Teenage Engineering OP-1 Alternatives?

August 20, 2014 8:48 AM

I've fallen in love with a friend's OP-1. It's limited enough not to feel overwhelming, but versatile enough that it feels possible to create quality work; doing a little bit of everything synth/sequence/sample/drum machine/recorder. It feels like it hits just the right sweet spot between tool and toy. Unfortunately at $850 it's a purchase that I really can't justify. Is there a software (osx or ipad) or hardware solution that offers a similar all in one, versatile, fun to use electronic music production environment?
posted by I Foody to Sports, Hobbies, & Recreation (3 answers total)

I own an OP-1 and love it like a child. You really want to look into Samplr. Its aesthetic was directly inspired by the OP-1, and it feels like an extension of it in some ways. It also feels like one of the few instruments that seems to truly capitalize on the unique interface of the iPad to great effect. Not without some bugs to be ironed out, but it's deep and very fun to use.
posted by naju at 9:08 AM on August 20, 2014 [3 favorites]

The OP-1 is sort of a modern evolution of stuff like the korg EMX, volca, the roland grooveboxes(and MC model, like the mc-303), etc.

There is a lot of fun to be had with those in the same kind of way. Many of them can be had for under $300, or even under $200 in a good craigslist deal.(i think my friend got a mc-303 for like... $150?).

I think the OP-1 is cool too, but i think it's grotesquely overpriced for what it is. Even though i sort of understand why it ended up being that price, i find it totally silly and unjustifiable in the same way as the $900 models of the ipad.

Also, several of my friends have made some really really cool funky/weird/awesome stuff with MC-303s and korg EMXs.
posted by emptythought at 10:36 PM on August 20, 2014

If you have a Nintendo DS, try finding a copy of the Korg DS-10 (or DS-10 Plus if you have a DSi or 3DS). It's easily under $45 new, or about $15 used. It is not nearly as powerful as a real synth, but for the money I don't think you can do better.
posted by LiteS at 12:42 PM on August 21, 2014