i bought an OP-1 Field // did I make a $2000 Mistake?!

[@BoBeats]

You can help Bo rationalize this expensive purchase by buying an OP-1 using his affiliate links below. Or check some (much) cheaper alternatives US: bit.ly/3YbV9OY EU: thmn.to/thoprod/544439?offid=1&affid=623 UK: tidd.ly/46cKPsT SP404 (Video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eGfSiKWqi7Krmc0) EU: thmn.to/thoprod/529393?offid=1&affid=623 US: imp.i114863.net/ZdKA6X US: bit.ly/PCrolandSP UK: tidd.ly/454rQjm Lofi-12 (Video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rJbXcoejqtemf9U) EU: thmn.to/thoprod/555755?offid=1&affid=623 US: bit.ly/LivenLofi UK: tidd.ly/45TzI8w SmplTrek (Video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/n4iumJWPjtyIiMk) EU: thmn.to/thoprod/550898?offid=1&affid=623 US: bit.ly/smpltrekPC UK: tidd.ly/3EJj2Vc MPC Live EU: thmn.to/thoprod/493555?offid=1&affid=623 US: link.perfectcircuit.com/t/v1/S0BERUlFSUBFR0VHSEdATEpITA?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.perfectcircuit.com%2Fakai-mpc-live-ii.html UK: tidd.ly/3EFSHaH

[@jonmakesbeats]

I’ve owned an OP-1 for 8 years and my opinion is: as a production center, it’s a failure. As a synth it’s average. As a sampler keyboard it’s genius.

[@BoBeats]

That makes a lot of sense to me!

[@schnoodlevideo]

really appreciate this video Bo; love the flow + as someone who has watched a LOT of OP-1 videos, you've covered every function I've ever been curious about...cheers!

[@ryanhursh6322]

That’s actually the perfect summary

[@BoBeats]

@@schnoodlevideo thanks!!

[@madblessings]

Agree with this! I wish there was a better sequencer on it

[@songar06]

I’ve been surprised by how it’s been “worth it” to me. I’m a professional composer, and once I had a flu I brought the field with me to bed and came up with a theme that has become central in a huge musical that I’m working on. It’s very inspiring to play around with.

[@BoBeats]

Thats awesome!!

[@endoflevelboss]

what huge musical champ?

[@dachugadakelley650]

@@endoflevelbossI’m assuming high school composition for a musical

[@divinusmaximus1315]

What a nonsense! You could do that on your child toy synth which costs about 10$....

[@dachugadakelley650]

@@divinusmaximus1315 well, that’s just flat wrong lmao. You can’t sample on a kids synth, can’t edit the sample, doesn’t have a wealth of synth engines which you can also adjust and doesn’t come with automation. You can not like the instrument, fine. But there’s a reason many artists have used this hardware in the past 🤷‍♂️

[@Vapor-Fi]

Fun fact., the Roland SP-808 is a multi-track record, sampler and synth much like the TE OP-1. The expansion board for the SP-808, that gives you 4 individual outs is called the "OP-1". I'm guessing someone at TE really like the Roland SP-808.

[@tothefxckinmoon4540]

The synth is only the d-beam though....and it's pretty bad. But maybe you're spot on that the SP-808 was an inspiration.

[@qlyde]

Forget the price, if you’re considering buying one the price just is what it is.. Limitations? Yes. Replace your DAW or Grooveboxes? No. But 80% of the OP-1F value to me is the creativity it inspires because of the unique workflow, fun synth/drum/fx engines and limits to work around. Nothing else inspires me or makes me as creative as the OP-1F and that’s priceless! That’s not a feature other devices can code into their firmware, it’s the entire design coming together and being inspiring. The other 20% is the form, portability, battery life, etc. I rarely have to charge it and it goes everywhere with me! I can work out ideas in bed at midnight, or bring it to the lake and sample anything effortlessly, with no cables, batteries, etc. It defines standalone. If it’s something you’ll use like that for years, then it’s worth it 10x over. If you just want another synth or sampler in your studio, then there are better options!

[@uberd0gAlpha]

Ah the OverPriced-1

[@Space_Noise]

YUP 😬

[@princequestly2218]

I can’t believe someone would pay 2K for that piece of crap it’s built like shit, and you can get a way better sample of feel like a fraction of the price. It’s worth 500$ max.

[@marktgirvan]

@@princequestly2218well it isn’t built like shit, and of course if you don’t like it don’t buy it. Why be negative about things, just chill and enjoy the things you like

[@endoflevelboss]

@@marktgirvan Why police people calling out daylight robbery lol

[@dachugadakelley650]

@@princequestly2218if you’ve used one, you’d know they’re not build like shit. TE is an established design company foremost then they’re a “music” company, so no, the build quality isn’t bad on these pieces of equipment. Overpriced, probably. I paid $700 for mine because I was blessed to have a buddy that no longer wanted it.

[@RandoCalglitchian]

Here is another great option for portability: The DirtyWave M8 8 tracks that can be edited in detail, midi sequencing capabilities (including sequencing itself), several amazing synth engines, a sample engine that can sample and play samples back. The workflow seems quirky on the M8, but it relies on muscle memory and you can learn to use this very very quickly once you get used to it (and it doesn't take long). And let's be fair, the OP-1 workflow is pretty quirky as well and requires a lot of musical confidence. On the M8 you can edit everything to your heart's content. And finally you can buy almost 4 of them for the price of the OP-1 Field, and it's a third of the size. I'm not a seasoned musician, and yet managed to make some things with the M8 on my channel.

[@chromaflow9313]

I agree. Mine is actually coming in on Monday. I have been curious though (not really a game changer for me) - is there any option for recording in live midi on the M8?

[@Napoleonwilson1973]

The M8 is amazing had mine a few days and already laying down incredible beats and songs and only scratching the surface so far an incredible device.

[@nikolafeve]

@@chromaflow9313 yes, i use the widi jack (wireless autopowered mini midi interface) with KB-1 app on my iPhone. incredible, cheap and ultra portable

[@RandoCalglitchian]

Yeah, and DirtyWave is currently selling B stock units (cosmetic blems only) for $100 under regular price. I'm not affiliated, just a fan of the device.

[@maximilianschaffler9981]

Isnt The M8 a tracker? While i do like the idea, there really isn’t much of an intuition factor there that stands out so much on the OP-1. The special thing about it is that you really can just press record and play around. Also the PO has the capability to record vocals and other longer samples which to my understanding isn’t possible on a Tracker. I totally get why people like trackers but I don’t see the difference to them vs a Laptop with a DAW where I can Programm much more efficiently.

[@mauve_zone]

Good to see that Bo remains objective and not sucking up to TE. Not that I had any doubt.

[@LiamJames516]

I use mine for everything. Live key/synth work with bands and musicians, demonstrating easy composition to the kids I teach in my high school, creating wherever I go. It’s missing VERY little for what it is. And it is beautiful with the Mood MkII

[@jstew512]

I'm relatively happy with mine. It took me a month or so of messing with it to really feel comfortable with making music on it. I have plenty of gear but I still grab it first when I have a random idea and I enjoy running it through pedals into my DAW. I mostly got it to help me be musically productive when I'm out and about or on trips and for that it's a 10/10. If you're a producer who doesn't have a lot of gear or disposable income this is by no means any sort of must have.

[@dracul74]

I remember when I bought my first Elektron I was worried 'did I just blow big $$$ on this'... fortunately I fell in love with it and now happily own and use several of their products. One thing that works for me is that I make myself use what I buy in 10ish new songs. Not every song gets published.... but the process helps me never feel like something was a complete waste and gives me time to actually learn the product. What's funny is sometimes I will dislike a product but love the songs that come out of it... lol.

[@5ch3nk]

For the price point I'd look at whatever Elektron device best suits your needs...or two.

[@ToyKeeper]

For the price of an OP-1f + case, I got an Akai Force + Sequential Pro 3. Granted, both were on good sales, but still. Full music production setup with one of the nicest synths ever, for the price of a cute sketch pad.

[@LoserDub]

Or just buy a mini pc, a few touch screen monitors, an audio interface, a midi controller, and still have some left to go get a new ableton and serum lol

[@ToyKeeper]

I've had an OP-1 for 6 years. It's one of the fastest, easiest ways to start a track or sketch an idea... but it lacks the tools I need to finish songs. Gotta use a computer for that... but avoiding a computer is the main reason I use hardware. So the songs don't get finished. I dump the tape periodically to make room for new ideas, but I never touch the tape dumps again. In short, the OP-1 has mostly been a place where my ideas go to die.

[@Blazing234]

Yeah but those ideas stay in your brain if they are good

[@LoserDub]

And thats where it ends for me, it never sounds the same especially going from platform to platform, so for me unless I need to remember hot cross buns, this is a totally different beast. I just use the t.e pixel operator on my phone

[@LokiBeckonswow]

haha brutal, thx for the honesty

[@bochen_art]

I'm waiting for behringer version 😂

[@suspendednotesmusic]

YES

[@BobbyDoesMusic]

I remember lusting after one of these back when Red Mean's Recording (Jeremy) was doing all his OP-1 jams. The more I read and watch about it though, the more I realize I don't think it's for me, price not withstanding. The workflow just seems clunky to me. I do think it comes alive as a composition tool when you export tracks from the OP-1 into a DAW where you can really properly edit and arrange all the parts, and adding some flair and ear candy with unlimited tracks. Risers, drops, etc.

[@Taetro]

the 404 comparison is spot on. a lot of nuances and button combos to memorize!

[@BoBeats]

And when it delivers… it delivers!

[@andrewgobel4936]

Kudos for trying and sticking with it. I love my OP-1 field as a sketch pad & sampler. After loading all my own one-shots and drum kit samples on it and mastering the Endless sequencer, we clicked

[@GabeMillerMusic]

Grabbing my popcorn for this one

[@donaldpriola1807]

I have the original, and paid around $800 for it at the time. It felt like a fair deal, and I got on reall well with the UI, which I think is genius. I've enjoyed that it's built like a tank (it's truly surprising when you first hold one), the portability is unmatched, the battery is good, and the workflow forces decisions. The quirks have always been an issue for me; it strangely wouldn't power up without a reset at times, and the memory is limited. At $800, though, it felt fair nearly ten years ago. More than double that feels...dubious. However, if there is a market for it, and TE can sell them, more power to them. I personally wouldn't do $2k. $1200 would probably be fair today. You can get them used for 1k or under.

[@BoBeats]

The memory limit is very annoying at times! Wish i put that in the vid

[@OoraMusic]

I owe OP1 a lot. Once I embraced it for the way it is, a world opened up. I feel what you saying, I have been in the same exact spot. My fault was that I was trying to use it like other , more "standard workflow" instruments, which lead to disappointment and frustration. It is a little like the octatrack, it was a constant battle for years, now I love it so much :)

[@MatsueMusic]

This is the most important thing I've learned from you and Midlife, 23:07: Commit and trust your gut. Am I willing to spend $2000 to learn that lesson though........

[@peacefulpigeon7254]

Thanks Bo! I share your initial frustrations with the OP1 - after composing and mixing music on the computer where everything is so precise, I find it fun relaxing and inspiring to jam and have fun on the OP1. I often develop the tracks later… great music too!

[@BoBeats]

Thanks!!

[@aneveningwithebola2727]

TE gear is the equivalent of those $5k and up Boutique Custom Shop guitars played almost exclusively by executive Blues Dads. Hobbyist collectables priced higher than most industry go-to gear.

[@robertgarvansnyder4665]

I laughed at your comment about wanting a No Nonsense set of controls. The OP-1 is definitely a “high nonsense” device. I can’t think of anything else that I own that I love so much, and am so frustrated by. I think it’s all about leaning into the “vibe”, rather than understanding exactly what all the parameters do. I also scored my Field for 25% off the ticket price, and I feel it’s worth every penny of what I paid. For what it’s worth, these jams are probably my faves of yours, Bo, so I’m stoked to hear where your explorations take you.

[@BoBeats]

Glad you enjoyed the music!!

[@craigsurette3438]

The answer is YES! That these things exist, at this price point, and people buy them, is one of the greatest electronic music mysteries of our times...

[@FreeBeat]

Man I had no clue what to expect from you going into this one haha, enjoyed it thoroughly though!

[@JeffHendricks]

For the price, I can get an MPC One, _and_ an SP404MKII, _and_ have enough money left over for a keyboard controller and a microphone.

[@ToyKeeper]

+1. Though if you have a MPC, why would you want a SP404?

[@JeffHendricks]

@@ToyKeeper Just making the point. You could also get an MPC and an MC-707... etc.

[@ToyKeeper]

@@JeffHendricksYeah, there are a lot of options for $2k. I got a Force and a nice synth and a mic and a mixer and some stands, and have been very happy with it.

[@screamingstrings76]

OP1 is a great device to have if you play other instruments - for instance, it can be a great friend to a guitar player. play a couple chords into it, chop that up, flip it, throw some drums in, plug in a bass, just jam. It just really needs things to sample, the synth stuff is okay enough to fill in the gaps. A blast of a little device though, fun with friends!

[@F_letc.h]

The best portable device for making full tracks/albums is the Dirtywave M8. Polyend Tracker Mini also is a good choice. Both superior to the OP-1 Field unless you absolutely have to have a keyboard, or don’t enjoy trackers.

[@BoBeats]

So basically they are superior if you want a totally different kind of portable music workstation 😏

[@F_letc.h]

@@BoBeats in your video when comparing the OP-1 Field to other portable options, you don’t specify a kind of workstation. You simply compare it to other portable gear options. Only now, after the fact, are you specifying a particular type of workstation.

[@CrescentRollCarl]

@@F_letc.h You're right on. The M8 is the most comparable piece of gear to the OP-1 Field, and he didn't even mention it. It has great sampling capabilities, has fantastic synth engines, and is more portable. How isn't the M8 the first thing that comes to mind when finding a comparable device?

[@thebestdavidpeters]

Having an M8 and an OP-1F, you can't really compare them other than music comes from the outputs. It's like putting a mechanical engineer verse an abstract painter and asking which person makes the best food and judging based on their approach. The precision of the M8 and what it can do is amazing, but I always feel like I'm playing a handheld video game while combining it with computer programming. The OP-1F is absolutely nothing like the M8 other than it too is small enough to slide in my backpack. I enjoy both, but they fit different moods and approaches.

[@F_letc.h]

@@thebestdavidpeters they’re both extremely portable devices. That’s why they’re comparable. He didn’t specify workflow, or type of workstation. He was simply listing the best options for extremely portable devices. The M8 is an excellent option for someone looking for an extremely portable device.

[@paolofanin]

I had the first OG when it came out many years ago, and I've had the Field too. Since I love to use standalone instruments to create full songs, I have developed my personal workflow on it. Usually I program the drums, bass and chords on separate tracks using the endless sequencer, and then play the melody improvising on the small keys. The problem is that if I play something wrong (and it can happen because keys are quite small for me.. and I am a pianist) then I have to delete the part of the track which contains not only the mistake but also the previous instruments I have recorded. This leads me to confusion, irritation, frustration and so on. Honestly I have been selling and re-buying the OP several times but this time I sold it and I do not miss it. I have listened to all the songs that I did on the OP and they seem all very similar.. maybe that was MY problem but that's my points. I can say that it is very beautiful instrument esthetically, it is built perfectly.. but the "tape like" workflow is really an issue to me because I love to have control on the notes I recorded. Of course the last part of the video is completely agreable, as it is an instrument that pushes you to improve your self-trust (lol) but after 11 years of fiddling with the op ... it is now time to take a break, at least for me.

[@BoBeats]

Thanks for sharing!!

[@andrij.demianczuk]

I have an OG OP-1 that I’ve tried to like. I bought it about a year before the field came out and have yet to make anything significant on it. I find it aggravating that it doesn’t integrate well with other instruments (something the OP-Z does much better) so mine is largely gathering dust. I love what other people can make with it, but it’s just not for me. I agree with you Bo, it’s more style than substance.

[@Station2Station-du2gh]

Love it - and I have a room full of synths. Creativity generator even 1.5 years later the Field keeps giving.

[@CrescentRollCarl]

For sure a $2000 mistake. With some of the other compact hardware out there, the OP-1 Field really doesn't make any sense at that price point. The thing should retail for $700 maximum.

[@spaceiswater6539]

I would say nothing more than $350.00

[@symbiat0]

It’s because they think they are like Apple… and their customers are too 😂

[@noizekiller]

@@spaceiswater6539 For $350 it could be trashy plastic thing like model samples with low-fi screen and faulty buttons.

[@GreenBlueWalkthrough]

@@symbiat0 You can get an ol iPhone for much cheaper and it can do everything the OP-1 feild can do and so much more... Albeit those buttons though.

[@symbiat0]

@@GreenBlueWalkthrough You might be better off still with an iPad Pro, a bunch of soft synths, plug-ins and a MIDI keyboard. Still very portable with more choice.

[@fcfc]

I love the final word about undo/redo, it's probably why I go to a dawless setup

[@m.Freaks]

I also recently purchased an OP-1 Field. I was very confused before I made the purchase. I mainly play acoustic instruments, so I was worried about whether I would be able to use it and whether it would be worth the price. In fact, I haven't even opened the package yet. But I watched your video and found it very interesting. I will try to enjoy it as soon as possible. I have also subscribed to your channel and will learn a lot from your videos. I am still new to this kind of equipment, so thank you very much for your easy to understand explanatory videos.

[@BoBeats]

Thank you!! ♥️

[@LoveMeBack]

Op1 is the Elden Ring of synths. Unforgiving and frustrating at times, but I so loving it! Give it 8 tracks and I won’t mention undo functionality ever again.

[@BoBeats]

Deal!!

[@VIC-40]

it's kinda more like a $22,000 unopened copy of Final Fantasy for the original PlayStation

[@EVILJAMARR]

It’s a great keyboard. I absolutely love traveling with the OP1F as opposed to my MPC or Elektron devices. It’s quirky for sure and sounds unique. Having said that, I got mine used on reverb at a heavy discount which made it worth it. Not for everyone!

[@shannonpalmer]

Same here, I got OP1 Field used, and it was waaaay less than $2k. It still wasn’t cheap, but it was worth it to me. I just wish it had the sequencer of the OP-Z, then it would be perfect for my uses.

[@EVILJAMARR]

@@shannonpalmer I’ve not used an OP-Z but I hear this request often in the synth space. They are always adding updates so who knows what we will see in time

[@philb9550]

There is something that feels alive. Great work man. Thank you for sharing

[@NTL00]

Thank you for the reviewing and explaining video, I really like your demos track at 3:19 , it has funky spooky Halloween vibe in it!

[@emerymarcell8898]

I feel like everyone talks about the OP-1 as a stand-alone product primarily, but on its own it’s so cool for sketching ideas, and in combination with other hardware and a computer, the sampling and synthesis and everything else is actually unbelievable to me?? I’m really shocked at all the hate

[@fozziethebeat]

Great thoughts on the OP-1 field. I recently started using the OP-1 Field and OP-Z. They're both pretty different from each other but really nice highly portable devices. But I totally agree, the OP-1 field takes some getting used to and not ideal for everyone. I like mine but would equally caution others before getting one. To bad the OG OP-1 is out of production.

[@TheNimasan]

1010 music blackbox is the most portable powerfull synth/sampler/sequencer, which can work with a powerbank with 16 full fledged tracks, granular and what not. and i am an op1 version 1 owner myself. if i had to choose i personally would pick blackbox 10/10. butthe battery is absolutrly unmatched. never saw something like it. i wish i had that in my phone or ipad!

[@sinewaymusic]

Really appreciate the wise life advice sprinkled into the jam. Yes, take a more playful approach to life and you'll live happier! I'm personally gravitating towards an equally expensive piece of gear at somewhat of an opposite side of the portability spectrum (while still technically being portable): the Push 3. Two reasons for that: 1) There's a correlation between small size and a fiddly workflow, and 2) I've gotten tired of the inevitable jump from in-groovebox to in-daw, which always involves printing audio stems and committing to things that could still benefit from some more polish. Grooveboxes are fast up to a certain point in the process, then they get tedious and you're faster in the daw. With Push 3, that transition is entirely seamless instead - all midi, soft synth and automation data is still there on "the other side", fully available for you to keep tweaking. Best of both worlds. Only problem is that it comes with that same ridiculous price tag, and more since you want Live 11 Suite to go with it. 💸😭😂

[@ToyKeeper]

Similar story here. If I have to use a computer to finish songs, I just ... don't. So I switched to a Force, which is like a Push 3 except it has an arranger built in so it doesn't need a computer. Maybe the Push will get that eventually, but for now, the Force is still a more complete music production device.

[@sinewaymusic]

@@ToyKeeper To me, it's not that I want to avoid using a computer, I actually think the DAW is more convenient to use once I'm at a certain point in the music making process. For the initial spark and ideation phase up to the point of settling on a final arrangement, I really prefer to use a single piece of hardware in my lap, like the Syntakt or similar. It's really the abrupt switch from hardware to the DAW that I dislike so much - the need to print those stems to audio and commit to things that may not be fully baked ideas yet. The Push 3 makes that a completely unnecessary step since all those soft synths, automations and midi data is retained on the computer. That's something the Akai MPC couldn't do for me, so I was still stuck with trying to do 100% of the work on the MPC in standalone, which wasn't a particularly enjoyable experience either - mixing on the MPC isn't fun and it's also very limited with just one level of mix buses that can't be routed to another bus, and no parallel processing is possible aside from the few effects that have a dry/wet dial built in, or if you are OK with using one of the four return channels. All this said, if the Force works for you and lets you avoid the computer entirely, that sounds like a great solution for you! It's certainly capable enough in standalone that you don't really *need* a computer anymore unless you're super serious about finalizing those last 1-2% of the song to make it absolutely perfect.

[@ToyKeeper]

@@sinewaymusicYeah, it works pretty well for me. It has more "arranging + finishing songs" functionality than MPC, which is why I got a Force instead of a MPC. It's not in the same class as Ableton, of course, but for a completely standalone device it's the most powerful option so far. As a casual hobbyist, it's more than I need.

[@sinewaymusic]

@@ToyKeeper And at half the price of the Ableton solution, too! 👌

[@ToyKeeper]

@@sinewaymusicRight? For the price of a Push 3 w/ full license, I got a Force, SSD, mic, Sequential Pro 3, two Decksavers, and stands, all brand new.

[@michaels8607]

I'm sure it is cute yet I'm more impressed with my Polyend Tracker which is amazing and still expanding at $700...

[@delaydude]

Whatever keeps me creative can´t be a mistake. Thanks for this review - I was waiting for this so long!

[@tColorsinspacerecordings]

For me, it’s the best 2K I’ve ever spent. I use it every day and every time I sit down with it I get productive.

[@heavysystemsinc.]

I loved the OP1 original and was sad to sell it. I got one of the first issue ones so I only paid about 750$ for it. It was still a little steep for my tastes, but I really enjoyed the tape metaphor and style of making music. When you realize the entire tape can be a scratch pad to make new samples to throw back into the sampler, a lot of opportunities to explore open up. I would always have a walkman and a stack of tapes with the OP1 to use and now and then I'd get lucky and catch a sick sample off the radio. I also loved some of the esoteric sequencers to get textures for background sounds and ambient effects, such as the gravity sequencer, where the box spins and the notes you push create a ball that, when it bounces off the spinning box, plays. The one sequencer I hated but needed to use a lot for drum chops was the step sequencer. Ugh, very bad, but necessary. I wonder if the OPField improved it at all....

[@NorfolkTraveller]

Interesting to hear your take on it. For me, although it's not really hardware, when it comes to portability I think an iPad is just leagues better. I have Logic Pro and Staffpad on an iPad with a few synths such as Synthmaster 1, Tal-UNO, Fabfilter Twin 3, Moog, then some effects from Eventide, Fabfilter, Audio Damage, Hainbach, etc... it's just so much more capable - and for a little bit of extra space you can connect something llike a mini Korg Air midi controller. And you could get all of that for probably less than half the price of an OP1 Field (although the subscription on Logic will add up over the years). You have a very valid point about learning to commit - but I'd prefer to be a better judge of when to do that - with the option to clean some mistakes up that I know I don't want to commit until I've done it - without having to do the whole thing again!

[@BoBeats]

Thanks for adding your perspective to the discussion

[@rederickfroders1978]

I love what the OP-1 and Field do, but apart from the sound engines, the rest is clunky. The quality of all the buttons and faders might be great, but I dont think you'll have a great experience with such a UI. The Microkorg is also great under the hood, but the UI also hampers it. Huge price difference, but at a lower pricepoint I'd accept a confusing user experience more than from something like what the OP-1 goes for. If its good enough for the guy behind Tame Impala though, I guess this thing can be tamed. I love small, but confusing interfaces are a design fail to me. PS: Never buy anything because of Apple esque design!

[@HeIsMe1978]

The sampled radio talk tracks make me think of Eno and Byrne's "My Life in the Bush of Ghosts".

[@the_cursor]

I have the OG OP-1 and even though it's fun, it's definitely a hipster toy. Modular was my $2K mistake.

[@robertmyers6518]

I can really relate to this video. I ordered the Dirtywave M8 tracker a few months back and it arrived last week. I'm in the evaluation phase and asking, "is this the tracker I want?" So far, I'm enjoying it and learning the workflow and I'm hopeful the answer will remain, "yes." But - so far, so good!

[@nikolafeve]

i had never used a tracker in my life, but M8 became my favorite device of all my arsenal

[@robertmyers6518]

@@nikolafeve I bought a Polyend Tracker when they first came out and struggled with it. I didn't realize there were different "styles" of workflow for trackers. The way the M8 does the job of a tracker suits me a whole lot better than the Polyend and I've been spending more time with the M8 than I have of any other recent music purchase. So, yes I totally agree - it's now my favorite device.

[@nikolafeve]

@@robertmyers6518 glad you love it. The polyend tracker is based on the PC tracker back in the days (definitely not my preference), M8 is based on the LSDJ tracker on gameboy which is a much nicer workflow imo

[@SimpleTrax]

This is actually the best video about OP1 I have seen yet. If only the OP would not be so expensive, for that alone I will probably never buy it.

[@kurisuchiinathecrocodile333]

I really like your final words here. I can feel a lot of heart in them. As for me... Op-1 was on my wishlist since it was announced, but back then I instead bought an analog semi-modular, and the more years were passing the more expensive op-1 was becoming, always a bit higher than my budget can justify... There are many qualities of it that I like very much, like i think its masterpiece of UI/UX, also when it first came out you didnt have as much alternative options - nowodays you have more "portable wonders" to choose from, but in early 2010s closest thing would be something like Elektron Monomachine and maybe some more obscure option I can't remember. "Tape" approach is also pretty unique, and of course love or hate, but it is indeed one of defining here. So yeah. I'm still pretty much in awe of op-1, but I still not sure if i'd ever get it considering there are things in my wishlist that are more expensive and perhaps more important. Still, im happy for those for whom op-1 became "their" instrument. I love checking their yt channels to listen a new song once in a while.

[@DocBolus]

OK so I have never quite got this, I don't understand what the OP has over the MC-101 apart from looks. I guess until you play with one you don't know but I have no idea how it could be worth it. Maybe when the OP1 first came out (I believe at that time there was only £300 difference in price) a 'hipster tax' may have made it worth it, but at £1500 more what exactly does it bring to the table. It is essentially a groovebox at the end of the day.

[@suspendednotesmusic]

haha "hipster tax" spot on

[@leftmono1016]

Hipster tax 😂

[@magnuseriksson8081]

It’s sounds more like a toy than the MC 101 but it also has some amazingly cool sounds. I wish all these hardwares had a way to undo, redo and be able move it all over to a daw with the sounds and midi data to be able to edit and add more tracks. Maybe you can??? Will the tapes tracks be possible to edit on a daw and if so, how??

[@noisetheorem]

I’d pay $9.99 if it were an iPad app.

[@matszh]

Another iPad app that you’d end up not using ;)

[@62borneo]

Not even

[@dachugadakelley650]

This has been my sketch pad for all things ❤ it’s limitations push me to find to fashionable ways to do X, Y and Z. Obviously it doesn’t remove FL Studio for me, but when I’ve got a tune in my head or something inspires me, I have a place to save that on the OP1.

[@jerem680]

The music you made with it is fantastic !

[@BoBeats]

Thank you!!

[@VTOLKits]

For this money you get two Akai Force, or only one plus an analog poly synth module. You can record the synth with the force.... 👍👍

[@Maochan81]

I understand the appeal of the OP-1 even though i never owned one. Yeah, it's not a great synth, it's not a great sequencer, but as a whole it's very well thought out and designed. The workflow kind of pushes you towards making a track instead of just creating loops. Even the price is somewhat understandable. TE will not sell many of them, but they committed to quality materials in this one. In this free market we always vote with our wallets. If people are not buying something, the price will go down.

[@The_artist_called_The_Engineer]

Well at least you’ve clarified my thinking on the OP1 it’s nice but it’s not the synth for me. Still happy with my cheaper groovebox twinned with a DAW. But I do empathise with the infinite retakes. They say that in software development code is never finished it’s just abandoned and I can see where making music can be the same.

[@mollykeane2571]

I’ll have it if you’re not happy with it. I sold mine and really wish I hadn’t.

[@johnallen8248]

I don't have much real world experience with many different synths; I'm just getting into the hobby and my only synth is a Roland J6. But I do like to watch gear videos, and the appeal of the OP1 baffles me. To me, price is a big factor in the expectation of the synth; and the OP1 seems like it should be in the $500 range, not the $2000 range. It seems like a much more limited MPC or MC for more than double the price. For my money and time, a MC-101 seems like a much better investment. I think the resale value of these also indicates the MSRP is way off. You can pick these up for dirt cheap. With most music gear, you can expect a 15%-20% loss in value when you purchase new equipment. With the OP1, you are looking at a 50% loss as soon as you walk out of the store. I guess it's kina like a sports car, it looks cool, is fun to play with; but its not super practical, and it looses 1/2 of it's value when you drive it off the lot. As far as real musicians using this, well, you could use a sports car as a daily driver, that doesn't make it practical.

[@rhakka]

For some users, there is no other device that can fill its space. I consider it to be a sketch pad. Light, useful screen, amazing battery, built in speaker is actually good, fills all of the instrument type needs. There are only 2 additional things I’d really like from it. Like nearly everybody else, I want an undo, but as an engineer, also understand the challenge of undo within the OP-1 workflow. I’d also like keys that do not double trigger. Like seriously, is that so much to ask for? 😂

[@ToyKeeper]

It's a pretty good sketch pad. It struggles with turning sketches into finished songs though. So I eventually gave up and switched to something which is better suited for finishing songs.

[@rhakka]

@@ToyKeeper If you don't mind me asking, what did you switch to? Force? I'm still looking for that full portability. May try one of the trackers, if I have time. The closest thing I've actually purchased (to the OP-1) is the Deluge. Everything I make on it still sounds very programmed, though (which it is). Always on the hunt. :)

[@ToyKeeper]

@@rhakkaYes, I switched to a Force. It's not portable, but it sure is powerful. For portable use, a DirtyWave M8 or MC-101 would be a good option, but a tracker or pattern-based device usually makes music sound even more programmed. So I mostly start by humming a song idea into the Force, then play phrases and rhythms real-time for a more organic feel, then add extra tracks and arrange the clips into a song.

[@stephenhiscox]

Excellent video, thanks! I would recommend to anyone thinking about it to give the original op1 a try first. All the principles are the same - the Field just has a few more options and is not as Lofi. I love the original, which I’ve had for about 5 years - it really changed the way I create. So after thinking about it for quite a while, I took the plunge and bought the Field, and I absolutely love it. But if you don’t click with the OG, you won’t click with this.

[@BoBeats]

Thats a good suggestion!

[@joshua5887]

The portability, battery life, and keyboard are all worth it for me. If Akai MPK mini Play had a 4 track recorder I’d pay the same amount. 😅

[@producewithjt]

When you have 4 tracks, you better make each one count. I think that’s the rationale behind the OP-1 workflow. Also, no one talks about how streamlined the workflow is for re-sampling. In that sense, the way the tape is set up with the sampler is magic.

[@smalltown2223]

These things look really cool and seem to be good for making ideas come to life quickly. However I think a fair price for it is £599 max. Take digitakt and the MPC range. You can finish songs on both and without a computer. The Pocket Operators for me are equally inspiring at a fraction of the price, and they get me in the studio playing real instruments, finishing songs. they’re brilliant and pretty cheap in the grand scheme of things. Many is the time I’ve been messing around with one, I get something I like and then reproduce it on Elektron gear and play along on keyboards and guitar etc. they’re worth every penny.

[@nofutureinYT]

After owning an OP for a while, I can safely say the PO series is the magnum opus of TE. OP1 has shitty recording abilities that "force the user to think", but then TE release a 6 track field recorder, for another 2k - it's all money. Any OP owner would kill for the ability to sequence or edit recordings without feeling like you're in Abbey Road in the 70s, and its only a software update away. At least you can sequence the PO series and chain them. I would say the OPZ could be in the list too, but it's a little chaos

[@dans.8198]

No undo function, destructive editing, and a track is a singe-pixel line while the rest of the screen is wasted showing a fake tape. I loved the eighties, but not for those reasons. My OP-1 OG sits on the shelf as a weird toy for friends to explore when they visit. The novelty brings a lot of fun for 5 minutes, after which they put it back on the shelf saying “wow, this is nonsense”. Nonetheless I decided to keep it because… portability. Long story short: longest trip it did was from the shelf to the nearby table.

[@TD05SSLegacy]

But what’s a good cello or flute cost? 2k doesn’t seem too bad for a professional musical instrument. Cheap in fact. 😊

[@MistyMusicStudio]

Yeah most guitar rigs cost 2k ish too after you consider the amp, cables, tuner, strap, strap locks, setup, pedals, speaker upgrade, etc. That being said a novation circuit rhythm is like $265 used and is probably a more powerful standalone music device than an OP-1 😅 Totally a different instrument though.

[@leftmono1016]

It’s not cheap for a limited synth/sampler!

[@CrescentRollCarl]

But the OP-1 Field is not even close to a professional instrument.

[@45jimbers]

Yes …. It made me / makes me better … thankyou for saying exactly what I found Bo!

[@octachron_ios_drum_sequencer]

Very nice review, which really points out a lot of different aspects of the OP-1. Thank you very much! ✌️😊

[@ANTheWhizkid]

Guess I´m the mpc guy then (20+ years). Since I´m kinda biased and not too worried about the mobility of my devices, I can only say that I find your evaluation absolutely makes sense to me.

[@giuseppelentini9140]

I think you did: I know that lots of people already said what I'm about to say, but really, the most powerful and inexpensive alternative would be a pc with a midi controller. Already the bundled software included would be better than this. Heck, you don't even have to buy an external audio interface + monitors if you like the OP-1 sound quality. A couple of Trust speakers attached directly to the internal sound card outputs and asio4all should be enough. I also don't understand why undos and redos aren't a good thing. You can decide not to use those options, but you can't decide to use them, if those are not there, and destructive editing is final. Anyway, to each his own, I guess.

[@ilioscio]

Teenage Engineering needs to cool their jets positioning themselves as a 'luxury brand', the pocket operators are brilliant at 50 (harder to stomach at 99, but the portability and battery life makes it pretty reasonable) but 2k for the op-1 with no undo feature (it fOrCes DeCiSiOnS) is pretty silly in my opinion. Oh, and now they make super expensive tables, I want to like TE but they make it hard.

[@totoroutes5389]

Instead a Monome Norns Standard would have been a better device to choose.

[@inperfectsequence7840]

I understand your frustration and your adaptation, the same thing happened to me with my OP-1 unit, but I don't use it like an SP-404, I think that as a sampler the SP404 is much better than the Op-1 and I think that OP-1 is better synthesizer than a hardware sampler. Actually the concept of recording things live on the fly is great for those who know how to play well, but it is difficult to do it with this keyboard, you have to be very meticulous and it requires special skill. My unit is the first version (the original), it does not have the new features that the new one has, but the use and functionality is the same, and as a sampler to do things with radio sounds, it seems like a very good one. For me, the concept of the 11 synthesis engines is a bit overkill on this machine, the sound editing isn't really satisfactory, they don't have the depth of my exclusive Waldorf Blofeld, but it produces great sounds for live playing and sampling. and then use the looper with the recorder. Op-1 is like a small studio inside a box, where you have a kind of 4-track reel-to-reel and where you can compose things like in the 80s. (without DAW). This machine is perhaps the best daw-less concept machine, for making lo-fi hiphop instrumentals with 4 tracks, it's really cool. But since I bought the Maschine+ for 800 euros, I think it made a big difference when it came to composing my music and even using the OP-1 with Maschine+ as a very powerful and minimalist external extra. I really like the Op-1, but the price it has now is really ridiculous, the mk1 cost me similar to this year's Maschine+ and I saw how the price rose exaggeratedly over the years. I wouldn't recommend the Op-1 for finger playing, I think the Maschine Plus is a much better machine in that regard and has the best pads and pots for controlling samples and editing them with precision. The worst thing about the machine is the battery, I think that when its battery fails over time, it stops being so autonomous and that is when you stop using it, I use it with the cable current all the time, because its battery really doesn't last long. and it's already 10 years old, because I bought it in 2013 and well, this was the most expensive machine I bought in those years, the rarest too, I won't part with it because there are many things I like about OP-1, others I don't so much. Thank you for sharing your concerns in this video. Greetings and merry christmas!

[@AleksanderNevskij47]

I fell right into the trap of FOMO! Congratulations!!

[@edjefferson9175]

There is a certain style of music you are making with this. I believe a good instrument or tool brings forth new ways to imagine and create. There is value in that beyond the physicalities. But yeah, I felt your frustration with the OG OP-1. The build quality and portability are on a very high level.

[@teamphil]

I pre ordered the elz_1 play, because it’s like 1/4 price and looks awesome.

[@GreenHoleSun]

After long thinking, I bought an OG OP-1, discuonted, one year ago. Still overpriced, but, all in all, I don't regret buying it. It's a great sketchpad to fix musical ideas on the go, and, moreover, it is a perfect fit for my bedside table. And, surprise, it has a real funcional keyboard: something that has become quite rare these days. Some sketches go directly to the bin, others get a chance to be processed in ableton live for something more serious. I think it's quite inappropriate to call it (or expect it to be) a DAW: it is very unlikely that you can finish a song from the start to the end using only the op-1, unless you are a very good musician or your expectations are low. Overall: it is a tool with his own limitations (the workflow based on digital recording come directly from the '80ies 4 track tape recorders, with all their pros and cons), but, you know, best ideas frequently come from limitations more often than from "endless possibilities".

[@madeinerror]

Had op1, had op1field. Sold both. Tracker Mini FTW as for me :)

[@95anders95]

The only thing that keeps the OP-1 from being the BEST portable sampler/synth on the market is the absence of a normal ADSR envelope on the "drumsampler". Also wish it had one more track (at least). Still love it tho

[@BoBeats]

Thats a good point!

[@Lainer1]

It's the tape factor for me. It gives a more organic feel. You can make some cool mistakes if you do'n't follow the perfect beat. It reminds me of my old Tascam 4 track tape recorder in that way.

[@ShaighJosephson]

$2k buys the Solar 42F... Let that sink in... 💥

[@MattiasHolmgren]

Excellent breakdown video Bo.👌☕️ I bought the OP-1 field on day 1 and I use it every day, its one of the quickest instrument around to grab and make music with. Battery time is outstanding and recording at different tape speeds is lovely to create soundscapes. 👍

[@TechTronix01]

Did I miss something? No undo, but you can cut and paste sections to make an arrangement. So no undo, but basic arrangement stuff to compensate it somewhow?

[@eamfos]

I prefer a Lyra 8 and a Cosmos pedal. 😁

[@GGprods-o2x]

I have both of these and an op1 field. They play very well together.

[@eamfos]

@@GGprods-o2x i m sure they will.

[@GearZenChannel]

I bought the original OP-1 before the price increased. I still have it and will not be getting the Field.

[@IanWaugh]

In a word - Yes! 😲😊

[@tricks-and-tips]

Unfortunately, I will probably never own one of these. It has it's appeal for sure (for me) but I really can't afford getting this 'and' keeping my dawless setup. And the second one is not going anywhere soon, so..... I guess I'll stick to enjoying my setup 😊

[@matthewgaines10]

The OP-1 Field has a lot cool factor abilities. At $2,000, it isn’t that cool anymore. It's hard to justify when I look at what I can buy at the same price point. I don’t need to have portability when I make songs 99.99% in a home studio. I just think I'm far from It's target customer. When I spend $2,000, it's on something more useful in the environment I work it. If I wanted something on it's the portability capability, I still wouldn't choose it. It's size and functionality is too limiting for me. An iPad and GarageBand are a better value and I don’t have that either. The money isn't a problem. The value proposition is.

[@nikolafeve]

Good conclusion!

[@sapog2007]

Ukraine synthsound freaks and regular people under occupation of Russian orcs say huge THANK YOU BOBEATS. Respect you man👍

[@BoBeats]

Stay strong!

[@Auldhelm]

Great balanced review - probably great for astronauts or hipster chiptune producers

[@donot2592]

Apple-esque? PFfff, OP-1 is a Surface Book-esque Beauty

[@billyruss]

4:58 "cool-looking, Apple-esque piece of music fashion". The thing that puts me off is the thought that I'm paying through the nose for the label. Sure it looks cool, but I can't see anything that can be achieved with this that can't be done at a fraction of the cost using cheaper alternatives. And don't even get me started on their $1600 "Field Desk".

[@VestedUTuber]

Honestly, it brings some neat ideas to the table and it's an amazing machine for its highly portable form factor, but the awkward workflow, limitations and price tag combined make it a bit unreasonable. I'd like to see another company take a crack at the the tape reel system.

[@GuitarsAndSynths]

the issue with OP-1 is how difficult it is to program tracks for separate drum, bass and melody. Elektron has better format for sequencer and programming.

[@chrisliddiard725]

The OP-1 vibe owes a lot to the granddaddy of portable keyboards, the Casio VL-1.