Model:Cycles or Model:Samples with OP-Z

Elektron Gear
1

Wanting a portable downgrade w limits. Some help would be much appreciated.
Have an OP-Z which is great - looking at either samples or cycles to give it a boost. I’ll probably use the op-z for sampling + synth (has an arp etc)
So want a fairly flexible unit mainly as a drum machine / bit of everything idk - which is more flexible…
Cheers
Otherwise, any good alternatives for a maximised little setup?

2

Honestly you can’t go wrong with either. What kind of music are into? If you’re going for lofi or glitchy the samples brings the heat but the Cycles seems like the obvious choice simply because it brings a powerful synth and drum machine to the setup. You already have sampling capabilities with the OP-Z so I’ll vote for the Cycles.

2 Likes
3

More flexible is M:S because it can be loaded with any sound under the sun. More drum machine orientated without faffing around with loading it up with samples from a computer, Cycles. But why even bother with either of them if you’re happy with OP-Z? What are you specifically lacking from OP-Z? Have you thought of something analog instead, like a Moog Minitaur, for example?

Edit: Welcome the forum :slightly_smiling_face:

3 Likes
4

I’d go with Cycles. Gives you more synth options while still being capable of drums. Of course you could also load single cycle samples into Samples… hrm… might have to change my vote.

5

As the OPZ already has sampling capabilities I would go for the cycles, I would also consider getting aVolca Drum, complements the cycles very well and can be found for 100 second hand

6

i would consider on of the recent MFB classic Analog drum synths to go along with the 4 drum tracks of the OP-Z

in sync of course

7

Thanks for the suggestions, I was leaning towards Cycles as the op-z has sampling ‘taken care of’ sampling.
The op-z is rather fiddly, I can’t change more than one ‘thing’ at a time -
So I saw the samples or cycles as the hands-on polar opposite- and very good for the price imo.

Samples would be great, but there are a few things that let it down that justify spending the extra on a used digitakt…
Would the cycles be best as a nice extension of the op-z?