“...this is a great update to an already fantastic machine and there’s a lot to be said for tactility and quirkiness. All in all, this is one unit that could easily make you stand out. It's not cheap, but then again what price is individuality?"
The Teenage Engineering OP-1 recently received a free OS upgrade, adding some user requests, as well as introducing a number of completely new features, including the Voltage synth and Arpeggio sequencer. MusicTech magazine take a first look at Teenage Engineering’s 'portable wonder synthesiser’ where it receives the magazine’s ‘Choice’ award.
"OP-1 is a synth of many flavours: a drum machine, a sampler, a sequencer, a multi-track recorder, a controller ... And in typical Teenage Engineering style, they've even thrown in an FM radio. Well, why wouldn't they? "
“...when you get into the operating system and discover the wonderful graphics, the unusual effect names and the way everything interacts and how easy it is to control, you can't help thinking that it's all a bit different - but in a damn good way”.
"The most beautiful thing about the OP-1 now comes into view on that screen. Whatever you select- Synth Engine, FX, envelope etc - has its own graphical representation with different colours for different parameters, which you change with the corresponding coloured rotary. Indeed, this makes up a large part of the operating system of OP-1 and makes it a thing of joy to use and so easy to get in there and tweak sounds. You might not know what you're changing - the user guide is your friend here - but you will change them and go on some amazing sonic journeys”.
"The new Voltage synth engine appears as a spark graphic and the rotaries affect everything from distortion to tuning. I can only describe its sound as like an old radio tuning in and out, with sounds going from crystal clear to cranky and deranged and as you turn dials. Lots of mellow sounds and lots of grainy ones - a great addition”.
"This is a wonderful piece of music technology that might demand a lot of cash but delivers spades of goodness in return”.
The full review can be found in the February issue of MusicTech magazine on sale now. The Teenage Engineering OP-1 Portable Synthesiser is also available now priced at £799 RRP inc VAT.
Teenage Engineering is distributed in the UK and ROI by Sound Technology Ltd. For more information please call 01462 480000 or visit www.soundtech.co.uk/teenageengineering
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