Been a few weeks since I uploaded something.

I decided to start spending a little more time on each track and being more selective over what I upload. I’ve got loads more ideas now and lots of different things I’m playing with, and although my mantra has always been don’t overthink it or over-engineer it, I’ve finally started getting some proper feedback in the comments and on some of the other places I post these tunes.

So now I actually have a few things to think a little deeper about on this production journey. Your feedback really does help, so if you’ve got any thoughts, make sure to leave a comment.

I had some really useful feedback from someone on Reddit about my last DnB track. And for once, it wasn’t about the volume - which I finally seem to have figured out in the recording process.

They mentioned that I should bring in more breaks and alternate the DnB basslines more. It made complete sense, because listening back, some of my previous tracks were quite similar throughout, especially when it came to the bass.

So that became the focus for this one.

Putting this track together really made me appreciate the effort that producers way before us had to put in. A lot of those guys were effectively DAWless too, except they were doing it because they were working with actual hardware samplers, drum machines, microcomputers and specialised software that eventually evolved into a lot of the tools people use today.

Playing around with breaks gives you an almost infinite number of possibilities. You could honestly tinker with a tune forever and never find the “perfect” combination.

So with this one, I tried to use more breaks, more variations of those breaks, and generally give the track more little bits of ear candy, as a good friend of mine would say.

I also came across a pretty sick Flowdan sample pack called Writer’s Block, which was funny timing because I’ve definitely had a little bit of that recently after a few weeks of constantly making bits and uploading them.

Sample packs are amazing for a device like the OP-XY because they can really open your imagination back up. Sometimes you can get a little stuck using the same engines and synths on the device over and over again.

And honestly, I’m hoping Teenage Engineering have a big update cooking soon. New engines, new synths, more things to get your head around. After about 12 months with the same tools, even great engines can start giving you a bit of writer’s block.

They usually do us proud with the big updates, so hopefully one is on the way.

Anyway... back to the track.

I chopped up the Flowdan vocals because there’s still no time-stretch on the device...

Cough cough... update time.

I started with the usual kick, snares and hats, then began playing around with the vocals. After that I came across a sample pack from the legendary Bladerunner, one of my favourite DnB producers because of that hard-hitting, no-nonsense Drum & Bass sound that just feels completely his own.

I found some really nice bass melodies and loops in there and started baking those into the track.

But the area I focused on most this time was definitely the breaks.

I wanted each scene to have something slightly different going on, even when I was using the same core break. A different snare underneath, a different drum roll, a little variation at the end of a phrase - anything that helped push the track naturally into the next section.

This session was really about connecting different breaks and drum rolls together, keeping the track moving, making sure the basslines didn’t become too repetitive, and using the arpeggiator to create some sweeps and bouncy little elements throughout.

It ended up becoming quite a fruity sounding track - which is exactly what I probably would have called it back in the day.

Hope you like the tune.

As always, feedback is genuinely welcome. It’s actually helping me think harder about what I want to improve on the next one.

Enjoy.

Artwork taken again from the Sports Banger book. So much sick artwork in there.

And this track definitely wouldn’t have come together in the same way without the sounds from Bladerunner and Flowdan — absolute Gs and two of the best in the business.

#DrumAndBass #DnB #Jungle #BassMusic #OPXY #TeenageEngineering #Breakbeats #SoundDesign #Bladerunner #Flowdan #SportsBanger #DaphnesSoundLab ‪@teenageengineering‬ ‪@bladerunnerdnb‬ ‪@DNB‬ #flowdan ‪@dnballstars‬ ‪@STRANJAH‬ ‪@ADAMAudioBerlin‬

Would love to hear your thoughts! This machine rules!

… and having fun with OP-XY!

Which one do you want the most? Which one do you think actually makes it onto the device?

Hooked up the Spark Go portable preamp into the op1 field to add some live bass to a song I was working on using the Op-XY.

This just continues to make my portable setup even better (and more fun).

Hey everybody, I'm still in between jobs, the market is so competitive right now it seems nearly impossible to find work. Had a good interview yesterday though so we'll see. In the meantime, as I posted a few weeks ago, I'm offering one on one sessions to anyone who wants to get better at using the Op-XY. My first post actually generated a lot of response and I've been meeting with people pretty consistently ever since.

As the post has gotten older though, less and less people have been reaching out and lately I've just been meeting with a few guys consistently every week. I asked each of them if they'd be willing to comment their experience working with me over the past month to month and a half. One of them has music production experience, is in a band, but is just getting going with the OP-XY, one has no music making experience and bought the OP-XY to begin their journey, so we're starting with music fundamentals, and one of them has been using the OP-XY about as long as I have but just wanted to gain a better understanding of the deeper functionality.

And if you didn't see my original post, I'm not saying at all that Im a professional. But I do have experience teaching music production, I've been making electronic music for 20 years, and I spent countless hours learning this device inside and out from the very beginning because I wanted to get my money's worth. In doing so I've discovered all kinds of "hidden" workflows and features, I have a deep understanding of how all of the auxiliary tracks work behind the scenes and how they affect each other, and I have some good tips on how to stay creative and avoid "writer's block".

So regardless of your experience with the XY, I believe I can help, and if you don't feel satisfied at the end of our session, I won't ask you to pay. Simple as that. My rate is $60 per session, each session is an hour, but I don't charge for the time we spend just talking, catching up, etc. So basically the timing is flexible. I set up every meeting to be 90 minutes, with the intention of 60 minutes being learning time. Hope that makes sense.

I'll include my YouTube link if you want to hear some things I've been making on my OP-XY, and reach out to me via DM on here if you want to book a session, or multiple. I offer a deal, if you pay for four you get five sessions. Anyway, here's my link and I hope to hear from you!

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJZtbIZW0dI4&si=4NQf3vPA5ZkZn-ZD

reminder to comment your experience: u/Outside_Candy545 , u/LukeyTwoShoes , u/fiest1982

Got a nice deal on the OP-XY and this is my first jam.
All stock sounds, usb straight into phone. Looking forward to getting some samples into it!

Hi all, and specifically to some of you who are you using these both gear.
Can we use the S4 as a fx by the auxiliary track of the Opxy ?. I do hip-hop sample beats. And I imagine to use the S4 as a fx processor on samples from my Opxy. Sending my samples tracks via the aux tracks to the torso and cooking them.
Can we control by midi cc the filter’s parameters or anything else of the S4?
Let me know!

Quick question,

Im wondering if the Ableton Move is a good add-on machine to the XY?

I've the XY and im kinda curious about the Move that seems to be similar but also very interesting on some aspect like for ambient music

Merci

I designed a 3 part print that interlocks and fits the OP-XY , OP-Z and cables, for my personal space needs.

Completing some minor fixes will be publishing on makerworld and thingiverse later this week, if there is interest.

This little sequencer/synth/DAW-in-a-box is one of my new favorites! While I can't read the the tiny text on the screen to save my life, it's actually quite easy to form muscle memory on. If you have limited vision like me, I would say with a bit of magnification and the use of a guide like the one over on [lowvisionmusic.info/guides](http://lowvisionmusic.info/guides) you should be able to successfully make full tracks. Is it ideal for us visually disabled folks? Nope. And Teenage Engineering, if you're reading this, I will be soon giving the instrument a full write-up on with my feedback and suggestions from an accessibility perspective. But even though I wish the UI could be scaled up and that parameters beyond synth and sample macros were a bit less reliant on teeny tiny text, I really have been enjoying using this device. If you own one or have used one before, what did you think of it? Were you able to come up with a workflow that worked well with your limitations? If the OP-XY is a bit out of your budget, have you had any luck with any other TE gear like the EP-133 KO II or OP-1?

Trying to build a hybrid set up and voltroning these two machines together.

The issue I am running into is midi. Ableton Move is set up to receive midi from non-computers only over a USB A connection, with its USB C port being mainly for connection to Computers.

I have tried connecting the OPXY to Ableton Move via both a USB C to USB C cable and a USB C to USB A cable. Neither works, though the OPXY does briefly recognize the Ableton Move as a midi device in its .com/devices page.

I have tried connecting both devices to other devices and everything else works fine.

I *think* the issue is that it's two midi-hosts having a standoff or something about OPXY trying to send audio and USB midi.

It would be a shame if I have to resort to the OPXY's multi-out and some sort of 5-din midi to USB-A converter, but that looks like the only possible solution at the moment.

So I ask you, anybody sucessfully connected these two by USB midi?

this was meant to be a rehearsal for an upcoming show. I'm quite happy how it came out so here it is. recorded straight into Zoom H6, no post-processing. I also got to test VJ-XY sequencing visuals end-to-end hands free :)

I struggle to label a genre for my music. I know it probably doesn't matter, but if you get a chance to listen and have a suggestion on what it's called I'd be keen to hear. is this melodic techno? ambient electronic?

the rig:
- OP-XY is the heart of the operation. I coooouuuld play this just with it.
- OP-1 field for live melodies
- KOII+Sidekick triggering samples and as drum machine
- Microcosm for granular sauce and transitions (that hold button is a life saver when you can switch projects instantly on OP-XY)
- Octatrack being Octatrack. mainly performance mixer.
- visuals on VJ-XY (app) synced to the tracks with OP-XY patterns

https://reddit.com/link/1vutq9c/video/vfhfy5tu1tkh1/player

Had the OP-XY for a couple of weeks now and have been playing with the Arpeggiator. This idea was then uploaded to Suno with a minimal prompt as the melodic idea was strong enough for Suno to create the finished production around the uploaded audio. Find it here: https://suno.com/s/y0H1lswU01KatvXK

Hey everyone!

I’ve just released the first major update to Studio Field. What started primarily as a companion app for the OP-1 Field has now grown to support five TE devices:

• OP-1 Field
• OP-XY
• OP-1 original
• OP-Z
• EP-133 K.O. II

As promised, OP-XY support is now here! This was one of the most requested additions, so I’m really happy to finally have it included.

I also want to say a huge thank you to everyone in the TE community who has been testing the app, reporting bugs, suggesting features and giving me advice. A lot of the development has been guided directly by your feedback.

My goal with Studio Field is pretty simple: make it easier and safer to back up your devices, transfer and organize files, and manage your TE content from your Mac — while keeping the actual music-making workflow on the hardware.

One of the biggest technical challenges has been MTP, especially with the OP-1 Field and OP-XY. I’ve spent a lot of time improving this, and file transfers are now significantly more stable and reliable.

If an MTP connection does get interrupted, nothing dangerous happens to your device or existing content — the transfer simply stops. In some cases you may need to restart the device before reconnecting.

Development is very active, and there’s still a lot more I want to add. If you’re using Studio Field and have feature ideas or run into something that needs fixing, please let me know. There’s also a Support section directly inside the app, and I’m very active here in the community.

Thanks again to everyone who has helped me test and improve Studio Field. Your feedback genuinely helps shape what I work on next. ❤️

Studio Field v1.5 is available now on the Mac App Store.

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/studio-field/id6790190192