Also: It has no screen.
The OP-Z really is a marvel of design, a masterclass in building a modern musical instrument.
It has no screen, but its easier and faster to use than many devices that do.
Teenage Engineering
Swedish Design
Teenage Engineering is a design companywith a musical bent.
The OP-1 was unavailable at the end of 2018 because the OLED screens used to make it ran out.
A Killer Sequencer
The OP-Z is a sequencer.
Teenage Engineering
These notes can be musical notes from the built-in synthesizer, or they can be sampled.
On the OP-Z, the top row of 16 buttons is to program these steps.
Press one, and it lights up, which means it will sound.
Teenage Engineering
But the magic of the OP-Z comes from the way this all works.
The keys on the left act like shift keys on a computer, changing the main buttons behavior.
This lets you do all kinds of stuff.
Teenage Engineering
you might sample into the (very lo-fi) built-in microphone.
Or you’re free to add effects to whole tracks or just to a single note.
The last kick drum hit in a sequence could have an echo applied, for example.
But a screen is totally unnecessary.
you’re free to do everything with the buttons.
You are never distracted by a menu or screen.
Its closer to playing an instrument than to programming a computer.
And then we come to the OP-Zs secret weapon.
you might add one to any step of any track, and it will change how that step behaves.
For instance, you could apply a step component to play a note louder every four bars.
Or to only play it the first time around.
Those notes can be parts of a longer, sampled passage and can be set to randomize.
This will create some crazy glitches.
This all sounds very complex, and it is.
But it is also easy to program as you go.
Much More
Theres a whole lot more inside this box.
It really is deep.
Or that it is a full-featured USB-C audio interface for any computer, including the iPad.
It can even automatically generate chord progressions and weird modal shifts by analyzing what you have programmed.
It does have a few downsides.
Also, early units suffered from manufacturing faults, but those seem to be ironed out now.
Ive owned mine since the early days, and Ive never had a problem.
I L-O-V-E the OP-Z.
Other devices do some things better, but nothing is as well-designed or as fast to use.
If only it didnt cost $600.
