Teenage Engineering lets you pick what you want to pay for an OP-1 Field(teenage.engineering) |
Teenage Engineering lets you pick what you want to pay for an OP-1 Field(teenage.engineering) |
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 and the Audiokit Pro synths - no DAWs involved).
I/O story is a bit sad (one usb-c), but for most purposes it can be worked around. ipad, a few midi controllers, pair of monitors, 5€/month Logic Pro, FabFilter maybe, some intrument AUv3s — I am scared to imagine price of an equal setup, say, 15 years ago.
The high price is one of the most important reasons for their success.
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?
I just think that knowing price also plays into this psychological effect. At least, it measurably does in audiophile circle.