*Clickable Chapter links* 0:48 Introduction to Step Components 2:29 Pulse (retrig+offset) 6:16 Pulse hold (extend trig length) 10:32 Multiply (retrig within step, dubstep repeat) 13:17 Velocity 15:08 Ramp up, Ramp down (transpose notes over time) 19:23 Random (randomised pitch, relative to the trig note) 21:57 Portamento (gliding pitch between two notes) 24:30 Sweep (Filter and parameter sweep over timer) 27:10 Tonality (Transpose and tried harmonic rules) 28:33 Jump (Jump to a certain point on the timeline) 30:03 Spark (trig og not trig, counting system) 35:56 Cuckoo Buildup + Performance… 42:05 Outtro
As someone who never used an OP-Z, I’m finding these tutorials super useful for starting to learn the OP-XY. Having said that, really looking forward to your dedicated OP-XY tutorials!
Nothing makes me want an OP-Z as much as your explanation videos. This is such an awesome machine, and probably the most affordable synth for the functionality it offers. And not only do you explain how it works understandably, but you also bring across how much fun it is to play with. Thank you so much, cuckoo!
Thank you for continuously bringing so informative and fun videos. One add-on: I think you skipped the Parameter Spark. In short, for anyone who wonders: if you, say, add delay to just one step (holding the key and cranking up delay [or any other parameter, of course]) and set a Parameter Spark, these changes will only be applied every x steps to the note. Counting is the same as for the other two Spark categories.
The tune you end up making by the end of this video is one of my favourite things to listen to, so addictive and playful, I love how you can surprise yourself with the op-z it has really brought the fun back into making electronic music for me
waiting for my op-z to arrive and this is so sick…it’s almost like taking the tracker workflow and applying it to a step sequencer. cant wait to try it out
Tbh it’s an extraordinarily amusing synth at times, you can make something super serious and then just experiment with it and turn it into something incredibly ridiculous and then easily fix it, it’s an absolute laugh to just mess around with
Great video. Very informative and helpful. I use step components all the time but having a complete overview and reference guide with examples is great. The sequencer on this little gem is incredible.
you are a great teacher, so many things that make this video great, having an analog mirror making it low tech but personal. zooming in to a small interface for better viewing, showing how much time before the next section, good simple intro, cool shirt, very chill, open and fun. I liked how you added a chord while you held a trig. I've been using the op-z for about three weeks and I made more music than having a daw for over 8 years and it was so much more fun than dragging midi notes on a screen. It's been a blast just triggering patterns at different tempos. I hope they make sampling from the mic a focus and having a 'daw' on the ipad to compose full songs and to share would be awesome in the future, waiting for those hardware components so curious what this little beast will become, I feel like it was made in 2030 and transported back in time to us. Thanks again!
Just recently got an OP-Z and I thought it was pretty good until I saw this video. Now I know it's amazing! All the delicious surprises in this thing just blow me away. Thanks so much for your tutorial!
Another great tutorial and an exceptional performance! That was really something. What I like about this machine is that it makes you smile. It's really an amazing improvisation tool and can take you to great journeys.
Thanks for the great content! This video has really helped me get to grips with the OP-Z and previously persuaded me that I *need* one. Was a nice bonus to find your kits and demo song on the unit.
Great videos and teaching man, very good stuff. You have a genuine happiness using the OPZ and it's such a neat instrument. Hope to get one this weekend. 😎
Thanks Cuckoo, another amazing demonstration of the possibilities - I love how you describe the features and actually make GREAT MUSIC at the same time! The Pulse Hold and Trigger were tripping me up as they send tracks out of alignment, but then I found Jump+9 which re-aligns the tracks! The philosophy of the Z leads to constant discoveries and happy accidents! Also thanks for putting your pre-loaded tracks on the op-z, I’ve learned a lot just by studying them. 🙌🙏🤘
Good stuff as suual cuckoo! I think will see a lot of new sequencers/synths coming in with step components in the future. That's one of my favorite feature of the OP-Z.
Cuckoo, your beard, soothing voice and amazing music has so far sold me on a Novation Circuit, an OP-Z and your Patreon. God knows how much they'll cost me in 2019. Who should I check out if I want to get more Cuckoo style music in my head? I've been a guitarist all my life until recently so have no idea where to start. Just wondering where you draw your influences from.
Thanks a lot Andreu! I have only tried the TR8s a few times. I'm not in a position to make a tutorial for it really. It seems like one of the best drum machines from Roland in quite some time though. I've heard great performances on it.
THank you so much mate! Yeah those sound effects were actually something that came about in my early teenage years when we were mimicking video game scenarios as some sort of quiz at the bus stop.. lol.
30:45 I'm pretty sure that you (and I) have an OP-Z from the first batch, which was produced before a last minute design change. Those 2 step component icons as well as the icons for Master and Performance tracks and Mixer are all different from the guide.
Wow awesome been loving the OP-Z And was actually thinking of requesting this exact video from you thanks so much for this one. ! Any chance your gonna be making anymore sample/preset packs for this guy ? Would love to buy one and send some support your way.
Thanks mate! Yeah, more samples for the OP-Z definitely. If you didn't know already, all OP-1 sample packs work on the OP-Z. The OP-1 has a different LFO and FX section, which is not transferred when an OP-1 patch is loaded on the OP-Z. But other than that, both Sampler synths, and the sample drum both play fine on the OP-Z!
@@truecuckoo I did know but i had trouble getting it working till today. Looks like my next lil video is going to have to some C-MIX vibes going on in it.
Cool vid, helped me with a couple of things for sure. It would be really nice to get a more detailed explanation of certain modes though. In regards to the Jump component the stay, Align and Gate values are the ones that I feel really need explaining and they are not mentioned in the video. I can't find details in the manual either, frustratingly
Fantastic tutorial!! I would like to ask you another technical thing.. I tried everywhere but no solution yet. Since the OP-Z pitch bend doesn't support recording, do you have any advice how to create synth layers that simulate pitch bending? Thanks for all your cool tutorials, you really make it easy for us creating
I like the icons on this one better, the component and trigger sparks have more variation... on the new one they just rotated the same icon, not as much variety. Would have preferred the Master track icon to vary more from the top master index button though.
There are some more buttons on the OP-Z , that defer from the manual and the photos on the website. Examples: track selection buttons (master and punch), index mixer buttons. How come?
I’ve got the first batch, together with a lot of people who was ordering on day one, I believe. The final design had not come though to the print factory somehow at that point.
Yeah, Elektron’s sequencer has similar possibilities, but it doesn’t have asynchronous trigs that gradually delay a whole track out of sync. The OP-Z step components are a little bit more experimental.
Thanks. In my youth I’ve written string quartets, piano sonatas and choir music among other things. The cuckoo music is what I find most pleasure in at the moment though. I feel like it represents me :)
I know this may be an old question, but is there any way to make a trig randomly be played? (Not a random sound, but randomize if it will be played on the loop, similar to the digitakt?)
I just received my OP-Z and i realize that the last two step component symbols on the right side of the device are different from the ones on the chart that comes in the box and also different from the ones that are on your OPZ in this video. the ones on the chart and on your device are a little star and an upside down triangle, the ones on mine are a zigzag arrow that points to the right and another zigzag arrow that points down. would you be able to tell me the meaning of this?
I’ve got the first early batch. They had a misprint with an earlier iteration of the design. Even if the new print was ready, somehow the factory hadn’t updated to the latest print. A miss. You’ve got the final design.
*Clickable Chapter links*
0:48 Introduction to Step Components
2:29 Pulse (retrig+offset)
6:16 Pulse hold (extend trig length)
10:32 Multiply (retrig within step, dubstep repeat)
13:17 Velocity
15:08 Ramp up, Ramp down (transpose notes over time)
19:23 Random (randomised pitch, relative to the trig note)
21:57 Portamento (gliding pitch between two notes)
24:30 Sweep (Filter and parameter sweep over timer)
27:10 Tonality (Transpose and tried harmonic rules)
28:33 Jump (Jump to a certain point on the timeline)
30:03 Spark (trig og not trig, counting system)
35:56 Cuckoo Buildup + Performance…
42:05 Outtro
Awesome Martin, very helpful. Thank you too Cuckoo
Thank you both! when I finally get my hands on the OP-Z this could basically serve as a learning tool with an index! 🤩🙇
I'm watching this and I'm like I'll bet myself Martin's made an index.
Thanks Martin, this really helps!!
Not all heroes wear capes (but if you did, I bet you'd look super swag).
Super super useful and your end jam was fantastic
Thank you maestro! Hey I’m coming to Seattle next year! Let’s meet up!
As someone who never used an OP-Z, I’m finding these tutorials super useful for starting to learn the OP-XY. Having said that, really looking forward to your dedicated OP-XY tutorials!
Handy power feature-if you press and hold Shift + Stop, you can clear out all step components for the current track.
Nothing makes me want an OP-Z as much as your explanation videos. This is such an awesome machine, and probably the most affordable synth for the functionality it offers. And not only do you explain how it works understandably, but you also bring across how much fun it is to play with. Thank you so much, cuckoo!
Thank you so much! Much ❤️
I woke and saw that you had a new OP-Z tutorial and was like a kid on Christmas! Thank you so much for this video! It’s truly a blessing!
Thank you for continuously bringing so informative and fun videos.
One add-on: I think you skipped the Parameter Spark.
In short, for anyone who wonders: if you, say, add delay to just one step (holding the key and cranking up delay [or any other parameter, of course]) and set a Parameter Spark, these changes will only be applied every x steps to the note. Counting is the same as for the other two Spark categories.
Thanks!
Great info thanks!!
Exactly the information I was looking for. Thanks!
The tune you end up making by the end of this video is one of my favourite things to listen to, so addictive and playful, I love how you can surprise yourself with the op-z it has really brought the fun back into making electronic music for me
Thanks mate! So happy to hear that!
waiting for my op-z to arrive and this is so sick…it’s almost like taking the tracker workflow and applying it to a step sequencer. cant wait to try it out
i just love how genuinely amused you are playing with this thing.
Tbh it’s an extraordinarily amusing synth at times, you can make something super serious and then just experiment with it and turn it into something incredibly ridiculous and then easily fix it, it’s an absolute laugh to just mess around with
@@callumalston5755 yes!! I just got it today and playing with it! It’s DEEP. Big learning curve but I love that.
Great video. Very informative and helpful. I use step components all the time but having a complete overview and reference guide with examples is great.
The sequencer on this little gem is incredible.
Thanks! Yeah truly the sequencer is a work of art in itself.
you are a great teacher, so many things that make this video great, having an analog mirror making it low tech but personal. zooming in to a small interface for better viewing, showing how much time before the next section, good simple intro, cool shirt, very chill, open and fun. I liked how you added a chord while you held a trig. I've been using the op-z for about three weeks and I made more music than having a daw for over 8 years and it was so much more fun than dragging midi notes on a screen. It's been a blast just triggering patterns at different tempos. I hope they make sampling from the mic a focus and having a 'daw' on the ipad to compose full songs and to share would be awesome in the future, waiting for those hardware components so curious what this little beast will become, I feel like it was made in 2030 and transported back in time to us. Thanks again!
Thanks a ton for your kind words, John! It is indeed a remarkable little machine, still with so much potential. Iconic.
Just recently got an OP-Z and I thought it was pretty good until I saw this video. Now I know it's amazing! All the delicious surprises in this thing just blow me away. Thanks so much for your tutorial!
Another great tutorial and an exceptional performance! That was really something. What I like about this machine is that it makes you smile. It's really an amazing improvisation tool and can take you to great journeys.
I wish you could like a video twice, because that chaos jam was incredible
Well. Your videos inspired me to purchase an OP-Zed and now they continue to inspire me to create in ways I hadn’t explored. Thank you! Great video
Thanks for the great content! This video has really helped me get to grips with the OP-Z and previously persuaded me that I *need* one. Was a nice bonus to find your kits and demo song on the unit.
You are so a good guy. Thanks for your sunny and playful mood. This is awesome.
this one's VERY NEEDED! thanks cuckoo!
You’re an inspiring dude! When you have fun, the world does with you 💘
So pretty much the more you understand this device the better it becomes? Mind-blowing
The teenage engineering-sensei cuckoo, great video
Hi Cuckoo, more than welcome … this helps a lot to get an understanding for what the step components are doing. Thanks & thumbs up!!!
Man that jam at the end was amazing! Thanks for the vid. Pretty sure I need one of these now.
Gold! Luvin´ to see u havin´ loads of fun. Im two days into OP-Z and this is really a cool synth.
Danke!
Thank you so much Ramin! 🙏🏼
My opz arrives tomorrow and this is the video i needed! thanks, so excited!
Fantastic! Santa is, hopefully bringing my OP-Z tonight.
Hey cuckoo
just wanted to say thanks for the great informative and entertaining content.
keep doing what you do best :)
Great videos and teaching man, very good stuff. You have a genuine happiness using the OPZ and it's such a neat instrument. Hope to get one this weekend. 😎
Thanks Cuckoo, another amazing demonstration of the possibilities - I love how you describe the features and actually make GREAT MUSIC at the same time!
The Pulse Hold and Trigger were tripping me up as they send tracks out of alignment, but then I found
Jump+9 which re-aligns the tracks!
The philosophy of the Z leads to constant discoveries and happy accidents!
Also thanks for putting your pre-loaded tracks on the op-z, I’ve learned a lot just by studying them.
🙌🙏🤘
Thanks Steve! 🙏🏼 I somehow managed to forget to mention Jump+9. I was half way there and something happened so I forgot. It’s super useful indeed!
Hi Steve, which button is Jump9 on the OP-Z I was having the same issues...Thanks
Good stuff as suual cuckoo! I think will see a lot of new sequencers/synths coming in with step components in the future. That's one of my favorite feature of the OP-Z.
Marvelous workshop, again! Thanx for diving deeper into the op-z!🖖☺️
Thanks for making this. It’s very helpful. It might have been even more so if the sequence was simpler when illustrating some of the later elements.
I look forward to my OP-Z even more after this. Thanks!
You've got such a lovely peaceful voice, you should host a late night ambient radio show
Thank you Mike! Late night ambient it is then 🤣
Love it, thanks!
The trigger / not trigger is super useful for creating 4 pattern beats in just one! Who needs sequence chaining now? ;p
I cannot wait to get ahold of one of these.
Cuckoo, your beard, soothing voice and amazing music has so far sold me on a Novation Circuit, an OP-Z and your Patreon. God knows how much they'll cost me in 2019.
Who should I check out if I want to get more Cuckoo style music in my head? I've been a guitarist all my life until recently so have no idea where to start. Just wondering where you draw your influences from.
I absolutely need the OP-Z !
I love this little machine sooooo much!
Thank you. Thank you 🙏 I learn so much from your videos. I still go to your op-1 videos as well.
Thanks! 🙏🏼
Legend, thanks so much for your videos they are as informative as they are fun!
antes de conseguir el op1 miraba los videos de cuckoo, ahora estoy por conseguir el OP Z y ya estoy mirando los videos d cuckoo on OPZ!! :D
Extremely relaxing. Thanks :D
You are fun to watch!!! ❤️
Great video! Amazing jam!
You are over the top
Haha, thanks :D
Awesome stuff as usual dude!👍👍
I love the way you explain things... Thank you man. You are helping lots of people. Do you have a tutorial explaning the Roland TR8s. ?
Thanks a lot Andreu! I have only tried the TR8s a few times. I'm not in a position to make a tutorial for it really. It seems like one of the best drum machines from Roland in quite some time though. I've heard great performances on it.
@@truecuckoo Thanks. if you ever do I am sure it will be great. Cheers.
Dude your mouth sounds at the start are amazing :) great quality and I'm really intrigued with the OP-Z and this video explained alot well done :)
THank you so much mate! Yeah those sound effects were actually something that came about in my early teenage years when we were mimicking video game scenarios as some sort of quiz at the bus stop.. lol.
30:45
I'm pretty sure that you (and I) have an OP-Z from the first batch, which was produced before a last minute design change. Those 2 step component icons as well as the icons for Master and Performance tracks and Mixer are all different from the guide.
OMG awesome stuff
Great video, as usual!
Thank you Diamond! 🙏🏼
37:20 For people who want dessert before vegetables.
Thanks! Very skweeetastic!
4:53 you just sold one, this instant, digitakt doesn't even do retrig on the midi tracks. Exactly what I need to sequence volcas
Yay! thanks True Cuckoo!
Wow awesome been loving the OP-Z And was actually thinking of requesting this exact video from you thanks so much for this one. ! Any chance your gonna be making anymore sample/preset packs for this guy ? Would love to buy one and send some support your way.
Thanks mate! Yeah, more samples for the OP-Z definitely. If you didn't know already, all OP-1 sample packs work on the OP-Z. The OP-1 has a different LFO and FX section, which is not transferred when an OP-1 patch is loaded on the OP-Z. But other than that, both Sampler synths, and the sample drum both play fine on the OP-Z!
@@truecuckoo I did know but i had trouble getting it working till today. Looks like my next lil video is going to have to some C-MIX vibes going on in it.
Awesome. Thanks C!
Cool vid, helped me with a couple of things for sure. It would be really nice to get a more detailed explanation of certain modes though. In regards to the Jump component the stay, Align and Gate values are the ones that I feel really need explaining and they are not mentioned in the video. I can't find details in the manual either, frustratingly
Hey cuckoo, would be awesome if you could do a tutorial on how to prepare and upload your own samples on the lovely OPZ :)
Bonkers 🔊👍
So helpfull ! Like ur introducing with this retro sound fx ;) maybe u can create a sample pack of it :)))
Fantastic tutorial!! I would like to ask you another technical thing.. I tried everywhere but no solution yet. Since the OP-Z pitch bend doesn't support recording, do you have any advice how to create synth layers that simulate pitch bending? Thanks for all your cool tutorials, you really make it easy for us creating
The icons in the manual are the final ones, we've got a "misprinted" OP-Z!
Ah, that's how it is!
I like the icons on this one better, the component and trigger sparks have more variation... on the new one they just rotated the same icon, not as much variety. Would have preferred the Master track icon to vary more from the top master index button though.
I noticed that the other day as well on mine
Wow Amazing!
Would love to hear this slowed down and played through the strymon night sky.
cool stuff
Thank you for such an informational video.
There are some more buttons on the OP-Z , that defer from the manual and the photos on the website. Examples: track selection buttons (master and punch), index mixer buttons. How come?
I’ve got the first batch, together with a lot of people who was ordering on day one, I believe. The final design had not come though to the print factory somehow at that point.
I liked the video before I watched the video.
Holy hell, can it do all that trickery on the midi out tracks??
Can you explain how the counter reset works? It doesn't seem to do anything.
Hey Cuckoo! haven't watched the video yet, but does this address how to add step components to the punch in effect track?
Hi Cuckoo, Is this also possible on Syntakt? 12 tracks with differently set parameters or with all randomised parameters? Thx
Yeah, Elektron’s sequencer has similar possibilities, but it doesn’t have asynchronous trigs that gradually delay a whole track out of sync. The OP-Z step components are a little bit more experimental.
Hi there.. can you tell me if step components would work when you sequencing external synth?
I'm gonna buy the shit out of this thing.
well that was fun :)
Thank youuuu!
Give thumbs up for getting the Jump-reference
in the end it sounds cuckoo .... really genius .... still wondering if you can do other typ of music
Thanks. In my youth I’ve written string quartets, piano sonatas and choir music among other things. The cuckoo music is what I find most pleasure in at the moment though. I feel like it represents me :)
@@truecuckoo ... I mean if the OP-Z can sound different ... fundamentally ... shure you can do any thing sounding musical
I know this may be an old question, but is there any way to make a trig randomly be played? (Not a random sound, but randomize if it will be played on the loop, similar to the digitakt?)
Can you apply these to the visual tracks as well?
Yeah
The step components works for sequencing stuff out ? Like to sequencer another synth but have the randomness of the step components
Yeah, it does!
I just received my OP-Z and i realize that the last two step component symbols on the right side of the device are different from the ones on the chart that comes in the box and also different from the ones that are on your OPZ in this video.
the ones on the chart and on your device are a little star and an upside down triangle, the ones on mine are a zigzag arrow that points to the right and another zigzag arrow that points down.
would you be able to tell me the meaning of this?
I’ve got the first early batch. They had a misprint with an earlier iteration of the design. Even if the new print was ready, somehow the factory hadn’t updated to the latest print. A miss. You’ve got the final design.
@@truecuckoo oh awesome thank you!!
Really silly that Pulse Hold does not extend the sequence, while Pulse does!
I would really like it to do that for syncopations. :(
This thing is a fucking musical Rubik's cube 😊
do the step components effects get sent over midi?
Yes. Some of them might be more tied to the OP-Z sound engines. But most of them transfer right over to MIDI.
@@truecuckoo so cool. It's actually a pretty powerful midi sequencer then!
Definitely a legit MIDI sequencer.
9:58 you just wrote a new Meshuggah song
3:00 Blue Monday ?
It is the guy in the church door asking for coins
with glides and accents this can be a 303
Ended up with a very Wacky piece of music. Wow
❤️🙏🏼
just doing as many randoms as possible xD
Kris Kross component 😂
Pshhh tsah.
What are you doing, step component?? 🤭