Teenage Engineering OP-1 Tape Project Overview

16 mins of performance from 6 minutes of tape, and still just scratching the surface of using the OP-1 live. This clip shows how you can use the built-in 4-track tape recorder to store multiple projects. The entire 6 minutes length of the tape is used and all 4 tracks are featured. In this demo I wrote 4 different songs parts and then recorded some vocals about wanting to be a "Teenage Engineer." Those vocals are triggered live over the top of the 4 tracks in the same way you can play an internal synthesizer or drums over the full 4-track recorder.

Sections:
Start - House Track
6min - Downtempo Track
9min - Drum & Bass Track
11.5min - Underground House Track

You can see the variety and scope of creating non-IDM dance music with the OP-1. The internal pattern and endless sequencers were used heavily in the production of these tracks. You will hear the quirks and squeaks that give this instrument a character all its own. These songs were written on my couch, in my car on lunch break, at work in my cubicle and sitting on the floor... all thanks to the power and portability of the Teenage Engineering OP-1.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Teenage
• Engineering
• OP-1
• Natural
• Rhythm
• djthomaswhite
• house
• live
• music
• sequence
• sequencer
• beats
• dance
• electronic
• santoma

[tomice72]

Fair enough, maybe I'll find one to play around with for a demo. I might change my tune. We'll see. I guess I am suffering "new gear that does the same as my old gear" fatigue. I have a pile of cash waiting for the moment something truly new and innovative hits the market, just waiting for it to arrive.

[djthomaswhite]

@tomice72 - Well, if anything is coming out this year it will be at NAMM next weekend. Stay tuned! I know I'm excited. One thing to consider these days is developer support. The OP-1 is getting regular OS updates, so is the Dave Smith Tempest. If you're buying anything based/driven/controlled digitally that is important. I'll never forget my Aardvark soundcard that was amazing and never got a Windows XP driver. Sad, but a good lesson. Thanks again for checking out my vids. Best of luck

[tomice72]

Where's the tape machine. Don't answer that I'm not an idiot. Your vid is great. What's so great about the OP 1? People love this thing. I know of people paying well above the asking price in some countries to get their hands on one. What makes them great? From your video, which is cool btw, I can't see anything revolutionary.

[djthomaswhite]

@tomice72 - You can do a lot of what the OP-1 does in a DAW. But, with key commands, stopping the flow to process audio, using cracked plug ins, all with a mouse, keyboard & midi controller with a bunch of cables and likely the same flat screen you may stare at all day at work. The OP-1 removes these factors and put synthesis in your hands in a more immediate/fun fashion, and it is limited which leads to innovation. If I hit a limit, I find a creative way to beat the system. Damn fun!

[djthomaswhite]

@tomice72 - ...and, the synth engines, FX and tape have a sound to them that is unique to the OP-1. You can get lo-fi, sure, but you can also get a real professional sound out of it. In the end, it's a fun device I take everywhere with me and can make music anytime I want. I even use it to listen to FM radio at work at my desk. I record vocals into it. I design patches and make drum kits to share with the community. It's just right for me and anyone wanting to get outside the DAW flow

[hubspin]

Hi. I'm interested in the OP-1 och have studied the manual a little but I have no idea of what you are doing in this video. : )

Could you explain what mode you are in, and what you are actually doing when you are pushing buttons?

I do like the track though!

[djthomaswhite]

@hubspin - I've prepared for this video by recording sounds from the OP-1 to the 4 tracks of tape. In the video I am navigating those sections of the tape with "shift+>" and I am setting new loop lengths by hitting "shift+loop" when over a new piece of tape. I am using the M1 and M2 buttons to momentarily trigger different memorized EQ settings. I'm also using the white knob to change tape speed when moving from track to track. Vocal triggered live from drum kit where I sampled myself

[frozinarosie]

I want one!!!

[runizgozilla]

no dislikes. now that's what i'm talking about!!!!

[PoelseMedBroed]

Wicked! Waiting for mine to arrive, wohooo!

[drummi3]

Dope thanks for keeping me going at work for 16 minutes.

[hubspin]

@djthomaswhite thanx! and that other how-to video you posted was also exactly what I was looking for. getting really close to that buy-button... : )

[GoodVibeTunes]

The last track has a kind of Green Velvet feel to it....

[tomice72]

My q10 drivers worked well into xp sp2. I believe they work on sp3 as well. No multicore or win 7 though. Great interface for its time. Solid.