Syncing the OP-1 & maybe general syncing things

[baremountain]

So I got an OP-1 and I'm in love. Very few complaints in terms of workflow, happy customer, etc.
I've pretty much quit playing guitar regularly and just noodle on synths 80% of the time. I've finally gotten to the point where I wanna hook shit up with the OP-1 but I am bamboozled how to do so w/ only a USB mini port.
Basically I'm curious what MIDI expanders are available. Do I just need a cable like the Organelle does, or do I gotta get specific hardware? Can I use a MIDI -> 1/8" TRS adapter like my 0-coast does (not keen on this bc having an input to the OP-1 is preferred)? Also how can I get CV signal?
I have a Keystep which can spit out MIDI and CV clock, but it only works when the onboard sequencer/arpeggiator is on and I use those functions approximately never.

My dream is to have a MIDI multiplier so I can send my clock signal to multiple devices that act as terminals (no out/thru): Keystep, 8-Step, 0-coast, and OP-1. For that I'll probably need a splitter and I'm okay with that. The OP Lab looks cool bc it spits out gate and clock CV signals but I read bad things and it's discontinued.
Also I've read the OP-1 doesn't sync well sometimes? Is this true? Will I hate myself from going down this rabbit hole?

Side note: I synced up my Organelle as a controller for my 0-coast and BOY OH BOY that was some fun noodlin's

[Dr. Sherman Sticks M.D.]

u basically need a usb midi host or a computer or tablet (also hosts) to hook up the op1 via midi.

some common ones are kenton usb midi host, certain iconnectmidi's. what u are looking for is that long rectangle shape port.
there are some more DIY type ones out there too. and u could always try to make your own as well.

u can also sync via "analog clock" or pulse or whatever the kids are calling it these days, but the op1 has to be master and the voltage level on it is a bit low.
might not work for everything w/o some amplification. (like for me, didn't work w/ my gameboy until i amped the signal up a lil bit)
but this is only for syncing other things to the tempo of the tape. u also need an L-R splitter cable to isolate the pulse and audio from each other.

my experiences syncing the op1 tape/tempo have been pretty good/okay. have experienced some drifting or wonky sync but not a ton.
op1 as master sync is better (pretty rock solid) than slave imo.
i believe they said this is improved on the latest OS but i haven't updated to it yet or used the external sync in some time.

[UglyCasanova]

Because you eat cheese by the block

[baremountain]

u basically need a usb midi host or a computer or tablet (also hosts) to hook up the op1 via midi.

some common ones are kenton usb midi host, certain iconnectmidi's. what u are looking for is that long rectangle shape port.
there are some more DIY type ones out there too. and u could always try to make your own as well.

Hmm so these USB MIDI hosts work standalone? I'm guessing the CV thing might be a wet dream unless I can figure out how to DIY it up. Really disappointed that the Keystep doesn't send tempo thru unless you have running the seq or arp.

[Psyre]

I recently picked up the iconnectmidi4+ I love it. It does work standalone with external power.

[Dr. Sherman Sticks M.D.]

u basically need a usb midi host or a computer or tablet (also hosts) to hook up the op1 via midi.

some common ones are kenton usb midi host, certain iconnectmidi's. what u are looking for is that long rectangle shape port.
there are some more DIY type ones out there too. and u could always try to make your own as well.

Hmm so these USB MIDI hosts work standalone? I'm guessing the CV thing might be a wet dream unless I can figure out how to DIY it up. Really disappointed that the Keystep doesn't send tempo thru unless you have running the seq or arp.

ya standalone. that is pretty much the whole point of these boxes.
the newer kentons have a micro usb power port too so makes it easy to power via a usb battery if u ever want portable.

how this all works...
for any two usb devices to communicate. one of the devices needs to be a host. much like a host at a party.
the host basically identifies the devices to each other, and tells them what to do with the messages sent and received between the two.
as far as i know, this is how it is for ALL usb devices.
i.e. this is the way the USB protocol was designed.
traditionally, your computer serves as the host for all your external usb devices.

without the host, the devices can send messages all day and nothing will happen
because the devices are not being told what they are supposed to be doing and who they are communicating with.

for cv there are midi to cv converters. kenton def makes one.
but thats another extra box unless it has a host too.

[baremountain]

<3 thanks for clarifying, Arch
I'll definitely be looking into one of those Kentons, but I wish they could include MIDI splitting, MIDI host, and CV conversion in one box. Seems like there'd be a market for that?
Maybe I can do some reading over the next few weeks and fill up that market gap, idk. Finding time to do electronics while also working full time, playing music, and screen printing is beyond difficult. I had been letting music slide for 4-5 months so my electronics flourished, but now I'm playing more music and haven't sat in front of a breadboard in a month.

[fcknoise]

Because you eat cheese by the block

don't be fooled by the cocks that i got
i'm still, i'm still eating cheese by the block
used to have a little now i have a lot
no matter where i go, i know what i came for

THIS POST IS AMAZING

[Psyre]

<3 thanks for clarifying, Arch
I'll definitely be looking into one of those Kentons, but I wish they could include MIDI splitting, MIDI host, and CV conversion in one box. Seems like there'd be a market for that?

This is pretty much what I'm also trying to get sorted, which is why I went with the iconnect. 4 midi I/O, and a USB slot that can run off a powered hub. My midi to CV conversion will hopefully get sorted with my SQ-1. Haven't had a chance to route it all up, but it's top of my list of post honeymoon work.

[UglyCasanova]

Because you eat cheese by the block

don't be fooled by the cocks that i got
i'm still, i'm still eating cheese by the block
used to have a little now i have a lot
no matter where i go, i know what i came for

Oh shit

[chrisdermo]

Other thing worth mentioning, if you watch Hainbachs rig rundown vid he shows how he puts his op-1 into pocket operator sync mode, and feeds that into a bastl klik which works as clock master for the rest of his rig.... you go down to mono audio doing this and obviously all it does it give you a sync signal.... still it would probably be the cheapest smallest quickest option to get everything going together.