The OP–Z by Teenage Engineering is a fully portable 16-track sequencer and synthesizer that allows you to sequence on the move – not only music, but lights and visuals as well. This synthesizer is packed full of functions into a small, easily portable and well-designed device. It has a retro look that is playful and slightly sci-fi, with four colour-coded dials that allow you to control pretty much everything and an LED interface that provides feedback as you mix. For clearer feedback, you can link the device up to your phone (iOS): this connection is energy efficient, allowing the OP-Z to use your screen for hours without it needing to charge.
OP–Z comes with 16 sample packs, each containing 24 sound samples, and it’s easy to add your own samples, too. The device also comes with eight synthesis-based sound engines. Once sequencing, the OP-Z allows you to run all of its 16 tracks separately, meaning you can edit their speed, loop points etc. independently from each other, which allows you to create with freedom. You can also use multiple sliders at once, to edit more dynamically. Tracks are polymetric, meaning each track has dynamic length from 1 up to 144 steps. What that basically means is you can choose how much depth and detail you edit the track in.
OP-Z has a whole bundle of features like this to make editing and sequencing as easy and intuitive as possible – for example, it can automatically transpose whole sequences for you. That saves a LOT of work! You can even mix a music video on the fly that will play along to your composition, or cue in FX to trigger with your track.
The OP-Z comes with a USB-c host and device, 4-pin 3.5 mm stereo headphone and line-out, accelerometer, user replaceable battery and a built-in microphone. It also comes with a carry case to keep it safe on the move, and it is fully integrated with Unity® for synching your sounds to 3D animation.
The synth may look like a funky toy, but it’s so much more than that. It combines a retro look with really up-to-date capabilities. Whilst it might not compete with some suites, for a portable device, it really has got everything you’d need, and lots of bells and whistles besides. RRP £529
4.5 out of 5
Pros
16 separate tracks
Intuitive controls
Generous bank of samples
Synchs with your phone
Can line up with animation, make music videos and cue FX
Polymetric
Cons
Only syncs with iOS devices
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