At Superbooth 2019, Teenage Engineering showed us their updated modular synth line, and gave us a preview of their upcoming line of Eurorack modules.
We talked with TE’s Tobias von Hofsten, who demonstrated sampling on the OP-Z, the Teenage Engineering Eurorack modules, updates to their semi-modular synthesizers, and how all their synth gear can be used together.
They started with a great portable synth, sequencer, drum machine, sampler, 4 track tape recorder +FX. Then…. all this other stuff that doesn’t make much sense. It even looks weird seeing someone play it, like they are struggling with its functionality.
Just strange that we’ll probably never see an OP-2 given the success of the original. Not a surprise they started manufacturing it again so hopefully they have a new version in the works.
And maybe they will make it black/gray so the folks who call it a toy will be swayed by a simple color change since the features and functionality are already there but people judge books by their cover.
I think the OP-1 was merely a singular device. Now they are developing a whole eco-system of instruments that interact with each other. Much like the LEGO of music. They are not quite there yet and things are still a bit awkward here and there, but once they get there, it could be sweet.
I didn’t realize that the OP-Z didn’t have sampling capabilities yet.
Somehow I have the feeling they don’t have any clue of what to do next…. I wish they would upgrade their PO’s to be fully controlled and sync’d via MIDI, in a cool housing with real MIDI IN connection….
Meh! I bet they’ll be overpriced anyway.
They mentioned when the 400 was introduced that individual modules would be as low as $59 each.
Can the modules be individually used outside of the T.E. system with other racks…or is there some type of special reliance?
I wish Synthtopia stories would have a bit more “story”. Often it just seems like a video with a recap paragraph. Sometimes it would be nice to read about the thing you describe in the headline, not just a link to a vid.
A sequencer without LEDs takes this minimalist yet expensive hipster approach a little too far for my taste. Not to forget that you have to build this yourself. I bet for another 100$ they’ll take away it’s knobs too, and let you make eco friendly ones out of old chewing gum.