Teenage Engineering OP-1

The Lounge Other Gear
#788

I think absolutely the OP-1 is in the same ballpark as the Octatrack both in build quality and as an instrument - obviously mini jacks are not as robust as 1/4 inch, and it is smaller, but it is made from very high quality plastic and the case is solid aluminium. If you smash the keys like an idiot you will break them, same as a computer keyboard, but so far mine are holding up well, no build issues and I’ve had them for years.

I’d take an OP-1 or Octatrack over any Akai MPC/Force any day. Nothing against the Akai’s other than that DAW but not quite a DAW all in wonder box doesn’t appeal to me, if I were so inclined I’d just use a DAW instead because I don’t see what the advantage of the Akai’s are. I used to like the older MPCs though.

3 Likes
#789

They need Jeremy(Red) to renew the faith by doing a new OP-1 video on youtube.

#790

If surprises me that nothing really similar to the OP1 has emerged. Any thoughts on why? A miniature Elektron along vaguely similar lines would be a dream.

#791

One interesting thing here is that i don’t think that many people are aware of that the OP-1 actually could have been an Elektron product.

The main man behind TE is Jesper Kouthoofd and he worked for Elektron for some time. He was part of the team that developed the Machinedrum and the Monomachine and after that he felt that the next logical step for Elektron would be a small portable device so he had begun sketching out some ideas for such a project.

Then his mate (and one of the co-founders of Elektron) Daniel tragically died in a car crash and that was such a huge loss for Jesper so he chose to leave the company after that. So he never presented the sketches of the portable device to the rest of the team. He couldn’t let go of the idea though and eventually ended up starting up TE so that the project could become reality.

This is Jesper’s side of the story that i’m sourcing from the interview found below (only in Swedish i’m afraid) and i’m hoping someone at Elektron will correct me if they think this is false.

10 Likes
#792

Wow, I didn’t know that - Thanks for letting me know

#793

“Is it mushroom season in Sweden?”

2 Likes
#794

No worries! I didn’t take any offence, I know how easy it is for things on the internet to seem more confrontational than they are meant to be (I received a community warning here for empathising with someone’s frustration re OB delays and linking them to meditation resources?!).

For sure the main motivation to make music is for fun but it’s also my only source of income - you’re definitely right that most of the creative power is with the user not the tools but it’s still interesting to know if (such an expensive) piece of kit is being used in the professional realm.

Thanks also for your friendly response :+1:

1 Like
#795

Haha, those incense sticks are crazy expensive. I wanted to grab an OP-Z but I’ll wait for the red/white $1500 Supreme edition.

3 Likes
#796

The Machinedrum and Monomachine MK1s used to ship with lots of flyers, stickers, etc. One of the flyers had mockups of “prototype” machines. They were all smallish devices that looked like combinations of Elektron devices and what are now Teenage Engineering devices, with a dash of James Bond gadgets.

Maybe one of the old timers has a pic of one of the flyers. I don’t. I don’t think I even had a cellphone then. Lol.

3 Likes
#797

Id love to see them.

Actually now that you say that i think i remember something along those prototype lines in my old machinedrum box. Wish i still had my machinedrum :sob:

1 Like
#798

The devices were cool as hell! I used to pour over the flyer, trying to figure out what was what.

Maybe there is a discussion thread on Elektron-users.com. Hmmmm…

1 Like
#799

Plenty of “old-timers” contributed here:

5 Likes
#800

Just to be clear, he left Acne not Elektron to start TE.

#801

This is true. Why? If Behringer did it it would cost £200.

#802

old timer checking in. is this what you’re referring to? Elektron prototype images?

also you definitely had a cell phone :grin:

3 Likes
#803

Oh man, those designs are mint :slight_smile:

Thanks for the link.

1 Like
#804

That’s it!!! Thanks for posting! :smiley:

And yeah, I gues I did. I think I got my first flip phone in 2004? Was that the one I texted you from?! Hee hee!

#805

Ah, seems you’re right. i keep forgetting that TE was started already in 2005. From the inteview i got the impression that i was later than that…

#806

haha, yeah I’m pretty sure I was stylin’ with a Motorola RAZR back then :nerd_face:

2 Likes
#807

bruh LMFAO