6 ms·

So... you judge character based on appearances? No other gear company has tackled the all-in-one synth-sequencer-4trackrecorder-groovebox that is the OP-1 in t

So... you judge character based on appearances? No other gear company has tackled the all-in-one synth-sequencer-4trackrecorder-groovebox that is the OP-1 in the decade since its release. TE not capitalizing on this would be financially naive.

whatshisface 4y ago
I am pretty sure real professionals use carefully configured personal computers with keyboards plugged in.
- psychomugs 4y ago
  The same as how professional photographers use expensive 'real' capital-C Cameras with interchangeable capital-L Lenses but still carry pocketable point-and-shoots for 'fun,' e.g. Ricoh GR, Fuji X100. Tools should be enjoyable to use, which these gadgets offer in spades.
  - whatshisface 4y ago
    But in this case, the just-for-fun pocket device is more often expensive than the capital-K Keyboard.
    - psychomugs 4y ago
      Both of the cameras I listed are more expensive than many perfectly capable interchangeable-lens cameras (Ricoh GR ~$1000, Fuji X100 ~$1300 [currently prone to scalping for even more]), but still rightfully warrant the demand because of their usability.
      - smoldesu 4y ago
        Which is fine. If professionals collect them for novelty, nothing is lost. If a beginner were to spend all their money on a novelty camera instead of an interchangeable lens model, then it does become a bit of a waste. Almost like they bought into the hype because of the end-product or social sex-appeal, a phenomenon that ties neatly into TE's marketing.
        psychomugs 4y ago
        They aren't novelties any more than using a prime non-zoom lens on an antique film camera is a novelty. That would be tantamount to claiming that playing on a large unwieldy needs-to-be-tuned acoustic piano is a novelty compared to a digital keybed with plugins. "The enemy of art is the absence of limitations."
- ilyt 4y ago
  Smaller devices are still used as notepad for ideas.
smoldesu 4y ago
My opinion is based off the weekend I spent with a rented model. I very quickly realized that the OP-1 is like an iPhone app that someone turned into pricy hardware. > No other gear company has tackled the all-in-one synth-sequencer-4trackrecorder-groovebox Seriously? Plenty of other companies have. If you're old enough to remember, Elektron had an 8 track sequencer/recorder/groovebox that cost roughly the same price as the OP-1. Their mono model was actually cheaper than the OP-1 (and arguably nicer). ...which is of course to ignore the hundreds of other sub-$1000 grooveboxes that do 90% of what the OP-1 does. Hell, that's to ignore DAWs that cost 1/3rd of the price with 300% more features. If you buy an OP-1 as your introduction to electronic music, you are wasting your money.
- psychomugs 4y ago
  That last 10% is precisely the point. Nothing AFAIK has the audio-oriented tape-style workflow with a keyboard and groovebox functionality in as small a footprint as the OP-1. The reality is that the OP-1 has been successful enough to warrant a successor and that are not negatively affecting other manufacturers doing whatever they want to do with their offerings, and this affects you personally... how?
  - smoldesu 4y ago
    I just find it utterly fascinating how rich, clueless tech workers throw money at cool-looking companies they see on YouTube. It's so unfathomably stupid to me that I feel the need to share it on HN, but I realize in retrospect this community might not share my opinion.
    - psychomugs 4y ago
      It's unfathomably stupid to me that one would care so much about what others spend their money on, as if it were something actively harmful. To each their own, the only real winner here is the one selling their product.
      - smoldesu 4y ago
ta8903 4y ago
Yep, if you really think about it people not overcharging for their products are the real suckers.
- deleted 4y ago
  [deleted]
status200 4y ago
Synthstrom Deluge does everything the OP-1 does (and much more), and was $400 cheaper until recently.
- psychomugs 4y ago
  No UI, no keyboard requiring a different mental interface if you are coming from a traditional i.e. piano-based instrument, at least twice the size.
- heeen2 4y ago
  It's also much bigger and heavier though.
ilyt 4y ago
Shh don't tell Uli Behringer about it /s I think it is because "just making same thing" is frowned upon and also industry cares to not eat itself. For example take Digitakt and Digitone. It could easily be combined into one device "it is just code" and CPUs got faster since release of those but they don't, because they know having those "blind spots" in each of their devices (that other of their devices fit) is good for sales. Got a Digitone ? Want Drum machine to it ? Well, Digitakt got same interface you already know. Even their newest device Syntakt omits a lot of FM stuff to not step on Digitone niche. Also there is plenty all-in-ones with more capability, all the way to monsters like MASCHINE+, MPC X or Force. People buy OP-1 coz they want to work within the limits and think that will make better music, not because it can do something unique anything else can't. Which is understandable, given myriad options it's easy to get lost in tinkering with them instead of focusing on creation.
fit2rule 4y ago
[dead]

whatshisface 4y ago

I am pretty sure real professionals use carefully configured personal computers with keyboards plugged in.

psychomugs 4y ago
The same as how professional photographers use expensive 'real' capital-C Cameras with interchangeable capital-L Lenses but still carry pocketable point-and-shoots for 'fun,' e.g. Ricoh GR, Fuji X100. Tools should be enjoyable to use, which these gadgets offer in spades.
- whatshisface 4y ago
  But in this case, the just-for-fun pocket device is more often expensive than the capital-K Keyboard.
  - psychomugs 4y ago
    Both of the cameras I listed are more expensive than many perfectly capable interchangeable-lens cameras (Ricoh GR ~$1000, Fuji X100 ~$1300 [currently prone to scalping for even more]), but still rightfully warrant the demand because of their usability.
    - smoldesu 4y ago
      Which is fine. If professionals collect them for novelty, nothing is lost. If a beginner were to spend all their money on a novelty camera instead of an interchangeable lens model, then it does become a bit of a waste. Almost like they bought into the hype because of the end-product or social sex-appeal, a phenomenon that ties neatly into TE's marketing.
      - psychomugs 4y ago
        They aren't novelties any more than using a prime non-zoom lens on an antique film camera is a novelty. That would be tantamount to claiming that playing on a large unwieldy needs-to-be-tuned acoustic piano is a novelty compared to a digital keybed with plugins. "The enemy of art is the absence of limitations."
ilyt 4y ago
Smaller devices are still used as notepad for ideas.

smoldesu 4y ago

My opinion is based off the weekend I spent with a rented model. I very quickly realized that the OP-1 is like an iPhone app that someone turned into pricy hardware. > No other gear company has tackled the all-in-one synth-sequencer-4trackrecorder-groovebox Seriously? Plenty of other companies have. If you're old enough to remember, Elektron had an 8 track sequencer/recorder/groovebox that cost roughly the same price as the OP-1. Their mono model was actually cheaper than the OP-1 (and arguably nicer). ...which is of course to ignore the hundreds of other sub-$1000 grooveboxes that do 90% of what the OP-1 does. Hell, that's to ignore DAWs that cost 1/3rd of the price with 300% more features. If you buy an OP-1 as your introduction to electronic music, you are wasting your money.

psychomugs 4y ago
That last 10% is precisely the point. Nothing AFAIK has the audio-oriented tape-style workflow with a keyboard and groovebox functionality in as small a footprint as the OP-1. The reality is that the OP-1 has been successful enough to warrant a successor and that are not negatively affecting other manufacturers doing whatever they want to do with their offerings, and this affects you personally... how?
- smoldesu 4y ago
  I just find it utterly fascinating how rich, clueless tech workers throw money at cool-looking companies they see on YouTube. It's so unfathomably stupid to me that I feel the need to share it on HN, but I realize in retrospect this community might not share my opinion.
  - psychomugs 4y ago
    It's unfathomably stupid to me that one would care so much about what others spend their money on, as if it were something actively harmful. To each their own, the only real winner here is the one selling their product.
    - smoldesu 4y ago

ta8903 4y ago

Yep, if you really think about it people not overcharging for their products are the real suckers.

deleted 4y ago
[deleted]

status200 4y ago

Synthstrom Deluge does everything the OP-1 does (and much more), and was $400 cheaper until recently.

psychomugs 4y ago
No UI, no keyboard requiring a different mental interface if you are coming from a traditional i.e. piano-based instrument, at least twice the size.
heeen2 4y ago
It's also much bigger and heavier though.

ilyt 4y ago

Shh don't tell Uli Behringer about it /s I think it is because "just making same thing" is frowned upon and also industry cares to not eat itself. For example take Digitakt and Digitone. It could easily be combined into one device "it is just code" and CPUs got faster since release of those but they don't, because they know having those "blind spots" in each of their devices (that other of their devices fit) is good for sales. Got a Digitone ? Want Drum machine to it ? Well, Digitakt got same interface you already know. Even their newest device Syntakt omits a lot of FM stuff to not step on Digitone niche. Also there is plenty all-in-ones with more capability, all the way to monsters like MASCHINE+, MPC X or Force. People buy OP-1 coz they want to work within the limits and think that will make better music, not because it can do something unique anything else can't. Which is understandable, given myriad options it's easy to get lost in tinkering with them instead of focusing on creation.

fit2rule 4y ago

[dead]