Teenage Engineering OP-XY Review

Synthesist and Star Wars soundtrack contributor Enrique Martinez (Ricky Tinez) shared his video review of the new Teenage Engineering OP-XY synthesizer.

The OP-XY is a portable instrument that features a powerful sequencer, synthesizer, and sampler that TE says is designed for ‘serious  sequencing’.

“It’s got A LOT of fun features, when it comes to the sequencing and arranging side of things, but is that enough to justify its cost?” asks Martinez. ”

Check out the video and share your thoughts on that question in the comments!

59 thoughts on “Teenage Engineering OP-XY Review”

      2. I have been doing sound professionally for 25 years and I think this is way overpriced. Had it been at the same price point as the OP-! I’d want one, but as a fun toy to relax with. There are so many other options available to anyone who does this for a living, and such people have living or working space dedicated to their gear. For portability the serious options are an MPC, Push, or Maschine + battery pack.

        This is for rich hobbyists and design snobs. It’s very pretty, specs are good, but it’s not technically innovative.

        1. I wouldn’t even buy this, if I hatedall the zeros, following a big number on my bank account. This thing ticks two boxes, which should never be ticked simultaneously: a toy for hobbyists/dawless jammers/lo-fi “musicians” and: as expensive as real, fun to use, performance ready gear (or something, that does stuff differently, like the also a bit overpriced UDO stuff, which at least sounds great).

          At least they built it out of aluminium this time. Totally worth the price hike to the OP-1f of 300 bucks, isn’t it. And people whine about elektron boxes being overpriced (for whatever reason honestly and no, I’m not a fanboy, but slowly getting their schtick, tbh)

          1. I haven’t had mine (x2) delivered yet. I am an iambent producer who releases 90% of my studies via YouTube. I do focus on lofi sounds but that is largely a technique to cover my lack of theoretical musical knowledge and concepts and ideas. I’m a RINGS>CLOUDS w/ 13x MAKE NOISE MATHS (not a clone!) type of guy. For me this device isn’t about the sound or workflow or any of that boring stuff. It’s about the Omnipresent Lifestyle. All of the haters are overlooking this vital fact, and thus, will never be, Omnipresent.

            1. thank you for writing this.
              this is the worst comment I have read on synthtopia and that is saying something. a perfect, sublime mixture of ignorance, pretentiousness and general douchebaggery.

              omnipresent. yes lmao, thats it.
              god this is so funny.(not a clone!)

              stay omnipresent kids.

  3. Maybe miniaturizing so much capability still equals a serious price. I think it mainly depends on how you like to work. There’s a musical way to use almost anything. I like to spread out a little more. I prefer my softsynths overall, but I keep a bit of hardware because I enjoy twiddling the knobs for some things.

    TE is clearly winning enough people over to keep releasing their goodies. No one has come to the door with a stick and tried to force me to buy one. Good, more money for the Omnisphere kitty!

    1. The question is: is it even a good idea to minimize the amount of knobs? You could buy an iPad with a bunch of excellent audiotools and a small controller and keyboard for the price. Why is this weird thing of “portability” has become so important, that people spend insane amounts instead of just using a normal sized backpack? Hell, I’ll fit a SP404MKII in a slingback (these over shoulder thingies), with my usual stuff in it as well.

      And for those with a small desk space: declutter, cleanup and just get creative with the space. Or sell stuff, instead of craming more gear on it, which you will never master anyway.

      1. Yes, let us enjoy paying the extra three or four hundred dollars in interest. And everyone wonders where inflation comes from. It comes from spending tomorrow’s money today.

        2. also like less than 30 seconds into the video and he saying “teenage engineering have no idea I’m making a video about this”

          Absolute rubbish. What did they think (hope) he would do if they sent hime the unit for free

        3. Your second (and valid) point is a separate topic I feel.

          The multiclock video didn’t seem all bad, just complicated to explain simply in.

          Not trying to be combative but one video where a few minutes of it weren’t pristine knowledge does not qualify as constantly for me.

          1. I have no idea what you are talking about

            He basically made a video saying don’t buy the ERM multiclock because he didn’t understand how to use it

            1. “ also like less than 30 seconds into the video and he saying “teenage engineering have no idea I’m making a video about this”

              Absolute rubbish. What did they think (hope) he would do if they sent hime the unit for free”

              That is your second point that i said was valid but a separate point.

              Regarding your on topic point it looks like Ricky did two videos about the multclock, one where he used it exclusively and then another where he said 90% of people would do better using the MRCC? Thats not the same thing as saying don’t buy the multiclock. If you need sample accurate clocking then use the erm multiclock but if you dont then the mrcc works for a lot of other cases and is cheaper? Looked like the ERM was a pain to work with using his workflow and that the MRCC was a more simple device that met his needs.

              I hardly see how that constitutes as constantly regurgitating badly researched information.

    2. Sadly yes. I mean, he’s OK but the amount of stuff he doesn’t know about everything else than Elektron (and here EZBOT is the real guy, you should watch) is pretty huge. I mean, it’s OK for basics, but this is unfortunately, how every single track of his sounds. Just another uhm-tis house track, with some “chill chords”.

  11. Turned the video off as soon as he started explaining how the drum settings are global.
    Elektron stuff is far more affordable and capable than this TE box.

    1. Elektron boxes are also limited in capabilities in many ways (like no onboard sampling), and bulky.

      This is a very powerful and very mobile-friendly sequencer/sampler/synth.

      1. What do you mean by “”no onboard sampling”? The way I understand my Digitakt, Octatrack and RYTM – they are all capable of sampling on board. But maybe you have some specific requirement to call it that, hence my question.

        Cheers!

        1. I should have clarified my comment – the Elektron boxes I have, like the Octatrack, don’t have a built-in microphone that you can sample with. So if you want to sample with it, you need additional gear.

          This looks like it has a much easier sampling workflow than the Octatrack, too.

          Everybody complains about the price on this, but what’s the competition in the mobile space, other than tricking out an iPad with a bunch of apps?

      2. Which boxes do you mean? Digitakt, Octatrack, Analog Rytm, and Machinedrum UW can all sample. The rest of what they make are synthesizers or effects so not sure what you’re talking about.

      4. The Octatrack samples, on up to 4 inputs – there simply isn’t any other device as flexible. It is indeed bulky and obviously doesn’t have an internal battery, and it is difficult to learn. Being able to create spontaneously on it requires a combination of experience and preparation (ie having a good library of sampled sounds to work with).

        A good alternative that’s portable is the MPC Live, which runs for many hours on the internal battery, is equally performance-friendly, has a lot of expandability/connectivity, and imposes few limitations. Ableton Push 2 rivals the TE product in price (if you get the battery/CPU option) but looks like it would run rings around it in every other respect.

        At the minimalist end, Yamaha and Ableton have solid portable composers at a fraction of the price. I haven’t looked at Ableton’s Move yet but the Yamaha Seqtrak seems to actually outdo the TE product in terms of sonics and performance controls while being less than 20% of the price.

        A+ for aesthetics but after watching the video it seems to fall short on usability and programmability.

  12. Its pretty much the same OP-Z in a new metal case with a screen. A lot of people wanted a better case and a screen. Few people wanted to pay £1500 for a new case and a screen. Is anyone going to mention the synths are really basic sounding and have very few parameters that can be tweaked and only 1 LFO? Also Entire drum kit shares the same ADSR…three button combo for velocity programming? Come on TE, you can do better.

    1. Beside the price, which makes it product not for me – it’s not that I can’t afford it, but I have better options for less money – I find that single envelope setting for whole kit most off putting.

  13. They make the same limitation and miniaturization mistakes as Japanese synth makers in the 80s and 90s. TE is Casio in the 2020s, but with Apple pricing. It’s for those who don’t want a synthesizer, workstation, or drum machine, or even an instrument. They are to record samples as samples to .wav. In mono. Cos you’re supposed to do more with them after. Which you could have done to begin with in the same DAW you record them to. smh.

  14. Interesting that several reviewers have noted that the look of this device is a plus or possible justification for its price point. I.e., its beautiful, therefore it should be expensive. But when I think about how the design intersects with the UI, this thing looks plain fugly to me.

  16. While price is too high for me, good luck for those that can afford it. It is free market people, TE wouldn’t price it like this if there wouldn’t be people willing to spend so much. Where is the problem with that? It is not like the market isn’t full of great and affordable alternatives.

  18. Interesting that the only thing people complain about is the price.

    That means that they’ve going to have another hit on their hands, because price isn’t a factor for many of us.

  19. “Star Wars sound track contributer” I assume is supposed to imply he is hip like John Williams? Clued into the modern culture. How do you do, fellow kids? And what kid doesn’t have $2299 lying around for a slightly upgraded OP-1 Field that dispenses with the color screen and all that readable user interface? There’s a decision.

  22. As a dad with little ones and no time, I can’t be in my studio with a mess of fear around me like the old days. This is more portable more flexible than any other groove box out there. So I think it’s great and until another company can make the same for cheaper I trust the price. Will try and get one by selling all my gear I have no time to use. With this I can creat and complete tracks anywhere. And I’ve gone down the iPad route but it’s just not the same as using a tactile sequencer

  23. I just sold some shares, my wife’s engagement ring, my Michael Jackson signed red leather jacket and my next door neighbours dog and I’m still $1000 short …can anyone help out?

    2. ahahaahahahaha I was about to fallout of the chair with your comment… it is indeed pricey but I also thought OP-1 was and then I got one years ago and wow that thing was exactly what I needed at the time… just lacking the storage and the audio quality was not even close to electron, but the fast workflow was what I was looking for and that was why I got.

  24. Same envelope shape, filters, effects for each drum sample? Ill jist stick with a daw for a tenth of the price. Get yourself a starter laptop for like 300 bucks and, if your goal is to make money doong music, you have all tools you need to start. Smh.

    1. If your goal is to make money doing music, you are 25 years too late 😀 If your goal is to have fun, get whatever makes you happy.

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