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Teenage Engineering lets you pick what you want to pay for an OP-1 Field

teenage.engineering

21–27 of 27 posts

Re: Teenage Engineering lets you pick what you want to pay for an OP-1 Field

#21
post #16
post #2

Spoiler: Lowest I could go is €1399, which is still three times as much as I would consider paying (especially considering I have the OG). Without getting into the weeds, the value I see anyone getting from an OP-1 (of any generation) is still the all-in-one musical notepad angle, and I just don't see that being anywhere above the price of an iPad (which trounces the OP-1 in terms of music features if you install AUM…

But surly that isn't the point of the OP-1? Some folks really do just get pure joy from that little box, myself included. It's really only 10% about the music, it's about the experience of making the music, and TE stuff is just a really great experience (at least, to me! :)) And iPad physically FEELS like an iPad, hard, metal and glass and stuff, I feel nothing making music with it, and I like to feel stuff (touch) t…

Is the joy some people get, at least in part, derived from knowing the price? Let's try to be honest — if this thing sold for 40$, everyone would be making fun of it. You cannot afford Push or MPC, you fiddle with the kiddy synth.

The high price is one of the most important reasons for their success.

Re: Teenage Engineering lets you pick what you want to pay for an OP-1 Field

#22
post #21
post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But surly that isn't the point of the OP-1? Some folks really do just get pure joy from that little box, myself included. It's really only 10% about the music, it's about the experience of making the music, and TE stuff is just a really great experience (at least, to me! :)) And iPad physically FEELS like an iPad, hard, metal and glass and stuff, I feel nothing making music with it, and I like to feel stuff (touch) t…

Is the joy some people get, at least in part, derived from knowing the price? Let's try to be honest — if this thing sold for 40$, everyone would be making fun of it. You cannot afford Push or MPC, you fiddle with the kiddy synth. The high price is one of the most important reasons for their success.

How long have you spent using their toys?

Re: Teenage Engineering lets you pick what you want to pay for an OP-1 Field

#23
post #22
post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is the joy some people get, at least in part, derived from knowing the price? Let's try to be honest — if this thing sold for 40$, everyone would be making fun of it. You cannot afford Push or MPC, you fiddle with the kiddy synth. The high price is one of the most important reasons for their success.

How long have you spent using their toys?

I have not even touched one, as most people without €1000 impulse purchase budget, instead having fun with Drambo and Aum on my ipad. I do, however, read what people who use OP-1 write about it or how they speak in the videos. It is a very familiar tone, the same you hear from owners of Leica, Porsche, Astell-Kern etc.

The device itself can be designed (and most likely is designed) in the most fabulous way imaginable — by pricing it this way they make conscious decision to position themselves as a lifestyle, luxury goods, just for the target audience of people who make music.

Have you seen many people telling you how happy using SunVox (5$) makes them in comparable way?

Re: Teenage Engineering lets you pick what you want to pay for an OP-1 Field

#24
post #23
post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How long have you spent using their toys?

I have not even touched one, as most people without €1000 impulse purchase budget, instead having fun with Drambo and Aum on my ipad. I do, however, read what people who use OP-1 write about it or how they speak in the videos. It is a very familiar tone, the same you hear from owners of Leica, Porsche, Astell-Kern etc. The device itself can be designed (and most likely is designed) in the most fabulous way imaginable…

I wonder if it's...er, an autism thing? the feel of the buttons, the tension of the knobs, the plastic they selected, just how it feels literally, it really makes me inspired to play with music, something I'm bad at but get joy from. I HATE how expensive it is, I'm cheap as fuck, but I get so much joy from it that I wouldn't no have one. I've been buying their stuff since they started and I accepted the price because they're small team making physical stuff, I don't know if that is true or not.

Re: Teenage Engineering lets you pick what you want to pay for an OP-1 Field

#25
post #24
post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have not even touched one, as most people without €1000 impulse purchase budget, instead having fun with Drambo and Aum on my ipad. I do, however, read what people who use OP-1 write about it or how they speak in the videos. It is a very familiar tone, the same you hear from owners of Leica, Porsche, Astell-Kern etc. The device itself can be designed (and most likely is designed) in the most fabulous way imaginable…

I wonder if it's...er, an autism thing? the feel of the buttons, the tension of the knobs, the plastic they selected, just how it feels literally, it really makes me inspired to play with music, something I'm bad at but get joy from. I HATE how expensive it is, I'm cheap as fuck, but I get so much joy from it that I wouldn't no have one. I've been buying their stuff since they started and I accepted the price because…

I have noticed a lot of premium price design focused this way — instead of creating the most versatile or functional product it is meticulously designed to provide premium "feeling" and satisfaction, or to give rich sensory feedback. Large weighted knobs on expesive audio gear, the smooth hinge resistance and open/close click sound, surface texture — as you say, it does not make a difference on spec sheet, but something in the brain finds the whole experience supremely rewarding and pleasant. So of course if all of that is ignored and the argument is being made purely based on feature set, it becomes one-sided.

I just think that knowing price also plays into this psychological effect. At least, it measurably does in audiophile circle.

Re: Teenage Engineering lets you pick what you want to pay for an OP-1 Field

#26
post #19
post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You can get a KORG portable controller (which is what I did) for €60 or so. There’s no way being touchy-feely is worth around 3 months worth of food.

it's really an awful thing to say, to be honest. Shame.

I own an original, directly purchased OP-1 (https://taoofmac.com/space/blog/2021/04/17/1610) so I think I can judge the value of it quite well, thank you… even at the time I questioned my sanity and already had the KORG.

Re: Teenage Engineering lets you pick what you want to pay for an OP-1 Field

#27
post #26
post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

it's really an awful thing to say, to be honest. Shame.

I own an original, directly purchased OP-1 ( https://taoofmac.com/space/blog/2021/04/17/1610 ) so I think I can judge the value of it quite well, thank you… even at the time I questioned my sanity and already had the KORG.

I strongly advise against using food as your meter stick.
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