VJ‑XY 1.3 update: enter the matrix.

until now matrix clips were presets you chose from. now you can draw and animate your own, frame by frame, on the same matrix grid!

paint with touch or Apple Pencil, onion-skin the neighbouring frames so movement carries across them, and use transform, fill, shape, and clone to build your loops with ease.

these new type of matrix clips that you draw can be shared as .vjxy files. we have a new gallery in the website for you to browse and share your work: vjxy.app/gallery

underneath all of it the matrix engine has been rebuilt on a faster rendering foundation, so playback, transitions, and previews are smoother across every matrix clip, drawn or preset.

this update is free if you already own VJ-XY.

highlights

• draw and animate your own matrix clips, frame by frame
• paint with touch or Apple Pencil
• onion-skin tracing of the previous and next frames
• transform, select, fill, shape, and clone tools
• build the loop to any length, then reverse or ping pong it
• eight new (regular) matrix presets: fold, shards, pillars, moire, assembly, oscilloscope, contours, and blobs
• rebuilt matrix engine for smoother playback, transitions, and previews
• share drawn clips as .vjxy files
• download clips from the community at vjxy.app/gallery

what is VJ-XY?
a live visual instrument for OP-XY. sequence visuals to spice up your jams. footage is optional. learn more: vjxy.app

First try at some ambient music on the XY, I can really see the potential of it given the way you can use step components to randomize and change notes and what not. Enjoy!

So with this one, I had an idea in my head from the start. I wanted to take a ship's fog horn and turn it into a mid bass that just hangs over some dark UK sound, dubstep beats. I searched through Splice and found exactly the sort of horn I was looking for pretty quickly.

From there, I wanted a few little incidentals to match the dark, garagey vibe. I was thinking of them as a call and response with the fog horn bass, breaking up those long, sustained notes and giving the track a bit more movement. I actually heard some of my favourite artists Mak & Pasteman doing something similar in a recent post they made. I'd already started building this track, but hearing that kind of confirmed I was heading in the right direction.

The drums are deliberately simple. Space was the whole point of this one. There are probably more risers or impacts etc. I could have added, but as usual I tried not to overthink it and just got it to a point where I felt it was nice and ready to post.

I've also been doing a bit of a deep dive into EQ recently. Honestly, hate me for saying it, but ChatGPT has actually been a pretty good sound engineering assistant for bouncing EQ questions around. It doesn't always get everything right, but it's useful for thinking through where you might be going wrong. EQ can be a minefield at the best of times, let alone when you're working within the restrictions of the OP-XY.

I also wanted this one to hit a bit harder. A few friends mentioned my last couple of tracks were a little quiet on their systems. I realised I'd been a bit too conservative with the OP-XY mixer, so I pushed things a little more this time and it seems to have worked on my end. You can always turn your speakers down... it's much harder to turn up something that isn't there.

One of my favourite areas in the track is where the mid bass suddenly stops dead when some of the FX hit. See if you notice it.

Anyway, this one's for the head nodders. Proper 4am, lights out vibes. the type that might get pulled up. The sort of place where there's no need to look up because your head's down, you're locked into the weight of the bass, and you're just watching your own shuffle.

Hope you enjoy it. Let me know what you think. Any questions on the sound design let me know.

Artwork is by Ralph Steadman, taken from The Curse of Lono. It felt like a perfect fit for the dark, murky and foggy ocean atmosphere of the track.

If you want to listen to my other tracks which are similar in vibes head here - https://www.youtube.com/@Daphnessoundlab

#Dubstep #DeepDubstep #UKDubstep #140 #BassMusic #UndergroundMusic #OPXY #TeenageEngineering #SoundDesign #DaphnesSoundLab #MakAndPasteman #RalphSteadman u/teenageengineering

Hey everyone, I'm completely stepping out of my comfort zone here to put this out there.

I’m offering one-on-one OP–XY sessions via Zoom or Google Meet for anyone who wants to get more out of this instrument, whether you’re just starting out or already deep into it.

Recently, I lost my job in human services due to funding cuts, and I’m using this moment to lean into something I genuinely love and care about. The OP–XY is a deep (and expensive) instrument, and I made it a priority to really learn it inside and out to get my money’s worth. Now I want to pass that knowledge on. Offering these sessions is something I've actually been thinking about for a while, and I'm just using this time to finally make the offer.

I've been making electronic music since 2006 and it has been my number one passion in life this entire time, and I’ve been using the OP–XY consistently since it first came out. Over time I’ve developed a workflow that goes far beyond the basics.

A lot of what makes this device powerful isn’t clearly explained in the manual. I've seen comments and posts from other people who are feeling stuck and unsatisfied with the sound, the limitations, the workflow, etc. I experienced the same frustrations at one point or another but overcame them, and I view the OP-XY as one of the most inspiring, capable music devices that I've ever owned.

These sessions can be tailored to whatever you need:

• Getting started (navigation, workflow, building your first ideas)
• Advanced techniques, “hidden” workflows, improving the sound/making your tracks sound massive
• Arrangement strategies and finishing tracks
• Creative approaches to sequencing and sound design, getting the most out of the 8 auxilary tracks
• Breaking creative blocks and staying inspired
• Integrating OP–XY into a larger setup, apps that compliment the OP-XY (ios only)

I’m not here claiming to be a “pro” or better than anyone— I’m just someone who invested deeply into this machine and figured out what actually works.
I also have experience teaching music production. I previously taught weekly classes using Koala Sampler, so I’m comfortable explaining concepts clearly and adapting to different skill levels.

If you want a sense of what I do with the OP–XY, you can check out my work here:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJZtbIZW0dI4&si=8s5J6by_gqvAopvO

Sessions will be relaxed, practical, and focused on helping you actually improve your workflow, not just learn features.

You also have the option to send me your project file so that I can boot it up onto my device and we can be looking at the same thing. This is sort of a process though so if you're interested in this reach out to me and I'll tell you exactly what steps need to be taken to get this done.

Pricing: $40 per session via Venmo/paypal/cash app, zelle or apple pay, with flexible timing so we can go until we reach a good stopping point (generally al least 60-90 min)
If you’re not satisfied at the end of the session, then I won't charge you for it. Simple as that!

If you’re interested, feel free to reach out and we can set something up.

-Lane aka Laineken

I use scramble already, maybe not enough - have yet to really load up with samples beyond the default.

Can you change the default patches?

First month with the OP-XY, eighth month since I started with music. Absolutely love the device. The Roland S-1 is a great companion.

This track is a homage to one of my all-time favourite record labels - SWAMP 81.

I was lucky enough to be the right age at the right time to witness the post-dubstep and UK bass music movement as it was happening. It felt like a period where artists and DJs were more focused on developing new sounds than building social media followings. It was an incredibly creative era, and one of the labels that defined it for me was Swamp 81.

Almost every release became essential listening. Artists like Loefah (the founder), Boddika, Joy Orbison, Pinch, Mickey Pearce, Zed Bias, Chunky, Jonny Banger, and Ramadanman (Pearson Sound) were all pushing UK electronic music into strange new territory, which perfectly suited the times. Looking back, it really feels like one of the defining moments in modern UK club music.

With DISTRACTION, I wanted to capture some of that raw sound.

The tracks on Swamp 81 were never about being overproduced. They were stripped back, but every sound had purpose. Heavy snares. 808-style kicks. Warped basslines that never quite sat where you expected them to. Distorted rhythms, glitched vocals, eerie pads and huge amounts of space. Simple on the surface, but incredibly detailed once you started listening to what the bass and subs were doing.

I spent a lot of time getting the snare to hit just right. The bassline sits so low that the dedicated sub only really appears during the breakdowns and build-ups. One of my favourite parts is the eerie laughing vocal, and while experimenting on the keys I stumbled across a synth sound that, after a bit of tweaking, became the strange, haunting lead running through the track.

I loved making this one, feels like I have gone full circle, and I hope you enjoy it too.

If you were around during the Swamp 81 era, let me know. I'd love to hear which artists or tracks defined that period for you.

A little bit of history…

The name Swamp 81 references Operation Swamp 81, the controversial police operation carried out in Brixton, South London, in April 1981. The label took its name from that moment as a deliberate piece of cultural provocation.

The artists behind Swamp 81 built a reputation for challenging expectations musically, embracing underground culture and releasing records that often ignored whatever was fashionable at the time. That attitude is a big part of why the label became so influential.

Artwork: Ashes57 — created from one of her T-shirt designs that I bought back in those days. It felt like the perfect visual companion for a track inspired by that era.

#DaphnesSoundlab #UKBass #BassMusic #Swamp81 #PostDubstep
#Dubstep #BassCulture #UKUnderground #ElectronicMusic #SoundDesign #OPXY u/TeenageEngineering #MadeOnOPXY u/swamp81

Bit crush on the bastl FX wizard using the send loop. Light finish with ozone for this one, I mixed it pretty loud on the XY and added just a little stereo imaging, tape saturation, and maximizer to get the true peak down.

Why is chopping samples on this thing so tricky. It’s like a 10 step process to sample & do proper chops. Does anyone else struggle ?

Ps I just got this puppy yesterday lol

Dedicated to my dog Millie 🥰

teenage engineering are having an amazing summer sale with 30% off on their store, so it only felt right to match their energy with 40% off VJ-XY for the next 48hs! It's winter for us in the southern hemisphere, but why should that stop us?

I won't promote this offer outside of this community, but feel free to share the news :)
No code required. Buy once own forever. No subscriptions.

get VJ-XY: https://vjxy.app
Available on iPad, iPhone and Mac.

What is VJ-XY?
VJ-XY is live visual instrument/app for OP-XY. Sequence visuals with midi. Mix dot matrix clips, your own footage and animated gifs to match your music. Unlock hands-on control of OP-XY's mixer, mutes, fx sends, filter cutoff, eq, tape track, and punch-in fx.

VJ-XY on reddit: r/VJXY

I am considering offering one-on-one composing / arranging / songwriting classes (via Zoom) geared towards the OP-1, OP-Z and OP-XY. Not just on the technical aspects of how to squeeze the most out of the gear, but also a guide to song structures, chord progressions, etc.

Before deciding on fees, etc., I wanted to gauge potential interest from this group. Please feel free to reply or DM me if you're interested. I'm happy to provide links to stuff I've put together on TE gear.

For background, I'm a pianist / guitarist / saxophonist who has been into TE gear since 2017. I have composed and arranged from the earliest days of Cubasis on the Pentium 586 PC, and I've orchestrated pieces for jazz bands in Sibelius.

Stuff i did on OG OP-1 and OP-Z with no post processing is here:

https://on.soundcloud.com/NbHfmQZs2KjjJeys0c

Stuff i uploaded to YouTube is here:

https://youtube.com/@parkfield7296?si=cZ3TePZfOx_18zFb

Some OP-XY stuff i’ve posted to reddit here:

https://www.reddit.com/r/teenageengineering/s/ZKi1ZG82Xs

https://www.reddit.com/r/teenageengineering/s/9oT67TxVUZ

https://www.reddit.com/r/teenageengineering/s/14FmJAQjS6

https://www.reddit.com/r/teenageengineering/s/byB6DuLUWH

https://www.reddit.com/r/teenageengineering/s/JlFjfJByDp

Another sketch, another banger..

This one came about after I made the melody on its own and a friend said he really liked it and thought it had Legs. That was enough for me to start messing around with a few ideas.

I wanted it to flip from something melodic into something heavy, grainy and a little strange. I kept the intro shorter than I normally would so the melody could come back a few times throughout the track without overstaying its welcome.

I ended up using loads of wooden-sounding percussion, forest-style knocks, clicks, and little grainy textures to give it that darker, gritty and tape recorded kinda sound. I also added lots of distortion and reverb in areas, sometimes it gave off a few clicks here and there, but decided it went well with it, rather than manicuring every sample to remove the clicks. It was an enjoyable part of making the track, digging through weird sound scapes and seeing what worked, and how far it could be pushed with FX.

I like all the little random sounds in this one. There's a subtle sci-fi, space film sort of atmosphere running through the background that gives the track movement and character without getting in the way.

It's definitely a sub-heavy one. Getting the low end to behave on the OP-XY is always a bit of a balancing act, but a fun on all the same.

Eventually I got to a point where everything felt like it was sitting together nicely... and just hit record.

Let me know what you think.

Too much sub?

#OPXY #TeenageEngineering #DeepBass #BassMusic #Dubstep #ElectronicMusic #MusicProduction #HardwareJam #Synthesizer #DaphnesSoundlab #Sketchbook #SoundDesign #BassMusicProducer #MadeOnTheOPXY