Long story short, was about to buy a prophet 12 as my first synth ) but decided to go a whole other way. As you may have guessed i’m trying to choose either the OP1 or A4 (Well actually i’m also going to buy a Stylophone S2.
Anyway i’m trying to decide which one of these two i get but just can’t decide! I’m starting to have headaches from the decision. So i’m posting here so i can hear your opinions in which one you would get.
I like the OP1 for its simplicity, ease of use (sketch ideas), portability, ableton integration and having all those synths and FX to choose from. But scared that i won’t be able to use the sound. I’m not expecting to produce songs only with the OP1, but i do want to create sounds and easily export them.
Why am i scared of the sound? Most demos and songs i have heard all have this (don’t know how to really explain it but…) Kinda like an over saturation, and they seem very childish sounds (Toy pianos, marimbas etc). Just my opinion.
The A4, I like the sequencing style, i love the sound, could be used in a live setting (and I probably will use it), To create drums from scratch is a plus (i like creating them). Cv gate for the Stylophone is a plus.
Although i said i love the sound, it also has a very techno sound (which is great) that makes me feel it’s more purposed to that sector?
Anyway… What i’m looking for is the better sounding and with more options in sound design…
This was my opinion in both… but still don’t know which one to choose, so it would help to see other opinions and your choices.
I’d prefer A4. It’s a big sounding analog synth. Very good for lives as standalone device with elektron sequencer which allows parameters and sounds locks per step. What does it mean? It allows you to have absolutely different sounds on each step. You can have drums, percussion, bass and lead on the only one track. On board effects are very good! Reverb can have infinite decay which is superb for soundscapes. Effects parameters can be also p-locked. Sound design possibilities are also very big. Just listen LEM’s lives with only A4.
I went through the same battle when I went to purchase my first synth. I was looking for something portable, easy to hide from my kids, and something with lots of power.
The reason I didn’t go with the OP-1 was mainly the fact that it has a battery similar to that of a laptop, and had read reviews that said there were some charging issues, as well as the battery indicator not working properly. Also at the time (not sure if it has changed) the warranty on it was only for a year. Being that they are a newer company and only carried a one year warranty, and had some issues with the battery made me think it wasn’t such a good idea, and made me wonder if it would still function in 10 years.
I looked at getting the Stylophone S2 as well. That thing is built like a tank, can run off of AA batteries or an adapter. The reason I didn’t get it was because it didn’t have ASDR envelopes at all. It was a somewhat full featured synth, but was missing some of the basics. I wasn’t really all that impressed with the filter at first, but after watching some videos, I came to terms with it. I will eventually buy one.
I went with the Analog Four for SEVERAL reasons. Sequencer, delay, reverb, parameter locks, CV control, midi in/out/thru, octave change mini-keyboard, portable, powerful, deadly. Comes with a 4 year manufacturer’s warranty. It can produce anything from Moog to Korg sounds and beyond.
The funny thing is, I had looked at it in the past and dismissed it as a practical option, mainly due to the cost and it’s in-depth menu system. I wanted something more simple. But after considering what I was getting for the money, it made sense to go with the A4.
Man that’s a tough choice, go with both and maybe skip the stylophone s2?
Both op1 and a4 have a somewhat steep learning curve, well op1 functions are not quite as secretly hidden but it does a lot more with all the diff sequencers to figure out. Both sound great and both can sound like toys. A4 seems more technical but warm nerd/book worm like in depth sound design, sculpt a sound from the ground up while the screen kinda pains the neck/eyes and good analog twisted madness and the fx are truly studio quality…op1 is easier to navigate, and more interactive in a video game have fun kinda way that makes you like looking at the screen, and can sound like a killer modern digi synth with kinda indie cheesy fx that can sculpt some radly rancid or decent faux sounds.
Where would you purchase the stylophone s2 from, they seem hard to find so prob pricey too?
I sold my OP1 for an A4 and never looked back. Personally I didn’t find the sound of the OP1 to be pleasing and the promise of portable music production versus the reality were two quite different things in my case. Basically the OP1 is too nice and too delicate to take on a commute and not useful if you end up standing for most of the journey!
[quote=“” nightfade""]
I sold my OP1 for an A4 and never looked back. Personally I didn’t find the sound of the OP1 to be pleasing and the promise of portable music production versus the reality were two quite different things in my case. Basically the OP1 is too nice and too delicate to take on a commute and not useful if you end up standing for most of the journey!
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I own both the OP-1 and A4 and have to respectfully disagree with nightfade. The OP-1 is anything but delicate. It’s built like a mini tank. I have never had problems with the battery, it last forever. As far as the sounds on the OP-1, it really can be anything you want it to be. It’s a very high quality piece and will be a future classic. Most people will clearly side with the A4 as a “more professional instrument” but I see them both equally dangerous in the studio or live on stage. If I were to have to settle for one I would go for the OP-1 just because it’s so different then anything out there and the creative possibilities are bananas. I made some drum patterns on the OP that had the windows rattling with ultra deep bass. Believe me it does not sound toyish.
i’d say the only thing that makes the analog 4 “techno” sounding would be the presets? or maybe people not changing up patterns? i dunno. for me it replaced a lot of other analog and hybrid synths - i don’t find it one note. you can get creative with the synth modulations and routing, i don’t feel like i’ve heard it all yet after a year+, although the sequencer being tightly integrated does tend to get me to gravitate towards more rhythmic stuff.
the op1 seems cool although i think i’d only really use the sampler and effects and mainly outside of the house- i’d like to get hands on with one, but you can use a Tekkeon MP3450i with the non analog elektrons… i decided to go with that this summer.
from what i understand of the op1, in terms of synth sound design the analog 4 is deeper, but i’ve always been more into making sounds with samples! the analog4 redeems itself though by being a rad live effects processor imo.
I have had over 30 different synthesizers and just can not understand what anyone sees in the OP1?!? i have read all about it and heard it over and over and every time i come to the conclusion that it is lame in just about every way.
The lack of multitimbrality, patch management, and a decent sequencer were also deal breakers for me. Also I wasn’t a fan of the keys, mini-jacks, and lack of physical midi ports (tried a MIDI USB host, iConnect MIDI, and Oplab).
On the plus side the tape was very cool and the link between the visual design and physical controls was nice.
Completely different animals. I just got offstage from a very very sweaty gig in Calgary and I can say without a doubt that there are qualities to both that sound amazing through a loud PA. The A4 is a workhorse and once you grow accustomed to “Elektron Think” in terms of workflow …well…it’s an unbeatable instrument. It’s incredibly easy to realize ideas, sharpen them and then thoroughly fuck them up…in a good way. Honestly, it’s the best instrument I’ve ever owned… That being said, the OP 1 is just…different. I process it through the A4 but even on it’s own, it’s idiosyncrasies let you come up with sounds and patterns you wouldn’t normally arrive at with an XOX machine. Even ones as powerful as the A4. Pads. Crazy strange pad sounds with odd modulation and movement. It’s really good at that. And multi layered, shifting psychedelic sample mangling., especially when you abuse the effects and LFOs. So…if it’s composition and writing you want: A4 first. Then the OP.
Christ. I’m a nerd. Back to the hotel after a gig and I’m scrolling through the forum. Haha. Anyway…the community here is also a lot more interesting and helpful than the OP1 site. IMHO.
I have both, and couldn’t ever see myself parting with either of them. The a4 is great for serious sound design and gets used in pretty much every recording I make at the mo.
The OP-1 on the other hand I record very rarely but, whenever I find myself in a creative rut, I pick up the OP-1 and almost guaranteed within 10 minutes I’m brimming with ideas for my next track. It’s just such a fun, tactile instrument.
A favourite trick of mine is to record BBC Radio 4 into the drum sampler and start trying to misrepresent whatever whomever politician is babbling about at the time.
I’d agree many example recordings of it tend to be way over saturated, there’s a compressor at the end of the signal chain, and the temptation (if you’re working off the in built speaker) is always to crank it to the max. Set this compressor at a reasonable level and the OP-1 can sound as sweet as you like, though maybe a little noisy.
Very hard to compare. In terms of sound design i would say the A4 comes out on top. In terms of ease of use, flexibility, and live performance the OP-1 wins.
The op-1 is far more playable than most synths out there. I let people with 0 experience use it, and all I have to mention is that the knobs match the colour of the on screen functions and they get it.
the A4 is an analog synth, has CV and the amazing effects so it functions in the studio as more than just a synth and sounds professional.
OP-1 is a good all in one solution, you don’t need an audio interface or any other gear to complete songs. If you are just getting in to music production or synthesis the OP-1 is a fantastic choice. It samples, has a built in radio, a tape recorder, multiple sequencers, and a variety of synth engines.
Put them together and you really have some magic though Pan the 4 op-1 tracks hard left and right and you can process track 1,2 on A4 input 1 and track 3,4 on A4 input 2.
Until you own one. Trust me, I know what you’re talking about. It’s creating without thinking right out of the box. Never experienced something so creative as this little thing (in 20 years).
it’s basically apples & oranges as both are completely different devices. the OP’s main functionality is it being a sampler and having different engines for sample playback. all that topped with a rompler-style synth, a couple of sequencers and some novelty features.
on the other hand, the A4 is a full-blown 4x analog monosynth (albeit a bit weak in the bass department) that can pass as a 4-voice polysynth ever since the last os update…
the difference goes even further when you look at the user interfaces of both boxes; the OP1 tries very hard at being easy and intuitive, whereas the A4 offers in depth edition for the price of a steep learning curve.
all things considered, they are impossible to compare, sorry.
Pure sound/pattern design and analog sounds and the Elektron way - A4
Quirky digital sounds, recording on a non-grid/X0X/16-step grid, and best portable synth ever made IMO (recently saved me from going nuts on a 15 hour long-haul flight, although I got some worried stares) - OP-1
the analog4 redeems itself 
though by being a rad live effects processor imo.
Pan the 4 op-1 tracks hard left and right and you can process track 1,2 on A4 input 1 and track 3,4 on A4 input 2.