Teenage Engineering OP-1 Portable Synthesizer

For the cost of this thing new, or even second hand you could most likely set up an entire home studio with 'proper' gear... However since I'd never consider myself a 'proper' musician this thing fulfils the role of being my basic 'home studio' - one that I can take anywhere in my backpack! Sure I could perhaps get an ipad to do as much or more but I face more than enough screen time in my daily routine already and the OP-1 offers an escape from that. It's a very tactile and hands on little instrument; a pleasing relief from the flat, cold touch-screen experience. There's an immediacy to it too; having the OP-1 within reach just inspires me to make music, capture sounds and record spontaneously. It's the synth equivalent to keeping a parlour guitar by the chair for whenever the urge to play strikes.

Most of my writing gets done on this little powerhouse. Even when the song ends up transitioning to a DAW and completely different instruments, nothing quite helps me create like sitting down with this machine.

I appreciate my OP-1 for it's compactness and portability. I use it primarily as a MIDI device, but under-the-hood are so many layered features to assist anyone, serious about musical composition and recording. The basic synthesiser has the standard 4 No. LFO's, but with a graphic interface. Hence, they are more accessible to the user. The single and dual channel drum combinations are wicked, and are 'the plaything' to digital drummer geek, who can enjoy the 'barrel-of-monkeys' drumming graphics! I could go on about the on-board tape-recorder and microphone... but just try it!!! :-R

This little machine does it all. I take it everywhere with me so I can get ideas down wherever and whenever the mood strikes. Great when you are travelling or away from the studio for any length of time.

I absolutely love this thing. Whenever inspirations strikes I am able to quickly sketch down ideas without having to load up a DAW and risking losing the spark. The different synth engines are incredible and offer a very wide range of sounds, and the onboard effects are delightfully strange (one of them is a cow, and each of its four stomachs represents a different filter parameter), while remaining functional. The ability to sample directly through the input or through FM radio using the built-in tuner really seals the deal for someone who enjoys sample hunting for inspiration.

The OP-1 has a lot of surprising limitations that most people probably wouldn't expect. For instance: To apply a simple filter envelope to your sound, you have to 1: use up your one allotted effect for the filter, and 2: sacrifice the LFO to act as an envelope-follwing modulator for the the effect. I think this kind of work-around turns a lot of potential owners off, but they're not seeing past what they see as a flaw into what I think of as a strength. See, the OP-1 isn't about creating standard synth sounds, so once you wrap your mind around the idea that its creators gave it this set of odd handicaps for a reason, you're able to see the instrument in a new light. It can do a lot of strange, beautiful things that no other synth I know of can do, and it fits in your pocket. Oh, and the rechargeable battery lasts for an extremely long time. I've owned mine for three months now and I've only had to charge it twice. There's this one sound I made on it that I just can't stop playing with: I filled a crystal wine glass with water, then ran my wet finger around the rim, pouring small amounts of water out until the vibrations matched middle C. I sampled that, applied a slow, subtle pitch modulation to it, and then some spring reverb. That sound is the most haunting, mystical thing I've ever heard. OP-1 is a keeper.

Portable, Powerful sampler, drum machine, sequencer, synthesizer, effects and work station. Not a Toy.

Great intro to synth --->>> drum sounds, sampling, synth sounds, sequencing, arpegiator, 4-track recorder... WOW!! Such a useful ideas and pre-production planning tool. I can sit anywhere and create or plan arrangements, etc. Some sampled loops I've created are then incorporated into full productions. I've also used it live just for fun. Using the beats and loops is incredibly inspiring. Borrow one and try it for a week. I bet you won't give it back!!

This synth has the allure of Apple products with it's all aluminum build, and has an amazing sound! Built in 4 track tape sampling system, and a lot of creative control for making some incredible synths.

Great, simple, and portable synth