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Ever since I got an OP-1 [0] and found it such an absolute delight, it made me realize how a simple, well crafted experience can provide such sheer joy. Somethi

Ever since I got an OP-1 [0] and found it such an absolute delight, it made me realize how a simple, well crafted experience can provide such sheer joy. Something I haven't felt on the "supercomputer in your pocket" in like decades. Constraints can be really fun, because they remove the paralysis of choice. I hope this is a new frontier of people making open source hardware devices. You can totally craft the experience from start to finish in a way that wasn't so easy before. [0] https://teenage.engineering/products/op-1/anniversary https://teenage.engineering/products/op-1/anniversary

incanus77 5y ago
Amen to this. I got an OP-1 for myself for my birthday this past year. I was interested in it because of joy, and I enjoy using it because of joy. It is hard to put a price on that aspect of it as an object, and it goes well beyond a BOM, a microcontroller firmware, more capable gear for less money, or an unconstrained software implementation of the same that continues to have me sit in front of yet another screen and try to free my mind. It's not for everyone, and if it's not for you, don't buy it and move on.
stavros 5y ago
What exactly is that? Are you a musician? EDIT: Oh wow, 1121 EUR? I'm no longer curious :P
- okwubodu 5y ago
  Audio equipment pricing is hilarious. Your single most expensive tech purchase might be “a really good budget option :D” in the music world.
  - tomcam 5y ago
    You are absolutely correct, although your observation isn’t completely relevant to the OP-1. The OP-1 is actually a synthesizer, and $1500, while a substantial sum, isn’t that much for a pro quality musical instrument.
    - Dylan16807 5y ago
      What does 'actually a synthesizer' mean, and is it something you can't do with a $20 chip?
      - playpause 5y ago
        It means it’s designed and built as a musical instrument, to be played.
      - polytely 5y ago
        A big part of the selling point of a hardware synthesizer is the user interface, which will be deliberately be designed to remove friction in making music. The OP1 is overpriced even by synth standards, but it seems to me like a well-designed piece of gear.
      - hypertele-Xii 5y ago
        The device is more than just a chip. It's a human interface optimized for music production. Carefully selected knobs and buttons for specific features so that as you get an idea in your head, you can immediately apply it to the music you're making/playing. It must never crash, freeze, nor behave unexpectedly. The price tag is the guarantee that it's designed by musicians, for musicians, and built to spec. That's worth a surprising lot to people who seriously make music, even as a hobby.
        Dylan16807 5y ago
        That's you explaining why this particular product is good. But something can be a synthesizer with terrible buttons and unhelpful behaviors, can't it?
        hypertele-Xii 5y ago
        Oh yes. Like the Pocket Operators. But they are accordingly cheaper.
        stavros 5y ago
- tecleandor 5y ago
  OP-1 has never been "cheap", although it used to be cheaper, around 800$. Then they stopped production, because of a supply problem [1](sounds familiar), there was wild price speculation[2] on the first and second hand market, then it came back 50% more expensive. Teenage Engineering (OP-1's brand) is usually very expensive, almost boutique-expensive, although they've done collabs with IKEA [3], and have a line of pocket synths [4] that are fun and affordable. 1. https://www.musicradar.com/news/this-is-why-teenage-engineerings-op-1-just-got-a-huge-price-hike https://www.musicradar.com/news/this-is-why-teenage-engineer... 2. https://camelcamelcamel.com/product/B00CXSJUZS https://camelcamelcamel.com/product/B00CXSJUZS 3. https://www.ikea.com/us/en/new/frekvens-limited-collection-pub01563a68 https://www.ikea.com/us/en/new/frekvens-limited-collection-p... 4. https://teenage.engineering/products/po https://teenage.engineering/products/po
  - burnte 5y ago
    Frekvens was incredibly frustrating because it was hard to GET any of them before they were discontinues. I don't like those super-limited runs, it just frustrates customers who miss out.
iamcreasy 5y ago
Curious - why would I want to get OP-1 instead of getting Ableton and a midi keyboard?
- frosted-flakes 5y ago
  Because a simple, well crafted experience can provide such sheer joy, and constraints can be really fun, because they remove the paralysis of choice.
- SilverRed 5y ago
  The OP-1 is a toy while Ableton is pro computer software. The OP-1 is one of the most delightful and fun things I have ever touched. It can't be compared to computer software on merits because the PC software simply is more powerful but doesn't provide the same fun factor. If the thing was significantly cheaper, almost everyone would want one.
- 12ian34 5y ago
  three potential reasons: the latter has a much steeper learning curve, is much less portable, and can involve significant configuration to achieve similar effect.
- aa-jv 5y ago
  You'd want to get a Synthstrom Deluge, actually. https://synthstrom.com/product/deluge/ https://synthstrom.com/product/deluge/ Those other things are toys.
- noman-land 5y ago
  I actually specifically moved off of Ableton and a midi keyboard because I wanted more constraints. It was getting boring to have the entire world as an option. It's also portable which has been really fun to have while traveling.
- amerkhalid 5y ago
  Similar question why would you get OP-1 instead of something like Novation Circuit Tracks which is 1/3rd of the price? Also what would be starting point for someone who doesn’t know anything about music or edm making be?
MattRix 5y ago
It’s worth noting that Panic collaborated with Teenage Engineering when designing the hardware of the Playdate.
- sireat 5y ago
  The price of Playdate also fits with Teenage Engineering model - well designed but priced above the standard 5x BOM model. Not a critique (since it is surely a better pricing model for longevity than underpricing). Also with 20k units I am sure they will sell out. PS. Hmm GameBoy was $89 in 1989 so probably about the same adjusted for inflation.

incanus77 5y ago

Amen to this. I got an OP-1 for myself for my birthday this past year. I was interested in it because of joy, and I enjoy using it because of joy. It is hard to put a price on that aspect of it as an object, and it goes well beyond a BOM, a microcontroller firmware, more capable gear for less money, or an unconstrained software implementation of the same that continues to have me sit in front of yet another screen and try to free my mind. It's not for everyone, and if it's not for you, don't buy it and move on.

stavros 5y ago

What exactly is that? Are you a musician? EDIT: Oh wow, 1121 EUR? I'm no longer curious :P

okwubodu 5y ago
Audio equipment pricing is hilarious. Your single most expensive tech purchase might be “a really good budget option :D” in the music world.
- tomcam 5y ago
  You are absolutely correct, although your observation isn’t completely relevant to the OP-1. The OP-1 is actually a synthesizer, and $1500, while a substantial sum, isn’t that much for a pro quality musical instrument.
  - Dylan16807 5y ago
    What does 'actually a synthesizer' mean, and is it something you can't do with a $20 chip?
    - playpause 5y ago
      It means it’s designed and built as a musical instrument, to be played.
    - polytely 5y ago
      A big part of the selling point of a hardware synthesizer is the user interface, which will be deliberately be designed to remove friction in making music. The OP1 is overpriced even by synth standards, but it seems to me like a well-designed piece of gear.
    - hypertele-Xii 5y ago
      The device is more than just a chip. It's a human interface optimized for music production. Carefully selected knobs and buttons for specific features so that as you get an idea in your head, you can immediately apply it to the music you're making/playing. It must never crash, freeze, nor behave unexpectedly. The price tag is the guarantee that it's designed by musicians, for musicians, and built to spec. That's worth a surprising lot to people who seriously make music, even as a hobby.
      - Dylan16807 5y ago
        That's you explaining why this particular product is good. But something can be a synthesizer with terrible buttons and unhelpful behaviors, can't it?
        hypertele-Xii 5y ago
        Oh yes. Like the Pocket Operators. But they are accordingly cheaper.
      - stavros 5y ago
tecleandor 5y ago
OP-1 has never been "cheap", although it used to be cheaper, around 800$. Then they stopped production, because of a supply problem [1](sounds familiar), there was wild price speculation[2] on the first and second hand market, then it came back 50% more expensive. Teenage Engineering (OP-1's brand) is usually very expensive, almost boutique-expensive, although they've done collabs with IKEA [3], and have a line of pocket synths [4] that are fun and affordable. 1. https://www.musicradar.com/news/this-is-why-teenage-engineerings-op-1-just-got-a-huge-price-hike https://www.musicradar.com/news/this-is-why-teenage-engineer... 2. https://camelcamelcamel.com/product/B00CXSJUZS https://camelcamelcamel.com/product/B00CXSJUZS 3. https://www.ikea.com/us/en/new/frekvens-limited-collection-pub01563a68 https://www.ikea.com/us/en/new/frekvens-limited-collection-p... 4. https://teenage.engineering/products/po https://teenage.engineering/products/po
- burnte 5y ago
  Frekvens was incredibly frustrating because it was hard to GET any of them before they were discontinues. I don't like those super-limited runs, it just frustrates customers who miss out.

iamcreasy 5y ago

Curious - why would I want to get OP-1 instead of getting Ableton and a midi keyboard?

frosted-flakes 5y ago
Because a simple, well crafted experience can provide such sheer joy, and constraints can be really fun, because they remove the paralysis of choice.
SilverRed 5y ago
The OP-1 is a toy while Ableton is pro computer software. The OP-1 is one of the most delightful and fun things I have ever touched. It can't be compared to computer software on merits because the PC software simply is more powerful but doesn't provide the same fun factor. If the thing was significantly cheaper, almost everyone would want one.
12ian34 5y ago
three potential reasons: the latter has a much steeper learning curve, is much less portable, and can involve significant configuration to achieve similar effect.
aa-jv 5y ago
You'd want to get a Synthstrom Deluge, actually. https://synthstrom.com/product/deluge/ https://synthstrom.com/product/deluge/ Those other things are toys.
noman-land 5y ago
I actually specifically moved off of Ableton and a midi keyboard because I wanted more constraints. It was getting boring to have the entire world as an option. It's also portable which has been really fun to have while traveling.
amerkhalid 5y ago
Similar question why would you get OP-1 instead of something like Novation Circuit Tracks which is 1/3rd of the price? Also what would be starting point for someone who doesn’t know anything about music or edm making be?

MattRix 5y ago

It’s worth noting that Panic collaborated with Teenage Engineering when designing the hardware of the Playdate.

sireat 5y ago
The price of Playdate also fits with Teenage Engineering model - well designed but priced above the standard 5x BOM model. Not a critique (since it is surely a better pricing model for longevity than underpricing). Also with 20k units I am sure they will sell out. PS. Hmm GameBoy was $89 in 1989 so probably about the same adjusted for inflation.