Last week, astute Reddit users cottoned on to a potential new product from the Teenage Engineering camp, thanks to an FCC filing which suggested the imminent launch of the OP-XY.
Now, the OP-XY, a successor to the Swedish brand’s OP-Z synth, has officially arrived. Dubbed an “all-in-one powerful synthesizer and composer with deep, direct sequencing capabilities”, the OP-XY takes the advanced sequencing of the OP-Z and places it in a smaller enclosure, more similar to the brands’ OP-1.
The OP-XY features a shrunk-down keyboard relative to the OP-1, and adds a strip of 16 LED-equipped buttons which control its 64-step sequencer. There’s also portability-friendly features like a built-in speaker and a USB-C rechargeable battery with up to 16 hours of continuous use, as well as 8GB of internal storage, 512MB of RAM and a dual CPU system. There’s also a gyroscope which enables the user to bring tracks in and out by rotating the unit.
Meanwhile, the OP-XY also features 24-voice polyphony, multiple synth engines, and a stereo signal path. In terms of connectivity, the OP-XY also sports a 3.5mm stereo input, MIDI in and MIDI sync, and Bluetooth.
“Be careful what you wish for – we know you’ve had wet fantasies about a no-compromise, dual-CPU-boosted and fully rebuilt sequencer, sampler and performance instrument, based on the much-loved workflow of the OP-Z,” reads the product page on TE’s website.
“Now including built-in CV, effect sends, and a best-in-class DAC. with 8 individual instrument tracks and 8 auxiliary tracks for controlling any external synthesizer, modular or otherwise, and adding effects. We dare to say it’s probably the most complete, portable sequencer ever built. It’s here. It’s real. It’s black. And it’s got so much more than you’ve wished for.”
In terms of price, the OP-XY clocks in at $2,299, a significantly higher price tag than both the OP-1 and OP-Z.
For more information, head to Teenage Engineering.
