Change is good, rather companies innovate and progress rather than rehash old ideas.
Got to love how defensive some can get over genuine valid criticism of their new and shiny! Can we please not descend into Xbox/PS fanboyism? (Nintendo are better anyway).
I accept the criticism fully. Opinions are completely respected- I’m just wondering how many people actually have or have used one for an extended period of time.
Am I upset about the battery life? No. More like disappointed but I’ll make do with a battery pack.
Glow in the dark paint? Don’t care.
iOS only? Don’t really care- I have an iPhone but you really don’t need a screen once you get used to it. This is especially true if you rig up a launch control XL or similar to control levels/FX/Filters/whatever.
Is it the best thing ever? Oh god no. For one, I have big hands and fingers so it’s almost too small. Also, the buttons could be easier to press (don’t get me started about the PB button).
Can I make an entire song on it? (Kinda…?). Just no audio track support (yet?- fingers crossed)
Try one for a day or two. Watch Cuckoo’s video on it and follow along with your own OP-Z. Do that twice and you’ll have it down. Then, if you really want, watch Huang’s much shorter video on it.
Now pardon me, I have to go push tiny buttons and make bleep bloop sounds.
If they had added a screen …
Higher cost
Screen too big
Screen too small
Complaints it wasn’t a touch screen .
No winners , only complaints , arguments , opinions…
By using a phone as optional screen , they’ve needed to develop an interface that seems to be well implemented using keys/buttons/leds , a further development on pocket operators (which have screens but are largely pointless)
The gimmick of unity , dmx lighting are pointless to me , if I wanted to trigger animations remotely it’s possible via anything that can spit out midi notes and an engine that can read them / joystick input.
I’d be more interested in the cost of modules and potential end price if sequencing external midi is important.
For now , it is what it is , complaining about the screen seems pointless considering the options are out there … don’t buy it if it’s an issue , move on with life.
Heh - at the moment, not planning on selling either, but I hear ya. The hard part would be picking which one to let go - I can’t pick a favorite child (cough cough digitone)!
Edit: I only mention downsizing devices because I only have so much time in the day/week to learn, let alone play with my gear. As it is, I probably already have too many things. The OP-Z would be yet another new interface and workflow to learn and adapt to. That’s where portability makes it look so attractive. I can take a short break at work, take it with me on car rides to the in-laws, anywhere! Jeez, I sound like I’m talking myself into one…
Will this push the price of the OP-1 up? There not a lot of difference for much more real estate.
Zoom arq?
Different product, so imo, no.
I would say down if anything, the OP-Z does more for less in my opinion and is far more portable.
The sounds are the same Surely thats not a circular OP-Z.
Yes but TE havent discontinued the OP-1. Why buy the OP-Z when for a little bit more you can get their flagship?
both.
Okay, I got to spend some time with the OP-Z, and I have to take a few steps back with my previous comments.
I still think it’s kinda shit that, accessibility wise, TE basically shut their doors to those who are colorblind with the OP-Z. At the same time, however, their new device is basically the distilled vision of the OP-1. Many videos that came later out of the OP-1’s release showed off the capability range of the OP-1, but further got away from what the OP-1 was originally intended for: a portable instrument that makes it fun and easy to explore making music.
And the OP-Z is pretty much the original spirit of the OP-1 packed into a device the size of a television remote controller. With my memory capacity equivalent to Dory of “Finding Nemo”, a screen would be helpful (save the phone/tablet argument for another discussion), but I still found myself exploring and experiencing joy make music. The level of depth is there if you want it, but if you want a device that is super portable and fun to play or sketch ideas, the OP-Z is pretty rad.
For real dude…
Screen-slave social-media-cancer zombie-apocalypse info-overload/knowledge-starvation self-orientated isolationism.
Or you know, something along those lines…
My dears, we’re here to talk about the OP-Z!
I haven’t had the chance to use the OP-Z’s screen-sharing abilities, but that’s good to know that TE is at least addressing the colorblind issue.
And yeah, having no screen made things very uncomfortable at first, but then I started remembering old Casio keyboards, and jamming on them when I was a little bean. I don’t really see myself yet of using an OP-Z in a live performance, and I have other gear to do solid recording, but I see the OP-Z as a fun thing to sketch ideas in a cafe or bar. I can also see the OP-Z as a fun thing to bring to parties and link up to lights and give folks an interactive experience.
Like the OP-1, deep down, the OP-Z is a fun creativity device center around music. How far you want to take it is really up to the user.
^ it is really small enough that I literally pack it into my handbag every time I go out of the house And it’s unobtrusive enough (no screen!!) that most people won’t take notice, which I find nice.
I usually bring my OP-1 to work and bust it out during breaks. Count me to do the same with the OP-Z when I have the funds for a unit.
It just looks so cute that I’d be worried I’d dip it into my latte!
It looks like Scottish Shortbread with lights…