Can't make up my mind about selling or not, looking for opinions, insights and chat with your stories

OP-1 field
1

This is not a rant, I’m actually here hoping for a constructive discussion with you guys because I really need to make up my mind after days of “solo pondering” that lead to no conclusion whatsoever :sweat_smile:.
I’m really interested in your opinions, suggestions (if any) and personal stories.
To add some context before addressing my main issues, know that I love the op-1 field, like a lot. I love it for its design, for its quirks and limitations, and for what it represents to me, since the OG-1 has been my gateway into electronic music and synths (I’m a hobbyist, not playing professionally) and I just don’t see myself being without an OP-1.

That said, lately, I’m barely using it, especially compared to other devices like the syntakt or the push 3 (standalone), or even some iPhone apps like Koala sampler or ableton Note. And so, when I think about its price tag… let’s say a little voice inside keeps telling me that I’m being a little irresponsible towards my wallet because I really can’t justify its price anymore considering how little I’m using it.

I bought the field for its stereo quality and, mainly, for the investment into future updates (considering the outstanding support the OG-1 has received from TE).
Now for sure some pretty neat features have come already, my favourite of which is the merge drop. Yet I’m not seeing TE particularly invested into updating the device, especially when it comes to a couple of deal breakers (as subjective as they are) that are still there, which are ultimately the main reasons I’m considering the sell:

  1. Pops and cracks. Are still there since I have memory, they happen mainly when you cut or record on a loop, and there is no way around it, as far as I’m aware.
    Happens even on tracks where there seems to be silence (maybe after I’ve recorded some long reverb), whenever I perform a cut there’s this 70% chance I get an audio crackle, without any means to mitigate it such as cross fading, volume editing, whatever. This might be nothing for others but it really grinds my gears considering it’s a problem that is being carried over since OG-1 and it’s quite noticeable. For a device whose main purpose is to actually manipulate and record audio rather than perform sequences of sounds, and with a more professional stance, I really can’t find a way to make peace with this issue.

  2. Sequencers, or the lack of them. I have no comfortable way of sequencing (mainly drums) in a way that doesn’t seem like a useless chore. This is a double edged sword because on the one hand I have found pretty nice and creative ways to build very unpredictable and organic sequences with the built in “sequencers”… yet when I would like to create something more standard and less random, like structuring my beat “on a grid” and maybe adding a slight swung feel, any solution I’ve found becomes needlessly time consuming and ultimately frustrating. For context, some solutions are: using my op-z to sequence drums on the op-1; recording a sequence from some iphone sampling app or the op-z itself and using the op-1 just for melody and arrangement; structuring the beat on multiple tracks for fine control and then merging on a single one to keep on layering. Every solution carries side effects (bpm sync, managing midi I/O, needing multiple devices for doing one simple thing…etc.)

  3. Project QOL. Having multiple tapes is a HUGE leap over the OG-1 for me, since it allows me to treat them as projects and work on multiple things whit out the need of backupping/transfering files. However there’s still the big downside of needing to manage all the patches because they are global…so starting a new tape often ends up in this chore of going trough my current patches and see if maybe I want keep something before overriding it.

I know these problems might be negligible to someone because, in a way, they could seem negligible to me if I decide to treat my op-1 field as a portable musical sketchpad, and not a creative production-enabling device… but lately some apps on my damn phone are becoming way more functional and expressive than the op-1 field for this same purpose, and all that seems to be remaining is the dopamine hit I get when i look at it for its design and its beauty which, unfortunately for me, can’t be priced 2k.

Also, I think that my biggest friction is in the cognitive dissonance I get, because I tend to imagine the op-1 like a “synth buddy that comes with me” and allows me to get into a creative state in a matter of seconds with a neat portable studio that easily fits my backpack. Yet it comes with so much built in friction that it instead wants to be used out of a deliberate choice, when you’re sure to have time, will and energy to engage into something that ultimately you will want to bring somewhere else (like to your DAW or anything) in case you like it because continuing on the op-1 would take you ages / be too limiting.

Now if I were you, I’d probably say “it seems like the op-1 is not a good fit for you anymore, and you should consider selling it”, but there is this thought that keeps haunting me and makes me wait and keep the device: I would hate to sell it and miss that one massive firmware upgrade that adds that freaking cool feature and makes me regret my choice.
Yet, I don’t see many signals hinting at TE allocating resources and efforts on the op-1 field, mainly because they seem very busy on other product lines and the OP-1 Field seems well appreciated by its users for what it is already.

I’m aware that this is a very long post full of personal issues that only I can come to terms with, but if you’re still here, I kindly ask you to give me your personal story and your reasons that make you keep the device, your thoughts on my issues and my indecision, and maybe some hints to spark some new usage I’m failing to see.

Thank you for your time :pray:

3 Likes
2

I had the same exact thought in my mind this past week with the encoders. Simply put:
A do i hold out for the long haul and either
1 dont use it and stash it till i pass it down or sell for thousands upon thousands in decades to come
2. Use it til its totally used and hope parts or repairs are available as they are now
Or
B SELL it will while its hot and NEVER worry about it again

It’s hard because im in love with the machine; more so than anything else i own. But at the same time, im tired of worrying about it more than i even use it….and i mean all the time

Tough tough question
What do you think?

1 Like
3

Oh well…that’s another thing for sure.
I personally do my best to keep the device in a healthy shape and don’t worry much about the encoders…they’re still looking good so far…but I can see why it can be cause of concern, especially in the context of giving it away in the future.
I’m not using the official case anymore since it was particularly harsh on the encoders, applying more pressure on them than I was comfortable with, but aside from that I use them gently and don’t think about them much… I have this impression that, in case some encoder fails even out of warranty, TE offers some sort of support. I’m not sure if this is wishful thinking though :joy:.

Interesting that you think that the device will gain value in the decades to come, why do you think that?

1 Like
4

I know it’s not what you’re asking but keep in mind the second hand price is significantly lower. A quick eBay search tells that most units go for ~$1.3k, often with cases and accessories bundled. And from there you have to subtract eBay fees… or sell it on Facebook marketplace and have to deal with loads of time-wasters and scammers.

Sooooo I hear you about all the things you’ve come to dislike about the OP-1 but I’d encourage you to run your decisioning process again against the actual cash you could realistically get today and try and forget about what the original price tag was. Hope that helps!

1 Like
5

Well look at recent similar examples . A vintage synth from the 70s or 80s goes for thousands, and synths from the 80s and 90s that have so much to them , they are mini computers, and when you look at the vintage niche we are in, then something like this would be a real valuable item because it truly is the best of all all in one groovebox or portable studio.

Honestly …?? What’s similar or as good as the field!

1 Like
6

Do you reckon? I can’t see that happening with the OP-1 field. When you adjust for inflation even the synths you’re talking about haven’t really changed price much… and those were so bulky and heavy instruments that I’m sure many ended up thrown away when digital audio became popular and that’s why they are so scarce today.

In our case I get the feeling that TE stuff sells pretty well (judging by the number of YouTube videos) and they’re such cute and portable devices that I suspect most people are going to take good care of them, which means they’ll always be a lot of offer around and prices won’t ever go crazy. That’s my guess anyway!

1 Like
7

I do! I really think in 20 years people will be like “I need an op1F” the way they say “I need an NES classic” now

1 Like
8

And here I just gave away an NES classic to a friend… but he did really need it :smiley:

3 Likes
10

Just a quick reply as I’ve got to get ready for work, but but to sum it up - I feel exactly like you. I had the OG OP-1 but didn’t buy it till 2020. Bought the field a few months after it came out, and I both love and sometimes hate it. Like you I feel if I sell it i might miss some amazing update. I’ve recently bought the Polyend Tracker mini and love it. Also the Sonicware Lofi 12XT and the Dirtywave M8. All cost a lot less than the £2k I spent on the OP1 Field. I tend to use the OP-1F now to process samples as I love the effects and tape mode. I’m on the fence as whether to sell it though. I wish they’d add better sequencing and the ability to save endless sequences as I love to hook it up to my Mac and record MIDI. I can’t recommend you what to do but your post nailed exactly how I feel about it. I don’t feel that they’ve exactly put out many updates and their new Medieval sampler is, to me, a joke. I’ve got the EP133 KO2 and do love that. Fast workflow and the limitations don’t bother me. Also I feel it’s fairly priced.

1 Like
11

Oh yeah I wasn’t realistically expecting to make all the money back, but roughly 1500€ including accessories.

12

We’re definitely in the same boat :joy:. I too was like “ok this is hopeless” when I saw the medieval EP sampler.

13

I’m with you on this 100%, also considering the approach of TE towards the device.
It is roughly 14 years that the op-1 came out and the price is lower than ever. The device knew a period of crazy pricing due to scarcity and then it stabilized around 900€, and after the field was released, considering it is just an improvement iteration, the OG-1 has become the second choice of who wants a device like the op-1 but doesn’t want to shell out so much money.

Also let’s factor in that the iconic synths we’re talking about with crazy price tags have been genre defining and made the history of electronic music and the same cannot be said about the op-1 for as much as we love it, the op-1 is niche and we all get startled up when we find it used by some artists. I’m seeing the field more, but it’s not like I hear a piece and am like “oh this is the real sound of the string synth here”.

I didn’t do the math on inflation, but I have this hunch that a well preserved Juno gives you more than it costed, but yeah, we’re not talking about a tenfold increase at all.

1 Like
14

:joy: :+1:

15

i think if your perspective on the op-1f is still tied to how much it costs then you should probably sell it. if you already dont feel validated, i dont think anything is going to happen that will validate your purchase any more, updates or not.

2 Likes
16

Sell it now

17

ChatGPT disagrees but your point remains to not want to keep it just as an investment for collectors.

Screenshot 2024-09-03 at 18.06.38
Screenshot 2024-09-03 at 18.06.381934×2222 391 KB

To be fair, if you’re comfortable buying and selling second hand you could sell it now and you’ll always have time to buy another unit in the future if you’re ever tempted again. Probably for the same cash you’ll be getting now… or even slightly less.

Something I’m curious about your setup though if you don’t mind the question: If you finally get rid of your OP-1, what are you going to use as a MIDI input when you’re on the go? I didn’t know the syntakt and push that you mentioned but they both seem much chunkier and heavier than the OP-1. Do you carry them around or you just don’t need these things to be portable?

18

You’re going to get a biased take here, we love our OP-1’s. However, only you know how it fits into your life.
I have loads of synths. But I have a family, have kids, work full time - I don’t get a lot of time with my synths as a result. OP-1 Field gives me synths, sampling/resampling/manipulation, and combined with a bluetooth midi dongle I can plug into any synth the ability to use it’s sequencers to quickly sample something in from any gear I do have. I can sling it over my shoulder under a jacket and bring it with me for lunch breaks at work, on the train, to family events where sometimes after being sociable people have left and the kids are asleep and I have half an hour or an hour to myself away from home, and I get use the OP-1 Field then.
I guess my point is, consider your life now, and where you may be in 10 years. If you travel, it’s the perfect thing you can bring along that is a lot easier to relax and deal with than a laptop and controller keyboard, plugins, etc. For me growing up with a piano I want something with a keyboard layout, eg a tracker mini isn’t my jam.

Also, with drums, don’t forget you can record over a track and layer. Sometimes I just use endless for a kick, record that to a track. Then use it for a snare, record that over the same track, then with other sounds etc. Finger is my new fave - for synths notes can be on different octaves, imagine that. It has three modes, one is an ableton live style ‘start the next loop when this one stops’ type deal. Another combines. You can do some great drum stuff here. With clicks, I always record in loop mode and stop playing at the end of the loop. The decay sound tail therefor records into the start of the loop, and then when i copy/paste out that loop, there are no clicks.

For me, I’ll often use other gear. But I’d never be without it. It’s the one piece of gear I’d keep. If I were trapped in hospital for weeks of something, it’s all I’d need (with earphones which are in the bag) to do all my music stuff.

LFO’s can do a lot more than is at first apparent…

1 Like
19

What can I say… agree to disagree with your position.
Granted that in some sense the value I attribute to some category of items is in a percentage tied to its cost, I have expressed as best as I could what my main shortcomings with the op-1 field are right now.
Call me a wishful thinker but I had high expectations and thought that a more versatile sequencer and the popping issue would have been fixed/added with updates. My concern is that comparing the very productive activity that TE has shown lately, not only on their products, and the updates the op-1 field has received, I see my hopes thinning.

If they were to add those features, I’d be the happiest person ever, right now what concerns me is that I’m not making the best use of an item that, if I decide to sell, can buy me things I can actually use. I fail to see your point of why an update wouldn’t validate my perspective on it.

20

Oh, thanks for sharing the results that seems rather accurate with reverb prices, a vintage juno 60 averages 5k and I’ve seen well preserved units reaching also 8k price tags, so in general prices are actually what I was expecting, if you sell a well preserved unit that you purchased and barely used (or better, you received as inheritance for free somehow :sweat_smile: seen this happening), you can gain around 1-2k (adjusting for inflation), otherwise yep, they’re roughly the same. To be clear I do agree with you, I just knew the particular instance with junos because I was monitoring it for a while in the past, but my point back to the topic is that I don’t see this happening at all with the op-1, and like you I don’t see these devices becoming a gold mine in general unless some weird mania happens out of the blue.

About the midi, that’s another point that makes me resist in selling it away since it would force me to carry always my novation launchkey mini with me (and a microphone as well since we’re at it), although I have to admit that I’ve found myself preferring the latter anyway lately since it is very inexpensive and small, and feels better than the op-1 as a midi controller, also it takes a little bit more space but not that much as you’d expext (I throw it in the backpack without cover and have decided to not care about wear for this reason), I also have an op-z, but I couldn’t use it as a midi interface even id held at gun point :sweat_smile:.
I don’t consider the syntakt and the push-3 as portable devices, the push 3 has some portability but it requires a carrying bag on its own and is heavy as hell, so I move them around houses (mine/girlfriend/friends) but mainly use at home, neatly moving it trough rooms.

21

Thanks for sharing your personal experience!
Interesting your take on seeing how my life could change in the upcoming years, and will definitely ponder on it :blush:!

As a side question, what are your headphones of choice for your sessions on the go? One of the things that I found rather uncomfortable is the need to carry also my chunky headphones in addition to the device, I’ve been looking for something leaner like in ear monitors but have been discouraged by their quality, eventually ended up buying a pair of apple earbuds with microphone for 25€ for this exact reason, but didn’t try them yet.