Am I the only one who’s kind of torn about what the OP-Z is going to be?
One of OP-1’s biggest strengths in my opinion is the great UI and how it is immediately clear where you are, what state things are in and what you can do. On the other hand one of the PO series’ biggest strengths is that their displays are for the most part a meaningless but fun show and using the devices works with mostly just the LEDs above the buttons.
My feeling after watching several hours of OP-Z videos is that the OP-Z should really have its own display. A lot of concepts in the OP-Z like the per-step modifiers are relying too much on learning what which LED means in which context, or what you can remember about what you set up. I don’t see myself juggling an iOS device together with the OP-Z either, especially when making music outside, in bed or on the sofa.
I’d love to hear your opinions on this. Will the OP-Z be a hit like the OP-1 without a built in display?
Personally, I’m not in the slightest bit interested in the OPZ. Partly due to reliance on an iOS device, partly the ridiculous yellow volume knob and partly the rotaries. A visual synth would be cool though but got my eyes on a Critter and Guitari ETC to scratch that itch.
No doubt will change my mind and GAS all over it soon.
Cuckoo’s demo made it seem really relatable. But, I’ll tell you this. It’s really hard to separate one’s experience with the OP-1 when thinking about the OP-Z. The OP-1 has several years of users and familiarity.
IMHO, I cannot answer your question until I spend time with one. What one thinks of a thing without experience of said thing is often irrelevant.
I had a really hard time folliowing cuckoo’s demo by the way. I felt lost and without a clear idea which mode the device was in at certain times. Also, I often had no idea where I was supposed to look or what the lights I was looking at were supposed to tell me. This is quite different than what I experienced when watching my first OP-1 videos
If you own POs that screen is pretty much useless, so if you can navigate that with the tiny icons, I doubt it will be much different.
There will obviously be a learning curve on the icons placement/meanings and using a phone to begin will be a good way to get the idea of what is happening and develop the muscle memory with the device.
It is pretty standard 16 step sequencer interface that is tried and tested though. I guess the LEDs on the buttons could be problematic when understanding things like step components and p-locks / track length variation etc.
Im actually hoping the OPZ expands the connectivity and functionality of the OP-1 to a degree -Midi and CV wise.
I think it’s genious to “outsource” the screen. One only relies on the screen during the first stages of the learning curve. Afterwards, it’s better to focus on the sound. But agreed, it was difficult to follow the @cuckoo video because of the lack of it.
Then again, recently my appreciation has grown on how much design thinking has gone into the OP-1’s visual UI. Lately, I’ve been playing with my 3-year old a lot, and the screen is what makes the instrument immediately enjoyable from a toddler’s perspective. It’s revolutionary user-friendly.
I see potential for third party accessory makers to provide an OP-Z smartphone clamp of some sort. Just so it can be used on unstable or non-flat surfaces like my lap or a picnic blanket or an airline/train fold-down tray table.
I’m just hoping TE is going to maintain the OP-Z software for a lot of OS updates to come. I can use the OP-1 with no limitation potentially forever
I love my sp-404sx and its 3 led display. Seams so much more intimate. Like my guitar, it’s an instrument that relies more on feel rather then navigating.
It’s not the missing display that concerns me, it‘s rather its sound. Everything I‘ve heard so far sounded rather lofi-80ies-cheapish. I hoped you could get bigger sounds out of TE‘s new device and not have to use multiple tricks to get a really good sound like it is with the OP-1.
It’s not the missing display that concerns me, it‘s rather its sound. Everything I‘ve heard so far sounded rather lofi-80ies-cheapish. I hoped you could get bigger sounds out of TE‘s new device and not have to use multiple tricks to get a really good sound like it is with the OP-1.
Agreed, IMO the visuals look crap too, at least what we’ve seen so far.
In principle I think the idea— “you have a device with a screen already, use that”— is actually pretty cool, and if it allows them to make the device cheaper or lighter or easier to hold that sounds like a big win. However in practice this will probably prevent me from getting the OP-Z because of the requirement the device be iOS! My phone is an Android so if I get an OP-Z I’ll be missing out on every screen-related feature. If you could put the display on different kinds of phones or project it in a window on a desktop computer I’d be totally gung ho about this…
What’s especially weird to me about the iOS requirement is that they are advertising some sort of Unity integration feature. Unity runs everywhere! If they had designed the actual UI in Unity, they could have had Android and Desktop support.
In *principle* I think the idea— "you have a device with a screen already, use that"— is actually pretty cool, and if it allows them to make the device cheaper or lighter or easier to hold that sounds like a big win. However in practice this will probably prevent me from getting the OP-Z because of the requirement the device be iOS! My phone is an Android so if I get an OP-Z I'll be missing out on every screen-related feature. If you could put the display on different kinds of phones or project it in a window on a desktop computer I'd be totally gung ho about this…
What's especially weird to me about the iOS requirement is that they are advertising some sort of Unity integration feature. Unity runs everywhere! If they had designed the actual UI in Unity, they could have had Android and Desktop support.
I’m pretty sure they said in a Q&A session earlier in the year that Android support was on their agenda too.
I trust that they considered how to make it largely functional and usable without a built-in display. But I definitely feel like it’s something I need to try before buying, whereas the OP-1 was a no-brainer.
I am excited about the OP-Z but I have to admit that I struggle to understand exactly what it is (or isn’t)
I think it will be fine. Keeping the device small/light and portable with a good battery life at the expense of a display is a good idea when I always have a display with me anyway.
Also, it seems very playable without. (if you were gigging with it for example).
As someone who plans on getting the Nokia 3310 3g when released state side, I’m a little worried. Then again, if they do offer android support, I’ll hold onto my Galaxy S5 just for it.
I do have a second gen ipad, but it’s already been nearly completely phased out app wise. I wonder if OP-Z works on all iOS devices… still a lot of mystery surrounding it. I’m still rather interested in getting one. I’d probably just try going 100% display free
