tladb

MIDI control: I initially thought that MIDI control with the OP-1 was modal. That is the OP-1 only sends out MIDI notes while in MIDI mode. (Accessed by SHIFT+COM / 1 [CTRL]) This is not the case.

The MIDI control page can be use to set channel and knob settings and in this mode the note keys send out note on and off messages. However if you drop back into OP-1 mode the sequencer data is also sent out to the specified MIDI channel (or the default channel 1) so the OP-1 sequencers can control soft synths. The OP-1 synths will be playing at the same time so their channel output can be set to 0 in the Master page though the option is there to record OP-1 audio at the same time into your DAW.

Virus control: This method also works with the Access Virus when using the Live template provided by Access. Which is really great because I much prefer the Virus sounds to the OP-1. It does make the OP-1 an expensive controller but adding in the OP-1 synths will make a more layered sound.

There is one strange thing though. If I select channels 2 or 3 or 4 on the OP-1 these will access the correct chnnels in the Virus but will also send note events to channel 1. There are invisible notes because if the channel selected on the OP-1 is 2 then using MIDI Monitor only channel 2 notes are appearing as output from the OP-1. Channel 1 in Live also showed the notes. This was solved just as I was writing this post by unplugging the additional MIDI cable which went from the MOTU Ultralite audio interface to the Virus.

Crossbow or Gun?: The central feature of the OP-1 is the tape recorder which records (obviously) the audio but also has a lot of editing and tape manipulation features. It is well done however is it really the best way to put together a song? At this point in time I can make a lot of strange noises with the tape recordings but nothing really usable. I can see some use in creating some unique sounds but I am not really getting it for a song creation method.

Tip: It is mentioned lightly in the manual by putting the OP-1 into USB mode does allow you to create a folders under the Synthesizer and Drum folders into which you can drop you AIFF files. When the OP-1 is then set back to OP-1 mode these should be read by OP-1 for use by selecting them as a sound source.

I found that the OP-1 endless controller which has note length settings and the ability to specify long notes is the most useful of the sequencers with longer samples. Sort drum style samples and notes can work with any of the sequencers.

After some consideration and watching many videos I decided to get the Access Virus Snow. (Awave in South Yarra sold the unit. I can recommend the store and they are keen to get you trying the many synths on display.) While the most expensive of the synths I considered, the Virus just looked the most comprehensive and came with software integration. For what I can use it for and afford the Snow was the best option in the Access range.

I really like the sound and the variety. The setup documentation is a bit scattered in various guides, song files, and manuals but once I grasped the 4 channels to 1 instance of the Snow it worked. I use the MOTU Ultralite for my soundcard rather than the Virus because there are more routing options. The documentation also came with a guide by Harold Scarr on “Programming Analogue Synths” which is good starting point for Virus programming. I just wish they had updated it for the latest Virus iterations.

Ableton Live is my preferred standard DAW because all the connections are obvious. There are is a MIDI track for each of the 4 parts which send their MIDI to different MIDI channels (though they could be the same) in a track which contains the plugin.

Five12′s Numerology can run the Virus plug in. What you need to do is have four note generators each on a different channel and one AU plug-in for the Virus. You need to manually connect a wire from the MIDI out of the generators to the MIDI in of the plug in.

Nodal can send the notes over a IAC connection to the Virus with its instruments to the four channels but I find it easier to use Live as a central router for MIDI and as a host for the Virus AU. Speaking of Nodal I am playing around with drum patterns like the Amen Brother break to see how Nodal can work at creating standard patterns and then being a starting point for variations. It works in a stardard file but I failed to get MIDI triggering of instruments in separate Nodal files which is said to be possible.