance and using a Full Dry signal. Tape track is going thru the full Wet reverb FX2 for a subtle and dark shimmer effect giving everything a more spacious feel
Master - Bit of Chorus (never above 30) and Drive on 50. Punch on 50 and Master around 50.

That’s about it! I am thinking about making a sound pack for the Z soon for the ones interested. The pack will contain most of the sounds of the above Z-Files album.

Came for the instructions on applying Caig Deoxit, stayed for this description of the challenges with injection moulding.

couple of apps and updated cheat sheets for OP-Z howtos