Teenage Engineering OP-1 - an instrument or an expensive toy?

[d-s-m]

I thought a lot about buying one of these things, but the more I researched, the more I realised its limitations would frustrate me. The things which put me off are;

Only 4 recordable tracks
No stereo tracks, mono only
Only 500mb storage
No sd card slot

If it wasn't for those 4 things I would have definitely bought one. Fingers crossed for an OP-2 at some point...

[planetearth]

True. It looks more like a solution in search of a problem. For $849 (without accessories), you could by a pretty decent tablet or laptop and accessories and softsynths, effects and a DAW.

I'm not convinced its "Raw 8-bit yupe [sic]" engine is what the kids want nowadays, but they'll no doubt dig that crazy built-in FM radio.

It does seem quite limited. And that's unfortunate, because it's an interesting concept and product...and it sure is cute!

That said, I wish them well. The Website has a nice clean look, and aside from the numerous typos, it looks professional. But I doubt they're going to inspire much confidence with a name like "Teenage Engineering".

Steve

[Johnny!]

I'd rather get an iPad + a few of the great apps that are already on AppStore (eg Mode Machines x0xb0x app, Animoog, Propellerheads Figure, Audiorealism TechnoBox, some DAW like Beatmaker 2 etc). That opens waaaay more possibilities due to huge amount of music-oriented accessiores available for iPad.

OP-1 is imo hugely overpriced for it's features.

[Crackbaby]

Without having no clue at all, maybe the videos attempting to demonstrate it are bad because it has so much potential and diversity that it's not easy to show. I've read and watched everything i've found and yet this unit is an engima to me and will probably remain so until i try it myself (which probably won't happen).

I really hope it goes well for them. There's not many who dares to take such a big chance with a product that's very innovative.

[Johnny!]

maybe your'e just trying to find there more, than there is to find.

[d-s-m]

I really wish someone would bring out a piece of hardware which is an alternative to this. I know there are a few things similar, but nothing that is a synth, sampler and portable too.

[Johnny!]

ermmm, an iPad + few apps?

[kangul]

If you play with it, it's a toy.

If you make music with it, it's an instrument.

Honestly, I used to know a guy whose favorite toy was renowned Access Virus TI. He didn't made anything serious with it.

[SLiC]

I bought an op-1 about a month ago. I was an avid ipad app user before that, I have most of the music apps...moog, cubasis, the korg stuff etc, I love my ipad, but the OP-1 is something else. It's very hard to explain without a using for for a while, but The op-1 is in every sense an instrument. The integration is suburb, the instruments and effects interesting- 4 tracks pah, unlimited with bouncing it makes you commit, recording live to tape becomes a freedom, no more endless and unnecessary tweaking - stuff gets done. The op-1 forum is very active with regular 'battles' a bit like the one synth challenge, there are tons of free drum kits, samples and patches for the synths- all free....it's like a mini KVR on a pocket sized hardware platform, how can you resist

Ps - here. An example Track recently posted on op-1 frum, not mine unfortunately but an inspiration to me as what can be done with an op-1,

https://soundcloud.com/aswefallintostatic/beat-tape-002

[d-s-m]

ermmm, an iPad + few apps?

I already have a pc based setup that would wipe the floor with any ipad + apps.

I want a piece of dedicated musical hardware, not a device that that was designed for surfing the net with.

[kangul]

ermmm, an iPad + few apps?

I already have a pc based setup that would wipe the floor with any ipad + apps.

I want a piece of dedicated musical hardware, not a device that that was designed for surfing the net with.

Too bad that you're making music with the device that was originally designed to do arithmetic.