Teenage Engineering OP-1 Synthesizer

[moogplayer]

Well I own a monomachine (keyboard version), and love its sound and abilities to be manipulated live. It's one synth in my arsenal where I can say I know it through and through. Question I recently asked myself: Do I feel the OP1 will fit into my live setup? And will it give me the mojo to create new music that fits with my projects. I felt the answer was yes, and in some 6-8 weeks I will let you know my findings. Personally, I think I can form a band/project around this instrument AND the monomachine. The $800 figure is not the question, and neither was the $1900 I shelled out for the monomachine in 2003.

[Mr. DiSco]

At my high school there's a big buzz about this video. I'm about the only one who knows something about synthesis and I feel like it's kind of ridiculous. Electronic music is ''in'' so much these days everybody's saying if they had the money they'd buy one even if they don't know anything about music. As if they we're only going to press a button and it was going to play and turn them into hitmakers. It's boring me actually... so stupid...

[rharris07]

At my high school there's a big buzz about this video.

Why? That is some of the worst music I've heard in quite a long while. I would like to have an OP-1 to play around with, but I definitely don't want to listen to others use it to make noise like that.

[gridsleep]

The interface is really nice. I hope to see it on more realistically designed products, rather than this pocket sized device. For now, I think I'll stick with my Novation X-Station. It does pretty much the same thing and has a real keyboard.

[Mr. DiSco]

At my high school there's a big buzz about this video.

Why? That is some of the worst music I've heard in quite a long while. I would like to have an OP-1 to play around with, but I definitely don't want to listen to others use it to make noise like that.

I agree. I can't stand it to... or understand it. My picture is an old Depeche Mode reference so even if I'm in high school synth music has quite another meaning to me... But there's definitely some stupid buzz on it like on some other stupid music just look at the comments.
In fact i'm definitely frustrated ( ) because I've been playing for awhile and it took this for people to suddenly realise that ''what's this?'' ''you mean synths really exist?''

edit: In your opinion will this deserve to be called a live instrument?

[asohn]

God I hate Swedish House Mafia and all it's incarnations...it seems like everyone thinks they are the hottest thing ever right now...

[tekkentool]

Oh come on really, the individual synth programming isn't really the most important thing in dance music now, it's the production/mastering. Like it or not that song has some great production and a catchy tune What more would you want from a commercial dance song? Don't get me wrong I'm not a fan, But it's barely "noise"


@Mr.Disco, why an MM6 then if you know so much about synth programming?

[cartesia]

Jokes on them if they think theyll sound like swedish house mafia with an OP-1 .. I doubt the OP-1 had more than the most minor role in SHM's music... maybe they made that one little thin repeating line that you hear at the start on it then recorded it out..

They did a video for future music about the vocal version of this track where they explained a bit about the instruments and stuff.. Logic + Plugins mostly

[organsymphony]

OP-1 wasn't used on that track at all. Just a prop for the video.

At least thats been the conclusion I've seen every time someone has discussed it.

Then again: "You can never be sure whether statements on the internet are true or not" - Abraham Lincoln.

[jaypodesta]

Abraham Lincoln.

Wasn't he a mod on here for a while?

[Mr. DiSco]

@Mr.Disco, why an MM6 then if you know so much about synth programming?

I don't know that much seriously, I just think I know more then most people I know in my everyday life, that are in highschool. The MM6 was the best solution for my variety of styles and my budget.

edit: Interesting to know the song is not made on the OP-1

[smoothcriminal]

here's an interesting demo found on matrixsynth. evidently the OP1 has an FM tuner and this is an example of using that as a sample source
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[samuraipizzacat29]

one thing i noticed from that cheesy swedish house whatever video that was posted is it looks like they're jamming down on the keys (or at least that they could be pushed hard on). That's a bit of a sticking point for me personally. I don't like to be forced to be either dainty or firm. The Microkorg i had (don't know if common to all) forced me to push rather hard to get full velocity (incredibly irritating) as opposed to a light touch would make it feel rather cheap (as has already been beat to death). I'm just pointing out that it "looks" like you could play some form of naturally on it.

and being extremely value conscious, I don't think the $800 price tag is more than $200 over-priced. I bought the venom the day it released (it's for sale now, i have better gear for that) but held off on the supernova because I didn't think the features justified the pricetag.

But - if you're talking just features alone, you could justify $400-600 on a new/different synth let alone something crazy kooky and fits in the palm(s) of your hand. $800 is not so totally out there considering all the prices goofy "vintage" stuff is going for. Additionally - put it next to the "beat thang" and compare them to similar priced gear in their same respective categories and you can see where i'm coming from.

my only concern is resale value. Is this thing going to hold at $800ish used or is it going to tank. I could see it easily tanking to $2-300. I.e.: you can get your hands on a used venom no questions asked for $300. i know that's 60% of retail price, i'm just saying - it sucks.

[balma]

At my high school there's a big buzz about this video. I'm about the only one who knows something about synthesis and I feel like it's kind of ridiculous. Electronic music is ''in'' so much these days everybody's saying if they had the money they'd buy one even if they don't know anything about music. As if they we're only going to press a button and it was going to play and turn them into hitmakers. It's boring me actually... so stupid...

In one very famous local R and Blues and Hip Hop channel, they play a video with the OP 1 all day long.

Nevery thought it would be so acclaimed on the hip hop community. They are really doing it well on the hip hop market. Good for them, in fact, th instrument is cool, it's innovative, has a lot of interesting features, and it seems you can have a lot of fun with it and also make serious music production

[Sir Nose]

Don't know about the microkorg, but most newer synths that have velocity, allow you to set a curve so it is easier to get higher velocity values. Set the curve to suit your playing style.

All new synths pretty much plumet on resale. 70% of new price is doing pretty good on resale. Some used sell close to the same price as new, but a dollar is not worth as much when it is resold. Out of production, rare, and unique can get a synth above its original selling value, but not often. s**t even a mini moog D is down to well below 50% of its original value.