Korg OPSIX Review, tutorial and 10 patch ideas // 250 presets played // FM synthesis explained
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- čas přidán 15. 06. 2024
- If you like the ideas, tips and insight in this video, there's plenty more in my ever-expanding book of electronic music ideas, tips and tricks here:
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TIMELINE:
0:00 Intro
0:50 Overview
4:55 Randomization
5:30 Connectivity
5:50 Operator basics
9:05 Algorithms
12:10 OP envelopes
13:30 OP params
14:50 Ring mod
16:05 Filter mode
17:50 Filter FM mode
18:25 Wave folder
19:20 Voice filter
20:30 Effects
23:00 Arp, sequencer
25:45 PATCH IDEAS
25:55 Bi-timbral split
28:25 Tri-timbral seq
28:55 Velocity mod
29:30 More arps?
30:30 LFO key sync
30:50 Massive chords
31:20 Chord trigs
31:40 Seq to arp
32:00 Fake hard sync
32:30 Cutoff knob
34:40 Pros & cons
37:25 All 250 Presets
Want to email me personally?
► Ziv (at) loopopmusic.com
NOTE: Occasionally I’ll try out affiliate marketing and include affiliate links. This means that I may earn a commission when you click on or make purchases via affiliate links. The content of this clip is entirely my opinion, and was not paid for or dictated in any way by the company creating the gear. Without addressing the particulars of products shown here as they might be under NDA, gear shown on this channel may be either sent by the manufacturer, on loan for review or bought at a discount.
FYI - Korg just released a software-only version of opsix (with a discount for people who bought the hardware)
Absolutely buying the Wavestate VST. I’m getting the skinny from you on whether I need this one too 🤣
KOrg also made this 330$ for a limited time which is a S T E A L... still a few left on reverb as of this post.
@@powermix24 Yep just picked one up. Looks like they discontinued it too so I wonder what used prices will look like in the coming months.
@@powermix24 I was thinking to get the Sonicware XFM, knowing that the OPSIX was over my budget ($750), then I got email today from REVERB that this synth is $330!
Jumped on it right away and I got it!
It's all gone when I saw your comment, for those who are reading this :(
I was watching this video again today to get familiar with it, because LOOPOP is the best!
@@dvuemedia Yes for 330 it is a steal deal!
KORG'S operator layout of this synth is pure Genius, because it finally lays out FM in such a way, as to make it actually Understandable!!
It's basically sytrus in hardware form.
I'm only 15 minutes in and I am seeing the best FM synth interface I've ever seen. Who would have thought it would be Korg that would pull it off.
check out MegaFM this synth has a knob per function layout!
FM bells, and all of a sudden: TOP GUN.
Loopop is one of the few video makers that I watch on Normal speed, not 1.5x or 2x.
Good job explaining FM and everything else!
Great work Korg! This is such a power packed synth. Definitely worth getting one. And as always, thank you loopop, for the detailed and extremely well presented review.
Excellent review and insight as always. Especially the cutoff knob hack! I’m actually pretty blown away by how this sounds and the price point is damn good for so much FM power/playability
FM has always been somewhat of a mystery to me, this is a GREAT product demo... I learned so much about frequency mod! Thank you for posting!!!
here, even if you understand nothing or quite, it is easy to modulate & explore
You and the opsix did the best job to give a practical and fun overview on FM. Thanks for your service :)
Korg still killing it and for me really leading the industry with their releases. Great review as always. Cheers and stay safe! 😁
I see a 1983 synth with knobs extra waves and more adsr's and lfo's
@@uvoikimovundutrauerblume3302 that's what people have been clamouring for.
@@Heathcliff_hensel exactly!
They are refining each synthesis type and putting it into sexy package. Very focused. I like that.
Really? I had a triton and thought it sucked
😤The one time I wish companies would actually send me something 😭 This is so cool looking.
Just ask, you never know :)
Do you need us to @Korg about it?
This man must get more love from the manufacturers. And especially Korg, who got an S tier from him (decision I fully agree with)
You don’t do that, remember?😉
@sbmphr Very interesting that Wavestate = Raspberry Pi. That means RPi has more software than is opened to public.
i just bought one of these. i am very excited! i worked with fm for decades (i've even gone sailing with jc). this instrument is one i've always wanted in terms of being able to control mod osc volume in real time. so cool!
Another great review and tutorial loopop I think your unbiased and informative videos are the best on CZcams. Keep up the good work.
Holy.. The TX81z is my fave synth, I love FM, it's so cool to see FM suddenly getting all kinds of love and new stuff.
I so loved my TX81Z. I never used it as my main synth, but as an addition to my D50 etc it was superb
It was a giant paper weight 😂
Love the fact they have done it in the MS2000 colour..!!
Loopop. Korg has made me fall in love with FM. They've achieved the impossible. I used to think FM was difficult, and I had no use for it. I hated it. I still hate the DX7 (the 80's, man....)
Korg has, for me, turned it into a sound designer's dream. I use VPM MOD7 on the Nautilus, and whilst it is a little more tricky to control compared to Kronos (lacks sliders to vary the levels of each VPM) it has all the features that OPsix, with a decent visual representation of how the VPMs and filters link up. Great stuff!
Congratulations 🥳 125.000 subscribers! Great video, as always...
I saw you posted on Instagram and I could not miss this!! Great review🔥
Your reviews rock! This is the most compelling layout and workflow on an FM synth i've seen. A rackmount version would be awesome.
Great news!!
That was awesome.... best demonstration of FM synthesis I've ever come across. Thanks!
Treatet myself for xmas this year with this synth. What a monster! Sound is simply beautiful.
Sure it's cool and the interface is one of the best I've ever seen on a hardware FM synth, but nobody is talking about the most important thing here: the panel is pretty.
I agree. Its gonna look great next to my gold monologue
In person it's even better. I don't like LEDs in general, but Korg did a great job there. All colours match everything -- including the chameleon green. It's a mix of retro-modern that went really well. Kudos Korg!
The lights of the sequencer/favorites are way too bright. Distracting. The operator lights should be brighter, comparatively.
@@hermask815 maybe I'm remembering wrong but I thought there was a firmware update for that
@@hermask815 actually maybe I'm thinking of the behringer 2600. They both have bright LEDs...
Due to the recent sale on Opsix, I’ve got to come and see you Loopop.
I can’t stress it enough, you’re videos are invaluable and you are an essential part of my understanding of all of my hardware. I greatly appreciate your work. Thank you.
My pleasure - thanks for taking the time to write!
Didn't skimp on the Effects. Even the Rotary Speaker is there.
Nice
You’re living the dream buddy!! Great job on pursuing what you love and not letting anyone hold you back!!
I didn’t skip the ad, it was forced with no option to skip 😊 and great video as always 🤘🏻
youtube is basically forcing people to buy premium or go mad - eg that paypal advert is deeply offensive aurally
@@spridgejuice if I didn’t have Premium, I would NEVER use CZcams again!! I’ve seen the results on friends CZcams accounts that don’t have Premium, and I would go mad or find the CEO of Google and beat him senseless for the amount of ads! If they ever raise the price, I’d stop using CZcams altogether!
This is a great video! I have now just figured out from it, how to use the Mod7 on my Kronos. A great class in FM. Great little synth. Thank you.
Great video as usual.
A cool refreshing new synth on the market. I really like the FM operator mixer section. This is a feature that is pretty unique for the FM market and seems very hands on. Cool stuff.
Would make a groovy companion for my Wavestate, but TBH the Wavestate is so deep, it will keep me entertained/challenged/pleased for a long time.
But then again, those sounds you played at the end were pretty awesome, and unique.
Thanks for the great demo's
Not unique if you've spent any time with Yamaha's FM synth range but I agree that it still generates awesome tones.
@@John_Stone_ What Yamaha would compare to this?
@@MD_is_me Many of the patches remind me of presets or sounds I've made on the TX7 (dx7 module) and FM7/8.
The former obviously didn't have the effects or filter the OPSix has though. It's a shame Korg didn't make the filter analogue. Nevertheless it sounds great and I'm very tempted to buy.
dx7 famous for the six op bass sounds for the best of reasons. 6 op synth? sign me up KORG
My next synth! I've been waiting for this! Awesome Review. Thank you!
2 months later, and almost 3 weeks of programming in (over 70 patches, with 50 I consider good quality), this has become my favorite synth to program. Korg truly did make FM understandable and accessible, and this synth continues to inspire my latest visions of sound design. And this all started with your great review. Truly look forward to your future review of the upcoming Korg Modwave, if that's in the works :)
This what the Digitone keys should have looked like but KORG nailed it with the usability !
Also glad this synth fell into loopop's hands too early😆
What a cheap hunk of plastic? No way!! The digitone keys look is so funky and cool I'm so glad they took that gamble. It will definitely become a cult classic.. It's not for the mass market like this!
I like how they took interface from elektron and improved it with direct control over certain crucial parameters. Make it desktop and multi-timbral - would be a no-brainer.
For desktop, multitimbral (and 300 voices), we have the Kodamo Essence.
@@JoeBWall The Kodamo Essence is by far the coolest and most powerful FM synth, especially when coupled with a few extra knobs or sliders over MIDI for more tactile hands-on control. I'm not the biggest fan of touch screen interfaces, even though it seems really easy to use.
Wish they’d take the sequencer too because their synth sequencers are generally garbage.
@@Kdkjdjewerdnxa they did kind of. But it's very stripped back compared to elektron. It's definitely an elektron style seq though
It is almost nothing like the elektron sequencer. Have you actually used the sequencer on the opsix and an elektron sequencer?
Great video and a smart synth. Very usefull to understand "in practice" FM principles. Going back to my MODX FM engine (8 operators) it will be stellar to progress.
Wonderful explanation & demonstration as usual. Interesting Synth.
Thanks
I tried this synth a few days ago and I was amazed by the ergonomics, the usability ... a real pleasure of intelligence ... also, note, it is very light - 2, 9 kg - which is appreciable when traveling! Thank you for this video, have a nice day
Two reviews in one week - we must be blessed. Korg can't be stopped! Next on the release list - Kronos 3 and SQ-64, looking forward to both reviews.
Brilliant demo and overview!!!! You are a master. Thank you!
Sound is absolutely gorgeous!
YES. Great review! This sounds absolutely killer!
After all the goodies, this beast has also well programmed presets!
48:18 pads are siiiiiiick
I really hope they make a desktop version 😍
or rack version
Because of the Wavestate form factor, I have a feeling they most likely won't do a desktop version. Digitone might be the best desktop FM machine option we'll have for a bit.
@@lordundhimself1310 don’t forget the DX200!
@@emrah1986 nah I had a dx200 this thing is much nicer.
@@Heathcliff_hensel I was referring to the Digitone, not the Opsix.
I instantly fell in love with the Opsix the moment I turned it on and played it at the store. I wanted to love the Modwave just as much but I didn't. I still like it though, it's super cool.
I've been with my Opsix for about half a year (your review was one of the ones I watched), and just coming back to this video and skipping around I stumbled upon your trick of using a mute filter carrier as a filter to an audible "modulator". And with my experience with the synth now I understand not only how it works, but why it is a neat trick to pull off :)
amazing. that's what every FM synth ever released should be. had to wait till 2020 to finally turn it into reality!! ufff.. thanks Korg !!
.. and thanks @loopop for another great review !
When I need to make a buying decision, I check out loopop. With all the OPSixes hitting the market due to the recent blowout pricing, this video was incredibly useful once again. Going to be checking out this as soon as my keyboard rolls in.
Very nice review, thank you very much Loopop.
Excellent Video once again. Your channel is top notch 🤘
I want one!! It'll look nice next to my Wavestate. I love your videos, sir.
the fake hard sync is actually true soft sync, and you can use a square to FM other oscs to achive the same effect.
It works like a forward backward playing direction!
when the square modulator is positive the carrier plays normally. and when it is negative the carrier plays backwards.
After the horror show that was the resistive touch screen on the Korg Nautilus, this is really exciting. A truly hands on FM synth. Well done Korg!
Awesome synth, really excited about this!
I recently got the Kodamo EssenceFM, which is mind blowing, but this looks interesting too. Great video as always!
Same here! I love the EssenceFM. I don't think that either one can really be called "better" than the other, but they're both very interesting synths.
Another great review! Korg's got another winner there...
This seems to be an amazing synth, well done.
FM is just so cool. Never understood what was so hard to learn about frequency mod, but I'm not complaining about more FM beasts with modern convenience.
Also while it's pretty common these days, glad they included more than just sine variants for the op. Good call korg.
Great demo as always
IMO it was never any harder to learn than digital additive, or analogue modular subtractive. The limited programming interface offered by the likes of the DX7 and CZ-101 seems to have turned off some of the older generation of synth geeks to the possibilities, and gave rise to the "third party programmer" with their thousands of (sometimes bland) presets at your fingertips. This certainly has a friendlier physical interface if the sound is what you're looking for.
Agreed! Interface is the key. No membrane switches
Awesome video as always. Thank you.
Very in depth review as usual
I'm looking to make a buying decision about the opsix mkII, and this was a great resource, *despite* getting Heart and Souled in the sequencer rundown.
special shoutouts to the demo of all the presets, including castlevania quotes
Great review and video! you are really helping me out for sure. I need one of these!
This sounds INCREDIBLE....
Another tiny, compact little review. Very nice! :-)
OMG I'm hooked on this thing. The only FM synthesis I have ever done is with DAWs, and all the hardware synths I own are Subtractive/semi-modular synths. So...this just might become my first hardware FM synth.... if I find a couple of K somewhere... Though in my situation with how little time I have left I might just empty out my savings account. FM synthesis - the last thing he ever got to try...
Okay, you convinced me to buy one (it wasn't hard). I downloaded and skimmed the manual. This thing will read DX7 patches, which is pretty cool. The manual says it does not have a perfect one-to-one map from the DX7 so the patches might not sound the same. To me that sounds like an amusing thing to try just to what what happens!
Lovely review. I think in the right hands this could be a powerhouse.
Great review! If I didn't already own a Yamaha Montage, I'd be all over this.
Amazing review as always. If the presets are representative, then I can't say I'm in love with the sound of this synth.
Very cool review, as usual. 100%
You are a music academy ..and that too the one which does things right ! thank you for putting the work in making these wonderful instructional s ! :)
Sounds better than a digitone to me, more grunge and heft to be had. Filter modulation was particularly gnarly, like it. However, overbridge is such a workflow-enhancer...
I'm not a fan of FM synthesis, but this has changed my mind a bit!. Great video as always!
FM is capable of so much more than tinkly stuff or 80s pop. I've got some really phat patches on my TX7.
I still feel that FM either sounds all the same or it takes way too much effort to achieve something different but still usable. I have watched reviews of ModX and the opsix but I still didn't hear anything interesting apart from the usual bells and EPs.
I'm pretty happy with my Nord wave2 that has some tiny fm section that covers those basic fm sounds. A whole synth just for that still doesn't really seem worth it. Wavetable and subtractive synth seem much more flexible and practical.
love it... was wishing for an FM synth in this shape and accessibility for a while... FM seems tameable now :)
Love your review, Loopop!!
But it would have been nice if it was a 5-octave keyboard
Thanks and I agree
Sold! Thanks, loopop!
From an educational point this review was top-notch. I watch on an old MacBook pro and output the audio optically to a BluNote II stream using its DAC to a 50-watt Rega amp to JBL Arena 130 speakers on the desktop. Why all this? The BluNote has a subwoof out to a PolkAudio subwoofer under the table. Wooooo when you hit some of those sub-base notes the room moves. You won't hear what's down there with computer speakers :)
So much useful info here, thank you - we can always rely on loopop to do a thorough job :D There were several things covered here that I didn't know about, for example the per-voice LFO sync option (good), the fine tune in ratio mode, and the undo for when you accidentally select a preset (nice one, Korg!). I love the waveform selections and the operator modes - they make this a very desriable synth with a reasonable price tag. It's only three octaves, but actually I'm OK with that, as I'd see this as a synth to carry about with me when travelling, so I can work on sound design. I'm increasingly likely to buy this now...
Very good review!
I so want one of these sat next to my Minilogue XD.
haha i was thinking the same thing!
Them paired would be so dooope!
@@ruffiankickloops IKR!!!
0:46 loopop! Lookout! The Undertaker!
Reminded me of topgun.
Loopop will not be making any more gear videos due to injuries sustained from being thrown off the top of Hell In A Cell through the announcers table
@@t00lshack Aaah right. Right before the theme kicks in.
Great review as usual
As a child of the 80s I just can say WOW - a must have! Waiting for the MK2 in a few weeks...
Great video Z. This is a fantastic FM synth. I would like to see a bigger keyboard though for sure.
I let the ads play by the way. :)
Thanks! it's ok to skip them if they're not interesting - I do!
When comparing the different FM synths, it becomes clear what a good job Korg did with the user interface! Regarding the basic pure FM functionalities it is much alike their Volca FM, which is a total pain in the butt to edit patches on. Then I saw some videos of the Liven XFM which eliminates almost all menu diving, but is still limited to a very rudimentary LCD screen and many shift-button functions. When you see the opsix then, you're almost blown away how well an interface can be structured and designed. When watching the video one can really imagine that working with the opsix is a very intuitive sound exploration experience, whereas on the other synths it rather resembles a complex programming assignment.
The carrier/mod knobs and sliders are the definite highlights here. Easy to see what is going on.
Finland! Torille. This thing sounds beautiful.
Beautiful! Come on korg! Desktop version please, I don't have enough space!
Yamaha sat on 6 operator FM for decades and never added knobs & sliders or effects. So glad that this is way more than another Reface.
There's Yammie's FM-X engine in their MODX keyboards and Montage flagship.
"...of course I wouldn't be talking about this unless I had a way around it." Hahaha Oh Loop...you're the best!
Korg Pushing Forward again... I like it !!
I've wanted a mini DX all this time. The DX Reface cannot do the power of the original DX7 but this is that, but so much more
@@aceofdub I didn't catch that. I was really hoping to maybe recreate some DX sounds and the absence of after touch is a tad of a dealbreaker to be honest
@@the-synth-artistit’s late for me to say now but the update that added aftertouch MIDI support is great 👍 this thing really shines with a nice controller
@@kaitlyn__L that's really cool I didn't know that! I've never bought one after all, just got used to my Reface DX's limitations. Thank YT for notifying me about this reply lol
Awesome, thank you!
Korg is on a roll.
I'd love a vst of this. Wish Korg would dive more into that world.
Between this and Mega FM 2020 is not just a year of disaster and tragedy but the year of hands-on intuitive FM synthesis
I hope you have the SQ-64 to review. My eyes are set on that.
Great show as always
The programming interface of this synth is very similar to the Sytrus plugin of FL Studio. FM synthesis is a lot less complicated when using a proper interface. It looks like a lot of people still suffer from PTSD decades after having tried to modify a DX7 patch.
Yes, or ZERO from Blamsoft for Reason.
Modify? More like destruction lol. The best thing about my FS1R was you could randomize patches with Sounddiver.
Many thanks for review , very good job :-)
i’ve been holding out on buying a volca fm, so glad i waited. i will def be getting this as my fm synth
I'm going to hold out a little longer to see if a rack/desktop version is released.
It's like they merged the super immediate hands-on control of an Akemie's Castle with a Digitone. Well done Korg.
There's one more thing missing which only the earliest DX7s had: a glitch option! Brian Eno loved the early DX7 because it had an interesting glitch which sounded strangely _unstable_ & gave certain patches an interesting _randomness_ which no other synth could achieve. Later models of the DX7 "fixed" the glitch & Eno pointed out that at a stroke Yahama had removed one of it's most _interesting_ features! It's a shame that companies like Korg & Novation call in the likes of Aphex Twin to help them develop their synths ( _as they should_ ) but to my knowledge *never* Brian Eno who is the person the companies need to listen to more than anyone in my opinion.
why are their so many italics in this post? like i dont disagree, the italics just seem random XD
@@Nalinalinali He's an emphatic guy. Let him be.
Does the Korg has Pitch-Envelopes? Like the later DX had?
Totally agree. The Aphex/Novation us just a gimmick. An Eno-collaborated synth would be something to get properly excited about.
Randomness? I've never heard of such a DX7 feature. Do you have a link to any of what you're suggesting?
You can actually set the operator knobs to cutoff frequency knobs. So the filter knob con isn’t as much of an issue. You can basically recreate architectures of other synthesizers using the user algorithms and place filters in the signal path you wish.