Designed for prolific music creators, professionals, and beginners, the Teenage Engineering OP-XY is an ultra-portable advanced sequencer, synthesizer, and sampler inspired by cult underground dance music subcultures around the world. The OP-XY features TE's most sophisticated multi-track sequencer to date, as well as powerful tools for creating compositions that allow you to build entire songs on this device without even moving files to a DAW. You can stack compositions like building blocks and manipulate them, adding complexity with built-in effects. Activate the brain-moving function and let your hands speak for you.
The recently developed multi-sampler allows you to extract samples from multiple zones simultaneously, while the super-powerful synth engine generates amazing tones and textures. A built-in gyroscope adds a unique level of interactivity, allowing you to manipulate tracks by simply moving the device. The dual processor system provides super-fast data processing and efficiency. All these amazing technologies are housed in an anodized matte black aluminum finish, providing an elegant look and ample protection.
4 Main Modes
Instrument: 8 track buttons allow you to control and edit 8 instrumental tracks available in the OP-XY; Auxiliary functions: 8 “track” buttons allow you to intelligently move your tracks, edit send effects, edit external inputs and outputs, and play and arrange effects with FX effects; Arrange: Allows you to create your song by combining scenes composed of templates from your 8 tracks; Mixing: Here you can control levels and panning for each track. This is also where the main equalizer and master compressor are adjusted.
Sequencer
The main workflow of the OP-XY is based on a step-by-step sequence of actions, with a row of 16 buttons in the center control panel representing a musical grid into which sounds and notes are recorded. At the end of the row is the "lane" button, which allows you to switch between 4 lanes. The "Lane" button also allows you to adjust the length and scale of the sequence. When used together, the maximum pattern length can be 64 steps or 1024 1/16th notes distributed over four bars.
You can enter notes and chords manually or use the real-time recording function by pressing the record and play buttons simultaneously. The sequencer remains on the first step, activating when the first note or chord is played. While playing a song, holding the record key allows you to overdub. You have quantization and editing options, as well as the ability to record parameter changes, either fixed on one step or automatically executed over several steps.
Using Step Components, you can quickly modify specific steps to expand the sequencer's capabilities. Change everything from sound height randomization to bending, skipping, and even multiplying steps. Options are presented with graphical icons on each of the main keys of the keyboard.
Sound Generators and Effects
In instrument mode, the 8 track buttons allow you to control and edit 8 instrumental tracks available in the OP-XY. The instrument can be a stereo drum sample set or built-in synth engine, each with its own characteristics. Choose from a wide range of presets available in one of the 8 synth engines.
The engine offers a huge selection of sound options, including FM synthesis for pads and digital leads, Dissolve - tonal noise reduction, electric piano, hardsync synthesizer, organ with transistor and church settings, Prism - synthesizer for regular basses, leads, and everything else in this instrument - ranging from a simple synthesizer for creating basic patches to a waveform synthesizer with 9 different waveform tables to choose from.
All adjustments can be intuitively edited using 4 encoder buttons to adjust envelope, filter, and LFO parameters. To diversify and enhance the sound of the synthesizer and drums, OP-XY offers 6 built-in effects that can be assigned to 2 FX tracks. Available effects include chorus, delay, distortion, bit crusher, phaser, and reverb. Just like in synthesizers, 4 encoder knobs allow you to quickly adjust effect parameters to tailor your sound.
Auxiliary Mode
Auxiliary mode includes 8 auxiliary tracks, including MIDI effects, audio effects, FX send effects, and built-in punch-in effects. Use the auxiliary tracks to modify the built-in sounds of the OP-XY or even control and send to external devices. Track 1 in this mode is the Brain track, which provides an intelligent way to transpose a track or even an entire song. Brain listens and determines the key signature of your song/track; then you can manually adjust the key and scale to your preferences.
On track 2 in auxiliary mode is the Punch-In FX track. Punch-In FX is a great way to quickly add variations to your song. Use them in track creation to quickly brainstorm ideas, then record or perform them live to add powerful variations to your rhythm. Lower octave adds effects to percussion tracks, while higher octave adds them to melodic tracks. Some built-in FX use the gyroscope and pitch bend to add modulation or change their behavior when you move the device or activate the pitch bend function. Tracks in auxiliary mode provide control over external MIDI and CV/gate instruments, sound routing to and from the device, control from built-in OP-XY preamps, filtering, tape effects, and LFO.
Mixing Mode
Mixing mode allows you to create the perfect balance in your song. Here you will control levels, panning, equalization, compression, and FX send. Press the "Track" button to select the track you want to mix; you can mix both instrumental and auxiliary tracks. 4 encoder knobs control FX send, panning, and level adjustment, providing intuitive control in practice. Button and encoder combinations allow you to mute and solo tracks.
Here you can also adjust the main equalizer. A master saturator with adjustable gain, clip, tone, and mix parameters is available as well. Additionally, OP-XY offers 4 customizable mastering parameters. Use the first two knobs to balance drums and melodic instruments. The last two knobs adjust compression level and master level.
Package Includes:
- Synthesizer;
- Hook and loop fastener;
- USB-C cable;
- Documentation.
