Audio Gadgets: A Little Synth Called OP-1

If you want a real mini synth that you can carry around with you – not just an iPhone or Nintendo DS app – where do you turn? Teenage Engineering, a Swedish company, are bringing out the OP-1 (Operator 1) pocket-sized synthesizer and controller.

AudioJungle author Danielku is quite excited about the device, and has been talking about it on Twitter and his blog, Media in Colors. “Guys, check out that mini-synthesizer, that’s maybe the next big thing on the market.. still Beta. ” As a self-confessed gadget junkie, he got my attention.

As you can see pictured below, the tiny device has knobs and buttons, a tiny keyboard, a sufficient display, and even a speaker. In addition to all this, it also has a motion sensor that can be used to control MIDI data. The size and weight haven’t been published as yet, but it certainly looks “pocket-sized”. The OP-1 comes with a generous number of inputs and outputs:

• 3.5mm input for audio/external microphone
• 3.5mm output for line out /headphones
• 3-pin power-connector for charging the internal battery or for use with power adaptor
• USB 2.0 port for hooking up your OP to your computer transferring your recorded music

The OP-1 has been designed as a tiny controller keyboard that is capable of controlling your DAW and soft synths on a laptop when you’re out of the studio. It has transport controls, knobs for data entry, and 16 dedicated “quick keys” for common functions. At this stage it’s impossible to guess how usable the tiny keyboard is, but it would have to be better than trying to play music on your laptop’s keyboard.

But even without a computer, the OP-1 is still very handy. It is a powerful little device, and has all of the following built in:

• 8 synthesizer models
• 8 samplers
• onboard effects, including delay, flutter, filters and EQ
• an FM radio
• a “unique” sequencer (details have not been released yet)

Here is a brief description of the “portable wonder” from the website:

Use the magic step sequencer/arpeggiator to get the notes right. If that is not enough use the built in motion sensor that sense every shake or move you make and turn it into really cool sounds.
Then relax and sample a beat from the built-in FM radio or memorize a tune by whistle it into the built-in microphone. Play your piece to your friends through the built-in speaker. Or…convert it right away to mp3 and mail it to them.

By now you’re probably wondering what the small synth sounds like. The website gives us three promising demo sounds:

FM synthesis:

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Magic String:

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TE-10:

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The device hasn’t been released yet – earlier this year they estimated 10-12 months to completion, so it’s not far off. Closer to launch, Teenage Engineering will be selling the device (price to be announced) to an elite group of 100 beta testers to put it through its paces. The beta program has had a huge response, and applications are now closed.

What do you think of the OP-1? Does it have you on the edge of your seat, or yawning? Let us know in the comments.