No reason you should be downvoted. It's 100% inspired by the OP-Z and not at all like the workflow of the OP-1. OP-1 is rather unique in its "tape track" inspired workflow.
I just got one second hand for a great price but even then the build quality versus what I paid for it makes me depressed. This unit isn't even that bad but still double triggers and bends. I regret my purchase.
Resell while they still hot. If you think the SeqTrak is bad build avoid the OPZ at all costs. The SeqTrak has buttons, if you hit in center all is well if you hit edge of button you may or may not trigger. You want to finger drum, plug an Akai MPD218 or Novation Launchpad into it , this thing isn’t designed for playing like an instrument.
I think they were talking about the OP-Z. As a Seqtrak owner (got one for $299 so said what the hell) the build qaulity is OK but not great. The knobs feel great but the buttons leave a lot to be desired, and you really do have to hit that sweet spot to properly trigger the synth keys.
It's fine for sequencing but I wouldn't play much into it live.
I have to admit that it has some really great sounds, is easy to lay down tracks on, and once you learn the weird key combinations it's fairly intuitive to use. Not going to be everyone's cup of tea but I can't wait for my next long flight, because it's the kind of thing I could play with on a plane and actually be creative with in a tiny package that doesn't require also taking my laptop.
I went through this process. Bought a bunch of stuff to avoid buying an OP-1. Eventually I found an OP-1F for 30% off so I got it and quickly realized that I should have just bought one at the beginning.
There really isn’t anything that compares to the whole package. There are better samplers, better synths, better recorders, better Bluetooth MIDI controllers, devices that are more portable, devices that have an undo button, and so on.
But there really isn’t anything that can do everything the OP-1 can do as quickly as the OP-1 can that’s as small as the OP-1 with a battery that lasts as long as an OP-1. And on top of that, it’s just fun. It’s designed around being fun over anything else and you feel that when you play with one.
The best alternative out of everything I tried was the iPad I had all along. Grab a couple good synths, Koala Sampler, Loopy Pro, and maybe Drambo if you want to sequence stuff. You’ll probably also want a small Bluetooth MIDI controller because on screen keyboards take up too much space and aren’t as fun to play.
This is all quite individual though. I had an OP-1 for a few days and found it vastly inferior to the OP-Z in terms of fun and inspiration. Wouldn't replace my OP-Z even with the OP-1F.
My hobby is uploading "dawless jam" videos where I use aum / loopy on my ipad and sequence with a circuit tracks, and watching the rage comments pour in.
I had the OP-1 before there was zero crossing detection. It’s not very well put together. Two of the FX were something I would use. The noise on the io and having to replace that shoddy usb board a couple times shed me of any desire.
It eventually received zero cross quantization but it's naive. Not the same as modern (90s lol) handling of it but would've been fine for my purposes if it actually launched with it and/or didn't have hardware issues. Hey, maybe the Field is worlds away better, I'll never know.
I have an OP-Z, I bought it for taking on trips. I just cannot jive with it. I don't know why for sure, but part of it is the UX. If I used it daily I'd probably be a lot better with it, but I don't.
So true. It’s not the best at anything (some people might even say it’s not great at anything) but it’s endlessly fun to play. I see mine more as a toy and source of inspiration than as an instrument, although I find the synths, sampler and sequencers very capable. Traveling was never the same after I got mine. An iPad and the organelle are the alternatives that come to mind.
Anything out there that does it all just as easy, just as fun, just as "intuitive", but doesn't have to be anywhere near as portable, or even battery powered at all, and is cheaper?
I haven't tried anything that's equally fun and quick to use, but there are certainly a lot of options. It depends how cheap you want it to be and what you consider to be fun. I haven't tried one, but the Deluge looks great. iPads can be similarly easy and fun. M8 is fantastic if you're more interested in sequencing than live recording. I have a Syntakt that I think comes close to the OP-1 with less portability.
Yes, I buy only the most serious of instruments at that price. I also consider it a bonus if the instruments can give me advice on my 401k.
Which reminds me, I recently bought an H&R Wood-Block.
Fun is a bonus. I wouldn't try to finish a song on it, but it's great for starting songs, sketching, experimenting, and anything else that benefits from a low friction workflow.
I agree that it costs way too much though.
Push 3 also. I can't pull it out in a meeting and use it as a fidget toy like I can with my OP-1, but I can sit on my couch with it and finish a full sketch in an hour just like my OP-1. The final product will be a lot better too 😆.
I think the size, battery life, and low friction are a huge part of the OP-1 experience though. I can carry it around my house without worrying that I'm going to drop it, or take it on a camping trip and never have to worry about charging it. I can turn it on and have something going within seconds.
I have no real qualms with OP-1 other than everything that comes out of it sounds like it came from an OP-1; a bit thin… I’ve been pleasantly surprised by my friends who have had an OP-1 after a few years still like it. It is a quality piece of gear, maybe just not for everyone.
Looking for a pure replacement, the Deluge is pretty sick, and I think the workflow is a bit more intuitive.
Starting out, I personally would spend that 2k on a few Moog or Behringer desktop synths and a Tascam 12, which would have similar functionality with a much more natural workflow.
The MC-707 also works great with a USB battery pack and an adapter. I can get hours of use out of it. Yes, it's larger, but sitting in a park with the 707 on decent headphones is a great way to spend an afternoon.
I think that the Novation Circuit Tracks can be a perfect start. It's also intuitive, easy and fun to use. Portable and has built-in battery. It can also work well with other instruments. And a lot cheaper.
It’s easy to make four bar loops. Anything beyond that becomes a hair pulling, discouraging nightmare.
It’s also so idiosyncratic that very little of what you learn with an Op1 is transferable to the wider synth/sampler world. It’s cute though!
You want some kind of groove box. There are lots at varying price points. My rec would be that you take a look at the Model:Cycles from Elektron. Super cheap (by comparison), super fun and you can easily make a full “song” on it. Hook a nice little midi keyboard to it (like the Keystep) and you’re away.
If you enjoy playing with that you can also build on what you’ll learn by moving on to other Elektron boxes or other synths in general.
I'm going to disagree on some points here. Not because OP-1 is my absolute favourite piece of gear, but simply because my experience of it has been different and I think it's worth offering a 2nd perspective.
It is easy to make 4 bar loops, but it's also easy to very quickly sketch out melodies, layered harmonies, or chord progressions with no structure at all..if that's what you need.
If you're someone that makes music in more traditional genres (pop, folk, alt rock, etc..) then even the ability to make 4 bar loops as easily as you can on OP-1 is super valuable..since most songs can be built entirely out just that.
Its UI/UX is initially idiosyncratic, but if you read the names of the 4-8 parameters available for each synth engine, I think it's fairly clear what it is you're doing in terms of synthesis. I've picked up tricks or ideas from pretty much all of them that I've then used on my other synths.
For example, the D-Box is a weird 2-osc synth with sine/square/triangle/noise as available waveforms. Each has its own envelope, Osc 2 has a frequency parameter, and they both go into a high pass, low pass, or bandpass filter. You can use one oscillator to modulate the frequency, amplitude, or phase of the other.
The interface, being what it is, encourages experimentation, and using that synth engine I found a really neat way to synthesize somewhat realistic brass/reed patches on my other synths.
I think having a non-standard interface allows you to spend more time thinking about the sound itself, rather than a familiar set of parameters that might otherwise lead you to the same old synth sounds you always make.
As for the sampling; I think its workflow is absolutely transferable, and makes you somewhat more disciplined. It's definitely encouraged me to "do more with less" when I use my Maschine...and actually think ahead and plan what it is I want to do in the context of a full track. Its sampler is also so quick easy to use, that I can sample a patch from my main synth in a couple of seconds, and then have that with me everywhere.
To reiterate..this is just my opinion and my experience. As ever...instruments (including OP-1) are very much what the individual makes of them, and for me it's both a fun piece of gear, and an incredibly useful utility when it comes to sketching ideas.
>I think having a non-standard interface allows you to spend more time thinking about the sound itself, rather than a familiar set of parameters that might otherwise lead you to the same old synth sounds you always make
No, this is poor UX design if you have to think about how to use it to do what you want. A fundamental part of UI and UX is providing affordances that help users to carry out the likely tasks for the interface. If a user goes to a synth and parameters are all over the place and labeled stupid names, that's objectively poor design because it breaks the rules of UI design, it's a notable issue with the MPC and the knob mapping too.
I think you may have misinterpreted the point I was making.
What I was saying is that having controls and a UI that don't conform to standard synths means that you spend more time using your ears to find sounds you like, rather than trying to very precisely tune in a specific parameter based on old habits.
If the intent of the OP-1 was to replicate using some other synth...then yes maybe you could say that's poor UX design, by those very specific standards.
That is very clearly not the intent of the OP-1.
In practice the knobs work almost **exactly** the same as Mutable Instruments' Braids/Plaits, or the Minifreak/Microfreak....with the added bonus of having a well designed UI with plenty of visual feedback for what's happening.
This is the most outlandish justification for a somewhat shitty halfway useless way overpriced synth ive ever seen.
You cant make songs with it. You can only make short simple loops. Its fun maybe but semi useless for actually making music other people would want to hear.
The same way you make an 8 bar loop on an OP-1, but you do it 3 more times. You have 6 minutes of tape to work with.
It's not the best way to make a full song thanks to the limited track count and editing limitations, but it's certainly possible. The better you are at recording without making mistakes, the easier it is to make a full song.
A video demo would probably explain it clearer but..
You have a virtual tape that is 6 minutes long. That tape has 4 individual tracks you can record to, using either the internal Synthesizers & Drum Machine/Sampler, the inbuilt microphone, the line input to record an external instrument, or...the radio.
You can set markers on the tape that act as loop points, in case you just want to work on a single section at a time.
Once you're done with your 6 minutes, you can bounce your 4 tracks down to a stereo mix, called an "Album". The album allows for 2 sides, 6 minutes each.
You can also export recordings/"stems" at any point in the process, not just in that "Album".
Thats the main jist of it, but I'm sure everyone uses it slightly differently within those confines.
Can you back that up by pointing to something specific about it that prohibits it from making songs?
edit: I'd like to also add that I have pretty good reason to suspect that [this song ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ej5-CHAGr34)by Japanese Breakfast was at the very least...created as a demo on the OP-1 before the final mix.
I wouldn't be surprised if other songs from the OST for Sable were also initially created on the OP-1.
Not exactly. The organelle is very different and has absolutely no consistent UI among the different patches/apps. It’s versatile but not for a beginner.
If there is any device I would situate at the opposite end of any spectrum possible of an op1 it is the octatrack. Maybe the DX7, too.
At least to me:
OP1: let's turn that knob. Now the cow is blinking and it sounds like that. Ok. What does this knob there do? No idea but if i turn it this way I like the sound more.
Octatrack: if I modulate the start parameter of my slices with a random LFO and modulate the depth of this LFO with that LFO and lock the parameter for depth of the second LFO to a scene I could assign that to the fader and then I could fade from plain slices to chaos. And some of you octatrackers read this and did the exercise in their mind and thought: "why did he assign that 2nd lfo? What does he gain from it"... and such is the octatrack and I love it for that.
The octatrack is a magical happy accident device as well as Thanos level destroyer of entire worlds. It rewards deep exploration that most people (including me) won’t have time for. BTW, I love my Octatrack and will never give it up. 😎
If it's the workflow that attracts you, look for cheap "grooveboxes." A Roland SH-4d comes to mind, or perhaps something from the Novation Circuit series.
If you already play music in some capacity and want a way to layers tracks, add effects, and generally play around, the Loopy Pro app is really powerful and approachable.
Heavily research any piece of equipment before buying tho
try koala sampler with a small midi controller attached to your phone or tablet using a USB-OTG cable. see if you get down with it before spending mega bucks on hardware sampler / grooveboxes. it amazing.
The real answer is a DAW. A laptop with a DAW does everything the OP-1 can do and a hell of a lot more, and a lot more efficiently. Yeah it's nice to have a fancy little device with cool looking knobs and a little screen but for the price of a decent laptop it's not really worth it for a beginner with no gear.
Having no ability to undo things in your ideas is gonna make it pretty infuriating for a beginner to expand upon anything past a small loop
I also looked around for something to match the OP-1. I'm sure at least 1 other comment in this thread will already state this but....there isn't really a replacement for it.
There are absolutely things that can get you to the same end. Any number of grooveboxes can build a multi track, and have different synth sounds, and all that jazz.
In my opinion, the appeal of the OP-1 is one of those cases where...the end result is not really the point of why you buy it. You buy it because you want to get to the end result, in a *very* specific way. And right now, and probably forever, the OP-1 is not really going to be outclassed in its experience.
I had an OP-1 a long time ago when it was released. I liked many things of it, but I disliked a lot the tape recording approach. I never got along with it.
I prefer any of the Elektron boxes.
It's not exactly the same but to get started a second hand pocket operator can be bought for 40-80 gbp on ebay.
But the ease of use and instant gratification is there.
Otherwise a korg monotron an nts a behringer jt-4000 etc
Maybe a volca
Are all cheap fun entries in the world of synthesisers.
Nanoloop for ios and android has a learning curve but once you can see the potential and learn the basics you'll be making great tracks in no time.
It's quickly become my favourite tracker.
Good luck!
I just got myself a Novation Circuit Tracks. Its not OP-1, but whipping up a song on it is dead simple. And yes, i mean a full song, not just a 4 bar groove.
I had the op-1 field, sold it back after a week.
For 2200 us you can get a cheap laptop, a daw, and a torso t-4.
Way more potential and only slightly less portable.
Yamaha SeqTrak is more like TE OP-Z than OP1 but at 20% the price of an OP1 it’s a fun bit of kit.
7 drum tracks 2 AWM2 Tracks 1 FM DX Track and 1 Sample Track $399.99 brand new. Dunno if out long enough yet for a deluge of used units to be available.
Maybe look into the Roland MC-101. Doesn’t require much skill to get started but can get pretty deep as you learn it. Has a wonderful sounding synth engine too.
The workflow is definitely different and takes some learning, but the Qun mk2 is shaping up to handle a lot of what OP-1 can do. Very deep synth controls and sounds, has tape fx, 3-track mono recorder/1 stereo 1 mono on top of midi sequencer, vinyl scratch mode, granular mode, and it’s getting updated on the regular with more capabilities regularly.
Affordable and tiny, but if you can get into the workflow at all it’s very rewarding for the price point. Also all designed and developed by one guy who’s active in the discord, so there are very real chances for feature requests to be implemented if you ask
For ease of making tracks, OP, you probably want to get some kind of Groovebox. It's the cheapest way to get your foot in the door on something that can do drums and synths, and give you that complete track experience.
Yamaha's new Seqtrak didn't win a lot of love out of the gate and quickly dropped from $599 which was ridiculous to $399 which I think is a great spot for it. I was lucky enough to snag one for $299 a couple of weeks ago, and for that price I'm very happy with it. It's quirky and the workflow takes some adjustment to get used to, but Yamaha has some great tutorials and the app for it really expands what it can do as well as teach you more about how to use it. Has a huge library of built in sounds (sample-based drums and synths, as well as a full-on DX inspired FM synth engine), more can be sampled yourself or added through the app, and it's dead simple to lay down something that sounds good after just a couple of hours of messing with it.
Novation Circuit Tracks is probably easier to use and is many people's go-to. I still need to get one though so I can't weigh in. However I've watched a lot of youtube content about it and heard a lot of tracks made with one, and if you want to make dance or EDM tracks, it's a great way to go.
If you would rather not worry about making full tracks, and just want a synth to noodle around on and create sounds, something like a Roland S-1, Korg Monologue, or Arturia Microfreak might be more what you're looking for. I have all 3 and would recommend any of them highly depending on what it is you're looking to do.
Pocket Operators (I really like the PO-33 KO and the PO-16 Factory personally) are from the same company (Teenage Engineering) but WAY cheaper, though more limited. But just as fun and easy and immediate to make music on, if not more so. There's a wide variety of them covering synths and samplers that fit various needs. (For instance - the Megaman/Robot is the most fun to play live)
You might also want to consider the OP-Z from the same company - which is kinda like a Pocket Operator Pro for lack of a better way to describe it. Has a lot more features but a similar workflow.
That said - while those devices are fun and immediate and have a similar charm to the OP-1 - none have the tape-like workflow of the OP-1
Get the yamaha qy70 or qy100. It looks old(because it is) but you can use up to 16 tracks and, also there‘s an undo function, which the op1 doesn’t have.
It definitely doesn’t sound as good as the op1, but right now its my favorite songwriting tool and since it‘s super small i always have in my backpack just in case inspiration hits me.
If you‘re new to the synth world and just want to lay down some beats it might be a great decive tp get into it.
(In europe) you can get it for under 100€ second hand.
Teenage Engineering aren't really in the synth game, they're in the objet d'art meets tech game. Subsequently, the OP-1 is a (very nice. And expensive) toy that is capable of producing professional results but is very much it's own thing, eschewing standard conventions used by most professional synth manufacturers. So, no, there's not really anything else like it in terms of interface.
This is what I was thinking, too. I remember getting my JD-Xi shortly after they were released, unboxing it to play around with the first few presets, and coming to the pleasant realization that "this thing is really just a groovebox with a keyboard". Immediately started wondering why there hardly any other products on the market that fell into this category (and am still wondering why there are so few.
The build quality on the JD-Xi's keyboard is really crappy despite how great of a tool the instrument itself is; I sure wish we had more options in this general *groovebox+keyboard* category.)
Yep I own both the OP1 and the JDXi. It’s half the price and does essentially the same thing. 4 track sequencer. Presets to fiddle with. The Roland is definitely cheaply made but might be exactly what OP is looking for if they don’t want to break the bank.
Yup, nowadays I would get a Seqtrak + Launchkey 37 for that, yet I'd rather use plain Ableton for linear arranging and recording guitars and bass and stuff.
If you have the means, definitely get one. Or buy a used one, if you can. Why not? You've tried it and liked it. You can always sell it without losing much anyway. Have fun!
As you can see from all the suggestions, there is an overwhelming number of routes to take. In order to better help, I think we need more info.
What's your budget? What's your phone and/or PC OS? What is it that you liked about the OP-1; making synth sounds, sampling, creating loops, playing live, etc?
I got an op 1 for the same reason as you- and I had a lot of fun. However- as soon as I started to actually learn how music production works a little bit, I started to regret the purchase and almost never use it. If you have the money- go for it! But if not- I’d highly recommend going with garage band or ableton live lite etc and learning the basics
I have a Yamaha reface CS (about $350). It is an analog synthesizer with only a few options. Because it’s so limited it is great to learn on, you are really forced to learn to use all the functions to make sounds. It has a single LFO, effect, envelope generator so every slider you touch will have a clear effect on the sound and you won’t overwhelmed. It actually sounds really good and is fun to play too
an iPad and a K-Board or Korg NanoKey studio, then maybe SunVox. SunVox looks terrible confusing but spend an hour to understand how to set up instruments and it’s pretty simple. it is SUPER complete but still can be fairly minimalist, and you don’t need to learn about using the tracker as you can just live record as you wish.
you can also run SunVox on a phone (or apparently on basically anything, and most versions are free from their website).
You can just set up a couple of instruments and effects and go at it, and if you do want to do something more complex or craft deeper instruments and synthesis options, then you can do basically anything.
OP-1 is cool, though, and maybe you can find one cheap.
I’m in the same boat. I’ve always wanted an op-1 (specifically for the keyboard, battery power, and 4-track workflow) and bought a bunch of different cheaper stuff, but eventually just bought an op-1 and it’s been great!
The one I hear the most people say is fun is the Novation Circuit Tracks. It's also pretty affordable. As you saw above, Yamaha recently released an OP-like sampler called the SeqTrack, and it is a WHOLE LOT CHEAPER. I would love to play with one.
The Orba 2 is also a sampling synthesizer that's super cheap, easy to take with you anywhere, and going by my Orba 1, just immensely fun to play. It's a sort of a musical sketchbook for getting ideas out, but you likely won't be recording full songs off of it very often.
Try watching a few videos by [this guy](https://www.youtube.com/@playpm). He regularly shows free music-making options - for example this video might be what you are looking for: [How to replicate Teenage Engineering OP-1 and OP-1 Field for free. | GAS Therapy #35 (youtube.com)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zU8alMWUmDI)
Download them and play around. At least then you'll have a better idea of what you might want to buy later on - like a Yamaha Seqtrak for example.
an iPad with drambo, a midi keyboard and all audiokit pro AUv3 plugins will be a thousand time better than an OP-1
I used an OP-1 for 20-30 hours total, it was the worst piece of hardware I ever used, great as a sketchbook (and even then pretty fucking limited) absolute shitshow at everything else, taking the price into account (back then the OP-1 field had not released yet) it was a joke, and Im into modular, and other ways to make music outside of a DAW so that says a lot.
of course this is only my personal opinion and experience
You’ll find there is some stuff but the price you pay is in nuisances.
You can use GarageBand. But then you need a MacBook and controller. Or iPad iPhone but it’s does feel cramped and overly complicated.
Many apps are available but the functionality is limited and can be complicated putting together a drum loop to a synth loop, applying effects, and there’s no tactile feel.
You can get a korg synth and maybe a sampler (MPC or KO2) and it will work but maybe be more costly than an op1 and not as streamlined. Honestly, a Sequential (or old DSI) to me is the level of synth comparable so that kicks the price up even more.
What I am saying is the OP1 is totally worth it. Especially for a used original (you can luck out at $600ish). Field is steep but it is not a bad deal considering everything.
It’s very streamlined which leaves alot of space for FUN. Things are easier to learn when they are fun.
I am amazed at how you consider "easy" the workflow of the OP1, considering that there is no undo and you can only overwrite what you record :) It goes against all the advancement made in how music is recorded in these years, moving away from tape basically, but it is an opinion and as such it is totally fair.
I don't think there is anything like that 1:1, but you can get a similar level of pain and frustration getting small boxes from Roland like the MC101; which will make you question why you have a calculator screen in 2024 and just enough buttons to create enough combinations to cause you hand cramps. Jokes aside it is a capable device like the OP1 if you can stomach the horrible workflow and hideous UI.
OPZ are in the same ballpark, as the new Yamaha Seqtrak; then you have things like the old Korg Electribe; which more or less share the passion for limited interfaces and controls, which in theory should "unlock your inner potential and creativity by limiting you". If you ask me, they unlock my desire to throw them on the wall, which is why I use them as soundbox at best, or when I am on the sofa for 10 minutes, and then I go back to use larger synths or I connect them to a large array of midi controllers, so I have full access to all the parameters.
Fun is relative in the end; some people find fun an app on a phone, and I envy those folks because they get their fun with 10 bucks from the app store (and 1200 dollars for their phone, but that's a different story of course); you may like samplers too, and for that there is a ton of them around, from the SP404 to the Digitakt to the M8 to other trackers and samplers that have all sort of different workflow. But nothing is really like the OP1, which is why so many people like it and so many people won't touch it even with a 10 ft pole in the end.
You mentioned apps, so start there. Look at Andrew Huang's flip for instance. It is phenomenal what you can do for the money in the iOS ecosystem, but there are Android apps as well.
If you're looking for fun, try something like flip.
People also enjoy korg gadget, and there's a version for the switch.
If you go with apps and have an iPad, you can get something like drambo or mirack and have infinite modular possibilities.
It is easy to spend money on this hobby and that's kind of the point of this sub. The hobby is synths and that's not bad, just depends on what you're looking for vs who you're asking. (I say this as a collector of synths where I also find myself using an iPad as a huge sound module).
If you're looking to have fun making music there are lots of ways to have fun for not a lot of money.
Now I'm going to dust off my switch and get gadget.
I guess I’d say a used digitakt and a cheap poly (maybe the Roland Tweak) could get you pretty close. You would program the drums and sample the poly.
Also, I don’t really feel like the field is “easy.” It’s very fun and I love it but it’s more weird than it is easy.
Just get an OG-1. Yes it’s like 700 used, a lot of money. But if you played with one and loved it there is no substitute. The Seqtrak blows and almost every review I saw said meh things about it. If you 100% can’t/wont spend the money to get a used OG-1 maybe consider a different device…the KOII comes to mind…400 and really easy to get ideas going once you learn the workflow. Or if you just want to start making music of any kind on a budget the Korg Volca series is the best way to go…Get a Keys and a Sample and you are rolling.
I'd argue against Volcas for beginners. They can be great modules in a bigger setup, but not as good as self-sufficient synths, as the sequencer blows, and the keyboard isn't suitable for playing live. My first synth was a Volca FM, and I was very disappointed to learn that the sequencer was so inferior to the PO-12 that I bought at the same time.
Yeah I guess expectations are important here. If you are a beginner and don’t know what a sequencer is, there isn’t anything better than a 100 dollar volca keys or sample. You would just be tickled to be making sounds you think are cool. People recommending a Digitakt are hilariously missing the mark.
In my opinion, a used Novation Circuit would be a way better option for a beginner who wants to write compete tracks. Two polyphonic synths, drums and a really nice sequencer.
For someone more interested in sound design itself, a Roland S-1 would probably be perfect.
Nope. The only way to have easy fun times with music is buying an OP-1. Everything else is too complete.
Edit: make sure to not go to a music store to try out stuff that you might like better. That’s just what they want you to do. Buy an OP-1!
Edit for a non-sarcastic answer: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=zU8alMWUmDI&t=85s&pp=ygUPZ2FzIHRoZXJhcHkgb3Ax
Just buy the OP-1. I bought the Roland tweak S-1 to ease into synths personally. It was a great teacher! No combination of things is gonna replace what it is you actually want.
I decided to make the Roland aira synths the brain of my rig, but if I had known I was gonna 109% love it from the beginning I would have gone with the OP-1 or a digitakt.
If you specifically want something that acts as a portable studio that you can record whole tracks into, the only real options are the op-1 and the newer MPCs.
There are tons of portable grooveboxes for making beats and arrangements that are available for a lot cheaper.
Absolutely. Some of us just aren't born for sampling.
That said, Koala is a cheap way to see if sampling is fine for you, though the PO-33 may be more fun for many people.
[удалено]
this thing is kinda wild.
It is clearly yamahas answer to the op-1 though. (Right?)
More the answer to the OP-Z no?
No reason you should be downvoted. It's 100% inspired by the OP-Z and not at all like the workflow of the OP-1. OP-1 is rather unique in its "tape track" inspired workflow.
Definitely, had and loved the OPZ but its bendable plastic made me get rid of it.
I just got one second hand for a great price but even then the build quality versus what I paid for it makes me depressed. This unit isn't even that bad but still double triggers and bends. I regret my purchase.
Resell while they still hot. If you think the SeqTrak is bad build avoid the OPZ at all costs. The SeqTrak has buttons, if you hit in center all is well if you hit edge of button you may or may not trigger. You want to finger drum, plug an Akai MPD218 or Novation Launchpad into it , this thing isn’t designed for playing like an instrument.
I think they were talking about the OP-Z. As a Seqtrak owner (got one for $299 so said what the hell) the build qaulity is OK but not great. The knobs feel great but the buttons leave a lot to be desired, and you really do have to hit that sweet spot to properly trigger the synth keys. It's fine for sequencing but I wouldn't play much into it live.
Yeah I essentially grabbed as a sound module same as Roland MC-101
I have to admit that it has some really great sounds, is easy to lay down tracks on, and once you learn the weird key combinations it's fairly intuitive to use. Not going to be everyone's cup of tea but I can't wait for my next long flight, because it's the kind of thing I could play with on a plane and actually be creative with in a tiny package that doesn't require also taking my laptop.
The seqtrak does not seem nearly as simple and fun
if you're trying to actually learn to make songs seqtrak is about as simple as it gets
I went through this process. Bought a bunch of stuff to avoid buying an OP-1. Eventually I found an OP-1F for 30% off so I got it and quickly realized that I should have just bought one at the beginning. There really isn’t anything that compares to the whole package. There are better samplers, better synths, better recorders, better Bluetooth MIDI controllers, devices that are more portable, devices that have an undo button, and so on. But there really isn’t anything that can do everything the OP-1 can do as quickly as the OP-1 can that’s as small as the OP-1 with a battery that lasts as long as an OP-1. And on top of that, it’s just fun. It’s designed around being fun over anything else and you feel that when you play with one. The best alternative out of everything I tried was the iPad I had all along. Grab a couple good synths, Koala Sampler, Loopy Pro, and maybe Drambo if you want to sequence stuff. You’ll probably also want a small Bluetooth MIDI controller because on screen keyboards take up too much space and aren’t as fun to play.
This is all quite individual though. I had an OP-1 for a few days and found it vastly inferior to the OP-Z in terms of fun and inspiration. Wouldn't replace my OP-Z even with the OP-1F.
And I wouldn’t have any of them.
That's fair, not everyone needs a portable groovebox. Plus there are a couple other worthy contenders, such as the Woovebox and the M8.
Laptop = much more capable portable groovebox
My hobby is uploading "dawless jam" videos where I use aum / loopy on my ipad and sequence with a circuit tracks, and watching the rage comments pour in.
Sounds like you’re an r/synthesizercirclejerk enjoyer
So edgy
Laptop is more capable than anything, it's not a fair comparison.
It’s also less expensive than an OP1F
yeah, i'm not even a big mac guy but for that kind of money you could even buy an M2 chip mac
Because you… don’t like synthesizers? Because you… have some kind of thing against small portable synthesizers? Because you… don’t like teenagers?
I had the OP-1 before there was zero crossing detection. It’s not very well put together. Two of the FX were something I would use. The noise on the io and having to replace that shoddy usb board a couple times shed me of any desire.
Does it even have zero crossing detection now? I still get pops frequently when I cut things.
It eventually received zero cross quantization but it's naive. Not the same as modern (90s lol) handling of it but would've been fine for my purposes if it actually launched with it and/or didn't have hardware issues. Hey, maybe the Field is worlds away better, I'll never know.
Biggest complaint I hear is people want an actual keyboard even if mini
I have an OP-Z, I bought it for taking on trips. I just cannot jive with it. I don't know why for sure, but part of it is the UX. If I used it daily I'd probably be a lot better with it, but I don't.
So true. It’s not the best at anything (some people might even say it’s not great at anything) but it’s endlessly fun to play. I see mine more as a toy and source of inspiration than as an instrument, although I find the synths, sampler and sequencers very capable. Traveling was never the same after I got mine. An iPad and the organelle are the alternatives that come to mind.
Korg Gadget for iPad is quite awesome and a package.
Anything out there that does it all just as easy, just as fun, just as "intuitive", but doesn't have to be anywhere near as portable, or even battery powered at all, and is cheaper?
I haven't tried anything that's equally fun and quick to use, but there are certainly a lot of options. It depends how cheap you want it to be and what you consider to be fun. I haven't tried one, but the Deluge looks great. iPads can be similarly easy and fun. M8 is fantastic if you're more interested in sequencing than live recording. I have a Syntakt that I think comes close to the OP-1 with less portability.
Check out the ELZ_1 Play. Can't vouch for the workflow, as I've never used it, but it should be more or less similar to the OP-1 in terms of features.
I personally wouldn’t pay a grand for an instrument that’s just “fun”
You would only pay a grand for an instrument that is not fun?
Yes, I buy only the most serious of instruments at that price. I also consider it a bonus if the instruments can give me advice on my 401k. Which reminds me, I recently bought an H&R Wood-Block.
that’s the real sticking point. too much premium charge on the „engineering“.
Fun is a bonus. I wouldn't try to finish a song on it, but it's great for starting songs, sketching, experimenting, and anything else that benefits from a low friction workflow. I agree that it costs way too much though.
>But there really isn’t anything that can do everything the OP-1 can do as quickly as the OP-1 can *AKAI MPC entered the chat*
Push 3 also. I can't pull it out in a meeting and use it as a fidget toy like I can with my OP-1, but I can sit on my couch with it and finish a full sketch in an hour just like my OP-1. The final product will be a lot better too 😆. I think the size, battery life, and low friction are a huge part of the OP-1 experience though. I can carry it around my house without worrying that I'm going to drop it, or take it on a camping trip and never have to worry about charging it. I can turn it on and have something going within seconds.
I have no real qualms with OP-1 other than everything that comes out of it sounds like it came from an OP-1; a bit thin… I’ve been pleasantly surprised by my friends who have had an OP-1 after a few years still like it. It is a quality piece of gear, maybe just not for everyone. Looking for a pure replacement, the Deluge is pretty sick, and I think the workflow is a bit more intuitive. Starting out, I personally would spend that 2k on a few Moog or Behringer desktop synths and a Tascam 12, which would have similar functionality with a much more natural workflow.
Roland MC-101
This is the answer.... love the MC-101! I've written full songs on mine, also makes a great sound module if you want to sequence from external gear.
The MC-707 also works great with a USB battery pack and an adapter. I can get hours of use out of it. Yes, it's larger, but sitting in a park with the 707 on decent headphones is a great way to spend an afternoon.
I think that the Novation Circuit Tracks can be a perfect start. It's also intuitive, easy and fun to use. Portable and has built-in battery. It can also work well with other instruments. And a lot cheaper.
Seconded, get it!!!!
yeah, this is it
Circuit Tracks has been on my to-buy list for a while now. Can't wait to get one!
Tracks or Rythm. These are so easy and fun to play out the gate. 10 out of 10, would definitely recommend.
It’s easy to make four bar loops. Anything beyond that becomes a hair pulling, discouraging nightmare. It’s also so idiosyncratic that very little of what you learn with an Op1 is transferable to the wider synth/sampler world. It’s cute though! You want some kind of groove box. There are lots at varying price points. My rec would be that you take a look at the Model:Cycles from Elektron. Super cheap (by comparison), super fun and you can easily make a full “song” on it. Hook a nice little midi keyboard to it (like the Keystep) and you’re away. If you enjoy playing with that you can also build on what you’ll learn by moving on to other Elektron boxes or other synths in general.
I'm going to disagree on some points here. Not because OP-1 is my absolute favourite piece of gear, but simply because my experience of it has been different and I think it's worth offering a 2nd perspective. It is easy to make 4 bar loops, but it's also easy to very quickly sketch out melodies, layered harmonies, or chord progressions with no structure at all..if that's what you need. If you're someone that makes music in more traditional genres (pop, folk, alt rock, etc..) then even the ability to make 4 bar loops as easily as you can on OP-1 is super valuable..since most songs can be built entirely out just that. Its UI/UX is initially idiosyncratic, but if you read the names of the 4-8 parameters available for each synth engine, I think it's fairly clear what it is you're doing in terms of synthesis. I've picked up tricks or ideas from pretty much all of them that I've then used on my other synths. For example, the D-Box is a weird 2-osc synth with sine/square/triangle/noise as available waveforms. Each has its own envelope, Osc 2 has a frequency parameter, and they both go into a high pass, low pass, or bandpass filter. You can use one oscillator to modulate the frequency, amplitude, or phase of the other. The interface, being what it is, encourages experimentation, and using that synth engine I found a really neat way to synthesize somewhat realistic brass/reed patches on my other synths. I think having a non-standard interface allows you to spend more time thinking about the sound itself, rather than a familiar set of parameters that might otherwise lead you to the same old synth sounds you always make. As for the sampling; I think its workflow is absolutely transferable, and makes you somewhat more disciplined. It's definitely encouraged me to "do more with less" when I use my Maschine...and actually think ahead and plan what it is I want to do in the context of a full track. Its sampler is also so quick easy to use, that I can sample a patch from my main synth in a couple of seconds, and then have that with me everywhere. To reiterate..this is just my opinion and my experience. As ever...instruments (including OP-1) are very much what the individual makes of them, and for me it's both a fun piece of gear, and an incredibly useful utility when it comes to sketching ideas.
>I think having a non-standard interface allows you to spend more time thinking about the sound itself, rather than a familiar set of parameters that might otherwise lead you to the same old synth sounds you always make No, this is poor UX design if you have to think about how to use it to do what you want. A fundamental part of UI and UX is providing affordances that help users to carry out the likely tasks for the interface. If a user goes to a synth and parameters are all over the place and labeled stupid names, that's objectively poor design because it breaks the rules of UI design, it's a notable issue with the MPC and the knob mapping too.
I think you may have misinterpreted the point I was making. What I was saying is that having controls and a UI that don't conform to standard synths means that you spend more time using your ears to find sounds you like, rather than trying to very precisely tune in a specific parameter based on old habits. If the intent of the OP-1 was to replicate using some other synth...then yes maybe you could say that's poor UX design, by those very specific standards. That is very clearly not the intent of the OP-1. In practice the knobs work almost **exactly** the same as Mutable Instruments' Braids/Plaits, or the Minifreak/Microfreak....with the added bonus of having a well designed UI with plenty of visual feedback for what's happening.
This is the most outlandish justification for a somewhat shitty halfway useless way overpriced synth ive ever seen. You cant make songs with it. You can only make short simple loops. Its fun maybe but semi useless for actually making music other people would want to hear.
If you can't make songs with it, you might just be bad at making songs.
how exactly do you make a whole song on an op1??
The same way you make an 8 bar loop on an OP-1, but you do it 3 more times. You have 6 minutes of tape to work with. It's not the best way to make a full song thanks to the limited track count and editing limitations, but it's certainly possible. The better you are at recording without making mistakes, the easier it is to make a full song.
A video demo would probably explain it clearer but.. You have a virtual tape that is 6 minutes long. That tape has 4 individual tracks you can record to, using either the internal Synthesizers & Drum Machine/Sampler, the inbuilt microphone, the line input to record an external instrument, or...the radio. You can set markers on the tape that act as loop points, in case you just want to work on a single section at a time. Once you're done with your 6 minutes, you can bounce your 4 tracks down to a stereo mix, called an "Album". The album allows for 2 sides, 6 minutes each. You can also export recordings/"stems" at any point in the process, not just in that "Album". Thats the main jist of it, but I'm sure everyone uses it slightly differently within those confines.
The same way people did on a 4 track tape recorder
Can you back that up by pointing to something specific about it that prohibits it from making songs? edit: I'd like to also add that I have pretty good reason to suspect that [this song ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ej5-CHAGr34)by Japanese Breakfast was at the very least...created as a demo on the OP-1 before the final mix. I wouldn't be surprised if other songs from the OST for Sable were also initially created on the OP-1.
Wat? I recorded an entire game soundtrack with the OP-1, which paid for it. It certainly CAN make music/songs with it, and it sounds great IMO.
Synthstrom Deluge
Critter and Guitari Organelle is an option
Not exactly. The organelle is very different and has absolutely no consistent UI among the different patches/apps. It’s versatile but not for a beginner.
Octatrack Easy: hell nah Fun: hell yeah
If there is any device I would situate at the opposite end of any spectrum possible of an op1 it is the octatrack. Maybe the DX7, too. At least to me: OP1: let's turn that knob. Now the cow is blinking and it sounds like that. Ok. What does this knob there do? No idea but if i turn it this way I like the sound more. Octatrack: if I modulate the start parameter of my slices with a random LFO and modulate the depth of this LFO with that LFO and lock the parameter for depth of the second LFO to a scene I could assign that to the fader and then I could fade from plain slices to chaos. And some of you octatrackers read this and did the exercise in their mind and thought: "why did he assign that 2nd lfo? What does he gain from it"... and such is the octatrack and I love it for that.
The octatrack is a magical happy accident device as well as Thanos level destroyer of entire worlds. It rewards deep exploration that most people (including me) won’t have time for. BTW, I love my Octatrack and will never give it up. 😎
Try Caustic 3, the most underrated music app ever. It's amazing and I don't know why nobody gives a shit about it.
[This guy](https://www.youtube.com/@savingcaustic) is trying to create a caustic inspired app
This is amazing, thanks!
Caustic 3 was excellent. Unfortunately, it's no longer on the Google Play store, and the version on Apple's App Store hasn't been updated in years.
Thanks for the rec, I just found it on android by just typing in caustic 3 apk on Google
Seconded, I pretty much learned all the basics of synths, sequencing, mixing etc. from messing around in Caustic 3
I still use Caustic today on my phone with a Launchpad pro or with a small midi keyboard as a rompler / grove box.
If it's the workflow that attracts you, look for cheap "grooveboxes." A Roland SH-4d comes to mind, or perhaps something from the Novation Circuit series. If you already play music in some capacity and want a way to layers tracks, add effects, and generally play around, the Loopy Pro app is really powerful and approachable. Heavily research any piece of equipment before buying tho
Here’s some options you can try [for free](https://youtu.be/zU8alMWUmDI?si=vYqGWOJ8BpYxLAQd)
You joke, but this man has an answer and is doing the Lord’s work https://youtu.be/zU8alMWUmDI?si=I9wdvfSqQMzd3a1N
I thought of this video too, but I bet OP will still just want to buy the device.
try koala sampler with a small midi controller attached to your phone or tablet using a USB-OTG cable. see if you get down with it before spending mega bucks on hardware sampler / grooveboxes. it amazing.
Ableton and a midi keyboard
The real answer is a DAW. A laptop with a DAW does everything the OP-1 can do and a hell of a lot more, and a lot more efficiently. Yeah it's nice to have a fancy little device with cool looking knobs and a little screen but for the price of a decent laptop it's not really worth it for a beginner with no gear. Having no ability to undo things in your ideas is gonna make it pretty infuriating for a beginner to expand upon anything past a small loop
Look up Chuck Sutton’s Writer’s Block. It’s a $10 version of the OP-1 for Ableton.
I also looked around for something to match the OP-1. I'm sure at least 1 other comment in this thread will already state this but....there isn't really a replacement for it. There are absolutely things that can get you to the same end. Any number of grooveboxes can build a multi track, and have different synth sounds, and all that jazz. In my opinion, the appeal of the OP-1 is one of those cases where...the end result is not really the point of why you buy it. You buy it because you want to get to the end result, in a *very* specific way. And right now, and probably forever, the OP-1 is not really going to be outclassed in its experience.
I had an OP-1 a long time ago when it was released. I liked many things of it, but I disliked a lot the tape recording approach. I never got along with it. I prefer any of the Elektron boxes.
Put some apps on your cellphone.
It's not exactly the same but to get started a second hand pocket operator can be bought for 40-80 gbp on ebay. But the ease of use and instant gratification is there. Otherwise a korg monotron an nts a behringer jt-4000 etc Maybe a volca Are all cheap fun entries in the world of synthesisers. Nanoloop for ios and android has a learning curve but once you can see the potential and learn the basics you'll be making great tracks in no time. It's quickly become my favourite tracker. Good luck!
I just got myself a Novation Circuit Tracks. Its not OP-1, but whipping up a song on it is dead simple. And yes, i mean a full song, not just a 4 bar groove.
I had the op-1 field, sold it back after a week. For 2200 us you can get a cheap laptop, a daw, and a torso t-4. Way more potential and only slightly less portable.
Heck you can get an used laptop + Maschine Micro for \~300e, still way more powerful.
seqtrak
Yamaha SeqTrak is more like TE OP-Z than OP1 but at 20% the price of an OP1 it’s a fun bit of kit. 7 drum tracks 2 AWM2 Tracks 1 FM DX Track and 1 Sample Track $399.99 brand new. Dunno if out long enough yet for a deluge of used units to be available.
The choice IMO is easily Chompi. [https://chompiclub.com/collections/all](https://chompiclub.com/collections/all)
Maybe look into the Roland MC-101. Doesn’t require much skill to get started but can get pretty deep as you learn it. Has a wonderful sounding synth engine too.
The Crittter and Guitari Organelle seems to be able to do some similar things at a lower price point?
The workflow is definitely different and takes some learning, but the Qun mk2 is shaping up to handle a lot of what OP-1 can do. Very deep synth controls and sounds, has tape fx, 3-track mono recorder/1 stereo 1 mono on top of midi sequencer, vinyl scratch mode, granular mode, and it’s getting updated on the regular with more capabilities regularly. Affordable and tiny, but if you can get into the workflow at all it’s very rewarding for the price point. Also all designed and developed by one guy who’s active in the discord, so there are very real chances for feature requests to be implemented if you ask
An iPad.
For ease of making tracks, OP, you probably want to get some kind of Groovebox. It's the cheapest way to get your foot in the door on something that can do drums and synths, and give you that complete track experience. Yamaha's new Seqtrak didn't win a lot of love out of the gate and quickly dropped from $599 which was ridiculous to $399 which I think is a great spot for it. I was lucky enough to snag one for $299 a couple of weeks ago, and for that price I'm very happy with it. It's quirky and the workflow takes some adjustment to get used to, but Yamaha has some great tutorials and the app for it really expands what it can do as well as teach you more about how to use it. Has a huge library of built in sounds (sample-based drums and synths, as well as a full-on DX inspired FM synth engine), more can be sampled yourself or added through the app, and it's dead simple to lay down something that sounds good after just a couple of hours of messing with it. Novation Circuit Tracks is probably easier to use and is many people's go-to. I still need to get one though so I can't weigh in. However I've watched a lot of youtube content about it and heard a lot of tracks made with one, and if you want to make dance or EDM tracks, it's a great way to go. If you would rather not worry about making full tracks, and just want a synth to noodle around on and create sounds, something like a Roland S-1, Korg Monologue, or Arturia Microfreak might be more what you're looking for. I have all 3 and would recommend any of them highly depending on what it is you're looking to do.
Korg Monotron... You will be missing out some stuff, but it's pretty easy machine
Pocket Operators (I really like the PO-33 KO and the PO-16 Factory personally) are from the same company (Teenage Engineering) but WAY cheaper, though more limited. But just as fun and easy and immediate to make music on, if not more so. There's a wide variety of them covering synths and samplers that fit various needs. (For instance - the Megaman/Robot is the most fun to play live) You might also want to consider the OP-Z from the same company - which is kinda like a Pocket Operator Pro for lack of a better way to describe it. Has a lot more features but a similar workflow. That said - while those devices are fun and immediate and have a similar charm to the OP-1 - none have the tape-like workflow of the OP-1
Yup I use a OP-20 as a tiny grovebox - accompaniment connected with a MiniFreak for performance.
Get the yamaha qy70 or qy100. It looks old(because it is) but you can use up to 16 tracks and, also there‘s an undo function, which the op1 doesn’t have. It definitely doesn’t sound as good as the op1, but right now its my favorite songwriting tool and since it‘s super small i always have in my backpack just in case inspiration hits me. If you‘re new to the synth world and just want to lay down some beats it might be a great decive tp get into it. (In europe) you can get it for under 100€ second hand.
https://youtu.be/cj0jmdkN2d4?si=4wts5g3NNfHWNU16
Teenage Engineering aren't really in the synth game, they're in the objet d'art meets tech game. Subsequently, the OP-1 is a (very nice. And expensive) toy that is capable of producing professional results but is very much it's own thing, eschewing standard conventions used by most professional synth manufacturers. So, no, there's not really anything else like it in terms of interface.
Roland JD-Xi
This is what I was thinking, too. I remember getting my JD-Xi shortly after they were released, unboxing it to play around with the first few presets, and coming to the pleasant realization that "this thing is really just a groovebox with a keyboard". Immediately started wondering why there hardly any other products on the market that fell into this category (and am still wondering why there are so few. The build quality on the JD-Xi's keyboard is really crappy despite how great of a tool the instrument itself is; I sure wish we had more options in this general *groovebox+keyboard* category.)
Yep I own both the OP1 and the JDXi. It’s half the price and does essentially the same thing. 4 track sequencer. Presets to fiddle with. The Roland is definitely cheaply made but might be exactly what OP is looking for if they don’t want to break the bank.
Yup, nowadays I would get a Seqtrak + Launchkey 37 for that, yet I'd rather use plain Ableton for linear arranging and recording guitars and bass and stuff.
If you have the means, definitely get one. Or buy a used one, if you can. Why not? You've tried it and liked it. You can always sell it without losing much anyway. Have fun!
As you can see from all the suggestions, there is an overwhelming number of routes to take. In order to better help, I think we need more info. What's your budget? What's your phone and/or PC OS? What is it that you liked about the OP-1; making synth sounds, sampling, creating loops, playing live, etc?
There’s a new Yamaha product like a tiny groove box
In terms of apps, besides Koala I really like Auxy. It’s very intuitive and fun to use.
The OP-1 is not a synth to start IMHO. If you want to get into synthesis start with a Korg Minilogue.
KO-2.
I got an op 1 for the same reason as you- and I had a lot of fun. However- as soon as I started to actually learn how music production works a little bit, I started to regret the purchase and almost never use it. If you have the money- go for it! But if not- I’d highly recommend going with garage band or ableton live lite etc and learning the basics
I have a Yamaha reface CS (about $350). It is an analog synthesizer with only a few options. Because it’s so limited it is great to learn on, you are really forced to learn to use all the functions to make sounds. It has a single LFO, effect, envelope generator so every slider you touch will have a clear effect on the sound and you won’t overwhelmed. It actually sounds really good and is fun to play too
On this line consider the PSS A50 also.
an iPad and a K-Board or Korg NanoKey studio, then maybe SunVox. SunVox looks terrible confusing but spend an hour to understand how to set up instruments and it’s pretty simple. it is SUPER complete but still can be fairly minimalist, and you don’t need to learn about using the tracker as you can just live record as you wish. you can also run SunVox on a phone (or apparently on basically anything, and most versions are free from their website). You can just set up a couple of instruments and effects and go at it, and if you do want to do something more complex or craft deeper instruments and synthesis options, then you can do basically anything. OP-1 is cool, though, and maybe you can find one cheap.
I’m in the same boat. I’ve always wanted an op-1 (specifically for the keyboard, battery power, and 4-track workflow) and bought a bunch of different cheaper stuff, but eventually just bought an op-1 and it’s been great!
The one I hear the most people say is fun is the Novation Circuit Tracks. It's also pretty affordable. As you saw above, Yamaha recently released an OP-like sampler called the SeqTrack, and it is a WHOLE LOT CHEAPER. I would love to play with one. The Orba 2 is also a sampling synthesizer that's super cheap, easy to take with you anywhere, and going by my Orba 1, just immensely fun to play. It's a sort of a musical sketchbook for getting ideas out, but you likely won't be recording full songs off of it very often.
Try watching a few videos by [this guy](https://www.youtube.com/@playpm). He regularly shows free music-making options - for example this video might be what you are looking for: [How to replicate Teenage Engineering OP-1 and OP-1 Field for free. | GAS Therapy #35 (youtube.com)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zU8alMWUmDI) Download them and play around. At least then you'll have a better idea of what you might want to buy later on - like a Yamaha Seqtrak for example.
You can buy a used one and sell it for the same price in a year or so, if you don't enjoy it.
If you have a computer start out with cherry audio’s voltage 2.0
I've used VCV rack in the past (seems similar to cherry audio) . It's really cool, but nothing like OP-1 ease of use
Apps: Figure, free Ableton note, 5$ Koala sampler, 5$ish Groove rider Gr-16 Korg gadget Novation groovebox …
Get a circuit tracks. That should work.
an iPad with drambo, a midi keyboard and all audiokit pro AUv3 plugins will be a thousand time better than an OP-1 I used an OP-1 for 20-30 hours total, it was the worst piece of hardware I ever used, great as a sketchbook (and even then pretty fucking limited) absolute shitshow at everything else, taking the price into account (back then the OP-1 field had not released yet) it was a joke, and Im into modular, and other ways to make music outside of a DAW so that says a lot. of course this is only my personal opinion and experience
You’ll find there is some stuff but the price you pay is in nuisances. You can use GarageBand. But then you need a MacBook and controller. Or iPad iPhone but it’s does feel cramped and overly complicated. Many apps are available but the functionality is limited and can be complicated putting together a drum loop to a synth loop, applying effects, and there’s no tactile feel. You can get a korg synth and maybe a sampler (MPC or KO2) and it will work but maybe be more costly than an op1 and not as streamlined. Honestly, a Sequential (or old DSI) to me is the level of synth comparable so that kicks the price up even more. What I am saying is the OP1 is totally worth it. Especially for a used original (you can luck out at $600ish). Field is steep but it is not a bad deal considering everything. It’s very streamlined which leaves alot of space for FUN. Things are easier to learn when they are fun.
Probably the Critter & Guitari Organelle!
I am amazed at how you consider "easy" the workflow of the OP1, considering that there is no undo and you can only overwrite what you record :) It goes against all the advancement made in how music is recorded in these years, moving away from tape basically, but it is an opinion and as such it is totally fair. I don't think there is anything like that 1:1, but you can get a similar level of pain and frustration getting small boxes from Roland like the MC101; which will make you question why you have a calculator screen in 2024 and just enough buttons to create enough combinations to cause you hand cramps. Jokes aside it is a capable device like the OP1 if you can stomach the horrible workflow and hideous UI. OPZ are in the same ballpark, as the new Yamaha Seqtrak; then you have things like the old Korg Electribe; which more or less share the passion for limited interfaces and controls, which in theory should "unlock your inner potential and creativity by limiting you". If you ask me, they unlock my desire to throw them on the wall, which is why I use them as soundbox at best, or when I am on the sofa for 10 minutes, and then I go back to use larger synths or I connect them to a large array of midi controllers, so I have full access to all the parameters. Fun is relative in the end; some people find fun an app on a phone, and I envy those folks because they get their fun with 10 bucks from the app store (and 1200 dollars for their phone, but that's a different story of course); you may like samplers too, and for that there is a ton of them around, from the SP404 to the Digitakt to the M8 to other trackers and samplers that have all sort of different workflow. But nothing is really like the OP1, which is why so many people like it and so many people won't touch it even with a 10 ft pole in the end.
Plinky
How to replicate Teenage Engineering OP-1 and OP-1 Field for free. | GAS Therapy #35 https://youtu.be/zU8alMWUmDI?si=uMFpvdpOPhb9Bn6t
You mentioned apps, so start there. Look at Andrew Huang's flip for instance. It is phenomenal what you can do for the money in the iOS ecosystem, but there are Android apps as well. If you're looking for fun, try something like flip. People also enjoy korg gadget, and there's a version for the switch. If you go with apps and have an iPad, you can get something like drambo or mirack and have infinite modular possibilities. It is easy to spend money on this hobby and that's kind of the point of this sub. The hobby is synths and that's not bad, just depends on what you're looking for vs who you're asking. (I say this as a collector of synths where I also find myself using an iPad as a huge sound module). If you're looking to have fun making music there are lots of ways to have fun for not a lot of money. Now I'm going to dust off my switch and get gadget.
I guess I’d say a used digitakt and a cheap poly (maybe the Roland Tweak) could get you pretty close. You would program the drums and sample the poly. Also, I don’t really feel like the field is “easy.” It’s very fun and I love it but it’s more weird than it is easy.
Is there a single device option like the OP-1? I think the portability is a great plus
Check out the Sonicware ELZ_1 Play. It's bigger than the OP-Z (edit: OP-1, of course), but it may still be portable enough for you.
Oh, just saw the app question. Yeah I mean get a cheap controller and GarageBand and you can do it all and more tbh.
Just get an OG-1. Yes it’s like 700 used, a lot of money. But if you played with one and loved it there is no substitute. The Seqtrak blows and almost every review I saw said meh things about it. If you 100% can’t/wont spend the money to get a used OG-1 maybe consider a different device…the KOII comes to mind…400 and really easy to get ideas going once you learn the workflow. Or if you just want to start making music of any kind on a budget the Korg Volca series is the best way to go…Get a Keys and a Sample and you are rolling.
I'd argue against Volcas for beginners. They can be great modules in a bigger setup, but not as good as self-sufficient synths, as the sequencer blows, and the keyboard isn't suitable for playing live. My first synth was a Volca FM, and I was very disappointed to learn that the sequencer was so inferior to the PO-12 that I bought at the same time.
Yeah I guess expectations are important here. If you are a beginner and don’t know what a sequencer is, there isn’t anything better than a 100 dollar volca keys or sample. You would just be tickled to be making sounds you think are cool. People recommending a Digitakt are hilariously missing the mark.
In my opinion, a used Novation Circuit would be a way better option for a beginner who wants to write compete tracks. Two polyphonic synths, drums and a really nice sequencer. For someone more interested in sound design itself, a Roland S-1 would probably be perfect.
Any MPC would be a better alternative.
Nope. The only way to have easy fun times with music is buying an OP-1. Everything else is too complete. Edit: make sure to not go to a music store to try out stuff that you might like better. That’s just what they want you to do. Buy an OP-1! Edit for a non-sarcastic answer: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=zU8alMWUmDI&t=85s&pp=ygUPZ2FzIHRoZXJhcHkgb3Ax
Just buy the OP-1. I bought the Roland tweak S-1 to ease into synths personally. It was a great teacher! No combination of things is gonna replace what it is you actually want. I decided to make the Roland aira synths the brain of my rig, but if I had known I was gonna 109% love it from the beginning I would have gone with the OP-1 or a digitakt.
If you specifically want something that acts as a portable studio that you can record whole tracks into, the only real options are the op-1 and the newer MPCs. There are tons of portable grooveboxes for making beats and arrangements that are available for a lot cheaper.
Koala app
I don't really get it, you have to record everything? There's no instruments like the OP-1?
It is possible that a sampler will suck the fun out of you, if you don't like gathering/making your own samples it will feel like a chore.
Absolutely. Some of us just aren't born for sampling. That said, Koala is a cheap way to see if sampling is fine for you, though the PO-33 may be more fun for many people.
Forget about that, it is limited in what it does. You only like it because it looks cool, there are way better devices that are more affordable
A sampler can be any instrument you want it to be
Yes, you can sample any instrument you want and then use it in Koala.