I thought it might be worth having a place to discuss using the OP-XY with other gear, either MIDI controllers or audio, or anything really.
I have used mine with a few different things, with varying levels of success. The best one so far is the Eventide H9 in the XY’s FX loop. The FX are top notch, and you can midi-sync and midi control it from the XY via a TRS-DIN cable.
The worst so far has been the Korg NTS-3 Kaoss Pad, which was disappointing as I bought it specifically to use with the XY. The size is perfect, as are the controls. But it buzzes when connected via USB (for power), and is I find the FX to be quite insipid and/or way too tweety bloopy.
I’ve also tried a bunch of MIDI controllers. The best is the Launchpad Pro, which can connect via TRS or MIDI, and can act as a drum pad, adds aftertouch, and has custom modes for muting, FX send levels etc. It’s a bit big though.
How are you all using your XYs with other gear? And please keep this thread on topic.
I’ve been using a Launchkey Mini 37 with mine. Still compact, but with extended keyboard range, and the chord memory is very useful for sequencing harmonies.
I haven’t actually tried this yet but plugging it into the OP-1f for making loops then sending it back to the XY seems pretty cool. Hell you could even chop stuff up in the field and then sequence that kit from the XY.
I wish there were a way to have different loop lengths in the op-1 though.
I just ordered Chroma Console and Mood Mk2 today so those will defiantly be a major part of my TE setup.
I was just testing it with my E-4 for the first time today. I couldn’t get it to work via TRS midi for some reason. However, via USB midi everything works without any issues. Midi notes go out to the E-4, audio comes back into the OP-XY for sampling. The two are a great match. I can quickly duplicate any synth pattern on the OP-XY and turn it into midi pattern, sing something in tune and sample it directly onto another track on the OP-XY.
I’ve used the OP-1 Field and the XY a good bit so far. Some samples I might want to mangle a little more or add more effects, so I do this on the Field and then record them to the XY.
Used the Zoom MS70 CDR for another external fx chain. Handy to have and mine’s super portable too as I’ve modded it to have 3.5mm TRS jacks alongside the larger mono ones. See here:
I’m also using the XY with Arturia V Collection too. Mostly at the moment by sampling, but plan to set up MIDI too. The XY with the Legion Go running a DAW, etc. is still a small portable setup.
The best one for me though is the Faderfox UC4 MIDI controller. I’ve mapped the 8 buttons on the bottom to be temp mutes, the 8 faders are track volumes and then I’ve got the encoders mapped to some synth params. Haven’t figured a way to map the crossfade style fader to the EQ properly though yet. But the UC4 makes performing with the XY much easier.
Maybe the Roland uses the B “standard” for trs midi? Adding a vocoder is a killer idea. i’m going to try it with the microfreak.
I have one of these too and I love that it can send over trs midi into the XY, saving the usb port for other stuff.
I have the knobs and faders set to aux send levels, and the buttons to mute toggles, which is great as it also shows mute states on its LEDs. I have the crossfader set to tape speed.
@Colorsinspace1 the Chroma Console look perfect for the XY. I have been eyeing it myself. Very interested to hear how it goes.
OP-XY + Conductive labs MRCC or MRCC 880 is a bit of a power combo for farming multiple external MIDI I/O.
OP-XY happily powers the 880 too Although you will need a USB C to USB B lead.
Which effect box would you buy to go with the XY, since it’s got an audio in/out that’s fairly flexible for sound tweaking/enhancement, especially for a live environment?
Anyone know if there is a way to set the op xy midi pick up mode, Abby default it seems to jump but would be great if there was a pickup/latch option. Also trying to get leds to respond to midi ccs but can’t figure out how to send them back to the controller. Trying to get my mute buttons to light with the mute stats on my launch control
Been using a modern sounds Pluto, since it’s battery powered like the XY and that means I can take it anywhere. Syncs and gets midi via USB-C as well, through audio is still analog outs.
I like doing things the other way around so instead of sending 4 sequences to A4 I send 1 sequence and let A4 be in Round robin mode. And instead of sending 1 sequence to grandmother I send 4 polyrhythmic sequences to it.
The modular is being triggered by Grandmother by letting Marbles sample the CV and Gate data and sending it out to various bits and bobs.
In the recording I’m just playing around with P-FX and playing the Brain on the fly.
