JANUARY 27, 2022 POSTED BY DEV TEAM
a new module for OP–Z our work with OP–Z is ongoing and here's a little behind the scenes dev update. as you know, the OP–Z functionality can be expanded with hardware modules. in the past we've released the oplab and rumble modules and finally we can officially reveal that we have a new module in the pipeline. it is called the line module and will be accompanied with an OP–Z firmware update.
what it does the line module is designed to bring external audio signals in and out of your OP–Z. it adds a stereo line input and an additional stereo line output to the unit, as well as input and output for midi, trig and po sync, similar to oplab. use line in to add external audio signals to your mix and use line out as a second stereo output available within OP–Z. you can route individual tracks to the module output instead of to the main mix to separate and process the individual tracks, or make effect loops with your favorite effect pedals. depending on your needs, you can easily switch between mono and stereo signals. the output can also be used for headphone cueing of your tracks before bringing them out to the main mix. with this you can turn your OP–Z into a live performance dream machine. available spring 2022 we've been hinting at this module for a while and we're finally ready to officially reveal it. it will still be some time before it's available to buy so make sure to stay in the loop and we'll post again as soon as it is ready. thanks for your support! - dev team out
explore OP–Z
explore modules
JANUARY 5, 2022 POSTED BY TOBIAS VON HOFSTEN
celebrating creativity a new year is here and hopefully you've had a relaxing holiday. for more and more people, january has become synonymous with #jamuary. it's the perfect time to get creative with all your instruments, to overcome any challenge that may be holding you back and to share your music, no matter what. to celebrate creativity we are honoring #jamuary2022 in a special way. we've teamed up with cuckoo since a few years now, our good friend cuckoo has been taking the lead on #jamuary when it comes to electronic music. this year we're supporting this work by teaming up and giving away some late holiday gifts. cuckoo has issued a four-part giveaway challenge, with one winner per week, so this is your chance to collect your reward. how to participate every friday a new challenge will be announced over on cuckoo's instagram where you'll learn about all the details on how to participate. basically, there will be a new theme every week, and to participate you upload and tag your creations. the winners will be announced on mondays the following weeks, on the 10th, 17th, 24th and 31st of january. good luck! what you can win the prices for these challenges will also be revealed by cuckoo but we can hint at teenage engineering merch, cases, synths and maybe even a magic radio. happy #jamuary!
CUCKOO #JAMUARY2022 CHALLENGE - GOOD LUCK!
bonus: #jamuary22together to add a little extra to your jamuary contributions you might want to consider an option initiated by aabattery . with the tag #jamuary22together he suggests using video layers to create an evolving collaborative musical piece. everything is explained in this post . have fun and good luck jamming!
DECEMBER 29, 2021 POSTED BY TOBIAS VON HOFSTEN
computer–1 build guide hey! still no big deal, but you really seemed to like our computer–1 case! we're thrilled of course and promise we will have it in stock as much as possible. here is a quick build guide video using various parts we found around the office. the actual build should be easy enough, as long as you follow the directions in the manual. as always, be careful when handling sensitive electrical parts. let's build!
recommended components sometimes it can be hard to find exactly the components you need. keep an eye out on all stores that sell parts and sign up to get notified when an item gets back in stock. also check the second hand market and stay safe and smart when buying like this. the computer–1 case fits a dual slot itx graphics card, not longer than 180 mm. use a low profile cpu cooler, not rising more than 120 mm from the surface of the motherboard. here are some suggested example builds. software engineer's build (no gpu)
NOVEMBER 5, 2021 POSTED BY TOBIAS VON HOFSTEN
A COMPLETE SET OF EURORACK PANELS FOR POM-400
the eurorack format eurorack is a very common system format when it comes to modular synths. there are tons of modules and manufacturers on the market and the pocket operator modular series is eurorack compatible. this means any POM system can be used together with any other module, from any other brand. while the pocket rack format is slightly smaller than eurorack, you only need some minor tweaks to fit your pocket operator modules in your eurorack system. here are a few ways to 'eurorackify' your pocket operator modulars and pocket operators, plus a bonus mod to really expand the capabilities of your POM-400 .
CHOOSE YOUR FAVORITE - EURORACK PANELS FOR POM
eurorack front panels for POM the two companies malm.audio and jklmnt have joined forces and created custom eurorack front panels for the complete range of modules available in the pocket operator modular POM-400 and POM-170 . pick your favorite module and mount that in your existing eurorack system, or create a complete replica of an entire system. the various panels range from 6 hp width, up to 18 hp.
POM TO EURORACK COMPATIBLE POWER
power adapters they've also made a convenient power adapter that easily converts the power connector from pocket rack to eurorack. no soldering is required and everything above is available through the oddvolt webstore .
POKIT - EURORACK CONVERSION KIT FOR POM-16
pokit for POM-16 by grayscale the company grayscale makes modules and stylish eurorack front panels for a lot of products. their pokit is a eurorack conversion kit for the POM-16 keyboard. the front panel has a matte black finish and is 42 hp wide. the kit even comes with matching gray official knobs. this is a great option for enabling your system with the 4-channel sequencer, arpeggiator and keyboard that is the POM-16.
POM-400 MATRIX KIT
bonus: POM-400 matrix kit this is not exactly eurorack but an awesome project nonetheless. engineer david vondle has created a bolt-on kit to turn a POM-400 into a matrix synth, kind of like the ems synthi . so instead of just using cables to patch, you can use pins to connect columns and rows, corresponding to inputs and outputs. here's the system in action.
HERE'S DAVID ON POM-400 WITH MATRIX KIT TALKING TO ALIENS
there is no soldering required and once mounted you can use the full system as you usually would, with the added flexibility of the matrix. truly amazing work. if you really want to unlock your POM-400 but not divide it into separate modules then this is definitely worth checking out. for more details and to place an order go to http://matrix.vondle.com
pocket operators and eurorack the usually hand-held regular pocket operators can also be used in a eurorack system. this could for instance be a great way to create a portable and powerful grab-and-go live performance instrument, or to have pocket operators tightly and neatly integrated into your studio setup. here are two examples of how to mount pocket operators in a eurorack case.
EURORACK ADAPTER BY LPZW
lpzw eurorack adapter for pocket operators the german company leipzig west makes this really nice eurorack adapter for the pocket operator series. this comes as a kit and some soldering is required, however you can also get it pre-soldered. more information can be found at the lpzw website , and to order, visit thonk and select your item. if it's sold out you can sign up for their waiting list.
THREE POCKET OPERATORS IN ACTION - USING LPZW ADAPTERS
PRINTABLE HOLDER FOR POCKET OPERATORS
3D printed holders spillerphoto is another german company making accessories for the pocket operators, among other things. the euroten and eurotenduo are 3D printed pocket operator holders, for simple solder-free eurorack mounting of one or more units. buy them pre-printed or get the .stl files and 3D print yourself. visit their website for more information.
conclusion there, a small selection of modular mods and tools for extended eurorack compatibility. let us know if you've made any modifications yourself or if you have any other favorites. don't have your own pocket operator modular yet? check them out below.
explore POM-400
explore POM-170
SEPTEMBER 30, 2021 POSTED BY TOBIAS VON HOFSTEN
IMAGES PROVIDED COURTESY OF MAYKU.
the desktop factory we collaborated with mayku on the industrial design of their new pressure former, the mayku multiplier. designed to fit right on your desktop, it enables the production of highly detailed molds and production parts in minutes.
manufacture where you are pressure forming is an industrial grade manufacturing process, used to make molds and parts instantly. by utilising pressure when forming heated sheet material, the finest details and sharpest edges can be captured - a process that now takes less than one minute, right on your desktop.
want to know more? a limited run of mayku multipliers will be available for pre-order starting october 2021. find out more at the mayku website .
SEPTEMBER 9, 2021 POSTED BY TOBIAS VON HOFSTEN
videolab creators videolab creators is an online community of expert unity and OP–Z users, open to anyone who is interested in learning how to create videopaks for their OP–Z. a videopak is a graphical bundle made in unity, that can be sequenced and interacted with using the motion track on OP–Z. for more information check out the OP–Z videolab page or join the videolab creators discord server .
videopak master contest recently videolab creators hosted a competition to find and celebrate 'videopak masters'. check out the talented winners in the video above. congratulations zumshawnydsmusic , zumconquesomusic , zumjebrald0 , zumdigiklvb , zummastervolume and all other contestants for your amazing submissions.
LOLA WITH TAJIMA SAI
custom prizes we supported the contest through product prizes, and we wanted to give something a bit special to the winners. so in addition to just offering products, we decided to get a little creative, now that we're finally back at the office. let us introduce the newest machine member in our workshop: tajima sai , our japanese embroidery machine. the sai is operated by lola.
LOLA PREPARING ARTWORK FOR EMBROIDERY
TAJIMA SAI IN ACTION
FIRST TRY - LOOKING GOOD
custom patches here we have the final result, a set of five unique iron-on patches. one for each of the winners to enjoy! this was fun and we sure enjoyed making them.
FINAL RESULT - CUSTOM MADE EMBROIDERED PATCHES
more information follow these links to learn more about the capabilities of OP–Z in general and about videolab in particular. how would you operate as a videopak master?
explore videolab
JULY 14, 2021 POSTED BY TOBIAS VON HOFSTEN
OP-1 OS #243 – out now! as you know, we have been updating the OP-1 regularly throughout its first ten year lifespan, constantly adding new features and fixing bugs. these updates have all been free of charge and have been compatible with every unit released, from the first early beta units to the very latest batches fresh from the factory. the newest firmware update #243 is no different. it is free for all and compatible with every OP-1 unit available. except this time the addition brings functionality to OP-1 that many wouldn't expect to be possible for a product that is over ten years old.
OP-1 IS NOW CAPABLE OF STREAMING STEREO AUDIO OVER USB
streaming usb audio with update #243, every OP-1 is now capable of streaming stereo audio over usb. this means that you can now sample and record to OP-1 directly from any usb audio host, as well as get OP-1 audio straight into your favorite daw, in effect replacing the need for an external sound card. it works with both pc and mac, as well as with ios and android, and has been made possible by adapting and using our knowledge from OP–Z. the update also includes a range of bug fixes and stability improvements. here's some of the update highlights
OP-1 portable synthesizer
$$$
JUNE 24, 2021 POSTED BY TOBIAS VON HOFSTEN
OB–4 MATTE BLACK EDITION IS AVAILABLE HERE
OB–4 midsummer update it's summer season here in sweden so we try to spend as much time as possible outside. since we still want great sound the OB–4 is the perfect portable speaker to bring outdoors. with this update we've unlocked some new magic features. how to update use orthoplay to control, configure and update OB–4. access orthoplay on ios devices through the orthoplay ios app and on android devices use the orthoplay android app . once updated here are some of the features you'll get:
beat match channel your inner dj and let OB–4 help you get perfectly timed loops from any audio source. beat match analyses the musical content of what you are listening to in real time and automatically detects the beats.
808 metronome looking for the perfect beat? OB–4 got you covered with the new synthesized 808 kick drum sound available as one of the metronome sounds. you can even tune it and adjust the decay for that optimal booom, right inside OB–4.
ambient turn any audio source into a drone using ambient on OB–4. try applying it on music or even talk radio. the news has never sounded more relaxing.
external looping looping works with any external equipment connected through the line in. here is an OP–Z pattern that is being looped and manipulated using the OB–4.
OB–4 matte black
OB–4 gloss red
JUNE 8, 2021 POSTED BY SCOTT CAZAN
playdate update our good friends at panic just posted an update about their upcoming 'tiny handheld game system' playdate , designed by us. we are very much looking forward to this release, so check out this awesome update while waiting:
also, here's a fun reaction video to this update, by adrian of super gamer boys. thanks guys, we're equally excited!
JUNE 4, 2021 POSTED BY JONAS ÅBERG
OP–Z firmware 1.2.40 is here a new OP–Z update just arrived. we've released firmware version 1.2.38 and put out two hotfixes, so 1.2.40 is the version you want to get. this lets you use multiple input sources and assign effects and lfo to external signals + much more. some of what's new
THE OP–Z APP NOW SHOWS MODULE + INPUT SIGNALS
update demo here's a nice video below by shimmery.mp3 covering the update. also check out ryan diefenbach's awesome update tutorial over on youtube.
MAY 28, 2021 POSTED BY EMIL KULLÄNGER
#10YOP1 beat contest first of all: thank you so much for putting your time and energy into joining our beat contest. we got 594 beats in total and we listened carefully to all of them. together with TĀLĀ and nosaj thing, the final winners have now been picked. listen to the winners at the OP–1 anniversary site .
SOME OF THE 594 TOTAL ENTRIES
594 beats your creativity really surpassed our expectations. to listen to more of the 594 entries, follow the #10YOP1 hashtag on instagram , youtube or soundcloud .
recommended components sometimes it can be hard to find exactly the components you need. keep an eye out on all stores that sell parts and sign up to get notified when an item gets back in stock. also check the second hand market and stay safe and smart when buying like this. the computer–1 case fits a dual slot itx graphics card, not longer than 180 mm. use a low profile cpu cooler, not rising more than 120 mm from the surface of the motherboard. here are some suggested example builds.
software engineer's build (no gpu)
industrial designer and mechanical engineer's build
electrical engineer's build
the eurorack format eurorack is a very common system format when it comes to modular synths. there are tons of modules and manufacturers on the market and the pocket operator modular series is eurorack compatible. this means any POM system can be used together with any other module, from any other brand. while the pocket rack format is slightly smaller than eurorack, you only need some minor tweaks to fit your pocket operator modules in your eurorack system. here are a few ways to 'eurorackify' your pocket operator modulars and pocket operators, plus a bonus mod to really unlock and expand the capabilities of your POM-400 .
custom prizes we supported the contest through product prizes, and we wanted to give something a bit special to the winners. so in addition to just offering products, we decided to get a little creative, now that we're finally back at the office. let us introduce the newest machine member in our workshop: tajima sai , our japanese embroidery machine. the sai is operated by lola from our textile department.
streaming usb audio with update #243, every OP-1 is now capable of streaming stereo audio over usb. this means that you can now sample and record to OP-1 directly from any usb audio host, as well as get OP-1 audio straight into your favorite daw, in effect replacing the need for an external sound card. it works with both pc and mac, as well as with ios and android, and has been made possible by adapting and using our knowledge from OP–Z. the update also includes a range of bug fixes and stability improvements.
here's some of the update highlights
how to update visit the downloads page and follow the steps to update your OP-1.
OB–4 midsummer update it's summer season here in sweden so we try spend as much time as possible outside. since we still want great sound the OB–4 is the perfect portable speaker to bring outdoors. with this update we've unlocked some new magic features. how to update use orthoplay to control, configure and update OB–4. access orthoplay on ios devices through the orthoplay ios app and on android devices use the orthoplay android app . once updated here are some of the features you'll get:
external looping looping works with any external equipment that is connected through the line in. here is an OP–Z pattern that is being looped and manipulated using the OB–4.
update demo here's a nice video by shimmery.mp3 covering the update. also check out ryan diefenbach's awesome update tutorial over on youtube.
