Congrats and let me also join everyone else in saying the intro/unboxing was really cool. Must have been hard to do that stop motion take and not just rip the box open and start playing. I already learned something from this video (I didn’t know how to get the OP-Z audio into the OP-1f, now I do) and I look forward to future ones! Also, now I can’t unsee the stop button being off center 😜
Thank you! I had already waited for more than a month, so I was okay with the little extra wait ;) Yeah the misaligned print is a bit annoying...but I am at a point where I don't care too much about that. I still think it's an amazing piece of gear. Can't wait to make some tunes either!
Right at the start, it comes with the same crap, throw away (♻) foam and a couple of useless rubber bands. FFS, TE. You want two grand for this? Include a decent case.
A few more improvements on the OP-1 field (feel free to let me know anything I've missed): - random LFO can be assigned to 1 specific parameter (or all parameters of a page) - LFO shape can be changed - drum samples can now be 20 seconds long
Hey there, great review. But I'm confused on how songs are made. Once you record the 4 track tape and fill it up can you then record more of the same song on another tape then bring them together somehow ? Thanks any info would be appreciated.
The switch to stereo is massive. When I've heard comparisons of the mono output versus the OP-1 it sounds almost identical. But when you add that stereo effect it brings so many cool layers.
In the end the sound difference is significant. The OG has charm...but this one is a lot more versatile. Even effects I barely used before seem useful now.
@@SONWU I watched a video previously that did a direct comparison of mono output on the Field vs the OG-1 and they basically sounded exactly the same, so I hesitated to jump on the Field. But now hearing this I think I'll have to make that jump!
OMG! The emulations of analog distortion are HORRIBLE!! The analogy goodness you get from recording on tape, or 4-track tape specifically, is BUTCHERED on this thing!! It sounds like everything wrong with digital audio.....F$%king AWEFUL!!!!!!!
Nice review! That was a great unboxing. I’m really glad you picked this up. You seemed to really enjoy the OG OP-1. I’m also glad you called out the centering of the button labels. If TE wants people to see their devices as functional design pieces, they need to deliver the whole package. The tape system is still a little foreign to me, but I’m almost certain I’m going to end up buying this thing. Thanks, Son Wu!
Thank you! I thought I would dislike the tape more, before I got the OG. But it is actually quite nice coming from the OP-Z. You have to commit. And also resampling is so easy and well implemented. Resampling 4 tracks at once for example, just by lifting and dropping.
Very thorough and detailed video, my only complaint was I kept losing focus constantly thinking about how cool the stop motion intro was. In all seriousness, you've pretty much sold me on the device, my only debate is whether I sell an organ or my first born to afford it
It would be great to be rich but look people like me that spent a fortune on the original and haven't got the money to switch just remember how good the op-1 is, it hasn't become bad just because the Field is out. The OP-1 is a brilliant device.
At $2K, they couldve found a way to reposition the headphone jack so it's either on the left side OR below the keybed - anywhere but the top-right where headphone cord will get in the way!
But, but..... its seriously so damn ugly. OP-1 OG is WAAAAAY cooler! This seriously look like some outdated Apple product. And the new features? Nah, I am using Logic to mix songs anyway. I want the OP-1 OG just as it is.
+ $1,000 GETS YOU: New power switch USB-C More LEDs Bluetooth new speaker speaker vents mysterious volume lump gain headroom increase glass display 16 +8hrs more battery almost 6GB storage MOTHER reverb velocity keys USB host FM Transmitter couple more tape modes actually working knob clicks was this the thousand-dollar wishlist we all wanted? Wo0o00ooo0o0o0
Great video. I still find the price of TE stuff just wild. When you compare the OPZ and OP1 I find it crazy that the OP1 is nearly 3x the price. The TX6 and TP7 with the TP7 being £200 more that a 12 in/out mixer recorder!?! And now the EP133 where the hoodie, bags and shorts add a further £400 when the machine is only £299. I love the stuff but I think they draw the prices out of a fishbowl!
Yeah it sucks that they are so expensive... yes they are good and they are pretty much Apple compared to Roland or novation... the problem is.. are they really worth the money? THAT much money?... i think not really... I sold my OP-1 OG and bought an Akai force and TB-03... much better value imo.
If only TE would come up with a comparable upgrade of the OP-Z. Both versions of the OP-1 are pricey boxes of fun, but their lack of multi-timbral, editable sequencing really limits their actual usefulness, at least from my point of view.
I understand what you mean. But that is part of the appeal to me. Very different to the OP-Z you have to commit and work with the tape. It's a refreshing approach to me and allows me to not second guess too much.
I finally pulled the trigger on an "open box" one from Musician's Friend and I can't be any more excited. Time to finally upgrade from the OG-1. I've found your TE content to be super helpful.
Ok I've had time to watch the whole video now. Well done! Loved it. The best video on OP-1 Field so far, imo - you cover things I didn't know yet even though I've been doing lots of research and mine arrived the day before yesterday and I've been using it. Like extra encoder clicks not mentioned in the manual. This is the video I'll refer people to who think it's the same thing as the original just costs more - it's really a lot more than that. It's a way more professional product now.
Hey, thanks for your nice feedback and for subscribing! I tried my best to get the most important facts together (missed the 20 sec sample upgrade). Listing all these things made me realize how many things they have actually improved! And I am looking forward to what's about to come…I bet there are some nice updates waiting for us :)
happy that public opinion has completely flipped on this overpriced thing. inb4 "op loved your comment in an attempt to get more engagement" edit: The RedMeansRecording era made a large amount of people become fond of the $1,000 brick.. I had trouble finding any negative reviews of it around that time. Perhaps it was controversial before then, but I hadn't looked into hardware until around then.
I see. To my knowledge there was always a huge crowd calling it a toy, even more so when only the OG was out. People love to hate. Others just enjoy it for what it is.
the improvements seems attended to make sound withtout parasite noise for a machine costing 2000€... the machine looks nice but as always, I never go to get a OP1 due to the price and not getting the proper function needed to make music without noise and parasite issues. Thanks for this great video with a detailed explanation of the improvements, OP1 field seems to be an achieved version of a more prototype version.
The reason I sold my original OP1 was because when I resampled two or three tracks down to a single track in tape mode it would often sound like it lost a lot of fidelity. Does that happen with the OP1-Fld as well?
22:52 if i understand correctly you can record something to a lofi tape (like a drum loop or something), lift it and drop it to the hifi tape to have the lofi characteristic of that recording mixed with your hifi recording… does it work that way?
the features don’t seem worth it to me to try and sell my current op1 and then find a way to fork up another 1k. maybe one day i’ll just be able to buy it and keep the og and then be able to rock 8 tracks at a time
Well, I can't take such product tests seriously anymore, when people get them for free or extremely reduced price directly from the manufacturer (shills). You would have definitely rated the product differently if you had to buy it yourself at full price. Hence I give the video a big thumbs down.
Is it possible to make 3D music, soundtrack and effect with this? I still new to music making but what I thought is why we can't just use our PC/Mac keyboard as music inputs and use audio software like logic Pro to set these sounds and record and play it that way? Do their setups are good with XLR mics and devices inputs and outputs, do XLR mics even necessary because they seem to use 3.5mm more? If I have many sound sources of my own, how do I input it without record it again with the build in mic and also can I connect an external mic to it directly to record the input sound? Is it really enough to just record hand clap and other instrument with the internal mic without external mic and post process first? Can I make futuristic soundtrack and not lofi on it?
Amazing video. The stop motion unboxing takes the production not a new level! I also appreciate the balance of new features with the use cases that make those features valuable. Thanks again!
Great machine even if so expensive! The only big doubt, Can you export the tracks separately but also with effects ? It's possible ? On the original op-1 no ! God synthesizers sound like aphex twin, I really love it!
I know everyone says the screen is a big improvement but I do miss having OLED. Really like the UI enhancements tho, especially watching the tape move from reel to reel.
I guess everyone views it a little different..I like the old OLED too, as well as the colors and animations...but the visibility of the tape tracks on the field is way better.
25:25 i’m glad too! except the built in manual is a little fluffy? that ram/storage is prob better off reserved for something more creative in the future imo
I haven't noticed too many clicks when recording. However the drum sampler still has no decay parameter, which can cause clicks. It has an attack...so I am hopeful they will somehow put a decay in there with it.
Hey! I think it's a bit too off topic for my channel, but I can simply tell you. I used an app called stop motion studio on iphone and moved everything bit by bit (more than 300 pictures)
For me that depends on, if you want to use the OP-1 as your main device. If it's just an additional synth, then the OG is okay...but as a complete workstation the field beats it by far.
@@SONWU Agreed. For the sort of music I'm interested in the original was more of a sketch pad and an idea generating device, it could never produce a finished product I'd be happy with on it's own. Field can. To me that makes it worth it.
no offense, but i think most people are over this. its totally subjective and what 1k means to you means something else to others. tools are expensive, it sucks, i wish everything was affordable to everyone, a good wood chopping mauler is expensive. it is what it is. lets judge each other by the content that we make not the tools that we use :)
If only they could have added the sequencer from the OP-Z to the OP-1 Field and called it the OP-1Z. The tape thing made me sell the OP-1 and it seems the field stays faithful to that concept. To be honest, this should just be priced at the original OP-1 price (they already raised that price multiple times) and the original OP-1 should be lowered in price. It seems if they feel they can get away with a higher price, they will try ... and succeed (?) :(
I am actually considering the OP-1 field - but I actually have a few questions about the features. 1. Does the OP-1 field have a more sophisticated sequencer for drums? - I actually stumbled across a video of yours, where you sequenced famous drum beats on the older OP-1, but you dropped a snare in the pattern, that actually contributed to the groove; while that isn't a major issue, it does kinda disable workflow if, for example, I need drums, but I can't sequence them - I have to record them manually or import a sample. 2. Is the OP-1 set in a single time signature or can you change it? - Im assuming it's set in 4/4, but what If I want to write music in a different signature; for example 3/4 - do I change it or does the machine decide based on what I sequence; How does it really work? 3. Can you record multiple instruments onto one track? - As far as I know, the 4 track system is kind of a limiting factor for the richness of the recording; let's say I want to layer multiple voices to make a chord, can I record each voice onto one track - is that possible? (Even If it would be a hindrance to correct, if a mistake is made.) 4. Can I literally use the OP-1 field as sampler or song player? - This is a bit specific, but this actually would benefit live performances - with the larger memory, theoretically, you could upload not only samples, but entire backing tracks, that you can playback and play over live with a synthesizer from the OP-1, connecting an instrument OR using the MIDI feature you talked about.
1. Same sequencers as the OG...programming drums can be cumbersome. 2. You can change time signatures and sequence length in the sequencers. 3. You can record (overdub) onto 1 track as many times as you like, or record voices one by one onto different tracks. You CANNOT however record onto multiple tracks at the same time, if that's what you are asking. 4. YES Hope this helps!
excellent review - one day i will sell enough kidneys to get this - the 8 projects vs just 1 makes it worth it alone even without all the other excellent improvements, though i like the aesthetic of the old one better. you’ll need to spill coffee on it to get the vibe of your star wars vintage op-1!
question - can you program the filter to modulate in sync with the tempo? the old op-1 doesn’t allow that, which means you can’t do good sample and hold bass patches. from what i can tell the new op-1 doesn’t do it either which is a shame, but maybe i missed it in the manual
Thank you! I think if I spill coffee on this on it’s time for seppuku… About the LFO. I think I don’t quite understand. Isn’t the LFO time synced, when the numbers are showing (rather than the dial)? The random LFO can now also be assigned to a single parameter. 🤷♂️
@@SONWU on the random lfo in the OG OP-1 the speed has no numerical values, you just crank it up or down visually - you can also assign to a specific parameter, but you have no ability to sync the random LFO as far as I can understand at least…
@@WHATISPOLITICS69 Mystery solved then? I like the addition of being able to chose which value is being randomized (you can still choose all as well). Also the velocity LFO is pretty cool.
@@SONWU Regardless, you can't buy it anymore. Me and a friend were looking into buying some hardware, but at nearly 2000eu I think I'd rather buy a Moog Matriarch. This just looks like an overpriced Apple gimmick.
@@SONWU Hahhah! No..way.. I swear. I was thinking of a joke: "Why do I have a feeling it's gonna say 'Designed in Stockholm, Made in China'." I look it up.. It's actually, FROM STOCKHOLM.
