Here's the finished patch: drive.google.com/file/d/1lIBl-X7vnL26e-XGfMNZKBM5Pdz2sD__/view?usp=sharing And I know it's hard to read the paper, lesson learned, I've just ordered some black paper and white markers, the bigger diagrams are just about legible I hope, but, the paper underneath the sliders says: Saw, Square, Sub, Noise, High Pass, Low Pass/VCA
Dang! These are what synth vids are meant to be! Brilliant. After serious issues with GAS, I only allow myself to watch vids about synths I own. And these are super helpful 👍
It wasn't until around 20 minutes in that I realised you had a link to the patch. But you explain things so clearly and with just enough depth for it not to become boring or tedious. I didn't download the patch, instead programmed it from your tutorial, thanks for helping me understand this synths engine better.
I'm positively stunned by how effectively you've recreated the character of a vintage analog synth on an FM synth. This Opsix seems like a terrific little sound laboratory!
The OPSIX is FM for the 21st century. It fills all the shortcomings Yamaha left with the first wave in the 80s. It's not as good as the Yamaha REFACE CS tho. That's a whole new level of instantaneous magic. Yamaha went to the other end of the spectrum with the REFACE CS and delivered the best sounding synth of alltime in a very basic low-key package. That will only be unwrapped by the right people. I will do the full unwrapping in 2023.
@@OscillatorSink but the question is: was it the best option that Korg called it "altered FM" or could it find a better category for Opsix? It seems like with digital synths becoming popular it's becoming harder and harder to categorize them and I somehow feel we will soon stop categorizing them by synthesis method like subtractive or FM and... then what? Group them by polyphony and multitimbrality? By UI principles like "knob per function", "menu diving" or whatever? Or will they all become workstations?
This is really beautiful. What is especially cool (for me) is that what you have here is a Kurzweil VAST synth without PCM-based waveforms. The Operators here work more like the DSP blocks and the User-algorithm here allows you to construct some incredible architectures. I wasn't expecting you to be able to assign filter DSP to operators, that opens up some truly inspiring directions especially if you're trying to emulate classic synths.
This is still great. I finally sat down and followed this tutorial tonight and gained a much better understanding of the V.Patch settings. What a synth. What a teacher.
@@OscillatorSink Here I am about a year later. I purchased my opsix in the blowout that I couldnt resist. This video is the first tutorial I watched. Thanks for the amazing content. Maybe you can build a drum machine in the opsix next :D
@@edjwise I'm a fresh opsix owner myself, and drums is usually what I first try to work with to learn a new synth. The lack of multitimbrality is the limiting factor here. Since we're limited to six operators and keyboard splits have to be allocated to operators, the most simultaneous "voices" you can have for drums is six. However, in order to do anything interesting with FM drums you typically need 3-4 operators... with digital waveforms assigned instead of trad FM we might be able to squeeze three two-operator drum tones on a single opsix keyboard split.
I am very impressed! I waffled between buying the Wavestate and the Opsix a few months ago. I chose the Wavestate and have been glad I did, but this video has me second guessing myself a bit. These new Korgs are so versatile in what they can do. Thanks for sharing!
@@djpopcorns I wasn't specifically looking for an FM synth, just something to use to play with sound. Wavestate is a wave sequencing synth that I was looking at while checking out the Opsix. I have played with the Opsix VST version and think it is great and would still like to get an Opsix some day.
Chief take-away lesson for video producers: if you're going to use hand-drawn diagrams directly on camera, NEVER use white paper - especially if your pen is not thick :( I think this is why Brady Haran uses that brown paper and thick markers in his videos). That aside, I'm really enjoying this one! Your OpSix videos are so useful.
There is a general Attack and Decay control when you press the "home"-key, so you can keep EG1 assigned to OP6 Level (Patch 1). For the rest I really enjoyed the video. I just bought an opsix and am new to the world of synthesizers. This is almost like a course how to work with the instrument. Thank you!
Doing this along with you, and learning. I love how you use diagrams, and explain. Marvelous, thank you! One thing that baffled me for a few minutes is that we need to actually choose the USER ALGO. That wasn't clear to me (at first) and couldn't figure out why the filters weren't doing anything. Maybe you mentioned this and I missed it, but just for reference to anyone struggling: Hit the ALGO button and choose the USER Algorithm.
Excellent deconstruction. I’m learning so much about algorithms and FM synthesis just by watching. For a Dawless hardware set up, I bought the JUO6A by Roland. I thought it would fulfill all of my Juno needs but recently, I find the JUO6A somewhat limiting as the sequence or isn’t polyphonic, so I am unable to sequence cords. The arpeggiator also doesn’t seem to the time of the song. My next synth buy is definitely the Korg op6. Knowing that you can model a near perfect Juno sound. Is absolutely incredible. The Juno is my favorite classic synthesizer. However, as far as what’s hot now, I think this synth along with Arturia’s minifreak are basically dominating the synth world at this price point. Great video. Subscribed!
Marvellous and extremely convincing. Thanks a lot to share your passion. I discovered this original synth when playing on the free plug in (for 20 minutes!) OP Six Native. I was attracted by the two wave synths Wavestate and Modwave but felt not satisfactory. Finally resold my MODX (FM 8 operators) too complicated to program. And this OP Six is looking at me more and more attracting in both VA and FM.
I found it better in the end to use the regular filter for LP because modulating the pitch of OP6 didn't give the full range of envelope modulation you get on the Juno even with the intensity maxed out on that vpatch block. So I just mapped env1 to Filter->cutoff. On the juno you can have the cutoff at 0 and env at max and get a full filter range from the envelope for a really extreme brassy sound.
@@OscillatorSink Had this for 9 months and I have just created my first patch from scratch tonight! It sounds so rich. Was fun too. I'm sure 99.9% of the people who purchase this don't ever use it to anywhere near its potential. Thanks again :).
I love your videos, just a nice reminder to make sure your exposure isn’t too high so we can see the sheets of paper, simple digital graphic might be more legible ❤️ totally not trying to be rude you definitely crush it
Discussed Opsix on Reddit recently and what came to my mind is if only Korg priced it @ $500-550 it would be the best synth to learn synthesis period. The only popular technique it doesn't do is wavetables but after learning how to program Opsix they would be super easy to understand.
I just bought a b stock one from Kory on reverb for 299. I wasn’t even interested in the synth but I am blown away. I love synths that I feel I’ll never get bored with
Views on this video are about to skyrocket now that they closed them out. Thousands of us will be receiving these over the next couple of weeks and will want to figure out stuff to do with them
Would you ever consider showing sound design for specific synth sounds? Like the Brass from Mac Miller's Complicated, or the Lead key melody for Everything in its Right Place by Radiohead, or even some Talking Heads or Prince? If not it's fine, I love this video and this synth. It's capable of alot more than alot of people give it credit for.
I'm not inherently against the idea, and I recognise that understanding how to dissect a sound and recreate it is useful; but if I'm being honest, it doesn't excite me so much as a concept and at the moment the time and energy pressures provided by my home and work leaves me with very little to work on videos at the moment. I will likely end up prioritising other stuff at the moment. Maybe it's an idea I might use on a live stream so it's less formal and pressured though...
It's amazing to see you dive into this synth in such creative ways. I definitely look forward to seeing your attempt at the Buchla Easel! Thank you for giving such in depth tutorials.
You’re not good for my bank balance man! I didn’t realise I needed one of these until I started watching your videos about it. Question is, do I go for one of these or go for a Yamaha Modx? Hmmmm, first world problems eh! Great video man, this really shows the potential of this wee blighter, peace ✌️
Hey, this is amazing and has completely redefined how I think about my opsix. So thank you! It would be really interesting to see how close you can get the opsix to sound like a particular Juno patch and compare the two. Or even a deepmind 12 patch, considering the architecture is similar, the mod matrix is comparable, and the deepmind displays all the parameters for each patch?
That would be interesting - sadly I don't have a Juno, but indeed, a Deepmind is something I could compare it against. Actually, the opsix has basically made the Deepmind redundant in my setup, they very much occupy the same space but I feel like I prefer the opsix... But I must admit I haven't done a straight comparison.
@@OscillatorSink thanks for the response! That's quite the statement. I have an opsix, but I just bought a deepmind less than a month ago. This is what lead me to your channel. I'm very new to synthesis, so I love your channel. Walking through building patches, incorporating different functions, and building the elements of a patch in a logical and functional way is the best way I learn. That's why I really appreciate your content. I would like to see those opsix vs deepmind videos, or opsix vs any synth because it seems like you have a deep enough understanding to mimic any synth with the opsix. Here's a crazy question, should I send my deepmind back?
One more thing, I played the base Juno patch you made against the base deepmind patch with both saw, square and square sub oscillator and I was shocked at how similar it sounded. There was some nuance with the filter and the tamber changed slightly up and down the pitch, but still very similar. I just want to eat your brains and gain your knowledge dude! My synthesis mentor!
@@thumper5832 I wouldn't dump the Deepmind because you might find that they compliment themselves nicely in your setup, especially if you're enjoying using it. For me, and the way I work though, I rarely need access to multiple polys unless there's something very particular they can brin. If you look back through my videos (excluding the very old ones when I didn't understand what it was I enjoyed about making electronic music) it is exceptionally rare that I have more than two things out to make music with at once and 3 or 4 instruments are basically unheard of these days - so the likelihood of me wanting the Deepmind and the opsix together when their Venn diagram has a big cross over from my perspective is pretty low. That said, there are still some generative tricks that the Deepmind can pull off that are harder to do with the opsix...but if Korg add cycling and/or LFO triggered envelopes in a firmware update...
@@OscillatorSink thanks for the advice, I appreciate it. And I find that interesting. I've cut a few tracks (mostly hip hop) and I have used mainly one synth for each song (deepmind, opsix, or minilogue XD). I do love my deepmind and can see myself growing into it for years to come. Thanks again for taking the time to respond to my comments and considering that video idea. I look forward to learning more from you in future videos!
I Love the OPsix - and i love youre interviews ....theyre among the very best on the net,- - now i got mrself ANOTHER Typhon - (now they dropped to and insane cheap price - and after the updates , its become my FAV. synth of long time ! - i can now chain them together for analog polyphioic multivoiceing (AND it do disco inferno ! ;-) ) well - on the way out , i casually grabbed a Modal COBALT m8, and im s-s-s-stunned by the sound - and i gotta have some more of that crispy 8oés Disco Inferno ! So , the Opsix,- now , a synth player nerd friend of mine , try to convince me to get the - instead .... why should i !? and SHOULD i , - (im a bassplayer gone synth craysee- 10 hours of playing - d a y lee - eat sleep drink synths - you KNOW somethings wrong - when you cant decided to go for a wawestate m or an OPsix ! ). pls. help me !? pls. i need help a....please ?....yes ?....
I am very happy with the opsix and I'm happy to recommend it to anyone who will listen - especially if you are an inquisitive synthesist, there's so much to dig around in. It'll also provide something that your other devices don't. So if you're itching at get something new then go for it - but don't forget to take time out and enjoy what you already have!
@@OscillatorSink Thanx Oscillator Sink - Indeed its time to get the "Old" !? gear out, and connected - the Microfreaks,Medusas ,Erebus´s , Digitones and Digitakt´s ,Deepminds . Grandmothers , and ALL the other synthesizers , that took one for the team - in the "LockDown Closet" my GAS problems will , inevitably, give me BOTH ! - Have a perfect day , and best regards from Copenhagen. ;-)
I don't own a Wavestate, but I prefer the opsix over most things (it's one of my favourite synths), so let's assume so! It is, however, a VERY different synth, so asking which someone prefers is going to be intensely subjective.
@@OscillatorSink Sorry about that, for some reason I was under the impression that you had both of these great Synths. Thanks for your insight on the OPSIX. Understood about the subjectivity of many synths.
Another amazing video, thank you. So much to learn and I wish I had more time with which to explore my OpSix. This synth is just huge. Just out of interest, could the MOD7 engine in the Kronos do this stuff? I have a Kronos but it’s a hard synth to understand.
Sorry, sadly I have no experience with the Kronos at all. I looks like it replicates some of what the opsix can do, but I don't see any mention of the user algorithms though.
@@OscillatorSink Thank you. That’s why I bought the OpSix. It’s different and although deep, easier to fathom than the Kronos. Thanks for replying and keep up the great work.
The korg opsix has some dedicated waveforms called „additive“ and even an Leslie effect. This suggests it could be used as a drawbar organ. But said waveforms always contain the fundamental as mentioned in the manual. The 8 is the fundamental , the other (those not 8) don’t contain the fundamental on an organ If the synth does it wrong, what workaround is there? Or are there virtually no settings (88800808) in use that set drawbar 8 to zero? Then it wouldn’t matter. I’m neither a FM nor an organ specialist. If it’s too much to answer in one sentence, feel free to make a video.😇🎹
The easy answer, I suppose is: pitch those other waveforms up an octave (away from the fundamental), and have one of the operators set as the fundamental? Or am I missing something here?
@@OscillatorSink thanks for the reply. Still enjoying your demonstration of the possibilities. If I multiply the fundamental, I wouldn’t need the additional harmonic. Perhaps that’s some kind of additive synth math I don’t fully understand. I just like to understand how things work.. I’m more interested in the FM and other modes. I stopped some times to read the manual. Even more convinced that this will be my first hardware synth.
So if took the 1-4 additive waveform and bumped it up an octave, it becomes a 2-8 essentially, and remember that the ratios on the opsix are in the harmonic series so you can get other combinations that way. But honestly, you can get a lot of drawbar sounds by just using sines or triangles at different ratios and using a algorithm where you hear them all (either something like algo 32 or a user algorithm of course).
Thanks for sharing this fabulous walk-through. I just received my opsix this week and this has helped me find my way round it. I wonder if it would be possible to model other well known analog synths within an Opsix ?
@@petecoates6410 a lot of people have mentioned the Prophet 5 to me and I think that should be doable, but you'll need to think about the cross mod feature a bit. I've also done videos on the channel looking at building Buchla style synths and string machines, both of which might contain some more tips you could make use of.
@@OscillatorSink That’s great - thanks. I will study the P5 architecture and see how far I can get I am loving the Opsix and the Wavestate that I also bought recently.
I finally got round to spending more time in the studio with the Opsix ( I make guitars during the day!). I’ve revisited this video tutorial because it’s simply the best Opsix vid out there on VA use and the Juno-esque sounds fit my productions perfectly. One question though - did you, or anyone else, have any success modelling a P5 inside the Opsix. I would love to know how to do that still. I’m a guitar player so don’t know too much about the P5 architecture - I just know I love those types of sounds and won’t be buying a P5 anytime soon. There’s also something very cool about using the Opsix this way . As well as it’s other amazing capabilities of course.
I have had my eye on this synth since it came out and have resisted buying one, because I thought my GAS was simply overwhelming any tangible need for one. I thought that my Hydra can do FM so I don't need one of these. Well, this thing does a lot that the Hydra can't, so, sorry wallet.
To can make a 3 oscillator virtual analogue mono synth yes! You can even implement the option to have oscillator 3 modulate one of the others too. The whole thing wouldn't be that dissimilar to this patch really.
I came back to watch this again and I've started to wonder... given this setup, how could you allow for key tracking on the filter? I mean variable key tracking, not just on and off. Is it possible?
Modulate the "pitch" of the filter operator (which translates to the cutoff) in the vpatch with the note number as the source. The depth of modulation will dictate the amount of key tracking.
@@macronencer the other way to do it, of course, is to set the pitch mode on that operator back to ratio - so it'll do "full" key tracking, but I find that a bit much in most patches.
I'm right there with you William, but I'm only on Day 4 with this beastie so I'm sure I missed/botched a step on my first time following this tutorial. Thanks so much for these Oscillator Sink - you're really helping reduce my learning curve with the opsix! After a long foray into analog, I'm super pleased the opsix can model these older synths in addition to its other powers - seems like a GAS-limiter to me!!
Well I’ve had a good crack at a P5 architecture tonight but still cant get my head around cross modding one OSC1 with OSC2 because it just seems like simple FM of op2 into op1 and op1 back into op2 in the user algo , but I dont think I am on the right track there. Also , how to make the osc waves selectable for each of the two oscillators without having to edit the op mode each time to change waveforms - maybe theres no other way to do it. Generally feeling a bit confused but enjoying the ride 😂
@@petecoates6410 that particular kind of analog cross mod isn't strictly speaking possible, but if you were happy with phase modulation (which is what FM is here), you could do it in a similar way I do it in this video: th-cam.com/video/ItCOr_izEWA/w-d-xo.html which is using an intermediate operator as a kind of "cross mod VCA" (the improvement to my initial plan I am forced to make near the start of the video). Oh, and that's the only way you can reasonably change the waveforms. No real way around that.
Ah ! Great , I will try that thanks. I did try using a third operator to feed into Osc2 to modulate it at varying degrees, which was kind of cool, but didn’t get me there. I will try what you suggest. Also, I had a Homer style “doh” moment thinking about changing the waveforms for Osc 1 &2 - which was that I can simply set up lots of different patches using different waveform configurations and save them individually for different emulations of prophet- style patches! Experimenting last night I still found lots of useable sounds. The Opsix is a gem of a machine. It also made me think about trying a P5 approach on my little blofeld too!
@@OscillatorSink dope, can't wait to study this video in depth. Do you know the Aalto synth? I love how the waveguide delay does so lovely feedbacks that can be multitimbral pitched. I wonder if there is a similar way to approach this cause this wpuld make the opsix a very organic sounding synth
@@mariorobles87 I'm not familiar with it specifically (I just took a look though - looks very nice, clean interface with lots of features I appreciate), but I am comfortable with the concepts around waveguides, and you've given me some ideas for things to try on the opsix later!
@@OscillatorSink the thing with Aalto is that you can tame feedbacks and play multitimbral and this is something I miss in synthesizers. I think there are a lot of ways to create feedbacks with the opsix! The use algo is really incredible...
In what way? The opsix actually has a plugin version now - not an editor, but the whole of the synth in plugin form, so that integrates well. The midi implementation is pretty solid on the opsix, I haven't really looked at the Modwave so much. The opsix used to have clock drift which was a bummer, but that seems to have been patched now.
@@OscillatorSink al my gear is usb integrated in my studio. It’s just how I like it set up. I was looking more into the mod wave over the opsix. This happened to be the video I commented on.
@@Matt4star the Modwave will do midi over USB absolutely fine if that's what you're asking. There's also a desktop editor so you can work from screen if you prefer.
@@OscillatorSink Thanks again, First I thought, why doesn’t he take an existing algorithm and changes the mode of the operators? I looked I the manual.There wasn’t that algorithm.. Second I thought how many user algorithms are there? That wasn’t exactly stated either. Yeah. I’m the odd one out who reads the manual before buying.
I followed the guide put out by Korg which is included in the download for the librarian, so RNDIS. You also need to check the 'USB network' setting in the global settings on the opsix and make sure that's RNDIS too.
@@OscillatorSink ive been thinking what other synth (emulation ) could it do based on this idea. For sure it does Casio! :)) But I will definitely have a series of patches based on your juno algorithm. What I have at first in mind is to see replicate the drums of the KORG ER-1 , 4 synth instruments. 1-2 are independent or can do ring mod or crossmod 3 & 4 are independent
A polysix is actually very similar to this setup. You don't have the in-line high pass and there are some slight changes to the modulator routings, but this patch would be a good starting point if you wanted to try!
Just to be clear, you basically sold me on the opsix with this one. When it dropped in price a few days ago here in Germany, I just snapped one up. Can't wait for it to get here.
These videos have good content but I find it so insanely difficult to follow when you’re flicking back and forth between stuff as fast as possible and it seems to increase with speed as the video goes on and i have to rewind like 15 times to follow. It also doesn’t help having the contact turned up to a million, you can read any labels and your pieces of paper do not even show the text because they’re washed out to hell. Slow down a little and turn your contrast down and they’d be more helpful.
*contrast *can't Also there's a pinned comment apologising for the paper, I switched to white pen on black paper after this video, but I didn't want to re record this video as they take quite a lot of time to record (much longer than the runtime of the video) and I do them in my free time. I'm sorry about the pacing, but frankly most complaints are that I go too slowly so I'm just going to carry on at a pace I'm comfortable with, and people can rewind if they like.
"Press shift and then filter button to go into miscellaneous menu in order to enable the USER INTERFACE" ....this is exactly why I haven't bought any new hardware synth in nearly a decade. Too many of these instruments are going to be forgotten and remembered as even worse than the 00's VAs and romplers are regarded now.
WHAT YOU ARE DOING IS AMAZING... but did you realize your PAPER APPEAR quite BLANK in the video?? it is possible to see something only when you make a SHADOW with your HAND on the paper! please, do something....
In future videos I do white pen on black paper. Sadly it's a bit late for this video. I do explain everything as I go so the paper is just an aide memoire.
Here's the finished patch: drive.google.com/file/d/1lIBl-X7vnL26e-XGfMNZKBM5Pdz2sD__/view?usp=sharing
And I know it's hard to read the paper, lesson learned, I've just ordered some black paper and white markers, the bigger diagrams are just about legible I hope, but, the paper underneath the sliders says:
Saw, Square, Sub, Noise, High Pass, Low Pass/VCA
The legibility can likely be fixed with some basic post-processing of the video, adjusting the contrast, black level, and or brightness.
Alt: Black felt tip pen or turn down the lighting a bit, but yes. And thanks for this - good tutorial overall.
@@jeffspc88mx Black paper and white markers is superior even to that, as I discovered in my recent video.
I'd post here a wishlist - if I may: Roland SH-201; Yamaha AN1x - how would these be built on Opsix?
Dang! These are what synth vids are meant to be! Brilliant. After serious issues with GAS, I only allow myself to watch vids about synths I own. And these are super helpful 👍
Cheers! I'm glad you enjoyed it, and I applaud your discipline!
This is such a good policy.
yeah G.A.S. simply does not make music... but there is really some gear out there that can be a workhorse in your arsenal.
It wasn't until around 20 minutes in that I realised you had a link to the patch.
But you explain things so clearly and with just enough depth for it not to become boring or tedious.
I didn't download the patch, instead programmed it from your tutorial, thanks for helping me understand this synths engine better.
Thank you! And you're very welcome!
I'm positively stunned by how effectively you've recreated the character of a vintage analog synth on an FM synth. This Opsix seems like a terrific little sound laboratory!
The secret really is: it's a synth that *can* do FM, rather than being an "FM Synth". It's a wonderful instrument.
The OPSIX is FM for the 21st century. It fills all the shortcomings Yamaha left with the first wave in the 80s.
It's not as good as the Yamaha REFACE CS tho. That's a whole new level of instantaneous magic. Yamaha went to the other end of the spectrum with the REFACE CS and delivered the best sounding synth of alltime in a very basic low-key package. That will only be unwrapped by the right people. I will do the full unwrapping in 2023.
@@OscillatorSink but the question is: was it the best option that Korg called it "altered FM" or could it find a better category for Opsix? It seems like with digital synths becoming popular it's becoming harder and harder to categorize them and I somehow feel we will soon stop categorizing them by synthesis method like subtractive or FM and... then what? Group them by polyphony and multitimbrality? By UI principles like "knob per function", "menu diving" or whatever? Or will they all become workstations?
@@AntonMochalin I'd have called it an Algorithmic Synthesizer. It's not a known term, but it does describe it pretty well.
This is really beautiful. What is especially cool (for me) is that what you have here is a Kurzweil VAST synth without PCM-based waveforms. The Operators here work more like the DSP blocks and the User-algorithm here allows you to construct some incredible architectures. I wasn't expecting you to be able to assign filter DSP to operators, that opens up some truly inspiring directions especially if you're trying to emulate classic synths.
Korg vastly undersell the opsix by calling it "Altered FM". It's a little modular synthesis environment.
This is still great.
I finally sat down and followed this tutorial tonight and gained a much better understanding of the V.Patch settings.
What a synth. What a teacher.
The vpatch is so, so powerful! Really pleased I could help you unlock it!
Thanks for making these videos.
Opsix is one of the most exciting synths I have seen in years.
You're very welcome, and I agree!
@@OscillatorSink Here I am about a year later. I purchased my opsix in the blowout that I couldnt resist. This video is the first tutorial I watched.
Thanks for the amazing content.
Maybe you can build a drum machine in the opsix next :D
@@edjwise I'm a fresh opsix owner myself, and drums is usually what I first try to work with to learn a new synth. The lack of multitimbrality is the limiting factor here. Since we're limited to six operators and keyboard splits have to be allocated to operators, the most simultaneous "voices" you can have for drums is six.
However, in order to do anything interesting with FM drums you typically need 3-4 operators... with digital waveforms assigned instead of trad FM we might be able to squeeze three two-operator drum tones on a single opsix keyboard split.
*cough*
th-cam.com/video/Zxb7QSepZv8/w-d-xo.html
I am very impressed! I waffled between buying the Wavestate and the Opsix a few months ago. I chose the Wavestate and have been glad I did, but this video has me second guessing myself a bit. These new Korgs are so versatile in what they can do.
Thanks for sharing!
Why'd you choose the Wavestate? Does it have more/better/different FM capabilities?
The wavestate isn't an FM synth at all, it's all based around samples, so it's a very, very different instrument.
@@djpopcorns I wasn't specifically looking for an FM synth, just something to use to play with sound. Wavestate is a wave sequencing synth that I was looking at while checking out the Opsix. I have played with the Opsix VST version and think it is great and would still like to get an Opsix some day.
The OPSIX is INCREDIBLE. Best way I can describe it. If he DX7 married the JUNO 106 and had a baby. It would be the KORG OPSIX. It's INCREDIBLE.
Chief take-away lesson for video producers: if you're going to use hand-drawn diagrams directly on camera, NEVER use white paper - especially if your pen is not thick :( I think this is why Brady Haran uses that brown paper and thick markers in his videos). That aside, I'm really enjoying this one! Your OpSix videos are so useful.
I've just ordered a stack of black paper and white markers.
@@OscillatorSink That's great! I hope it helps.
I love my opsix and find most of it very easy to understand and use. I come here for the parts I don't. Sterling work, Sir.
This is very impressive. Well done, man.
There is a general Attack and Decay control when you press the "home"-key, so you can keep EG1 assigned to OP6 Level (Patch 1).
For the rest I really enjoyed the video. I just bought an opsix and am new to the world of synthesizers. This is almost like a course how to work with the instrument. Thank you!
Doing this along with you, and learning. I love how you use diagrams, and explain. Marvelous, thank you!
One thing that baffled me for a few minutes is that we need to actually choose the USER ALGO. That wasn't clear to me (at first) and couldn't figure out why the filters weren't doing anything. Maybe you mentioned this and I missed it, but just for reference to anyone struggling: Hit the ALGO button and choose the USER Algorithm.
As someone who knows very little about synth architecture, this was so interesting!
I'm glad to hear that!
Excellent deconstruction. I’m learning so much about algorithms and FM synthesis just by watching. For a Dawless hardware set up, I bought the JUO6A by Roland. I thought it would fulfill all of my Juno needs but recently, I find the JUO6A somewhat limiting as the sequence or isn’t polyphonic, so I am unable to sequence cords. The arpeggiator also doesn’t seem to the time of the song. My next synth buy is definitely the Korg op6. Knowing that you can model a near perfect Juno sound. Is absolutely incredible. The Juno is my favorite classic synthesizer. However, as far as what’s hot now, I think this synth along with Arturia’s minifreak are basically dominating the synth world at this price point. Great video. Subscribed!
Marvellous and extremely convincing. Thanks a lot to share your passion. I discovered this original synth when playing on the free plug in (for 20 minutes!) OP Six Native. I was attracted by the two wave synths Wavestate and Modwave but felt not satisfactory. Finally resold my MODX (FM 8 operators) too complicated to program. And this OP Six is looking at me more and more attracting in both VA and FM.
The opsix is great, and I think it's hugely underrated.
Your adaptation is brilliant and spot on.
Thank you!
I found it better in the end to use the regular filter for LP because modulating the pitch of OP6 didn't give the full range of envelope modulation you get on the Juno even with the intensity maxed out on that vpatch block. So I just mapped env1 to Filter->cutoff. On the juno you can have the cutoff at 0 and env at max and get a full filter range from the envelope for a really extreme brassy sound.
this vid made me buy the synth. other demonstrations of this synth somehow all sound gnarly and cold but you made it warm.
The opsix is super versatile - it can do both!
Wow … this synth sounds amazing in the right hands 🙌🏼 thanks for sharing! Keep the great work
Thank you!
Fantastic!!!! Thank you! So glad I have ordered mine!
You are very welcome, and I hope you enjoy it when it arrives!
Nice, lush cinematic synth pads :) very reminiscent of 80's era sci-fi
This is still amazing to watch. Wow.
Amazing tutorial, many thanks!
Thank you so much for explaining the user algorithm to me. I just couldn't work out how to use it but now i do.
That's great to hear! It opens up so many possibilities on this synth.
@@OscillatorSink Had this for 9 months and I have just created my first patch from scratch tonight! It sounds so rich. Was fun too. I'm sure 99.9% of the people who purchase this don't ever use it to anywhere near its potential. Thanks again :).
I love your videos, just a nice reminder to make sure your exposure isn’t too high so we can see the sheets of paper, simple digital graphic might be more legible ❤️ totally not trying to be rude you definitely crush it
After this video I switched to black paper with white writing which worked a lot better!
@@OscillatorSink that’s awesome
Discussed Opsix on Reddit recently and what came to my mind is if only Korg priced it @ $500-550 it would be the best synth to learn synthesis period. The only popular technique it doesn't do is wavetables but after learning how to program Opsix they would be super easy to understand.
I just bought a b stock one from Kory on reverb for 299. I wasn’t even interested in the synth but I am blown away. I love synths that I feel I’ll never get bored with
excellent job. made for an entertaining and educating Wednesday evening.
Cheers!
Views on this video are about to skyrocket now that they closed them out. Thousands of us will be receiving these over the next couple of weeks and will want to figure out stuff to do with them
yeah the 330 closeout was instabuy.. hope to open my box up in a year or so to start playing with it🤡
Another killer tutorial!
Thanks!
Brilliant video! Thank you
Thanks for watching!
This is... nuts. Need Korg to make an XL version of this for a full keybed and then 👀
The opsix... Most underrated synth of the last few years.
@@OscillatorSink it reminds me of the Pro 2 in its flexibility - though obviously very different beasts.
I'd love to play with the Pro-3 actually - seems to be very much up my street.
Lovely! I would instabuy this thing, if korg would release a multitimbral desktop version. That would be the perfect addition to my digitone.
We live in hope. Korg have started to talk about other form factors for the Wavestate, so fingers crossed.
Would you ever consider showing sound design for specific synth sounds? Like the Brass from Mac Miller's Complicated, or the Lead key melody for Everything in its Right Place by Radiohead, or even some Talking Heads or Prince? If not it's fine, I love this video and this synth. It's capable of alot more than alot of people give it credit for.
I'm not inherently against the idea, and I recognise that understanding how to dissect a sound and recreate it is useful; but if I'm being honest, it doesn't excite me so much as a concept and at the moment the time and energy pressures provided by my home and work leaves me with very little to work on videos at the moment. I will likely end up prioritising other stuff at the moment. Maybe it's an idea I might use on a live stream so it's less formal and pressured though...
@@OscillatorSink for sure dude no pressure from me, I'm actually at guitsr center buying mine rn lol, do you stream on TH-cam?
I do, sporadically. Make sure you have notifications on of you want to know ahead of time when I'm going live.
@@OscillatorSink sure thing dude, I know you're busy I appreciate taking the time
It's amazing to see you dive into this synth in such creative ways. I definitely look forward to seeing your attempt at the Buchla Easel! Thank you for giving such in depth tutorials.
Bloody superb
Cheers!
Great tutorial. I only ever use User Algorithms ...It's addicting lol
You’re not good for my bank balance man! I didn’t realise I needed one of these until I started watching your videos about it. Question is, do I go for one of these or go for a Yamaha Modx? Hmmmm, first world problems eh! Great video man, this really shows the potential of this wee blighter, peace ✌️
I haven't looked at the modx in detail - but I really do love the opsix.
@@OscillatorSink The Modx is seriously nutty!
Your opsix videos are my favorites. Any chance you will make more of these patch building opsix videos? They are extremely helpful.
Hey, this is amazing and has completely redefined how I think about my opsix. So thank you!
It would be really interesting to see how close you can get the opsix to sound like a particular Juno patch and compare the two.
Or even a deepmind 12 patch, considering the architecture is similar, the mod matrix is comparable, and the deepmind displays all the parameters for each patch?
That would be interesting - sadly I don't have a Juno, but indeed, a Deepmind is something I could compare it against. Actually, the opsix has basically made the Deepmind redundant in my setup, they very much occupy the same space but I feel like I prefer the opsix... But I must admit I haven't done a straight comparison.
@@OscillatorSink thanks for the response! That's quite the statement. I have an opsix, but I just bought a deepmind less than a month ago. This is what lead me to your channel. I'm very new to synthesis, so I love your channel.
Walking through building patches, incorporating different functions, and building the elements of a patch in a logical and functional way is the best way I learn. That's why I really appreciate your content. I would like to see those opsix vs deepmind videos, or opsix vs any synth because it seems like you have a deep enough understanding to mimic any synth with the opsix.
Here's a crazy question, should I send my deepmind back?
One more thing, I played the base Juno patch you made against the base deepmind patch with both saw, square and square sub oscillator and I was shocked at how similar it sounded. There was some nuance with the filter and the tamber changed slightly up and down the pitch, but still very similar.
I just want to eat your brains and gain your knowledge dude! My synthesis mentor!
@@thumper5832 I wouldn't dump the Deepmind because you might find that they compliment themselves nicely in your setup, especially if you're enjoying using it. For me, and the way I work though, I rarely need access to multiple polys unless there's something very particular they can brin. If you look back through my videos (excluding the very old ones when I didn't understand what it was I enjoyed about making electronic music) it is exceptionally rare that I have more than two things out to make music with at once and 3 or 4 instruments are basically unheard of these days - so the likelihood of me wanting the Deepmind and the opsix together when their Venn diagram has a big cross over from my perspective is pretty low.
That said, there are still some generative tricks that the Deepmind can pull off that are harder to do with the opsix...but if Korg add cycling and/or LFO triggered envelopes in a firmware update...
@@OscillatorSink thanks for the advice, I appreciate it. And I find that interesting. I've cut a few tracks (mostly hip hop) and I have used mainly one synth for each song (deepmind, opsix, or minilogue XD). I do love my deepmind and can see myself growing into it for years to come.
Thanks again for taking the time to respond to my comments and considering that video idea. I look forward to learning more from you in future videos!
Man you should do a prophet in a opsix video :)
I Love the OPsix - and i love youre interviews ....theyre among the very best on the net,- - now i got mrself ANOTHER Typhon - (now they dropped to and insane cheap price - and after the updates , its become my FAV. synth of long time ! - i can now chain them together for analog polyphioic multivoiceing (AND it do disco inferno ! ;-) ) well - on the way out , i casually grabbed a Modal COBALT m8, and im s-s-s-stunned by the sound - and i gotta have some more of that crispy 8oés Disco Inferno ! So , the Opsix,- now , a synth player nerd friend of mine , try to convince me to get the - instead .... why should i !? and SHOULD i , - (im a bassplayer gone synth craysee- 10 hours of playing - d a y lee - eat sleep drink synths - you KNOW somethings wrong - when you cant decided to go for a wawestate m or an OPsix ! ). pls. help me !? pls. i need help a....please ?....yes ?....
I am very happy with the opsix and I'm happy to recommend it to anyone who will listen - especially if you are an inquisitive synthesist, there's so much to dig around in. It'll also provide something that your other devices don't. So if you're itching at get something new then go for it - but don't forget to take time out and enjoy what you already have!
@@OscillatorSink Thanx Oscillator Sink - Indeed its time to get the "Old" !? gear out, and connected - the Microfreaks,Medusas ,Erebus´s , Digitones and Digitakt´s ,Deepminds . Grandmothers , and ALL the other synthesizers , that took one for the team - in the "LockDown Closet" my GAS problems will , inevitably, give me BOTH ! - Have a perfect day , and best regards from Copenhagen. ;-)
Thanks for sharing this tutorial. Do you prefer the OPSIX over the Wavestate?
I don't own a Wavestate, but I prefer the opsix over most things (it's one of my favourite synths), so let's assume so! It is, however, a VERY different synth, so asking which someone prefers is going to be intensely subjective.
@@OscillatorSink Sorry about that, for some reason I was under the impression that you had both of these great Synths. Thanks for your insight on the OPSIX. Understood about the subjectivity of many synths.
Another amazing video, thank you. So much to learn and I wish I had more time with which to explore my OpSix. This synth is just huge. Just out of interest, could the MOD7 engine in the Kronos do this stuff? I have a Kronos but it’s a hard synth to understand.
Sorry, sadly I have no experience with the Kronos at all. I looks like it replicates some of what the opsix can do, but I don't see any mention of the user algorithms though.
@@OscillatorSink Thank you. That’s why I bought the OpSix. It’s different and although deep, easier to fathom than the Kronos. Thanks for replying and keep up the great work.
I know this video is old but I can't see anything written on the paper
Yep. That's why I switched to black paper and white pen after this video.
The korg opsix has some dedicated waveforms called „additive“ and even an Leslie effect.
This suggests it could be used as a drawbar organ.
But said waveforms always contain the fundamental as mentioned in the manual.
The 8 is the fundamental , the other (those not 8) don’t contain the fundamental on an organ
If the synth does it wrong, what workaround is there?
Or are there virtually no settings (88800808) in use that set drawbar 8 to zero? Then it wouldn’t matter.
I’m neither a FM nor an organ specialist.
If it’s too much to answer in one sentence, feel free to make a video.😇🎹
The easy answer, I suppose is: pitch those other waveforms up an octave (away from the fundamental), and have one of the operators set as the fundamental? Or am I missing something here?
@@OscillatorSink thanks for the reply.
Still enjoying your demonstration of the possibilities.
If I multiply the fundamental, I wouldn’t need the additional harmonic. Perhaps that’s some kind of additive synth math I don’t fully understand.
I just like to understand how things work.. I’m more interested in the FM and other modes.
I stopped some times to read the manual.
Even more convinced that this will be my first hardware synth.
So if took the 1-4 additive waveform and bumped it up an octave, it becomes a 2-8 essentially, and remember that the ratios on the opsix are in the harmonic series so you can get other combinations that way.
But honestly, you can get a lot of drawbar sounds by just using sines or triangles at different ratios and using a algorithm where you hear them all (either something like algo 32 or a user algorithm of course).
drawbar organs are all about the subtle distortions on those sine waves
Thanks for sharing this fabulous walk-through. I just received my opsix this week and this has helped me find my way round it. I wonder if it would be possible to model other well known analog synths within an Opsix ?
It absolutely is - and it's a great learning experience to study a synth's architecture and map it onto the opsix's operators.
@@OscillatorSink Thanks - any thoughts on what I should have a crack at ?
@@petecoates6410 a lot of people have mentioned the Prophet 5 to me and I think that should be doable, but you'll need to think about the cross mod feature a bit. I've also done videos on the channel looking at building Buchla style synths and string machines, both of which might contain some more tips you could make use of.
@@OscillatorSink That’s great - thanks. I will study the P5 architecture and see how far I can get I am loving the Opsix and the Wavestate that I also bought recently.
I finally got round to spending more time in the studio with the Opsix ( I make guitars during the day!). I’ve revisited this video tutorial because it’s simply the best Opsix vid out there on VA use and the Juno-esque sounds fit my productions perfectly. One question though - did you, or anyone else, have any success modelling a P5 inside the Opsix. I would love to know how to do that still. I’m a guitar player so don’t know too much about the P5 architecture - I just know I love those types of sounds and won’t be buying a P5 anytime soon. There’s also something very cool about using the Opsix this way . As well as it’s other amazing capabilities of course.
your next challenge is to recreate all of plaits' synthesis modes using the opsix
good luck with the physical modelling algorithms
Oddly, I was looking at whether you can do Karplus Strong synthesis using the effects engines this morning.
now we're talking
Phenomenal.
May also work in the VPM MOD7 sound engine in Korg's workstation synths (Kronos, Nautilus etc.)
I have had my eye on this synth since it came out and have resisted buying one, because I thought my GAS was simply overwhelming any tangible need for one. I thought that my Hydra can do FM so I don't need one of these. Well, this thing does a lot that the Hydra can't, so, sorry wallet.
Send my best wishes to your bank account. One like = one prayer.
Really stupid question. Does that mean the opsix could, in effect, similarly be turned into a behringer model d “minimoog” clone?
To can make a 3 oscillator virtual analogue mono synth yes! You can even implement the option to have oscillator 3 modulate one of the others too. The whole thing wouldn't be that dissimilar to this patch really.
Wow… might have to get an opsix with them being discontinued 😂
P.S. subscribed, thanks for replying immediately hehe
I came back to watch this again and I've started to wonder... given this setup, how could you allow for key tracking on the filter? I mean variable key tracking, not just on and off. Is it possible?
Modulate the "pitch" of the filter operator (which translates to the cutoff) in the vpatch with the note number as the source. The depth of modulation will dictate the amount of key tracking.
@@OscillatorSink That's perfect. Thanks for the quick and helpful reply!
@@macronencer the other way to do it, of course, is to set the pitch mode on that operator back to ratio - so it'll do "full" key tracking, but I find that a bit much in most patches.
@@OscillatorSink That was my thought too - key tracking is really only useful if it's fully adjustable!
Aw man I followed every step and got very different sound results. And how the hell are you getting sound with Op6 turned down?!
Env 1 is controlling the level of Op Six, it is one of the routings I set up in the vpatch. I explain and set it up from about 19:55
I'm right there with you William, but I'm only on Day 4 with this beastie so I'm sure I missed/botched a step on my first time following this tutorial.
Thanks so much for these Oscillator Sink - you're really helping reduce my learning curve with the opsix! After a long foray into analog, I'm super pleased the opsix can model these older synths in addition to its other powers - seems like a GAS-limiter to me!!
excellent!
I´d get one of theese but then 3 octaves, no aftertouch and no Exp pedal input seems to me unacceptable for the price.
Well I’ve had a good crack at a P5 architecture tonight but still cant get my head around cross modding one OSC1 with OSC2 because it just seems like simple FM of op2 into op1 and op1 back into op2 in the user algo , but I dont think I am on the right track there. Also , how to make the osc waves selectable for each of the two oscillators without having to edit the op mode each time to change waveforms - maybe theres no other way to do it. Generally feeling a bit confused but enjoying the ride 😂
@@petecoates6410 that particular kind of analog cross mod isn't strictly speaking possible, but if you were happy with phase modulation (which is what FM is here), you could do it in a similar way I do it in this video: th-cam.com/video/ItCOr_izEWA/w-d-xo.html which is using an intermediate operator as a kind of "cross mod VCA" (the improvement to my initial plan I am forced to make near the start of the video).
Oh, and that's the only way you can reasonably change the waveforms. No real way around that.
Ah ! Great , I will try that thanks. I did try using a third operator to feed into Osc2 to modulate it at varying degrees, which was kind of cool, but didn’t get me there. I will try what you suggest. Also, I had a Homer style “doh” moment thinking about changing the waveforms for Osc 1 &2 - which was that I can simply set up lots of different patches using different waveform configurations and save them individually for different emulations of prophet- style patches! Experimenting last night I still found lots of useable sounds. The Opsix is a gem of a machine. It also made me think about trying a P5 approach on my little blofeld too!
What about building something like a east coast buchla inspired synth? Do you think it would be possible?
When you get to the end of the video you'll hear that I do think that is possible (and I've already got that video planned out!)
@@OscillatorSink dope, can't wait to study this video in depth. Do you know the Aalto synth? I love how the waveguide delay does so lovely feedbacks that can be multitimbral pitched. I wonder if there is a similar way to approach this cause this wpuld make the opsix a very organic sounding synth
@@mariorobles87 I'm not familiar with it specifically (I just took a look though - looks very nice, clean interface with lots of features I appreciate), but I am comfortable with the concepts around waveguides, and you've given me some ideas for things to try on the opsix later!
@@OscillatorSink the thing with Aalto is that you can tame feedbacks and play multitimbral and this is something I miss in synthesizers. I think there are a lot of ways to create feedbacks with the opsix! The use algo is really incredible...
ive seen a bunch of your mod wave and posix vids. how is he daw intergtatioin with these synths?
In what way? The opsix actually has a plugin version now - not an editor, but the whole of the synth in plugin form, so that integrates well. The midi implementation is pretty solid on the opsix, I haven't really looked at the Modwave so much. The opsix used to have clock drift which was a bummer, but that seems to have been patched now.
@@OscillatorSink al my gear is usb integrated in my studio. It’s just how I like it set up. I was looking more into the mod wave over the opsix. This happened to be the video I commented on.
@@Matt4star the Modwave will do midi over USB absolutely fine if that's what you're asking. There's also a desktop editor so you can work from screen if you prefer.
@@OscillatorSink it looks so fun to mess with the automation lines. I’m stoked!! I’m getting the mod wave next.
How many user algorithms are there? Or is it stored in every preset so I have as much as there are free presets?
It's per preset, so you can customise it for what you need in a particular sound.
@@OscillatorSink
Thanks again,
First I thought, why doesn’t he take an existing algorithm and changes the mode of the operators?
I looked I the manual.There wasn’t that algorithm..
Second I thought how many user algorithms are there? That wasn’t exactly stated either.
Yeah. I’m the odd one out who reads the manual before buying.
PLS tell us how you connect opsix to librarian on Win 10 which driver you using ?
I followed the guide put out by Korg which is included in the download for the librarian, so RNDIS. You also need to check the 'USB network' setting in the global settings on the opsix and make sure that's RNDIS too.
A five octave version with aftertouch please Korg
Alternatively - a nice sturdy desktop module version.
Made me think, you could easily modify this algorithm to do a SH101
@@aboutbeno absolutely! Switch to mono mode and leave the highpass alone basically.
@@OscillatorSink ive been thinking what other synth (emulation ) could it do based on this idea. For sure it does Casio! :))
But I will definitely have a series of patches based on your juno algorithm. What I have at first in mind is to see replicate the drums of the KORG ER-1 , 4 synth instruments.
1-2 are independent or can do ring mod or crossmod
3 & 4 are independent
This is very good but it is so difficult to see anything on the paper
Yeah, sorry, the exposure wasn't ideal.
@@OscillatorSink it was fascinating to watch anyway, thanks
Great video as always. Interesting idea constructing the Juno architecture. Unfortunately I can’t see what is written on the paper.
The strip of paper says
Saw Square Sub Noise HPF LPF+Amp
Jupisix
"Yo Dawg, I herd you like Juno, so I put an Juno in your Opsix so you can synth while you synth."
old, but gold...
The classics never go out of style.
you cant actually see what it says on the paper the white balance is too high
I know, I've addressed that in the stickied comment, but thanks for pointing it out.
Can this thing Virus? Jk Do a Polysix next!
A polysix is actually very similar to this setup. You don't have the in-line high pass and there are some slight changes to the modulator routings, but this patch would be a good starting point if you wanted to try!
I wanna like this video AGAIN why won't it let me? 😀
Just to be clear, you basically sold me on the opsix with this one. When it dropped in price a few days ago here in Germany, I just snapped one up. Can't wait for it to get here.
@@palindromial thank you! I hope you enjoy your new synth, it's a wonderful instrument.
These videos have good content but I find it so insanely difficult to follow when you’re flicking back and forth between stuff as fast as possible and it seems to increase with speed as the video goes on and i have to rewind like 15 times to follow. It also doesn’t help having the contact turned up to a million, you can read any labels and your pieces of paper do not even show the text because they’re washed out to hell. Slow down a little and turn your contrast down and they’d be more helpful.
*contrast *can't
Also there's a pinned comment apologising for the paper, I switched to white pen on black paper after this video, but I didn't want to re record this video as they take quite a lot of time to record (much longer than the runtime of the video) and I do them in my free time.
I'm sorry about the pacing, but frankly most complaints are that I go too slowly so I'm just going to carry on at a pace I'm comfortable with, and people can rewind if they like.
Are you able to build a Rhodes in this opsix?
FM is great for electric piano sounds. This isn't exactly a Rhodes, but a lot of the ideas carry over:
th-cam.com/video/VAyHaMpwBdc/w-d-xo.html
"Press shift and then filter button to go into miscellaneous menu in order to enable the USER INTERFACE"
....this is exactly why I haven't bought any new hardware synth in nearly a decade.
Too many of these instruments are going to be forgotten and remembered as even worse than the 00's VAs and romplers are regarded now.
WHAT YOU ARE DOING IS AMAZING... but did you realize your PAPER APPEAR quite BLANK in the video?? it is possible to see something only when you make a SHADOW with your HAND on the paper!
please, do something....
In future videos I do white pen on black paper. Sadly it's a bit late for this video. I do explain everything as I go so the paper is just an aide memoire.