a new module for OP–Zour work with OP–Z is ongoing and here's a behind the scenes dev update. as you know, the OP–Z functionality can be expanded with hardware modules. in the past we've released the oplab and rumble modules and finally we can officially reveal that we have a new module in the pipeline. it is called the line module and will be accompanied with an OP–Z firmware update.
november 17, 2022
attention operators: playing and performing on a velocity sensitive keyboard lets you add dynamic expression to your music. in the past, this could only be achieved in OP-1 by connecting an external keyboard. while this is of course still possible, as of today, we've added velocity sensitivity to the internal OP–1 keyboard.
our best scientists micke reuter & mikael ericssonResearching the optimal velocity response curve
velocity has three settings - off, soft and hard. to access these settings, hold shift and press tempo. using physical touch, generally the harder you play, the louder the sound. and vice versa - the softer you play, the more gentle the sound will be. this basically means the volume of the sound will respond to how hard you play the keys. the benefit of the off setting is that you can be sure to get the maximum volume from a sound, even with soft playing. the result will always be evenly loud, which can be desired in some situations.
velocity sensitivity also works with internal sequencers, as well as over external midi, improving the experience when using OP–1 as the main controller for other devices, including your computer.
other additions in this update include:
how to update:visit the OP–1 downloads page and follow the steps to update your unit.
velocity sensitivity also works with internal sequencers, as well as over external midi, improving the experience when using OP–1 as the main controller for other devices, including your computer.
other additions in this update include:
- the ability to adjust tape speed to external clock - if OP–1 is in midi sync mode and midi clock in is enabled, the tape speed will automatically match incoming external clock.
- a mono / stereo setting for line in - use ochre to toggle while on the input screen with line in connected.
- pre tape panning - adjust with shift and orange while on the tape screen.
- syncing fm transmit frequency with OB–4 - when using the fm transmitter, your OB–4 can be automatically synced to match the optimal transmit frequency.
how to update:visit the OP–1 downloads page and follow the steps to update your unit.
OP–Z gets smarter
november 15, 2022
modem, studio for design and innovation, recently conducted an audiovisual ai experiment with the OP–Z. they developed a research project that places the sequencer at the center of an interactive art installation, a digital extension that translates live music into ai generated visuals.
VIVID WHITE LILY BUSY WITH SPARKLES OF GREEN, BLUE, AND WHITE
the team was inspired by the perceptual phenomenon of synesthesia, a neurological condition in which information meant to stimulate one of the senses stimulates several. this is most commonly associated with listening to music; this can involuntarily evoke an experience of color, shape, and movement in response to changes in the musical properties.
OP–Z
partnering with bureau cool, the two creative studios connected the OP–Z to stable diffusion; an advanced ai system capable of creating original, realistic images and art from a description in natural language.
DIGITAL EXTENSION INTERFACE
based on various synesthesia theories, the project translates different midi signals such as pitch, key, notes, rhythm and bpm into text prompts describing color, shapes and movements. using these descriptions, stable diffusion generates associative imagery to the music in real-time, creating an ever changing, generative series of hypnotic images.
LUMINOUS DISTORTED
with the project, modem and bureau cool see the potential for musicians to explore new forms of creativity. combining OP–Z and artificial intelligence, they've facilitated a joint performance between human and machine.
see more
see more
NOVEMBER 10, 2022
the road to teenage engineering choir started back in 2007 with the absolut choir, an art installation made as part of the larger absolut machines project. made up of 22 singing characters in various sizes and shapes, the mother doll held a master clock, with every character home to a small linux computer and a USB sound card and a speaker – making it possible to distribute sounds and virtually conduct the members of the choir. absolut choir required user input to create music based on text, or lyrical, input. this interaction was done through a website with choir on live link where visitors could follow the project while on display in stockholm, and at the shanghai world expo in 2010.
ABSOLUT choir
''design-wise, the dolls were inspired by wooden characters from all around the world. from the russian matryoshka to characters like pinocchio by carlo collodi. each doll had its own story and its own characteristic voice - and behind it all was a computer algorithm that selected and reinterpreted songs.''
- jesper kouthoofd
- jesper kouthoofd
ivanka
now they've been reimagined into 8 much more compact dolls that you can keep in your home; we've evened out the height differences and pared back their look to a polished beech wood finish. in addition to the external makeover, we also updated the tech inside. the choir comes with a collection of pre-programmed compositions that can be sung solo or together, with ble midi connectivity to connect choir to your OP–1 field, OP–Z, or any midi keyboard to experience a full ensemble performance.
IT, PINOCCHIO, ESMERALDA, MIKKI
yi-ying hsieh is the product designer for the new generation choir and took over the reworked absolut choir designs, a process that started with wood samples and the speaker box. ''the dolls were originally in different colors. we tried many ways to spray them, paint, dip, sand, wax… but in the end we realized compared to the full scale version, the scaled down dolls looked more friendly in their natural finish. so the mission switched to creating the smoothest finish.''
diana
while the new look is more minimal than the original, it's still playful, with each character truly having a mind of their own. ''the moment when they sang together and one of them went out of time. all those imperfect moments made me feel like they are alive, really singing their hearts out. i love having them around.'' ''olga now stands on my window sill and gisela on my table. they have the spirit of the original dolls, but now they sneak into your home, sing next to your plants and cat, like little elves.''
explore teenage engineering choir here
explore teenage engineering choir here
teenage engineering choir
NOVEMBER 3, 2022
we recently made our first beer, and while we are used to doing a lot of experiments in our workshop, we don't quite have the room for a full-scale brewery operation. after consulting our resident developer/brewmaster jacob, we decided to approach gothenburg based brewery stigberget to help us get the job done.
our okinawa style lager is a light-tasting beer with hints of tropical grain, a nod to the rice-brewed beers of the region. available to order at systembolaget all around sweden, from nov 7.
OCTOBER 11, 2022
TX–6 firmware update 1.2.5 – out now!
attention operators. here is a new, super useful free update for your TX–6 field mixer. we've just added live beat tracking for any incoming audio signal. this means TX–6 can now act as a sync box, listening to any audio input, it can generate a click track based on the external tempo, as well as send sync out over midi and bluetooth – all in real time! here's svante from the dev team showing us how it's done:
live beat tracking WITH SVANTE
svante explains: live, realtime beat-tracking is challenging, because the algorithm has to anticipate the beats before they happen. on the one hand, it should react to tempo changes swiftly. on the other hand, it shouldn't get thrown off by spurious variations in timing (what non-scientists call "groove"). we have spenta lot of effort on finding the right balance between these two opposites: reactivity and stability.
here's some of the update highlights:
- added beat tracking of audio input signals.
- improved tap tempo and bpm adjustment.
- added tempo sync to pong tape fx. scratching!
how to update:
visit the downloads page and follow the steps to update your TX–6. the user guide has also been updated to cover the new functionality.
TX–6 field mixer
accessories
october 06, 2022
to celebrate CPU Records 10 year milestone, we teamed up with the label to release a CPU records CA-X pro-case for pocket operator. for the past 10 years, sheffield based independent label CPU Records have been steadily producing an eclectic catalog of electronic releases, making them synonymous with the uk electronic music scene.
joining the celebration is CPU artist tim koch, who has also created a set of patches for microtonic to load and play on your PO-32 tonic. koch developed several microtonic textural and melodic kits and patches for the pocket operator, all of which appear in songs featured on this new album "volplaning".
you can find all the patches on our download page with a guide on how to load them for use with microtonic and your PO-32.
download sound packs
check out CPU records releases
joining the celebration is CPU artist tim koch, who has also created a set of patches for microtonic to load and play on your PO-32 tonic. koch developed several microtonic textural and melodic kits and patches for the pocket operator, all of which appear in songs featured on this new album "volplaning".
you can find all the patches on our download page with a guide on how to load them for use with microtonic and your PO-32.
download sound packs
check out CPU records releases
CPU records CA-X
explore pocket operators
october 05, 2022
congenital heart disease is one of the most common birth defects in the world, affecting the way the heart works and thus that child's quality and length of life. despite its prevalence, awareness of the disease is low.
CHD–4 is a drum machine created by love hultèn to raise awareness for the disease. using our POM modules, it "produces rhythms made using the echocardiograms of four children with different heart defects."
CHD–4 is a drum machine created by love hultèn to raise awareness for the disease. using our POM modules, it "produces rhythms made using the echocardiograms of four children with different heart defects."
each child's ecg scan revealed the shape, pace and bpm of their heartbeats. these patterns were then transferred to the sequencer, to be played together or separately, creating unique sounds that exemplify the irregular heartbeat of each child.
"drum machines are defined by order – beats, pace, and rhythm. this machine disrupts that system, the same way life is disrupted when a child is born with congenital heart disease." - love hultèn.
CHD–4 was unveiled on world heart day (september 29) and will visit different creators and artists throughout the fall. on valentine's day 2023, CHD–4 will be auctioned off with all proceeds donated to hjärtebarnsfonden (swedish heartchild foundation).
to learn more about the project and each child's story, head to heartbeatdrummachine.com.
to learn more about the project and each child's story, head to heartbeatdrummachine.com.
behind the sound pt.1: drums on OP–1 field
september 22, 2022
the samples in any synthesizer have to come from somewhere. when creating the cherry and lubowa drum samples for OP–1 field, we worked with our friends at red pipe studios, recording with sound designers tobias norman and filip sjögren.
having recording experience dating back to the 80s, tobias has seen the sampling process go from complex floppy disk storage to OP–1 field. recently, while he was living in uganda, we saw the opportunity for him to record percussion instruments with local artists. here we welcomed muwanguzi james and serugo joseph, who created the sounds that would become the lubowa drum kit.
having recording experience dating back to the 80s, tobias has seen the sampling process go from complex floppy disk storage to OP–1 field. recently, while he was living in uganda, we saw the opportunity for him to record percussion instruments with local artists. here we welcomed muwanguzi james and serugo joseph, who created the sounds that would become the lubowa drum kit.
muwanguzi james and serugo joseph
tobias: it was really cool because there was instruments that i've never seen before. so i had the artists play them, to feel the rhythm and how they were arranging things... it was so much about understanding the instruments.
understanding these new percussion instruments also meant figuring out how they would be arranged on the OP–1 keyboard, compared to a standard rock drum kit.
filip: what would be the bass drum? what would be the tom? where do you put the equivalent of a kick or the snare drum so you can switch between drum kits with the same sequencer?
tobias: with these percussion instruments, they make the different tonalities depending on where and how they play on the the actual drum... so it is a challenge to capture that in only twenty four notes... but i think we got the essence of it.
understanding these new percussion instruments also meant figuring out how they would be arranged on the OP–1 keyboard, compared to a standard rock drum kit.
filip: what would be the bass drum? what would be the tom? where do you put the equivalent of a kick or the snare drum so you can switch between drum kits with the same sequencer?
tobias: with these percussion instruments, they make the different tonalities depending on where and how they play on the the actual drum... so it is a challenge to capture that in only twenty four notes... but i think we got the essence of it.
recording the ‘lubowa’ percussion samples for OP–1 field
when it came to the cherry drum sound, the team went to urban robertsson's studio in stockholm to record a classic yamaha recording drum kit.
filip: david [möllerstedt] said "you can't ask someone who loves to make drum 'n' bass to do something they don't like, so just do whatever you feel is you and we take it from there." that was really powerful for me... i wanted to make an indie rock kit and i felt very comfortable doing that because i could express my own creativity.
filip: david [möllerstedt] said "you can't ask someone who loves to make drum 'n' bass to do something they don't like, so just do whatever you feel is you and we take it from there." that was really powerful for me... i wanted to make an indie rock kit and i felt very comfortable doing that because i could express my own creativity.
recording the ‘cherry’ drum kit samples for OP–1 field
due to it's compact size, the OP–1 field's keyboard only has one sample recorded per key, compared to a large contemporary synthesizer that would have over 100 samples per key to account for velocity changes. but with limitations comes a lot of possibilities.
filip: with old amiga or casio samplers, you had one shot samples. so in that way, the OP–1 is kind of similar to that, going back to the roots. but other modern samplers are way more complicated... they're sampled in a way that it's ultra realistic. so to have 24 samples [for OP–1 field] and to put all your energy into each sample, it's amazing actually.
tobias: when i did the recordings in uganda, i could really focus on capturing the sounds as good as possible. so i brought this handmade swedish microphone (made by jörgen thuresson)... and would walk around the room trying to capture it... when you only need one really good sample, you can move the microphone around and try different things and really try to maximize the feeling of the instrument more, rather than the realism.
filip: with old amiga or casio samplers, you had one shot samples. so in that way, the OP–1 is kind of similar to that, going back to the roots. but other modern samplers are way more complicated... they're sampled in a way that it's ultra realistic. so to have 24 samples [for OP–1 field] and to put all your energy into each sample, it's amazing actually.
tobias: when i did the recordings in uganda, i could really focus on capturing the sounds as good as possible. so i brought this handmade swedish microphone (made by jörgen thuresson)... and would walk around the room trying to capture it... when you only need one really good sample, you can move the microphone around and try different things and really try to maximize the feeling of the instrument more, rather than the realism.
recording samples for OP–1 field felt fitting for the studio, having previously worked with the original OP-1 for sound design projects from games to movies and tv.
filip: [OP-1] has always been a really creative tool for anyone, but now the noise floor is super low, the stereo functionality, and the usb-c is amazing actually.tobias: I want to find tools that are a bit different, that give something new – it has to be fun... i don't need to have the best kind of tool, i want the most fun kind of tool. [OP–1 field] has a massive engine to create sounds in.
explore OP–1 field, and find out more about red pipe here.
filip: [OP-1] has always been a really creative tool for anyone, but now the noise floor is super low, the stereo functionality, and the usb-c is amazing actually.tobias: I want to find tools that are a bit different, that give something new – it has to be fun... i don't need to have the best kind of tool, i want the most fun kind of tool. [OP–1 field] has a massive engine to create sounds in.
explore OP–1 field, and find out more about red pipe here.
september 1, 2022POSTED BY dani rossi
the role of our mechanical engineers is to develop the designs made by the design department and turn them into reality. they're the ones that ensure that our products can be manufactured efficiently and are of lasting quality. we sat down for a chat to dig into their process.
can you give us a rundown of what goes on in the mechanical engineering department?
marcus: our goal is to find a path along the bumpy road of development without compromising design and function along the way. we work as a team with creative and open minds... i like to think we are re-inventing the wheel every day of the week.
guffe: we're focused on every detail, getting the right feeling in every button, steering wheel, slider, etc. and that the mechanical solutions take up minimal space so that all electronics can be accommodated.
astrid: the team has also developed and manufactured a lot of test equipment at the same time as the product itself. everything from simple programming jigs to transportation trays.
guffe: as we work with relatively small volumes, we don't have the opportunity to build an entire factory around each product, which puts us to the test every day!
guffe: we're focused on every detail, getting the right feeling in every button, steering wheel, slider, etc. and that the mechanical solutions take up minimal space so that all electronics can be accommodated.
astrid: the team has also developed and manufactured a lot of test equipment at the same time as the product itself. everything from simple programming jigs to transportation trays.
guffe: as we work with relatively small volumes, we don't have the opportunity to build an entire factory around each product, which puts us to the test every day!
the process of reworking OP-1 into OP–1 field was a long process, but how did it begin?
björn: the consumer electronics industry is constantly changing... so we're always adapting depending on the technology and availability of parts. so we started with a list of all the things we wanted to improve on OP-1, everything from the way it was produced, to the end user experience.
guffe: we built OP–1 field according to the conditions that exist in 2022 instead of 2012, which has given us the opportunity to deliver an improved product with more features, and a fresh look but recognizable design that works with the other field products.
guffe: we built OP–1 field according to the conditions that exist in 2022 instead of 2012, which has given us the opportunity to deliver an improved product with more features, and a fresh look but recognizable design that works with the other field products.
what were some of the most exciting (and challenging) improvements to work on?
marcus: getting the correct look and surface finish on all of the plastic parts without compromising or simplifying the design was a challenge, as well as getting the fm antenna to work within the aluminum housing.
björn: i agree, the built in antennas are one of the bigger engineering achievements in the OP–1 field. if you know anything about antennas, you know that one big no-no is to put antennas inside metal casing. it was time consuming and we had to start over a few times before nailing it, but we managed to build in three, including the fm antenna.one thing we really wanted to achieve was a better, deeper bass sound... the final speaker design really pushes what's possible to achieve sound-wise when it comes to size constraints. the display is another big achievement for us – since we have such a specific format, we were forced to develop our own display module that would fit into the OP–1 field. once we had the rough outline of all the parts, we puzzled them together in the best way possible to make room for the biggest battery we could fit, so we now get 24-hour battery life.
björn: i agree, the built in antennas are one of the bigger engineering achievements in the OP–1 field. if you know anything about antennas, you know that one big no-no is to put antennas inside metal casing. it was time consuming and we had to start over a few times before nailing it, but we managed to build in three, including the fm antenna.one thing we really wanted to achieve was a better, deeper bass sound... the final speaker design really pushes what's possible to achieve sound-wise when it comes to size constraints. the display is another big achievement for us – since we have such a specific format, we were forced to develop our own display module that would fit into the OP–1 field. once we had the rough outline of all the parts, we puzzled them together in the best way possible to make room for the biggest battery we could fit, so we now get 24-hour battery life.
for the mechanical engineers, what's the red thread that ties all the field products together?
marcus: developing efficient ways to cnc mill aluminum parts with great finish and reliable function! we do all our prototyping, research and design in-house with our 3D printers and 3-axis cnc mill during all stages of the development. this means that we can iterate and take decisions in a day or two instead of designing a part and then wait for about 3 weeks to verify the design. it's also better for the environment and we own the knowledge in-house.
guffe: like all teenage products, nothing is done without a thought, nothing is done half-heartedly, and nothing is done as it is usually done.we are a great team... everyone has an incredibly high level of competence and is passionate about what they do. the fact that the mechanical, electrical and software engineers, work closely together (and even sit together) is a huge strength. the speed we can make decisions and navigate through a project would have never been possible if not for the cohesion between us all.
guffe: like all teenage products, nothing is done without a thought, nothing is done half-heartedly, and nothing is done as it is usually done.we are a great team... everyone has an incredibly high level of competence and is passionate about what they do. the fact that the mechanical, electrical and software engineers, work closely together (and even sit together) is a huge strength. the speed we can make decisions and navigate through a project would have never been possible if not for the cohesion between us all.
explore OP–1 field
explore TX–6
august 18, 2022POSTED BY tobias von hofsten
games on OP–Z?
OP–Z is not only a powerful musical sequencer. it's also capable of running unity 3D projects, called videopaks, for various graphical applications. there is a large community around creating these paks, called videolab creators. one such member is mysticalmonkeys, the creator of the space invaders videopak.
space invaders
this videopak brings a clone of the 1978 classic shoot 'em up arcade game space invaders to the OP–Z app.
how to install
first make sure you have downloaded and installed the official OP–Z app on one of your devices. then visit https://gum.co/bSqcA with the same device, and name your price to download the videopak. the pak is in the zpak format and will auto install if you open the zpak file with the OP–Z app on your device.
start OP–Z and connect with the app. select motion and press the name of the active videopak. then scroll and tap to find and load space invaders. you're now ready to play the game!
note: original space invaders sounds are included in the download as a bonus .aif file. drop this file on your OP–Z in the "samplepacks/4-fx/10" folder. while playing space invaders, select the last samplepack on the fx track of your active pattern (press track + fx + 0) then go back to the motion track (track + motion) and press 0 to toggle sound effects on and off.
start OP–Z and connect with the app. select motion and press the name of the active videopak. then scroll and tap to find and load space invaders. you're now ready to play the game!
note: original space invaders sounds are included in the download as a bonus .aif file. drop this file on your OP–Z in the "samplepacks/4-fx/10" folder. while playing space invaders, select the last samplepack on the fx track of your active pattern (press track + fx + 0) then go back to the motion track (track + motion) and press 0 to toggle sound effects on and off.
how to play
use the green encoder on the motion track to move around and press any button to shoot. there are three different levels and the game will keep cycling through until you die.
start - press any piano keymove - green encoderfire - press any piano key
glhf!
start - press any piano keymove - green encoderfire - press any piano key
glhf!
OP–Z space invaders by MYSTICALMONKEYS
explore OP–Z
explore videolab
juNE 30, 2022POSTED BY tobias von hofsten
TX–6 firmware update 1.1.4 – out now!
two months after the release of TX–6 we have our first firmware update for you, and it's a doozy.
here's some of the update highlights:
- usb mass storage disk record/playback for 24-bit 48 kHz stereo wav files, including armed recording with automatic start on audio detect.
- PO-sync output on aux and cue, with selectable 8th note for PO-sync and 16th note for modular systems.
- external midi control of all TX–6 parameters, for complete remote control over midi.
- extended midi support for synth mode to play the synth chromatically using midi notes from an external keyboard.
- added 'scenes' to save and load all settings.
- usb audio multiple sample rate support: 48 kHz and additionally 44.1 kHz, for compatibility with MPC live etc.
- BLE midi clock in/out support with clock routing settings.
- BLE host mode to connect peripherals like BLE midi keyboards.
- switchable aux and cue outputs, to be able to utilize the higher output level of the aux jack if needed for high impedance headphones.
- added balanced mono input mode in addition to the stereo / mono / split modes.
- parameters keep their values until a knob is moved, making it easier to switch knob config without undesired behavior.
- no snap back of the freeze FX parameter. click to reset instead.
- smoother change of FX I send.
- stability bugfix for usb midi host mode.
- usb audio mode set on menu exit, instead of directly.
how to update:
visit the downloads page and follow the steps to update your TX–6. the user guide has also been updated to cover the new functionality.
(and in case you're wondering: no, the flash drive in the photo is not a product... yet!)
(and in case you're wondering: no, the flash drive in the photo is not a product... yet!)
see the update in action in this video
TX–6 field mixer
accessories
june 23, 2022POSTED BY dani rossi
built exclusively for swedish house mafia's 2022 coachella set and us/eu tour, the jumbo live performance deck, MOAD, or mother of all decks, is our latest custom design.
MOAD, mother of all decks
back in 2010, when we launched our very first product OP–1, we were approached by a group that was soon to shoot a music video for their first song. that group was swedish house mafia, and the song was "one", feat. pharell williams. and it was also the beginning of a long friendship. 10 years later, we've teamed up again on our first product collaboration, MOAD - mother of all decks.
live at coachella with the weeknd
the live performance deck is 5 m x 1.2 m and breaks down into nine parts, to be set up or taken down in about 30 minutes, making it easy to tour with. when it finally came time to construct the deck, we worked with another longtime friend of ours, daniel araya.
initial sketches
the inside holds a computer, multiple mixers, dj decks, sequencer and samplers, effect processors, custom made light effects and mechanical tape reels.MOAD made it's debut at coachella 2022 and will travel with swedish house mafia on their us and eu tour.
custom display and controls
may 5, 2022POSTED BY dani rossi
to celebrate the release of TX–6, we thought we'd give you a look into the design and engineering process behind our portable mixer. here software developer and product owner marcus nilsson shares his experience working on TX–6 over the years. also, with the ability to travel again, we have some behind the scenes footage of our customized production process, filmed in our factory in malaysia.
marcus nilsson - software developer and product owner of TX–6
hello marcus! can you tell us about what you do at teenage engineering?
i'm the main software developer and product owner of the TX–6 field mixer. i joined teenage engineering ten years ago when we were only seven people working in a garage. at the time we only had OP–1, and since then i've been involved in many of our products along the way.
i'm the main software developer and product owner of the TX–6 field mixer. i joined teenage engineering ten years ago when we were only seven people working in a garage. at the time we only had OP–1, and since then i've been involved in many of our products along the way.
knob calibration jig
so what's the story behind TX–6 and field?
the idea behind field system is to let you make music or perform when you feel like it and wherever you are without the need for a computer or other bulky gear. the TX–6 mixer is part of that system and we felt that this was a missing piece of equipment on the market. i know i've been looking for a product like this!
and on a personal note, when i was 12 years old i was given an electronics kit which just happened to be a mixer. i soldered and built it, using it to make mixtapes - so working on TX–6 feels like a childhood project coming full circle.
the idea behind field system is to let you make music or perform when you feel like it and wherever you are without the need for a computer or other bulky gear. the TX–6 mixer is part of that system and we felt that this was a missing piece of equipment on the market. i know i've been looking for a product like this!
and on a personal note, when i was 12 years old i was given an electronics kit which just happened to be a mixer. i soldered and built it, using it to make mixtapes - so working on TX–6 feels like a childhood project coming full circle.
inside out
take us through the design process, how did it develop? what were the main priorities for this product?
we usually start with a physical design without much functionality specified. it kind of evolves and grows during the whole project. there are always a lot of ideas but we can't have it all. we need to find the right balance between a rich feature set and usability.
we usually start with a physical design without much functionality specified. it kind of evolves and grows during the whole project. there are always a lot of ideas but we can't have it all. we need to find the right balance between a rich feature set and usability.
a lot of effort has been put into the user interface. we wanted to squeeze in many features but still make it intuitive and not too complicated. some functionality was removed or simplified because of this. the goal has been to make a product that is easy to understand and that feels playful but still professional.
the timeline during a project like this is very dependant on the production schedule and some features just wasn't ready in time for launch. but we have many ideas for future updates.
the timeline during a project like this is very dependant on the production schedule and some features just wasn't ready in time for launch. but we have many ideas for future updates.
meet love hultén, creator of TE-LAB
march 3, 2022POSTED BY dani rossi
love hultén is an audiovisual artist based in gothenburg, sweden. working at the intersection of traditional craftsmanship and modern tech, he began by tearing apart electronic toys - eventually professionalizing this interest by attending HDK academy of art and design. this is where his passion for woodwork began. from there, the natural progression was obviously to combine his woodcraft skills with electronics, making tactile synthesizers, game consoles and other audiovisual contraptions.
a frequent user of teenage engineering products, he recently created TE-LAB, a wooden "sound machine based on modules from teenage engineering, holograms microcosm and a custom-built sequencer inspired by lomond campbell's turntable". a unique instrument, we were curious to know more and thought you might be too - so here he is to do just that.
a frequent user of teenage engineering products, he recently created TE-LAB, a wooden "sound machine based on modules from teenage engineering, holograms microcosm and a custom-built sequencer inspired by lomond campbell's turntable". a unique instrument, we were curious to know more and thought you might be too - so here he is to do just that.
love hultén
tell us love, what do you do, and how did you end up here?
the aesthetics of electronic products often mirror where we are today in terms of technical possibilities, that's just the nature of tech. what is affecting product design negatively today, in my opinion, is the industry itself and the throwaway excess products it keeps churning out to consumers - frightened by expiration dates and desperately craving the latest iPhone model. my work is a reaction to that i guess. i'm quite inspired by mid-20th century concepts, when we had a different view on tactility, quality and craftsmanship.
i aim to create products that will breathe through time, rather than get suffocated by it - unique products that sparkle and live on through generations. it's hard work being a one-man-studio, but it's also hard to complain. i'm very fortunate to be able to do what i love, and i will continue doing so as long as my ambitions allow for it.
the aesthetics of electronic products often mirror where we are today in terms of technical possibilities, that's just the nature of tech. what is affecting product design negatively today, in my opinion, is the industry itself and the throwaway excess products it keeps churning out to consumers - frightened by expiration dates and desperately craving the latest iPhone model. my work is a reaction to that i guess. i'm quite inspired by mid-20th century concepts, when we had a different view on tactility, quality and craftsmanship.
i aim to create products that will breathe through time, rather than get suffocated by it - unique products that sparkle and live on through generations. it's hard work being a one-man-studio, but it's also hard to complain. i'm very fortunate to be able to do what i love, and i will continue doing so as long as my ambitions allow for it.
Te-lab
take us through your design process - how do you start your designs? do they always end up as you imagine in the beginning?
i'm very torn between conflicting takes on design actually: dieter rams "less is more" approach where form follows function and the complete opposite - form before function, where a visual idea is in control and purpose/function becomes slave.
my designs are usually based on something i've come across recently - anything that sparks my imagination. i then scour my mind for a function, a purpose that could connect with my visual idea in an interesting way. when i find a satisfactory mix between usability and aesthetics, it's a go! i play a lot with values and standards, suggesting a different perspective on how to relate and interact with objects. i give objects new functions, new values. the smashed-up references in my work have a triggering effect on the viewer/customer i guess. i want my audience to be enlightened – not just feel nostalgic. nostalgia is involved to a certain extent, yes, but it's not looking backwards. it's taking steps in different directions simultaneously by using fragments from both the past and today, creating unique and balanced objects. today we are caught between two worlds, one physical and one digital. our digital world is expanding, and to keep one foot in the real world we need physical interaction with real objects. for example, touch screens are great for some forms of interaction, but the instant physical feedback we get when we press a button gives us a completely different sense of control.
i'm very torn between conflicting takes on design actually: dieter rams "less is more" approach where form follows function and the complete opposite - form before function, where a visual idea is in control and purpose/function becomes slave.
my designs are usually based on something i've come across recently - anything that sparks my imagination. i then scour my mind for a function, a purpose that could connect with my visual idea in an interesting way. when i find a satisfactory mix between usability and aesthetics, it's a go! i play a lot with values and standards, suggesting a different perspective on how to relate and interact with objects. i give objects new functions, new values. the smashed-up references in my work have a triggering effect on the viewer/customer i guess. i want my audience to be enlightened – not just feel nostalgic. nostalgia is involved to a certain extent, yes, but it's not looking backwards. it's taking steps in different directions simultaneously by using fragments from both the past and today, creating unique and balanced objects. today we are caught between two worlds, one physical and one digital. our digital world is expanding, and to keep one foot in the real world we need physical interaction with real objects. for example, touch screens are great for some forms of interaction, but the instant physical feedback we get when we press a button gives us a completely different sense of control.
pom-400 modules
what triggered the idea for TE-LAB? was it one module in particular that got you thinking or did you have something in mind before? both in terms of functionality and aesthetics.
i wanted to take the basic concept of the POM-400 and expand from there, so i basically used the modules from that kit (plus some additional ones) and arranged them in my flavor. i knew i wanted to add a bit of depth and atmosphere for a more organic sound and experience. the granular microcosm from hologram electronics seemed to be an interesting fit. aesthetically i wanted to create something resembling test- /laboratory equipment combined with a playful approach, and that playfulness inspired me to make a circular sequencer to complete the setup. to illustrate the POM-400 expansion i ended up using the very same color - bright yellow.
i wanted to take the basic concept of the POM-400 and expand from there, so i basically used the modules from that kit (plus some additional ones) and arranged them in my flavor. i knew i wanted to add a bit of depth and atmosphere for a more organic sound and experience. the granular microcosm from hologram electronics seemed to be an interesting fit. aesthetically i wanted to create something resembling test- /laboratory equipment combined with a playful approach, and that playfulness inspired me to make a circular sequencer to complete the setup. to illustrate the POM-400 expansion i ended up using the very same color - bright yellow.
4-channel programmable rotary gate sequencer
on that note, please explain the turntable! how does the 'needle' read, interpret and emit sound?
the turntable is a 4-channel programmable rotary gate sequencer, inspired by a project by lomond campbell. the device is sending out triggers based on the placement of neodymium magnets (32 steps). the "needle" has 4 reed switches mounted below that picks up trigger signals for each channel. these signals are then being sent to the POM modules via CV/gate. the turntable is mounted on top of a stepper motor with speed control (arduino). then the real-time spectrum monitor takes outputs from the POM modules and displays the waveforms, simple as that.
the turntable is a 4-channel programmable rotary gate sequencer, inspired by a project by lomond campbell. the device is sending out triggers based on the placement of neodymium magnets (32 steps). the "needle" has 4 reed switches mounted below that picks up trigger signals for each channel. these signals are then being sent to the POM modules via CV/gate. the turntable is mounted on top of a stepper motor with speed control (arduino). then the real-time spectrum monitor takes outputs from the POM modules and displays the waveforms, simple as that.
ob–4 tape reel
and the idea for incorporating OB–4?
the OB–4 is being used as speaker out for the TE-LAB, but also delivers some fun sound manipulation using the motorized "tape reel".
discover more of love's work here, and see TE-LAB in action:
the OB–4 is being used as speaker out for the TE-LAB, but also delivers some fun sound manipulation using the motorized "tape reel".
discover more of love's work here, and see TE-LAB in action:
around the office: heidi huldén
february 24, 2022POSTED BY dani rossi
welcome to our textile department.heidi is what we call our textile category manager, but really, she's way more than that. handling all the product design for our apparel and accessories, her day-to-day involves everything from contacting suppliers in multiple timezones, to research, design and quality control. now at the tail-end of the production of our new textile series, here she shares a little about what drives her and what she's looking forward to this year.
test station
''it's fun to be nerdy and this happens to be my element. this is my way of expressing my creativity and how i envision things - i see it through garments, creating a feeling and mood through them, that's what i'm excited about.''
sample delivery
''i love that we have a different mind set here, we look at things from a non-traditional standpoint. we might use fabrics from the car industry or implement knowledge from the hardware side to our bag trims and buckles... you can have a very engineer focussed point of view on textiles and that's where our worlds meet.''
research and prototyping
''i'm very solution oriented and technical about what i do. and here i get to be really practical about things, especially when some of our products are so small. that's a huge challenge from a construction and design perspective when it comes to bags and cases.''
intERNATIONAL souvenirs
''we actually design stuff so that the users of our products can protect and carry them in a good way, and with that comes solving different problems. with a design philosophy of using as little material as possible, as close to the synth as possible, sometimes the bag feels too small or the product is an unusual shape and we want to fit other things as well. so how do we make something that works for our products but also everyday life? that's super interesting and different from anything i've done before. here i actually get end-use and end-purpose which is very targeted.''
textile department executive assistant, betty
''i'm super excited for our new series to come out and for the whole team to see their efforts come to life after two years.''
the new OB–4 mesh bag
the latest products to come out of heidi's department are the new mesh bags for OB–4, available in black, green and red.
modular diy
february 10, 2022POSTED BY tobias von hofsten
modular experimentsto mark the release of the individual POM modules, we've put together three diy projects for your inspiration. each one uses separate modules from the POM range in very different setups. a playful lego mechanical lfo, a sturdy jamaican inspired dub siren, and a portable usb-powered business modular.
square box
strictly businessthis project is using all the modules from the POM-400 kit, together with the eurorack front panels from oddvolt mentioned in an earlier blog post. the case chosen is an auer esd euro case with an added handle. the eurorack frame is from clicks & clocks, cut to size in our workshop. for power we opted to go with a portable usb solution using the dedicated usb power cable from myvolts, connected directly to the psu, and powered by a powerful anker powerbank. the power distro is used to distribute the power to all the modules. here are some links to the external parts used.
esd case
handle
frame
usb power
dub siren
dub siren from spaceinspired by a little aluminum siren effect box that was lying around the office, we decided to build our own enhanced version, with an lfo, a square module and a psu. we then added a line-level output, a 9V battery and a guitar pedal power jack. the green knobs select between different pre-patched connections that you can override by inserting something into the jacks. there's some more info on the build process over on speedbjorns instagram.
mechanical lfo
mechanical lfoneed an extra, sine-shaped lfo? of course you do. here we built a lego robot using a lego motor, gearbox and rod to control the tune knob of any wave generator. here the sine wave oscillator is used. very handy!
individual modules for your projectswe hope this can spark your imagination and encourage you to explore and share your own modular projects. all individual modules are available in our webstore. mount them in your existing eurorack, using external panels, or create something fully custom and one of a kind. enjoy!
OP–Z dev update: line module
january 27, 2022POSTED BY DEV TEAM
what it doesthe line module is designed to bring external audio signals in and out of your OP–Z. it adds a stereo line input and an additional stereo line output to the unit, as well as input and output for midi, trig and po sync, similar to oplab. use line in to add external audio signals to your mix and use line out as a second stereo output available within OP–Z.
you can route individual tracks to the module output instead of to the main mix to separate and process the individual tracks, or make effect loops with your favorite effect pedals. depending on your needs, you can easily switch between mono and stereo signals. the output can also be used for headphone cueing of your tracks before bringing them out to the main mix. with this you can turn your OP–Z into a live performance dream machine.
available spring 2022we've been hinting at this module for a while and we're finally ready to officially reveal it. it will still be some time before it's available to buy so make sure to stay in the loop and we'll post again as soon as it is ready. thanks for your support!- dev team out
you can route individual tracks to the module output instead of to the main mix to separate and process the individual tracks, or make effect loops with your favorite effect pedals. depending on your needs, you can easily switch between mono and stereo signals. the output can also be used for headphone cueing of your tracks before bringing them out to the main mix. with this you can turn your OP–Z into a live performance dream machine.
available spring 2022we've been hinting at this module for a while and we're finally ready to officially reveal it. it will still be some time before it's available to buy so make sure to stay in the loop and we'll post again as soon as it is ready. thanks for your support!- dev team out
explore OP–Z
explore modules
new year, new jams.
january 5, 2022POSTED BY tobias von hofsten
celebrating creativitya new year is here and hopefully you've had a relaxing holiday. for more and more people, january has become synonymous with #jamuary. it's the perfect time to get creative with all your instruments, to overcome any challenge that may be holding you back and to share your music, no matter what. to celebrate creativity we are honoring #jamuary2022 in a special way.
we've teamed up with cuckoosince a few years now, our good friend cuckoo has been taking the lead on #jamuary when it comes to electronic music. this year we're supporting this work by teaming up and giving away some late holiday gifts. cuckoo has issued a four-part giveaway challenge, with one winner per week, so this is your chance to collect your reward.
how to participateevery friday a new challenge will be announced over on cuckoo's instagram where you'll learn about all the details on how to participate. basically, there will be a new theme every week, and to participate you upload and tag your creations. the winners will be announced on mondays the following weeks, on the 10th, 17th, 24th and 31st of january. good luck!
what you can winthe prices for these challenges will also be revealed by cuckoo but we can hint at teenage engineering merch, cases, synths and maybe even a magic radio. happy #jamuary!
we've teamed up with cuckoosince a few years now, our good friend cuckoo has been taking the lead on #jamuary when it comes to electronic music. this year we're supporting this work by teaming up and giving away some late holiday gifts. cuckoo has issued a four-part giveaway challenge, with one winner per week, so this is your chance to collect your reward.
how to participateevery friday a new challenge will be announced over on cuckoo's instagram where you'll learn about all the details on how to participate. basically, there will be a new theme every week, and to participate you upload and tag your creations. the winners will be announced on mondays the following weeks, on the 10th, 17th, 24th and 31st of january. good luck!
what you can winthe prices for these challenges will also be revealed by cuckoo but we can hint at teenage engineering merch, cases, synths and maybe even a magic radio. happy #jamuary!
cuckoo #jamuary2022 challenge - GOOD LUCK!
bonus: #jamuary22together to add a little extra to your jamuary contributions you might want to consider an option initiated by aabattery. with the tag #jamuary22together he suggests using video layers to create an evolving collaborative musical piece. everything is explained in this post. have fun and good luck jamming!
OP–1 update:velocity sensitivity
NOVEMBER 17, 2022
attention operators: playing and performing on a velocity sensitive keyboard lets you add dynamic expression to your music. in the past, this couldonly be achieved in OP-1 by connecting an external keyboard. while this is of course still possible,as of today, we've added velocity sensitivity to the internal OP–1 keyboard.
OUR BEST SCIENTISTS MICKE REUTER & MIKAEL ERICSSON
RESEARCHING THE OPTIMAL VELOCITY RESPONSE CURVE
RESEARCHING THE OPTIMAL VELOCITY RESPONSE CURVE
velocity has three settings - off, soft and hard. to access these settings, hold shift and press tempo. using physical touch, generally the harder you play, the louder the sound. and vice versa - the softer you play, the more gentle the sound will be. this basically means the volume of the sound will respond to how hard you play the keys. the benefit of the off setting is that you can be sure to get the maximum volume from a sound, even with soft playing. the result will always be evenly loud, which can be desired in some situations.
velocity sensitivity also works with internal sequencers, as well as over external midi, improving the experience when using OP–1 as the main controller for other devices, including your computer.
other additions in this update include:
how to update:
visit the OP–1 downloads page and follow the steps to update your unit.
velocity sensitivity also works with internal sequencers, as well as over external midi, improving the experience when using OP–1 as the main controller for other devices, including your computer.
other additions in this update include:
- the ability to adjust tape speed to external clock - if OP–1 is in midi sync mode and midi clock in is enabled, the tape speed will automatically match incoming external clock.
- a mono / stereo setting for line in - use ochre to toggle while on the input screen with line in connected.
- pre tape panning - adjust with shift and orange while on the tape screen.
- syncing fm transmit frequency with OB–4 - when using the fm transmitter, your OB–4 can be automatically synced to match the optimal transmit frequency.
how to update:
visit the OP–1 downloads page and follow the steps to update your unit.
OP–Z gets smarter
NOVEMBER 15, 2022
modem, studio for design and innovation, recently conducted an audiovisual ai experiment with the OP–Z. they developed a research project that places the sequencer at the center of an interactive art installation, a digital extension that translates live music into ai generated visuals.
VIVID WHITE LILY BUSY WITH SPARKLES OF GREEN, BLUE, AND WHITE
the team was inspired by the perceptual phenomenon of synesthesia, a neurological condition in which information meant to stimulate one of the senses stimulates several. this is most commonly associated with listening to music; this can involuntarily evoke an experience of color, shape, and movement in response to changes in the musical properties.
OP–Z
partnering with bureau cool, the two creative studios connected the OP–Z to stable diffusion; an advanced ai system capable of creating original, realistic images and art from a description in natural language.
DIGITAL EXTENSION INTERFACE
based on various synesthesia theories, the project translates different midi signals such as pitch, key, notes, rhythm and bpm into text prompts describing color, shapes and movements. using these descriptions, stable diffusion generates associative imagery to the music in real-time, creating an ever changing, generative series of hypnotic images.
LUMINOUS DISTORTED
with the project, modem and bureau cool see the potential for musicians to explore new forms of creativity. combining OP–Z and artificial intelligence, they've facilitated a joint performance between human and machine.
see more
see more
a history of choir
november 10, 2022
the road to teenage engineering choir started back in 2007 with the absolut choir, an art installation made as part of the larger absolut machines project. made up of 22 singing characters in various sizes and shapes, the mother doll held a master clock, with every character home to a small linux computer and a USB sound card and a speaker – making it possible to distribute sounds and virtually conduct the members of the choir. absolut choir required user input to create music based on text, or lyrical, input. this interaction was done through a website with choir on live link where visitors could follow the project while on display in stockholm, and at the shanghai world expo in 2010.
ABSOLUT CHOIR
''design-wise, the dolls were inspired by wooden characters from all around the world. from the russian matryoshka to characters like pinocchio by carlo collodi. each doll had its own story and its own characteristic voice - and behind it all was a computer algorithm that selected and reinterpreted songs.''
- jesper kouthoofd
- jesper kouthoofd
IVANKA
now they've been reimagined into 8 much more compact dolls that you can keep in your home; we've evened out the height differences and pared back their look to a polished beech wood finish. in addition to the external makeover, we also updated the tech inside. the choir comes with a collection of pre-programmed compositions that can be sung solo or together, with ble midi connectivity to connect choir to your OP–1 field, OP–Z, or any midi keyboard to experience a full ensemble performance.
IT, PINOCCHIO, ESMERALDA, MIKKI
yi-ying hsieh is the product designer for the new generation choir and took over the reworked absolut choir designs, a process that started with wood samples and the speaker box. ''the dolls were originally in different colors. we tried many ways to spray them, paint, dip, sand, wax… but in the end we realized compared to the full scale version, the scaled down dolls looked more friendly in their natural finish. so the mission switched to creating the smoothest finish.''
DIANA
while the new look is more minimal than the original, it's still playful, with each character truly having a mind of their own. ''the moment when they sang together and one of them went out of time. all those imperfect moments made me feel like they are alive, really singing their hearts out. i love having them around.'' ''olga now stands on my window sill and gisela on my table. they have the spirit of the original dolls, but now they sneak into your home, sing next to your plants and cat, like little elves.''
explore teenage engineering choir here
explore teenage engineering choir here
TEENAGE ENGINEERING CHOIR
okinawa lager
NOVEMBER 3, 2022
we recently made our first beer, and while we are used to doing a lot of experiments in our workshop, we don't quite have the room for a full-scale brewery operation. after consulting our resident developer/brewmaster jacob, we decided to approach gothenburg based brewery stigberget to help us get the job done.
our okinawa style lager is a light-tasting beer with hints of tropical grain, a nod to the rice-brewed beers of the region. available to order at systembolaget all around sweden, from nov 7.
OCTOBER 11, 2022
TX–6 firmware update 1.2.5 – out now!
attention operators. here is a new, super useful free update for your TX–6 field mixer. we've just added live beat tracking for any incoming audio signal. this means TX–6 can now act as a sync box, listening to any audio input, it can generate a click track based on the external tempo, as well as send sync out over midi and bluetooth – all in real time! here's svante from the dev team showing us how it's done:
live beat tracking WITH SVANTE
svante explains: live, realtime beat-tracking is challenging, because the algorithm has to anticipate the beats before they happen. on the one hand, it should react to tempo changes swiftly. on the other hand, it shouldn't get thrown off by spurious variations in timing (what non-scientists call "groove"). we have spenta lot of effort on finding the right balance between these two opposites: reactivity and stability.
here's some of the update highlights:
- added beat tracking of audio input signals.
- improved tap tempo and bpm adjustment.
- added tempo sync to pong tape fx. scratching!
how to update:
visit the downloads page and follow the steps to update your TX–6. the user guide has also been updated to cover the new functionality.
TX–6 field mixer
accessories
october 06, 2022
to celebrate CPU Records 10 year milestone, we teamed up with the label to release a CPU records CA-X pro-case for pocket operator. for the past 10 years, sheffield based independent label CPU Records have been steadily producing an eclectic catalog of electronic releases, making them synonymous with the uk electronic music scene.
joining the celebration is CPU artist tim koch, who has also created a set of patches for microtonic to load and play on your PO-32 tonic. koch developed several microtonic textural and melodic kits and patches for the pocket operator, all of which appear in songs featured on this new album "volplaning".
you can find all the patches on our download page with a guide on how to load them for use with microtonic and your PO-32.
download sound packs
check out CPU records releases
joining the celebration is CPU artist tim koch, who has also created a set of patches for microtonic to load and play on your PO-32 tonic. koch developed several microtonic textural and melodic kits and patches for the pocket operator, all of which appear in songs featured on this new album "volplaning".
you can find all the patches on our download page with a guide on how to load them for use with microtonic and your PO-32.
download sound packs
check out CPU records releases
CPU records CA-X
explore pocket operators
october 05, 2022
congenital heart disease is one of the most common birth defects in the world, affecting the way the heart works and thus that child's quality and length of life. despite its prevalence, awareness of the disease is low.
CHD–4 is a drum machine created by love hultèn to raise awareness for the disease. using our POM modules, it "produces rhythms made using the echocardiograms of four children with different heart defects."
CHD–4 is a drum machine created by love hultèn to raise awareness for the disease. using our POM modules, it "produces rhythms made using the echocardiograms of four children with different heart defects."
each child's ecg scan revealed the shape, pace and bpm of their heartbeats. these patterns were then transferred to the sequencer, to be played together or separately, creating unique sounds that exemplify the irregular heartbeat of each child.
"drum machines are defined by order – beats, pace, and rhythm. this machine disrupts that system, the same way life is disrupted when a child is born with congenital heart disease." - love hultèn.
CHD–4 was unveiled on world heart day (september 29) and will visit different creators and artists throughout the fall. on valentine's day 2023, CHD–4 will be auctioned off with all proceeds donated to hjärtebarnsfonden (swedish heartchild foundation).
to learn more about the project and each child's story, head to heartbeatdrummachine.com.
to learn more about the project and each child's story, head to heartbeatdrummachine.com.
behind the sound pt.1: drums on OP–1 field
september 22, 2022
the samples in any synthesizer have to come from somewhere. when creating the cherry and lubowa drum samples for OP–1 field, we worked with our friends at red pipe studios, recording with sound designers tobias norman and filip sjögren.
having recording experience dating back to the 80s, tobias has seen the sampling process go from complex floppy disk storage to OP–1 field. recently, while he was living in uganda, we saw the opportunity for him to record percussion instruments with local artists. here we welcomed muwanguzi james and serugo joseph, who created the sounds that would become the lubowa drum kit.
having recording experience dating back to the 80s, tobias has seen the sampling process go from complex floppy disk storage to OP–1 field. recently, while he was living in uganda, we saw the opportunity for him to record percussion instruments with local artists. here we welcomed muwanguzi james and serugo joseph, who created the sounds that would become the lubowa drum kit.
muwanguzi james and serugo joseph
tobias: it was really cool because there was instruments that i've never seen before. so i had the artists play them, to feel the rhythm and how they were arranging things... it was so much about understanding the instruments.
understanding these new percussion instruments also meant figuring out how they would be arranged on the OP–1 keyboard, compared to a standard rock drum kit.
filip: what would be the bass drum? what would be the tom? where do you put the equivalent of a kick or the snare drum so you can switch between drum kits with the same sequencer?
tobias: with these percussion instruments, they make the different tonalities depending on where and how they play on the the actual drum... so it is a challenge to capture that in only twenty four notes... but i think we got the essence of it.
understanding these new percussion instruments also meant figuring out how they would be arranged on the OP–1 keyboard, compared to a standard rock drum kit.
filip: what would be the bass drum? what would be the tom? where do you put the equivalent of a kick or the snare drum so you can switch between drum kits with the same sequencer?
tobias: with these percussion instruments, they make the different tonalities depending on where and how they play on the the actual drum... so it is a challenge to capture that in only twenty four notes... but i think we got the essence of it.
recording the ‘lubowa’ percussion samples for OP–1 field
when it came to the cherry drum sound, the team went to urban robertsson's studio in stockholm to record a classic yamaha recording drum kit.
filip: david [möllerstedt] said "you can't ask someone who loves to make drum 'n' bass to do something they don't like, so just do whatever you feel is you and we take it from there." that was really powerful for me... i wanted to make an indie rock kit and i felt very comfortable doing that because i could express my own creativity.
filip: david [möllerstedt] said "you can't ask someone who loves to make drum 'n' bass to do something they don't like, so just do whatever you feel is you and we take it from there." that was really powerful for me... i wanted to make an indie rock kit and i felt very comfortable doing that because i could express my own creativity.
recording the ‘cherry’ drum kit samples for OP–1 field
due to it's compact size, the OP–1 field's keyboard only has one sample recorded per key, compared to a large contemporary synthesizer that would have over 100 samples per key to account for velocity changes. but with limitations comes a lot of possibilities.
filip: with old amiga or casio samplers, you had one shot samples. so in that way, the OP–1 is kind of similar to that, going back to the roots. but other modern samplers are way more complicated... they're sampled in a way that it's ultra realistic. so to have 24 samples [for OP–1 field] and to put all your energy into each sample, it's amazing actually.
tobias: when i did the recordings in uganda, i could really focus on capturing the sounds as good as possible. so i brought this handmade swedish microphone (made by jörgen thuresson)... and would walk around the room trying to capture it... when you only need one really good sample, you can move the microphone around and try different things and really try to maximize the feeling of the instrument more, rather than the realism.
filip: with old amiga or casio samplers, you had one shot samples. so in that way, the OP–1 is kind of similar to that, going back to the roots. but other modern samplers are way more complicated... they're sampled in a way that it's ultra realistic. so to have 24 samples [for OP–1 field] and to put all your energy into each sample, it's amazing actually.
tobias: when i did the recordings in uganda, i could really focus on capturing the sounds as good as possible. so i brought this handmade swedish microphone (made by jörgen thuresson)... and would walk around the room trying to capture it... when you only need one really good sample, you can move the microphone around and try different things and really try to maximize the feeling of the instrument more, rather than the realism.
recording samples for OP–1 field felt fitting for the studio, having previously worked with the original OP-1 for sound design projects from games to movies and tv.
filip: [OP-1] has always been a really creative tool for anyone, but now the noise floor is super low, the stereo functionality, and the usb-c is amazing actually.tobias: I want to find tools that are a bit different, that give something new – it has to be fun... i don't need to have the best kind of tool, i want the most fun kind of tool. [OP–1 field] has a massive engine to create sounds in.
explore OP–1 field, and find out more about red pipe here.
filip: [OP-1] has always been a really creative tool for anyone, but now the noise floor is super low, the stereo functionality, and the usb-c is amazing actually.tobias: I want to find tools that are a bit different, that give something new – it has to be fun... i don't need to have the best kind of tool, i want the most fun kind of tool. [OP–1 field] has a massive engine to create sounds in.
explore OP–1 field, and find out more about red pipe here.
september 1, 2022POSTED BY dani rossi
the role of our mechanical engineers is to develop the designs made by the design department and turn them into reality. they're the ones that ensure that our products can be manufactured efficiently and are of lasting quality. we sat down for a chat to dig into their process.
can you give us a rundown of what goes on in the mechanical engineering department?
marcus: our goal is to find a path along the bumpy road of development without compromising design and function along the way. we work as a team with creative and open minds... i like to think we are re-inventing the wheel every day of the week.
guffe: we're focused on every detail, getting the right feeling in every button, steering wheel, slider, etc. and that the mechanical solutions take up minimal space so that all electronics can be accommodated.
astrid: the team has also developed and manufactured a lot of test equipment at the same time as the product itself. everything from simple programming jigs to transportation trays.
guffe: as we work with relatively small volumes, we don't have the opportunity to build an entire factory around each product, which puts us to the test every day!
guffe: we're focused on every detail, getting the right feeling in every button, steering wheel, slider, etc. and that the mechanical solutions take up minimal space so that all electronics can be accommodated.
astrid: the team has also developed and manufactured a lot of test equipment at the same time as the product itself. everything from simple programming jigs to transportation trays.
guffe: as we work with relatively small volumes, we don't have the opportunity to build an entire factory around each product, which puts us to the test every day!
the process of reworking OP-1 into OP–1 field was a long process, but how did it begin?
björn: the consumer electronics industry is constantly changing... so we're always adapting depending on the technology and availability of parts. so we started with a list of all the things we wanted to improve on OP-1, everything from the way it was produced, to the end user experience.
guffe: we built OP–1 field according to the conditions that exist in 2022 instead of 2012, which has given us the opportunity to deliver an improved product with more features, and a fresh look but recognizable design that works with the other field products.
guffe: we built OP–1 field according to the conditions that exist in 2022 instead of 2012, which has given us the opportunity to deliver an improved product with more features, and a fresh look but recognizable design that works with the other field products.
what were some of the most exciting (and challenging) improvements to work on?
marcus: getting the correct look and surface finish on all of the plastic parts without compromising or simplifying the design was a challenge, as well as getting the fm antenna to work within the aluminum housing.
björn: i agree, the built in antennas are one of the bigger engineering achievements in the OP–1 field. if you know anything about antennas, you know that one big no-no is to put antennas inside metal casing. it was time consuming and we had to start over a few times before nailing it, but we managed to build in three, including the fm antenna.one thing we really wanted to achieve was a better, deeper bass sound... the final speaker design really pushes what's possible to achieve sound-wise when it comes to size constraints. the display is another big achievement for us – since we have such a specific format, we were forced to develop our own display module that would fit into the OP–1 field. once we had the rough outline of all the parts, we puzzled them together in the best way possible to make room for the biggest battery we could fit, so we now get 24-hour battery life.
björn: i agree, the built in antennas are one of the bigger engineering achievements in the OP–1 field. if you know anything about antennas, you know that one big no-no is to put antennas inside metal casing. it was time consuming and we had to start over a few times before nailing it, but we managed to build in three, including the fm antenna.one thing we really wanted to achieve was a better, deeper bass sound... the final speaker design really pushes what's possible to achieve sound-wise when it comes to size constraints. the display is another big achievement for us – since we have such a specific format, we were forced to develop our own display module that would fit into the OP–1 field. once we had the rough outline of all the parts, we puzzled them together in the best way possible to make room for the biggest battery we could fit, so we now get 24-hour battery life.
for the mechanical engineers, what's the red thread that ties all the field products together?
marcus: developing efficient ways to cnc mill aluminum parts with great finish and reliable function! we do all our prototyping, research and design in-house with our 3D printers and 3-axis cnc mill during all stages of the development. this means that we can iterate and take decisions in a day or two instead of designing a part and then wait for about 3 weeks to verify the design. it's also better for the environment and we own the knowledge in-house.
guffe: like all teenage products, nothing is done without a thought, nothing is done half-heartedly, and nothing is done as it is usually done.we are a great team... everyone has an incredibly high level of competence and is passionate about what they do. the fact that the mechanical, electrical and software engineers, work closely together (and even sit together) is a huge strength. the speed we can make decisions and navigate through a project would have never been possible if not for the cohesion between us all.
guffe: like all teenage products, nothing is done without a thought, nothing is done half-heartedly, and nothing is done as it is usually done.we are a great team... everyone has an incredibly high level of competence and is passionate about what they do. the fact that the mechanical, electrical and software engineers, work closely together (and even sit together) is a huge strength. the speed we can make decisions and navigate through a project would have never been possible if not for the cohesion between us all.
explore OP–1 field
explore TX–6
august 18, 2022POSTED BY tobias von hofsten
games on OP–Z?
OP–Z is not only a powerful musical sequencer. it's also capable of running unity 3D projects, called videopaks, for various graphical applications. there is a large community around creating these paks, called videolab creators. one such member is mysticalmonkeys, the creator of the space invaders videopak.
space invaders
this videopak brings a clone of the 1978 classic shoot 'em up arcade game space invaders to the OP–Z app.
how to install
first make sure you have downloaded and installed the official OP–Z app on one of your devices. then visit https://gum.co/bSqcA with the same device, and name your price to download the videopak. the pak is in the zpak format and will auto install if you open the zpak file with the OP–Z app on your device.
start OP–Z and connect with the app. select motion and press the name of the active videopak. then scroll and tap to find and load space invaders. you're now ready to play the game!
note: original space invaders sounds are included in the download as a bonus .aif file. drop this file on your OP–Z in the "samplepacks/4-fx/10" folder. while playing space invaders, select the last samplepack on the fx track of your active pattern (press track + fx + 0) then go back to the motion track (track + motion) and press 0 to toggle sound effects on and off.
start OP–Z and connect with the app. select motion and press the name of the active videopak. then scroll and tap to find and load space invaders. you're now ready to play the game!
note: original space invaders sounds are included in the download as a bonus .aif file. drop this file on your OP–Z in the "samplepacks/4-fx/10" folder. while playing space invaders, select the last samplepack on the fx track of your active pattern (press track + fx + 0) then go back to the motion track (track + motion) and press 0 to toggle sound effects on and off.
how to play
use the green encoder on the motion track to move around and press any button to shoot. there are three different levels and the game will keep cycling through until you die.
start - press any piano keymove - green encoderfire - press any piano key
glhf!
start - press any piano keymove - green encoderfire - press any piano key
glhf!
OP–Z space invaders by MYSTICALMONKEYS
explore OP–Z
explore videolab
juNE 30, 2022POSTED BY tobias von hofsten
TX–6 firmware update 1.1.4 – out now!
two months after the release of TX–6 we have our first firmware update for you, and it's a doozy.
here's some of the update highlights:
- usb mass storage disk record/playback for 24-bit 48 kHz stereo wav files, including armed recording with automatic start on audio detect.
- PO-sync output on aux and cue, with selectable 8th note for PO-sync and 16th note for modular systems.
- external midi control of all TX–6 parameters, for complete remote control over midi.
- extended midi support for synth mode to play the synth chromatically using midi notes from an external keyboard.
- added 'scenes' to save and load all settings.
- usb audio multiple sample rate support: 48 kHz and additionally 44.1 kHz, for compatibility with MPC live etc.
- BLE midi clock in/out support with clock routing settings.
- BLE host mode to connect peripherals like BLE midi keyboards.
- switchable aux and cue outputs, to be able to utilize the higher output level of the aux jack if needed for high impedance headphones.
- added balanced mono input mode in addition to the stereo / mono / split modes.
- parameters keep their values until a knob is moved, making it easier to switch knob config without undesired behavior.
- no snap back of the freeze FX parameter. click to reset instead.
- smoother change of FX I send.
- stability bugfix for usb midi host mode.
- usb audio mode set on menu exit, instead of directly.
how to update:
visit the downloads page and follow the steps to update your TX–6. the user guide has also been updated to cover the new functionality.
(and in case you're wondering: no, the flash drive in the photo is not a product... yet!)
(and in case you're wondering: no, the flash drive in the photo is not a product... yet!)
see the update in action in this video
TX–6 field mixer
accessories
MOAD:mother of all decks
JUNe 23, 2022POSTED BY dani rossi
built exclusively for swedish house mafia's 2022 coachella set and us/eu tour, the jumbo live performance deck, MOAD, or mother of all decks, is our latest custom design.
mother of all decks
back in 2010, when we launched our very first product OP–1, we were approached by a group that was soon to shoot a music video for their first song. that group was swedish house mafia, and the song was "one", feat. pharell williams. and it was also the beginning of a long friendship. 10 years later, we've teamed up again on our first product collaboration, MOAD - mother of all decks.
live at coachella with the weeknd
the live performance deck is 5 m x 1.2 m and breaks down into nine parts, to be set up or taken down in about 30 minutes, making it easy to tour with. when it finally came time to construct the deck, we worked with another longtime friend of ours, daniel araya.
initial sketches
the inside holds a computer, multiple mixers, dj decks, sequencer and samplers, effect processors, custom made light effects and mechanical tape reels. MOAD made it's debut at coachella 2022 and will travel with swedish house mafia on their us and eu tour.
custom display and controls
behind the scenes of TX–6
may 5, 2022POSTED BY dani rossi
to celebrate the release of TX–6, we thought we'd give you a look into the design and engineering process behind our first portable mixer. here software developer and product owner marcus nilsson shares his experience working on TX–6 over the years. also, with the ability to travel again, we have some exclusive behind the scenes footage of our customized production process, filmed in our factory in malaysia.
MARCUS NILSSONSOFTWARE DEVELOPER AND PRODUCT OWNER OF TX–6
hello marcus! can you tell us about what you do at teenage engineering?
i'm the main software developer and product owner of the TX–6 field mixer. i joined teenage engineering ten years ago when we were only seven people working in a garage. at the time we only had OP–1, and since then i've been involved in many of our products along the way.
i'm the main software developer and product owner of the TX–6 field mixer. i joined teenage engineering ten years ago when we were only seven people working in a garage. at the time we only had OP–1, and since then i've been involved in many of our products along the way.
KNOB CALIBRATION JIG
so what's the story behind TX–6 and field?
the idea behind field system is to let you make music or perform when you feel like it and wherever you are without the need for a computer or other bulky gear. the TX–6 mixer is part of that system and we felt that this was a missing piece of equipment on the market. i know i've been looking for a product like this!
and on a personal note, when i was 12 years old i was given an electronics kit which just happened to be a mixer. i soldered and built it, using it to make mixtapes - so working on TX–6 feels like a childhood project coming full circle.
the idea behind field system is to let you make music or perform when you feel like it and wherever you are without the need for a computer or other bulky gear. the TX–6 mixer is part of that system and we felt that this was a missing piece of equipment on the market. i know i've been looking for a product like this!
and on a personal note, when i was 12 years old i was given an electronics kit which just happened to be a mixer. i soldered and built it, using it to make mixtapes - so working on TX–6 feels like a childhood project coming full circle.
INSIDE OUT
take us through the design process, how did it develop? what were the main priorities for this product?
we usually start with a physical design without much functionality specified. it kind of evolves and grows during the whole project. there are always a lot of ideas but we can't have it all. we need to find the right balance between a rich feature set and usability.
a lot of effort has been put into the user interface. we wanted to squeeze in many features but still make it intuitive and not too complicated. some functionality was removed or simplified because of this. the goal has been to make a product that is easy to understand and that feels playful but still professional.
the timeline during a project like this is very dependant on the production schedule and some features just wasn't ready in time for launch. but we have many ideas for future updates.
we usually start with a physical design without much functionality specified. it kind of evolves and grows during the whole project. there are always a lot of ideas but we can't have it all. we need to find the right balance between a rich feature set and usability.
a lot of effort has been put into the user interface. we wanted to squeeze in many features but still make it intuitive and not too complicated. some functionality was removed or simplified because of this. the goal has been to make a product that is easy to understand and that feels playful but still professional.
the timeline during a project like this is very dependant on the production schedule and some features just wasn't ready in time for launch. but we have many ideas for future updates.
meet love hultén,creator of TE-LAB
march 3, 2022POSTED BY dani rossi
love hultén is an audiovisual artist based ingothenburg, sweden. working at the intersection of traditional craftsmanship and modern tech, he began by tearing apart electronic toys, eventually ending up HDK academy of art and design where he discovered his passion for woodwork. from there, the natural progression was obviously to combine his woodcraft skills with electronics, making tactile synthesizers, game consoles and other audiovisual contraptions.
a frequent user of teenage engineering products, he recently created TE-LAB, a wooden "sound machine based on modules from teenage engineering, holograms microcosm and a custom-built sequencer inspired by lomond campbell's turntable". a unique instrument, we were curious to know more and thought you might be too - so here he is to do just that.
a frequent user of teenage engineering products, he recently created TE-LAB, a wooden "sound machine based on modules from teenage engineering, holograms microcosm and a custom-built sequencer inspired by lomond campbell's turntable". a unique instrument, we were curious to know more and thought you might be too - so here he is to do just that.
LOVE HULTÉN
tell us love, what do you do, and how did you end up here?
the aesthetics of electronic products often mirror where we are today in terms of technical possibilities, that's just the nature of tech. what is affecting product design negatively today, in my opinion, is the industry itself and the throwaway excess products it keeps churning out to consumers - frightened by expiration dates and desperately craving the latest iPhone model. my work is a reaction to that i guess. i'm quite inspired by mid-20th century concepts, when we had a different view on tactility, quality and craftsmanship.
i aim to create products that will breathe through time, rather than get suffocated by it - unique products that sparkle and live on through generations. it's hard work being a one-man-studio, but it's also hard to complain. i'm very fortunate to be able to do what i love, and i will continue doing so as long as my ambitions allow for it.
the aesthetics of electronic products often mirror where we are today in terms of technical possibilities, that's just the nature of tech. what is affecting product design negatively today, in my opinion, is the industry itself and the throwaway excess products it keeps churning out to consumers - frightened by expiration dates and desperately craving the latest iPhone model. my work is a reaction to that i guess. i'm quite inspired by mid-20th century concepts, when we had a different view on tactility, quality and craftsmanship.
i aim to create products that will breathe through time, rather than get suffocated by it - unique products that sparkle and live on through generations. it's hard work being a one-man-studio, but it's also hard to complain. i'm very fortunate to be able to do what i love, and i will continue doing so as long as my ambitions allow for it.
TE-LAB
take us through your design process - how do you start your designs? do they always end up as you imagine in the beginning?
i'm very torn between conflicting takes on design actually: dieter rams "less is more" approach where form follows function and the complete opposite - form before function, where a visual idea is in control and purpose/function becomes slave.
my designs are usually based on something i've come across recently - anything that sparks my imagination. i then scour my mind for a function, a purpose that could connect with my visual idea in an interesting way. when i find a satisfactory mix between usability and aesthetics, it's a go! i play a lot with values and standards, suggesting a different perspective on how to relate and interact with objects. i give objects new functions, new values. the smashed-up references in my work have a triggering effect on the viewer/customer i guess. i want my audience to be enlightened – not just feel nostalgic. nostalgia is involved to a certain extent, yes, but it's not looking backwards. it's taking steps in different directions simultaneously by using fragments from both the past and today, creating unique and balanced objects. today we are caught between two worlds, one physical and one digital. our digital world is expanding, and to keep one foot in the real world we need physical interaction with real objects. for example, touch screens are great for some forms of interaction, but the instant physical feedback we get when we press a button gives us a completely different sense of control.
i'm very torn between conflicting takes on design actually: dieter rams "less is more" approach where form follows function and the complete opposite - form before function, where a visual idea is in control and purpose/function becomes slave.
my designs are usually based on something i've come across recently - anything that sparks my imagination. i then scour my mind for a function, a purpose that could connect with my visual idea in an interesting way. when i find a satisfactory mix between usability and aesthetics, it's a go! i play a lot with values and standards, suggesting a different perspective on how to relate and interact with objects. i give objects new functions, new values. the smashed-up references in my work have a triggering effect on the viewer/customer i guess. i want my audience to be enlightened – not just feel nostalgic. nostalgia is involved to a certain extent, yes, but it's not looking backwards. it's taking steps in different directions simultaneously by using fragments from both the past and today, creating unique and balanced objects. today we are caught between two worlds, one physical and one digital. our digital world is expanding, and to keep one foot in the real world we need physical interaction with real objects. for example, touch screens are great for some forms of interaction, but the instant physical feedback we get when we press a button gives us a completely different sense of control.
POM-400 MODULES
what triggered the idea for TE-LAB? was it one module in particular that got you thinking or did you have something in mind before? both in terms of functionality and aesthetics.
i wanted to take the basic concept of the POM-400 and expand from there, so i basically used the modules from that kit (plus some additional ones) and arranged them in my flavor. i knew i wanted to add a bit of depth and atmosphere for a more organic sound and experience. the granular microcosm from hologram electronics seemed to be an interesting fit. aesthetically i wanted to create something resembling test- /laboratory equipment combined with a playful approach, and that playfulness inspired me to make a circular sequencer to complete the setup. to illustrate the POM-400 expansion i ended up using the very same color - bright yellow.
i wanted to take the basic concept of the POM-400 and expand from there, so i basically used the modules from that kit (plus some additional ones) and arranged them in my flavor. i knew i wanted to add a bit of depth and atmosphere for a more organic sound and experience. the granular microcosm from hologram electronics seemed to be an interesting fit. aesthetically i wanted to create something resembling test- /laboratory equipment combined with a playful approach, and that playfulness inspired me to make a circular sequencer to complete the setup. to illustrate the POM-400 expansion i ended up using the very same color - bright yellow.
4-CHANNEL PROGRAMMABLE ROTARY GATE SEQUENCER
on that note, please explain the turntable! how does the 'needle' read, interpret and emit sound?
the turntable is a 4-channel programmable rotary gate sequencer, inspired by a project by lomond campbell. the device is sending out triggers based on the placement of neodymium magnets (32 steps). the "needle" has 4 reed switches mounted below that picks up trigger signals for each channel. these signals are then being sent to the POM modules via CV/gate. the turntable is mounted on top of a stepper motor with speed control (arduino). then the real-time spectrum monitor takes outputs from the POM modules and displays the waveforms, simple as that.
the turntable is a 4-channel programmable rotary gate sequencer, inspired by a project by lomond campbell. the device is sending out triggers based on the placement of neodymium magnets (32 steps). the "needle" has 4 reed switches mounted below that picks up trigger signals for each channel. these signals are then being sent to the POM modules via CV/gate. the turntable is mounted on top of a stepper motor with speed control (arduino). then the real-time spectrum monitor takes outputs from the POM modules and displays the waveforms, simple as that.
OB–4 TAPE REEL
and the idea for incorporating OB–4?
the OB–4 is being used as speaker out for the TE-LAB, but also delivers some fun sound manipulation using the motorized "tape reel".
discover more of love's work here, and see TE-LAB in action:
the OB–4 is being used as speaker out for the TE-LAB, but also delivers some fun sound manipulation using the motorized "tape reel".
discover more of love's work here, and see TE-LAB in action:
around the office: heidi huldén
FEBRUARY 24, 2022POSTED BY dani rossi
welcome to our textile department.
heidi is what we call our textile category manager, but really, she's way more than that. handling all the product design for our apparel and accessories, her day-to-day involves everything from contacting suppliers in multiple timezones, to research, design and quality control. now at the tail-end of the production of our new textile series, here she shares a little about what drives her and what she's looking forward to this year.
heidi is what we call our textile category manager, but really, she's way more than that. handling all the product design for our apparel and accessories, her day-to-day involves everything from contacting suppliers in multiple timezones, to research, design and quality control. now at the tail-end of the production of our new textile series, here she shares a little about what drives her and what she's looking forward to this year.
TEST STATION
''it's fun to be nerdy and this happens to be my element. this is my way of expressing my creativity and how i envision things - i see it through garments, creating a feeling and mood through them, that's what i'm excited about.''
SAMPLE DELIVERY
''i love that we have a different mind set here, we look at things from a non-traditional standpoint. we might use fabrics from the car industry or implement knowledge from the hardware side to our bag trims and buckles... you can have a very engineer focussed point of view on textiles and that's where our worlds meet.''
RESEARCH AND PROTOTYPING
''i'm very solution oriented and technical about what i do. and here i get to be really practical about things, especially when some of our products are so small. that's a huge challenge from a construction and design perspective when it comes to bags and cases.''
INTERNATIONAL SOUVENIRS
''we actually design stuff so that the users of our products can protect and carry them in a good way, and with that comes solving different problems. with a design philosophy of using as little material as possible, as close to the synth as possible, sometimes the bag feels too small or the product is an unusual shape and we want to fit other things as well. so how do we make something that works for our products but also everyday life? that's super interesting and different from anything i've done before. here i actually get end-use and end-purpose which is very targeted.''
TEXTILES DEPARTMENT EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT, BETTY
''i'm super excited for our new series to come out and for the whole team to see their efforts come to life after two years.''
THE NEW OB–4 MESH BAG
the latest products to come out of heidi's department are the new mesh bags for OB–4, available in black, green and red.
modular diy
FEBRUARY 10, 2022POSTED BY TOBIAS VON HOFSTEN
modular experiments
to mark the release of the individual POM modules, we've put together three diy projects for your inspiration. each one uses separate modules from the POM range in very different setups. a playful lego mechanical lfo, a sturdy jamaican inspired dub siren, and a portable usb-powered business modular.
to mark the release of the individual POM modules, we've put together three diy projects for your inspiration. each one uses separate modules from the POM range in very different setups. a playful lego mechanical lfo, a sturdy jamaican inspired dub siren, and a portable usb-powered business modular.
SQUARE BOX
strictly business
this project is using all the modules from the POM-400 kit, together with the eurorack front panels from oddvolt mentioned in an earlier blog post. the case chosen is an auer esd euro case with an added handle. the eurorack frame is from clicks & clocks, cut to size in our workshop. for power we opted to go with a portable usb solution using the dedicated usb power cable from myvolts, connected directly to the psu, and powered by a powerful anker powerbank. the power distro is used to distribute the power to all the modules. here are some links to the external parts used.
this project is using all the modules from the POM-400 kit, together with the eurorack front panels from oddvolt mentioned in an earlier blog post. the case chosen is an auer esd euro case with an added handle. the eurorack frame is from clicks & clocks, cut to size in our workshop. for power we opted to go with a portable usb solution using the dedicated usb power cable from myvolts, connected directly to the psu, and powered by a powerful anker powerbank. the power distro is used to distribute the power to all the modules. here are some links to the external parts used.
esd case
handle
frame
usb power
DUB SIREN
dub siren from space
inspired by a little aluminium siren effect box that was lying around the office, we decided to build our own enhanced version, with an lfo, a square module and a psu. we then added a line-level output, a 9V battery and a guitar pedal power jack. the green knobs select between different pre-patched connections that you can override by inserting something into the jacks. there's a little more info on the build process over on speedbjorns instagram.
inspired by a little aluminium siren effect box that was lying around the office, we decided to build our own enhanced version, with an lfo, a square module and a psu. we then added a line-level output, a 9V battery and a guitar pedal power jack. the green knobs select between different pre-patched connections that you can override by inserting something into the jacks. there's a little more info on the build process over on speedbjorns instagram.
MECHANICAL LFO
mechanical lfo
need an extra, sine-shaped lfo? of course you do. here we built a lego robot using a lego motor, gearbox and rod to control the tune knob of any wave generator. here the sine wave oscillator is used. very handy!
need an extra, sine-shaped lfo? of course you do. here we built a lego robot using a lego motor, gearbox and rod to control the tune knob of any wave generator. here the sine wave oscillator is used. very handy!
individual modules for your projects
we hope this can spark your imagination and encourage you to explore and share your own modular projects. all individual modules are available in our webstore. mount them in your existing eurorack, using external panels, or create something fully custom and one of a kind. enjoy!
we hope this can spark your imagination and encourage you to explore and share your own modular projects. all individual modules are available in our webstore. mount them in your existing eurorack, using external panels, or create something fully custom and one of a kind. enjoy!
OP–Z dev update
january 27, 2022POSTED BY DEV TEAM
a new module for OP–Z
our work with OP–Z is ongoing and here's a little behind the scenes dev update. as you know, the
OP–Z functionality can be expanded with hardware modules. in the past we've released the oplab and rumble modules and finally we can officially reveal that we have a new module in the pipeline. it is called the line module and will be accompanied with an
OP–Z firmware update.
our work with OP–Z is ongoing and here's a little behind the scenes dev update. as you know, the
OP–Z functionality can be expanded with hardware modules. in the past we've released the oplab and rumble modules and finally we can officially reveal that we have a new module in the pipeline. it is called the line module and will be accompanied with an
OP–Z firmware update.
what it does
the line module is designed to bring external audio signals in and out of your OP–Z. it adds a stereo line input and an additional stereo line output to the unit, as well as input and output for midi, trig and po sync, similar to oplab. use line in to add external audio signals to your mix and use line out as a second stereo output available within OP–Z.
you can route individual tracks to the module output instead of to the main mix to separate and process the individual tracks, or make effect loops with your favorite effect pedals. depending on your needs, you can easily switch between mono and stereo signals. the output can also be used for headphone cueing of your tracks before bringing them out to the main mix. with this you can turn your OP–Z into a live performance dream machine.
available spring 2022
we've been hinting at this module for a while and we're finally ready to officially reveal it. it will still be some time before it's available to buy so make sure
to stay in the loop and we'll post again as soon as it
is ready. thanks for your support!- dev team out
the line module is designed to bring external audio signals in and out of your OP–Z. it adds a stereo line input and an additional stereo line output to the unit, as well as input and output for midi, trig and po sync, similar to oplab. use line in to add external audio signals to your mix and use line out as a second stereo output available within OP–Z.
you can route individual tracks to the module output instead of to the main mix to separate and process the individual tracks, or make effect loops with your favorite effect pedals. depending on your needs, you can easily switch between mono and stereo signals. the output can also be used for headphone cueing of your tracks before bringing them out to the main mix. with this you can turn your OP–Z into a live performance dream machine.
available spring 2022
we've been hinting at this module for a while and we're finally ready to officially reveal it. it will still be some time before it's available to buy so make sure
to stay in the loop and we'll post again as soon as it
is ready. thanks for your support!- dev team out
explore OP–Z
explore modules
new year, new jams.
january 5, 2022POSTED BY TOBIAS VON HOFSTEN
celebrating creativity
a new year is here and hopefully you've had a relaxing holiday. for more and more people, january has become synonymous with #jamuary. it's the perfect time to get creative with all your instruments, to overcome any challenge that may be holding you back and to share your music, no matter what. to celebrate creativity we are honoring #jamuary2022 in a special way.
we've teamed up with cuckoo
since a few years now, our good friend cuckoo has been taking the lead on #jamuary when it comes to electronic music. this year we're supporting this work by teaming up and giving away some late holiday gifts. cuckoo has issued a four-part giveaway challenge, with one winner per week, so this is your chance to collect your reward.
how to participate
every friday a new challenge will be announced over on cuckoo's instagram where you'll learn about all the details on how to participate. basically, there will be a new theme every week, and to participate you upload and tag your creations. the winners will be announced on mondays the following weeks, on the 10th, 17th, 24th and 31st of january. good luck!
what you can win
the prices for these challenges will also be revealed by cuckoo but we can hint at teenage engineering merch, cases, synths and maybe even a magic radio. happy #jamuary!
a new year is here and hopefully you've had a relaxing holiday. for more and more people, january has become synonymous with #jamuary. it's the perfect time to get creative with all your instruments, to overcome any challenge that may be holding you back and to share your music, no matter what. to celebrate creativity we are honoring #jamuary2022 in a special way.
we've teamed up with cuckoo
since a few years now, our good friend cuckoo has been taking the lead on #jamuary when it comes to electronic music. this year we're supporting this work by teaming up and giving away some late holiday gifts. cuckoo has issued a four-part giveaway challenge, with one winner per week, so this is your chance to collect your reward.
how to participate
every friday a new challenge will be announced over on cuckoo's instagram where you'll learn about all the details on how to participate. basically, there will be a new theme every week, and to participate you upload and tag your creations. the winners will be announced on mondays the following weeks, on the 10th, 17th, 24th and 31st of january. good luck!
what you can win
the prices for these challenges will also be revealed by cuckoo but we can hint at teenage engineering merch, cases, synths and maybe even a magic radio. happy #jamuary!
CUCKOO #JAMUARY2022 CHALLENGE - GOOD LUCK!
bonus: #jamuary22together
to add a little extra to your jamuary contributions you might want to consider an option initiated by aabattery. with the tag #jamuary22together he suggests using video layers to create an evolving collaborative musical piece. everything is explained in this post. have fun and good luck jamming!
to add a little extra to your jamuary contributions you might want to consider an option initiated by aabattery. with the tag #jamuary22together he suggests using video layers to create an evolving collaborative musical piece. everything is explained in this post. have fun and good luck jamming!