OP-1 Field: Teenage Engineering's Mobile Studio for On-the-Go
· re:union Radio editorial · 2 min read
Teenage Engineering's OP-1 Field packs synth, sampler, and effects into a rugged aluminum body with 24-hour battery life and built-in FM radio.
The OP-1 Field from Teenage Engineering is the revised reissue of the legendary OP-1 – a complete portable studio bundling synthesizer, sampler, sequencer, and effects into a single aluminum chassis. After over a decade of development on the original, the Swedish manufacturer describes its new flagship simply as "louder, thinner and 100 times better."
At a glance
- Dimensions 300 x 120 x 20 mm, weight 590 g
- 24-hour battery life
- 256 MB internal storage, over 160 minutes of sample time across up to 8 swappable tapes
- USB-C for audio/MIDI, Bluetooth Low Energy for wireless MIDI, built-in FM radio
A Chassis Built for Field Use
Unlike the original OP-1, the Field is designed for the rough daily grind of producers and sound designers. The display is, according to the manufacturer, "all glass, flush, high resolution" and features adjustable brightness – crucial when you're running the unit outdoors in daylight or on stage. The entire signal path stays stereo from input to output.
Sound Engines and New Features
Compared to the original, the Field introduces new synth engines, including the "Dimension" engine, plus a newly developed reverb effect. For recording on the move, you get two analog audio inputs via a 3.5 mm stereo jack with an input impedance of 13 kOhm; analog gain ranges from 0 to 31 dB at a maximum level of 8 dBu or 2 Vrms.
Connections and Connectivity
For the road or your DJ and producer setup, connectivity is key: USB-C pulls double duty as both an audio and MIDI host or device interface, backed by Bluetooth Low Energy for wireless MIDI. As a bonus, there's a built-in FM radio receiver covering 87.5 to 108 MHz.
Specs
| Dimensions | 300 x 120 x 20 mm |
|---|---|
| Weight | 590 g |
| Battery Life | 24 hours |
| Storage | 256 MB, over 160 minutes of samples, up to 8 tapes |
| Audio I/O | 3.5 mm stereo in/out, 13 kOhm input impedance, gain 0–31 dB |
| Connectivity | USB-C (audio/MIDI), Bluetooth Low Energy, FM radio 87.5–108 MHz |
"The OP-1 field is louder, thinner and 100 times better."
FAQ
Who is the OP-1 Field for?
Teenage Engineering targets professional musicians, recording artists, and sound designers who want synthesis, sampling, and effects in a compact, portable package.
How much sample storage is available?
The internal memory holds 256 MB, which the manufacturer says delivers over 160 minutes of sample material spread across up to eight swappable tapes.
Source: Teenage Engineering, OP-1 Field product page.
