Teenage Engineering OP-1 Field

Machine is still four tracks but there
are four different types of recorder
and eight slots available for songs.
There are many other extras. You
can use Field to transmit on an FM
frequency – yes, create your own
radio station – and there’s an
improved built-in mic, a better EQ,
adjustable screen brightness and a
ton of other tweaks and perhaps
not-so-important extras (‘new
packaging’ is on the list). But the
most important parts of Field are
arguably just two new additions – that
stereo sound and a completely
redesigned speaker – plus one
unchanged feature: its workfl ow.
Users of the original OP-1 will be
delighted that its ease of use has
been retained, as has controlling the
various functions with coloured
parameters and four matching knobs.
It’s the speaker and sound that
will have you smiling though. If you
think the original is good – and next
to your Volcas and other portable
devices, it doesn’t sound too bad –
users to learn the basics in no time
and that control/colour combination
giving you a helping hand throughout.
No wonder TE didn’t really change
the operating system so much from
OP-1. You’ll soon fi nd yourself delving
into the depths of OP-1 Field simply
because you have the confi dence to
do so. And the screen makes it all the
more welcoming, with an all-new
design and the sampling options
being particularly boosted by the extra
resolution and zooming – it’s proper
wave editing as opposed to the now
’70s-looking tweaking on the OP-1.
As to the sound engine, you could
argue that, with only one addition to
then try playing the same preset synth
sounds on the original directly next to
the Field. It’s night and day. The
speakers look the same size but Field
boasts one with a passive radiator
that gives it welly and width to show
off the stereo engines. Honestly, you’ll
think the original sounds pretty
shocking in comparison (or more
positively, the Field just sounds so
good). I’d almost argue that this is
worth the upgrade price alone.
Almost. We’ll come to the price later.
Back to the workfl ow and I don’t
think I’ve used a device of this
portability and with so many features
that is so well designed, which allows
THE HEART OF THE MACHINE… IS STILL HUMAN
As mentioned, the Tape section on OP-1 Field is very easy to use. It’s also easy to split,
copy and erase parts of tracks, perhaps a little too easy on occasion, and that brings in
one negative: the lack of any kind of undo. As the manual admits: “once all keys are
pressed there’s no way back; your tape will be wiped forever”. There are workarounds to
protect your recordings but not an instant Undo button. Nor is there a quantise option as
this is audio and not MIDI recording. Both of these were missing from the original OP-1
and split user opinions. Ardant OP-1 supporters say that a lack of quantize gives the
OP-1 its own human ‘style’, or helps your fi nger drumming and playing. And there are
those that take it further
saying that you could
always export your audio
from the OP-1 into your
DAW, which kind of
defeats the point. Anyway,
the Field doesn’t
obviously fi ll these gaps
that are left over from the
original so you’ll have to
use the machine’s (many)
sequencing functions to
keep better time – the
Pattern Sequencer alone
fi lls your beat creation
needs. That or learn to
play better (and do be
careful what you erase).
THE ALTERNATIVES
Any laptop
£1,000 up
You can get a very
decent Mac or PC
laptop for this kind
of money that will
handle all of your
music-making needs
appleuk.com
Teenage
Engineering OP-1
£700 (second
hand)
An original OP-1 can
be bought
secondhand for
reasonable money: a
good route into the
OP-1 universe
teenage.engineering
Akai MPC £600+
Take your pick from
the Live 2, X or One
that do off-grid,
off-computer music
making with ease
akaipro.com
You’ll think the original
sounds pretty shocking
in comparison
Reviews | Teenage Engineering OP-1 Field
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