It's been a long time coming, but Teenage Engineering has finally officially announced that the brand-new OP-Z will start shipping in mid-October. A follow-up to the brand's revered OP-1 (the portable, all-in-one synth first released more than six years ago), the OP-Z has been eagerly awaited by fans. It was first unveiled back in 2016 at the winter NAMM show in Anaheim.
Though coming in at just half of the size of the already small OP-1, the OP-Z packs more of a punch in DSP power and features than its older sibling. It’s centered around a powerful 16-track sequencer where all tracks run independently, allowing users to modify individual track speeds and lengths. Unique step behaviors can be added to each of the 16 steps, giving players a staggering 140 total ways to alter a single step.
Also new to the OP-Z is its ability to pair with your own personal device, like a tablet or cell phone, to create a unique multimedia experience to go along with your composition. Via the OP-Z app, players can snap a series of photos using the phone's camera and arrange them to a beat to create a synchronized music video on the go. Dropbox is also supported, in case you'd like to use your own artwork instead of snapping new pictures.
The OP-Z is retailing for $599 USD. Though the first batch of units has already sold out, players can now preorder to make sure they're the first ones in line for the next batch. Check back on Reverb soon for availability.