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Interview with the founder of Teenage Engineering

scandinavianmind.com

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Re: Interview with the founder of Teenage Engineering

#91

Post by psychomugs »

neilv wrote: post #19

The photography of this is interesting. I'm not sure I'd know how to approach this assignment (I might start with rapport and portraiture in the space), but some things I noticed on different photos: * Warm vintage color cast on the '70s-looking gear wood panel. * On-camera-flash-like directional lighting, with harsh shadow (maybe to separate person from gear background, but both in focus?). * Contrast and saturation…

The bad-flash point-and-shoot aesthetic is in now. NY street photographers championing the Bruce Gilden-esque technique are growing into their own in publications like NYT and defining the wave.

Re: Interview with the founder of Teenage Engineering

#92

Post by weego »

PragmaticPulp wrote: post #80
Entinel wrote: post #63

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I sell overpriced aluminum audio equipment And yet everything they make sells out. Almost like it's worth the price.

It’s weird that so many people anchor “value” to some absolute number, centered around their own valuation. This is a premium product. If you don’t like the price, it’s not for you. But it’s clearly worth it to a lot of other people. Kind of ironic to read so many complaints about the prices on a website where “charge more” was the mantra in every comment section here for many years.

I have to say though that the music industry as a whole, whether pro creator or consumer, is a great example of a market where cost and value can become disconnected based on myth and hearsay.

Having said that, I think part of the allure of Teenage Engineering is musicians believing in the holistic package, not just the physical product.

Re: Interview with the founder of Teenage Engineering

#93

Post by psychomugs »

smoldesu wrote: post #38
TheOtherHobbes wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

All of which says "stylised and arty" and is a look much used in The Wire and similar publications. I'm kind of irritated by this. TA are legendary for super-expensive toy-like products that must have insanely high margins. So somehow the "I was never into money (but now I collect antique synthesizers with four or five figure price tags)" line doesn't ring entirely true.

And people fall for it. It's crazy how many people blindly buy into TE's "homestyle" marketing like they're some hibrow synth company. The OP-1 tickles every American's "Product Cortex" in their brain though, immediately associating brutalist design and Corinthian leather with quality engineering. It doesn't matter if we're not the target audience, we just want to spend money on pretty things that make us feel good.…

So... you judge character based on appearances?

No other gear company has tackled the all-in-one synth-sequencer-4trackrecorder-groovebox that is the OP-1 in the decade since its release. TE not capitalizing on this would be financially naive.

Re: Interview with the founder of Teenage Engineering

#94

Post by xdfgh1112 »

wyager wrote: post #68
xdfgh1112 wrote: post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There was nothing like the OP-1 at release and still nothing like it now. It is overpriced, but they arguably deserve it. They have the Apple business model.

By what criteria is there "nothing like" it? Of course you can define "like" in a way to make this true, but I'm curious what you think are the salient differentiators.

Portable all in one groovebox with a keyboard.

Even ignoring the keyboard, the creativity and fun of the OP-1s tape and synthesis modes, things like the gyro and FM radio, are fairly unique. There is a reason it is so successful.

Re: Interview with the founder of Teenage Engineering

#95

Post by Simon_O_Rourke »

voakbasda wrote: post #67
Simon_O_Rourke wrote: post #42

Would like to know when they'll start selling their pocket operator synthesizer and sequencer again. Rumors that a chip shortage has negatively impacted on their production, but who knows! It's been months now that they've been out of stock on their website - https://teenage.engineering/store/po-20/

Given their other marketing, they could simply be keeping it out of stock intentionally, to increase demand by creating a (false) sense of scarcity.

Yes, you get that sense alright when the $500 units all seem to be in stock no problem.

Re: Interview with the founder of Teenage Engineering

#96

Post by odiroot »

malthaus wrote: post #30

I too would live in a pinterest-ready castle filled with toys but i dont have the stomach to rip off customers as shamelessly as TE is. The B&O of our generation.

It would be half bad if it wasn't for "synthfluencers" who peddle TE's stuff. The company would probably have been long gone under.

Re: Interview with the founder of Teenage Engineering

#97

Post by wyager »

xdfgh1112 wrote: post #94
wyager wrote: post #68

Earlier quoted context omitted.

By what criteria is there "nothing like" it? Of course you can define "like" in a way to make this true, but I'm curious what you think are the salient differentiators.

Portable all in one groovebox with a keyboard. Even ignoring the keyboard, the creativity and fun of the OP-1s tape and synthesis modes, things like the gyro and FM radio, are fairly unique. There is a reason it is so successful.

> There is a reason it is so successful.

Yes, because it managed to capture a self-sustaining hype cycle powered by customers who for the most part don't really know what they're buying. It's more of a status item than an actually fun or useful musical instrument, IMO. This thread reminds me, I need to sell mine.

Re: Interview with the founder of Teenage Engineering

#98

Post by sesm »

malthaus wrote: post #30

I too would live in a pinterest-ready castle filled with toys but i dont have the stomach to rip off customers as shamelessly as TE is. The B&O of our generation.

I don't think it's a rip-off. TE is working in 'expensive toy for rich hobbyists' market, not in 'professional music equipment' market.

Re: Interview with the founder of Teenage Engineering

#100

Post by vitaflo »

zoklet-enjoyer wrote: post #84
smoldesu wrote: post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You've sorta missed my analogy. You can get a Novation Circuit, Electribe or even a brand-new Model: Samples for less than $300, but none of them are the "Star Wars Hotel" that the OP-1 is. I could show you a product that is exactly the same and cost's half as much, but people will balk at it complaining that it doesn't have a cow animation like the OP-1 does. They've "productized" an instrument that shouldn't cost m…

It's not $300, but the SP404 MK2 is sweet

Agreed, and the MPC One is an amazing value for all it can do.
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