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Gas seems manifest itself near the end of day. The secret is to sleep it off, and see how you feel about it. Clarity is somehow better in the morning as compared to lower will power in the evening.
It's an amazing phenomena that most buying decisions are easier to take during the night time. Shit almost every day a browse web and Im like "Why do I even think about buying this thang when I have never thought about it before?"
3am scrolling UA-cam is the worst time for impulse purchases. I’ve bought so much TE stuff and it’s all in a drawer untouched for months like a box of pebbles.
That is even scientifically accurate. There are whole economic models based on this, people that bet against people that buy stock late at night (bc their judgment is impaired). Neuro-economics
I had the same thing when I bought the OP-Z. I had all the problems: bending, double triggers, oplab module doesn't fit. It lasted about 18 months, then became practically un-sellable. And I take care of my gear. I was on board with them until I experienced one of their products. But, I'd never buy from them again, and I advise everyone against doing so. If style over substance was a tech brand, it'd be TE.
I am so incredibly let down with the way they handled the opz.. so much so that despite loving it I sold it and never bought a op1 field or will I buy a new opz field either.. completely over anything like that from them.. Yet just like in this video.. they suckered me again somehow and I did buy a ep133 despite really not wanting to support them.. and I absolutely love it.. everything it lacks compared to the competition, is what makes it so incredible.. it is just so much fun to use and I love how it is so customizable.. it does only exactly what I need and does it in a fun and super concentrated easy way.. I hate to support them, but they knocked it out the park with that knockout..lol
That whole "I buy a piece of gear to rush to make an ad about it using my lifetime of experience as a musician... and then publish it on a platform I spent years building" part... that's at a similar depth as humans being a part of the universe looking inwards marveling of its own existence. Your other point about that shiny new gear chipping away from the time you could spend mastering your existing gear is also spot on. Yes, exploring different workflows to understand which ones you enjoy the most is worth it, but only to a degree. Thanks for a great video.
The more time I spend on the ep133 the better it gets though. I think TE put a lot of thoughts into how instruments are programmed and what possibilities and creativity they open up within their own limitations like no other brands have IMHO. The workflows they propose have a learning curve to them but once you master the advanced concepts they become extremely capable and unique.
Sometimes I take a step back and think about how deep acoustic instruments like piano and guitar are. So much self expression and music across virtually limitless genres have been made with the same “patch” of a piano or acoustic guitar. What’s helped me with GAS is looking at purchases as instruments rather than “gear”. Designs that stand the test of time and have use across genres appeal to me more now and help me see through cool, but ultimately un-useful “stuff”.
I watch your channel to avoid purchasing gear I don’t need. So in many ways you are the GAS antidote. I also like the fact that you are usually not a day one guy. I prefer reviews, tutorials, and jams on gear that you have worked with for a while.
This is why my favorite videos of yours are those where you have someone on who talks about how they set up their live sets, or when you talk about how pt together your own setup. There are so many companies and people trying to sell me something all day long, its refreshing to just see how you all are making music.
Man this video is all so much more true than I care to admit lmao. I’m a guitar player, but I’ve been curious about taking a peak into the world of synths, sequencers, drum machine and what not for a while now. Last year I bought a used OP-1 purely cause I always thought it looked cool over the years and had heard some neat sounds come out of it online, not that I really knew what it was or if it was really what I was looking for. Ended up getting distracted and shelving it, but wanting to come back to it eventually and learn. Fast forward a year, still haven’t learned the OP-1 and I find out about the POs. After watching a few videos of em, now I’m GASing for one or two. I don’t know if it’s cause I’m coming from the world of guitar and all this stuff is so new and interesting to me, or if TE really are just design geniuses 😂
During lockdown I bought a PO-33 and discovered the world of music. After I learned a machine I bought the next step up. Now I have Elektron products and really, that is the end goal for me. Learning to make music through these machines while having fun. Getting the machines and learning them is part of me learning to make music. And all of it is fun.
As Im learning to make some music (my girlfriend calls them techno noises), I ran into Ableton's website, it has a "learn music" link, which is pretty cool as it brushes on the surface of many topics, and it is not super dense, and you have some exercises as you go along. As you go along you see some popular songs being dissected so you see how to build some parts yourself.
This is by far the best video I’ve seen from you in my opinion. I like your content, but this video really invokes thought and self-reflection, as well as shows us a little bit more about you as a person, and I appreciate that a lot.
@@LiamKillen btw I’m not saying your other videos don’t. This one just got me, probably because I saw it as I’m scrolling reverb looking for my next piece of gear when I really should be paying down my credit cards rather than spending more. I’ve been struggling with GAS for years now.
Don't forget about their involvement with Nothing (the electronics company). I personally believe a huge part of their success as a brand new entrant into the smartphone/smartphone accessories industry has to do with Teenage Engineering doing the industrial design.
Interesting video. Definitely agree with a lot of what you talked about. For me, videos of the OP1 got me into groove boxes and “dawless”. I never got an OP1 but my first hardware was a KO33 and it just opened my eyes so much to how fun music can be outside the computer. Before that I was only making music in FLStudio and had kind of taken a break from it. So from that standpoint I owe a lot to TE for getting me back in in such a strong way. Since then I have gotten an OPZ and Dirtywave M8 and couldn’t be happier. Haven’t opened FLStudio since. I agree that it’s a problem when you feel the need to collect them all though. Especially at their current prices. I think it was essential to me to choose to master the gear I have before getting new gear. Certainly a problem in the community though.
I don't see them ever stopping production of the OG pocket operators but with the K.O. II it seems pretty clear that they're done with expanding what was once their cheapest range of synths. I wish they ended up going to production with the individual synth modules from the po modular range because those had a very strong DIY ethos. I'll always be a fan of the "metal series" pocket operators ever since I purchased a used tonic but to me it's clear TE are moving towards being more of a design firm and luxury brand. They fully take advantage of drop culture, the magic speaker, field desk and the collab with Off-White were unfortunately just the beginning.
I spend months agonising over buying gear, often selling other gear to fund it, my finances are tight and I really don't take these decisions lightly, so it's refreshing and massively appreciated to hear some honesty from a hardware reviewer in this respect. I love my OG OP-1 and was always defending it from my modular real ale friends, but the price of the OP-1 Field is an absolute piss-take, that's kind of soured my opinion of TE. Just purchased a nearly new SP404mk2 off the back of your vids anyway, CANNOT WAIT to get stuck in, cheers!
Great video. I got into this channel (and back into making music) cause of the KO II. It was the first time in a long time i saw a thing i just had to have, even though i didn't know exactly what it did. The TE design ethos is powerful. I've just had to accept that this is my hobby now and i like to collect this stuff. I've since got an mpc key 61 and some other gear. I'll never go platinum, but there's something about messing around with black boxes that go bleepy bloop that makes a stressful day at work fade a little bit. Some guys collect $20k plus watches that they store in their closets. Other guys buy $10k mountain bikes that they never ride. Of the crazy expensive stuff to collect, i feel like synths aren't the worst thing... At least, that's what I've tried to convince my wife of
I thought these guys were an industrial art house that shit out music toys for fun, and imo the commentary surrounding them is some of the best meta humor dealing with peoples disconnectedness from what they are actually buying and why.
Excellent video Liam. As I put my studio together over time, i diligently research the instruments that go into it to have a specific and hopefully permanent surface. This with the recent (last 5 years) exception of the Moog Sound Studio and The Microfreak, both of which I bought sight unseen/unheard. Needless to say I wasn’t disappointed with either. With that being said, I find no desire or temptation to do anything but create the music and produce sample packs I freelance. When the Digitakt II came out recently I was scratching my head as to why so many’s people all the sudden found out that the digitakt wasn’t sufficient for their needs anymore. This is a laughable cover for GAS. I love how you touched on that in the video. With the exception of a select few experiments and trials everything in my workshop has a very specific purpose for being there. Even with the overlap this is true. I have both an Octatrack and Digitakt but for different sampling purposes. Same goes with my Roland SP. At the end of the day if they are more into looking cool with new trends or simply just like playing with the gear.. (thats not such a bad thing really) and not really into creating actual music, they are hobbyists at best funding the TE CEO’s senior advisor’s new penthouse office in Stockholm. Probably putting a few kids through some ivy league educations too. Just sayin lol. Awesome video and spot on. A sigh of relief when my fellow EDM veterans are standing up and calling out the bs. You have my respect Liam. 🍚 🥕 ☮️ ❤️ 🕊️
Thanks for that, Liam. Nice to hear an honest assessment of "GearTube" in general, and to be reminded that the goal is to actually make music, not just to accumulate more stuff. I think there's a fine line - especially when you're new - between finding the pieces that you really vibe with and simply buying into the hype. There's a lot of amazing gear that doesn't get much attention, and for me, it's often the more obscure items that end up being the most essential - not because of their obscurity per se, but because they're uniquely suited for the role they play in my setup. For anyone that reads this, here's a tip when it comes to GAS: try to identify what your setup is missing first, then, once you have an idea of what you need, start looking for synths that have those features. While it might seem obvious, I think we're all guilty of doing the opposite sometimes; we buy a piece of gear because it has a great set of features, and then we try to shoehorn it into our workflow. That's not always a bad thing (it's how I came to own the Octatrack, which I absolutely love, and which has totally changed the way I make music), but oftentimes it's the reason a purchase leaves us feeling underwhelmed or frustrated - we get ourselves worked up, thinking of all the amazing things we could do with some unit or another, spend hundreds or thousands of dollars to acquire it, only to find out that our music sucks as bad (or worse) than it did before. Don't worry. It happens to all of us. There's nothing wrong with buying gear. I love it, personally, and I've probably got more than I need right now. I know I do, actually, and pretty soon I'll probably have to sell a few things off to make way for whatever's next. Buying gear is fun, but it's more fun when you get it right - when you hook up that new synth, and it fills the exact niche you were looking to fill, and suddenly everything clicks, and your workflow gets easier, and your music sounds better, and you start having more fun... that's when you know you chose wisely: another piece of the puzzle falls into place, and you get one step closer to wherever it is you're trying to get. This video is a pretty good example of what I mean: ua-cam.com/video/OwTLnQ9VmX0/v-deo.html (it also happens to be the first of Liam's videos I ever watched). Keep up the great work, homie. ♥
I find myself hopelessly buying new synths and groove boxes and never mastering anything. Then I sell them and start all over again. I see my character flaw but I haven’t fixed it yet.
Thanks for the heads up on this whole product driven world .. going out on a limb to highlight the highs and lows of this consumer ideology we all too often fall prey to ...as we are constantly being fed the idea that we absolutely " need " something .. when in fact if one steps back and reflects .. comes away realizing .. no.. i do not .. we all have our " weak spots " .. your video is a great wake up call to all of us to stop and think more before rushing into the purchase of a product whatever that product may be ... thanks for being open .. honest .. transparent ... we need more of that .. over .. buy .. buy .. buy! Cheers !
99% of modern gear is all hype and geared (no pun intended) to make us feel like we're not relevant musically unless we have the shiny new product advertised! I do have a resentment to a lot of content creators not just in music but in the photography business too! The camera industry releases more cameras 4k 6k 8k more pixels more features etc. When most people view photos and video content from their 5 inch phone screens when you can't tell the difference between 4k and 8k on something so small! Props to you for making this video and explaining how we're all getting taken for a ride with these gear companies!
This is a great video! Thank you for addressing this topic and kudos for not excluding yourself. Teenage Engineering POs are a great gateway into the electronic music world as well as GAS. A good way to curve the GAS is also selling your gear. I had some POs but really wanted the OP-1. I ended up selling my PO's for an OP-1 which I don't regret. When the OP1 Field came out shortly afterward I got my OP 1, I had no interest in the OP1 Field and still am happy with that decision. Maybe TE has hit a ceiling, which is fine because they still have very strong products and are always find ways to improve themselves. I still reference your TE videos and tutorials. Thanks again for addressing this and as always keep up the good work 🙌
Sigh i loveeee the op 1 and will be getting the field (basically teaching myself to fix it if problems occur.) other than that I couldn't pressure myself to get any of the other product they have. I dont really have a lot of gear and the stuff i do is old which is fine for me cus it works for me. I stay updated on the new gear coming out because its cool but i know what works for me and what doesnt. It does get tempting from time to time lol but i just think "how would this work with what i have and do I really need it." People also need to remember some of their favorite artists use old ass gear to make some bangers.
"what is right for you" I think this is the key. It's easy to focus on the creator and or the company. The hard part is to look inward and be honest with yourself. Is it right for me. We already know how things work. We know the theory if something is too good to be true it is, yet still fall for it. The game changing moment is when we begin to make our own decisions vs being influenced by another human being.
When you look at the groovebox market, TE just doesn't make a compelling full featured product and probably never will. Anyone who's been around the space for more than a couple of years has ended up choosing 1 of 3 workflow options. 1. Elektron 2. MPC 3. Tracker (M8 or Polyend). Just choose one of the 3 workflows and go with it. Learn the device you choose well, and forget TE ever existed.
I admire the TE deaign chops, but I know i would struggle with the OP-1's limitations, I loathe the OP-Z lconcept of locking stuff behind an app, the modular stuff looks great but is undercooked, and I stipped taking them seriously as an enterprise after the $1500 noize table. the 133 appeals, but is what those caseless calxulators should've been first time around!
Not referring to Teenage Engineering, but if it helps smaller synth companies survive by selling desirable trinkets to non musicians, then good for them, the rest of us benefit. Hello Elektron 😉
I got my Novation Circuit maybe late 2016 my first synth/groovebox…I started freestyle-in then writing songs…then went to the studio started buying beats and got inspired by my beat guy to try and make track beats now I’m trying to add a little to my at home studio and produce my own music and upload to Distrokid…Whoop There It Is 🎹🎤🎶🔊‼️
this is so true, Hologram has made me want to buy a chroma console so bad, but also realizing that i have great gear already, and don’t need to get more.
Very good reminder for me that I don’t need the rush of buying something new because it looks cool. I’m not always impulsive but some time can be. Thanks for this opportunity to let me look inward and ask if I really need that thing I’m itching to buy that I might not be able to afford. 😂
I think it requires some experience with gear (and some poor buying decisions) to know the difference between what it seems and what it actually does. There are too many details and individual stuff which is not obvious until you get a hands-on experience. For example, I was really excited about the MC-101 until I actually got it. There are a lot of things that doesn't work me in the device, but it also opened my eyes onto some things that I didn't think about before. A checklist of features for my next groovebox was expanded, and it was a more conscious purchase, I've got the Polyend Tracker, and I'm pretty happy with it. As for TE, I think their non-expensive devices (POs and EP) are cool, but things like OP-1, TX-6, TP-7 with prices like that are beyond my understanding.
Great topic. Very interesting to discuss with people in the marketing field. I do find TE stuff very expensive and not very resistant. Although it looks cool and is fun. Only thing I have from them is the KO-33. Interesting what you talk about the rush from buying new things, its something to be careful about. I like learning about the story of musicians I admire. You find out its truly more about putting in the time to create something special, than to have all the gear. If you know what you're doing, you can do great things with little.
I fully agree1000%! About rushing a gear I remember this new year everyone wants ep-133 , and I have Roland sp-404 mkii it even better take it and use it.🙌🙌🙌
Hello, i did not know GAS concept before watching this video. Big Thanks. I bought a digitakt 5 years ago, as a no brainer call, without any regret, and got a lot of pleasure to explore elektron sequencer etc.. this year i bought a PO33 to try and got more fun that i've expected. So naturally, i've looking for which other TE gear i should buy, and it seems that only OP1 (field) fits to me. But ofc price did not, after few months of headache (rly), i finally bought one and I found a taste of making music that remind me my first step in electronic music (~ 25/30 years ago with Roland MC303 and a 400 bucks computer). This feeling has no cost even if i get a bit abused by TE. (excuse my bad english)
So true about what you say with 'form over function' with TE products. I mean, their products are truly amazing in function, but also leave much to be desired. Take for example the OPZ. I have two I sync and play at the same time which does produce some amazing outcomes (i work in marketing for a boring corporation, making jingles and content sounds with the OPZs!), BUT.... to create a 'full' song which lasts for about 3-4 minutes is not possible or straightforward with the OPZ, or almost any product for that matter, short of perhaps an MPC or MC707, where you lose that 'speed of creation/immediacy' factor.
Yeah, spot on at the end there. Despite it being an overpriced toy mostly targeted towards yuppies, I do like how they’ve brought the power of design and form into the conversation. I have a modest amount of keyboards and instruments, but I don’t use them as often because I work at my desk and have to clear it off to switch to music. Meanwhile I use the OP1 every day as i can simply flick it on and get some ideas down. I also bring it around other musicians and they love it, and can start jamming immediately-(till it becomes awkward when they ask how much it costs). All to say that while its downsides are immediately apparent something here is working.
Hi Liam, I like your videos very much, you've been a great resource for me with regards to getting into the PO series in recent months. Your disclaimer about TE and their role in R1 comes too late and is at odds with what you say beforehand: "a handheld ai designed by teenage engineering" we know it's the housing primarily, not the AI service. "it also seems like they straight up lied about how it actually works" the Rabbit team would be the "they" here, not TE I really admire your work, but think you've made some mistakes here and it's the first impressions that really matter. It's great to hear your takes on your role and interactions with technology, the users and the various industries (goods/content) On a side note; PO's have helped me get into music like I never thought possible, at a great price point (specially 2nd hand) EP-133 I'm a bit skeptical of this becoming a whole series like the PO myself, but the 133's price point / accessibility is wild.
My AuDHD brain has been totally sucked in to this cycle of lusting after the new thing while the other six samplers I own sit gathering dust. I made tons more music in the early 2000s when I just had a cracked copy of Sonic Foundry Acid, and then a proper copy of Ableton. Now I’m just overwhelmed by all the gear I own and I make hardly any music, and have a big credit card balance to try and clear down. I feel a bit stupid, tbh, but (and slightly off topic) I think this is just how high capitalism takes advantage of people who share my neurotype. Being able to ignore all the noise and actually focus on doing The Thing is very much the AuDHD experience. I haven’t found the answer yet but thank you for this video, I feel it’s helped me a step or several in the right direction on that!
@@i-never-look-at-replies-lol Firstly it's AuDHD, secondly I'm not blaming anything on anything, I'm talking about my neurotype and how it influences my thought processes and behaviour, thirdly what's it to you anyway?
I literally bought a Roland mc 303 today because it’s cheap and works for what I need it to. Having said that though, holy moly are the urges to buy into GAS crazy, I want a digitakt II so bad almost purely because it’s the new shiny thing.
@@LiamKillen Yeah, it's what's keeping me from just picking up a cheaper used D1, lol. But yeah, with a synth showcase every year and countless releases between, It's really hard to not just buy up every cool new thing.
On point. It's easy to fixate on the rush of a new, shiny thing than deepen my relationship with the fantastic tools that I have even though that is where the magic happens. It's easy to buy into the idealized concept of the new thing, the sweet promise of its potential, especially if that let's you defer putting in the work with the gem you have already. Oh god, am I describing marriage? 😂 I think one of the appeals of eye-watteringly expensive vintage gear is that it provides an countervaling force. It's already proved its worth by standing the test of time, and sunk cost means that you're incentivized to deepen your relationship and learn to get the most out of it. If I bought myself a Buchla Music Easel like Caterina Barbieri, you'd better believe I'm milking it for all it's worth.
Cuckoo going crazy that we can FINALLY sample in stereo with digitakt II is prime GAS creation in my eyes. I love his stuff but that video had me laughing out loud 🙂
I love Teenage Engineering's approach to design. It's pretty much cribbing from Braun and other neo-modern Bauhaus style designs. Which makes their gear look at home next to other companies which borrow that design language. Like Apple. As far as the practice of selling the idea as opposed to selling the function itself. This is what we called selling the sizzle, not the steak back when I worked in sales. No restaurant is selling you 35 grams of protein, with 40 grams of carbohydrate and another 25 grams of chlorophyl impregnated fiber. A seared flank steak with Idaho potatoes and butter sauteed brussel sprouts is much more appealing.
Hey Liam! Best experienced I can share is I bought the KO 2 on day one direct from TE. Took ages to arrive in Belfast. I made one UA-cam video and then soon realised I didn't need it and sold it soon after
And then we have Roland packing a million features into a tiny piece of gear like the S1, but it’s so inconvenient to access and much more effort to learn and get the most out of it 😅
I waited till the KO2 when on sale and I actually wish I got it sooner. It’s the only teenage engineering piece of gear I own. I have the NI Maschine mk3 but the the KO2 is great for what I do. I love experimenting with it and I use guitar pedals and other synths with it as well as guitar. Great video. The GAS is a real thing and I’ve slowly moved away from first day preorder mania. I have so much gear that I’ve been selling a bunch and don’t even remember owning half of it. lol. Running a recording studio informs my purchases on a as needed basis but sometimes those wants be callin me.
Thank you for this video! I agree with much of what you are saying, especially about TE. I have a studio full of gear. I've been GAS'd many times. However now I ask myself what problem a piece of gear is going to solve before I purchase, and is it really something I need - because 8 times out of 10 I don't need it. But there are those 2 out of 10 that I do. As for TE, I have the original OP-1. It is a very interesting piece, but ultimately I really only use it sparingly, and its best use for me was travel, although I'm too scared to travel with it anymore due to the documented issues with it being fragile. I would not pay 2K for it today. Same with a hand-held mixer. Hand-held - why? It's functionally too small for anyone's hands, and I can use a big, capable mixer's iPad or iPhone app to do it in my hand. It's just an unnecessary tool that looks cool. It has some cute functionality, but it can't compete with a real mixer in so many ways. Anyway, good video, thank you again!
While I agree with many things you say in this video there is a bit of irony of you having teenage engineerings name in the title and then talking mostly about GAS in general:) In some strange sense I think that the OP1 field being as expensive as it is, is a good thing for GAS. Since it’s not possible for most to just impulsively go buy it. In that way buying it will be a bigger investment and you will probably take it more seriously spending time with it. A weird justification for a high price, I know. But I also suffer much from GAS. I have every Pocket operator but none of the OP1’s.
Had a serious case of Gas at the beginning of the pandemic. Cash in the bank, nowhere else to spend it. Once the world emerged, coupled with our toddler becoming a kid, my gas tank was running out.
For me, someone chronically short on cash, it’s so weird to see other people talk about GAS, because I’ll save for weeks to be able to afford a new guitar pedal and then I’ll use that thing for literal years even if it’s a piece of shit. I do feel though that if I had the money I would absolutely fall into that trap
GAS effectively exploits musician's insecurities and sense of imposter syndrome. If we were all a little more confident in our abilities using the stuff we have at hand, and being kinder to ourselves creatively, they'd find particularly difficult to get you buy the next big thing.
I actually told my self that after the last module I bought in may, I will not buy another gear until next year. We'll see how that will workout by the end of the year.
I remember seeing thr OP1 'centre for ants' video (i think it's by red meand recording?) probably during lockdown. I didn't know anything about synths but i thought to myself 'if that is about £400 I'll buy one'... Needless to say I never got one. When the ko2 came out i got that same sense of excitement and the price point was really decent! It was a massive gateway for me and i now have that, the opz, syntakt, sp404mk2, roland s1 and i couldn't be happier (like a pig in proverbial..). It's an amazing hobby and TE (and creators like you) absolutely got me into it. GAS is real but i don't mind it and that's just fine for me!
It actually wasn't RMR, but it makes a lot of sense that you'd think it was since the creator of that video definitely ripped off RMR's video style for the op1.
This video makes me want a Rabbit R1 even more! Lately I've been sucked into the TE rabbit hole(again after not liking the op1 years ago), KO2 then OP1 field, then m1, then OB4, then TX6, and then TP7... Today after about a week's ownership of the TP7 I got into a TE existential crisis thinking "have I fallen into a trap?"...I'm not sure, but what I do know is the design, aesthetics and playability of the TE stuff I value more than the pure functionality of them. If that weren't the case there isn't anything better for functionality than a DAW, no? What am I using my DAW for, loaded with great software, to watch this video. Not sure exactly if my point went through, but TE's design proposition I think to many out weighs their function proposition. When talking to other TE folk, a bunch are profitable off their music and aren't just hobbyists, but the TE designs help them(and myself) deal with gear and daw burnout.
Great video. And i feel like you are being honestly honest. Unlike many other youtubers who do these honest videos, with honesty used as an instrument to make money. That being said... Yes, you are right, there is a problem with GAS. But i feel like we should blame ourselves, not companies that are doing great products like TE. Dont poop onto❤ TE. We are invaded by shitty products. TE, just like Apple, has been changing this for the better.
Kudos to you for saying out loud what so many people need to hear. We gotta stop fanning over products and start fanning over the art and artists. TE has been a prime example and it seems like most synth youtubers are unwilling, or maybe even scared, to say the truth, you may feel like your platform isn't big, but I promise it means more to people looking up gear than you may realize. The DT2 has so many issues as well and no one with a platform is willing to call it the rushed, incomplete thousand dollar box that it really is, again, probably out of fear? I'm not sure. But in reviewers failure to call it as it is, it is pushing people to spend tons of money only to find out it doesn't work as promised. Keep these videos coming!
I got the dirtywave M8 three years ago and ended up selling off a ton of elektron gear, some synths, etc. I kept my 404mk2 and eventually replaced my octatrack but the little M8 really killed my GAS for other stuff. Every time something new comes out I sort of stop and think like “ok but does M8 do this in some way?” And almost every time the answer is yes and when it does turn out to be no, usually it isn’t something I really need anyway. Not to stump for buying more gear or anything but when you find the right thing for you, you don’t really need other stuff. Go through your gear and sell off everything that doesn’t get used every week. You’ll see that your favorite machines tend to be all you really need. Also, I talked myself out of getting plugins by getting much cheaper apps on iPhone/ipad that essentially do the same thing. ButterSynth for 20$ pt me from buying phase plant for 200$
@@LiamKillen it replaced a lot of things for me. Once I recognized that I was able to downsize in a big way and I’m not saying everyone should have an M8 I’m just saying once you find something that works well for you, just get really good with that and maybe take it easy on getting new stuff
Of course I know you already know what you’re doing I just meant in general people have way more than they’ll ever use and nobody is particularly great with any one thing they have. Except Baseck. That dudes a wizard on everything lol
“ I WANT THAT “ for me trigers how expensive/quality is the SOUND and how expensive/quality is the circuitry inside which makes the sound. the real 303 is just plastic outside and no clone replica give you the depth that the real unit dies because it is cramped with more quality circuitry inside than any modern monophonic / polyphonic analog synth. my advice is PAY EXPENSIVE MONEY FOR EXPENSIVE SOUND / EXPENSIVE CIRCUITRY
Not me watching this after buying a Roland SP404 MK2 about a year ago but procrastinating learning it, then buying the EP133 about a month ago and beep booping the pads for 40 mins before going back to Koala Sampler on my iPad…which I have an Arturia Minilab 3 and Minifuse 1 still in boxes that I got for my birthday specifically to use with Koala…while my MPC 1000, Maschine MK2, Maschine Mikro MK3, Launchpad X, Launchcontrol and Ableton on my Mac all collect dust. Oh and I have 5 Pocket Operators in a box haha I think I need to do a cleanse 😂
GAS is not as strong in the DAW side of the Force, once you got a couple controllers you're pretty much done. The only DAWless gear i decided to keep forever is my Deluge which keeps on getting better over time thanks to its community.
GAS is powerful, and has especially become a problem with advent of UA-cam synthfluencers. I've bought quite a few new pieces of gear with a conviction that it's something I need to make more/better/different music. But as with all trends, it seems to be dropping. I missed out on the initial batch of the K.O. II and by the time it was back in stock GAS had subsided and I was no longer as excited about it, especially with no 16 pad grid and the scroll through steps sequencer with no dedicated buttons per step.. Same with Digitakt II, it just doesn't feel enough for the asking price. It would seem, the problem solves itself - once it comes out, it's sold out and by the time it's back in stock, the first wave of reviews has passed, so has GAS (pun intenden).
I bought into the UA-cam EP-133 hype before it was released. I didn't have enough money to buy it when it first went on sale and I almost borrowed some money to get it, thankfully I decided not to. I put a saved search on eBay to see what would happen - The RRP of the EP-133 was £299. Initially the prices of new units on eBay starting hitting upwards of £600, and people were buying them too. After a month, prices were down to RRP on eBay. Today I'm seeing people trying to shift them for £250 or lower in a couple of cases. Need it right now? No you don't. Wait until the reviews hit after a couple of months, wait until the hype has died and then if you're still into it, go for it. Patience is your friend.
For me, TE gear is just plain horror. While the OP-1 might have been a great pocket synth at the time, all of their other stuff is just "form over function". I mean, they're now even selling devices without people actually having one clue about what they actually do, the EP-133 is a perfect example.
They also worked with ikea on a few things. I have a Bluetooth speaker from them that I got for $30 on sale a few years ago. The thing actually sounds pretty good for what it is. Definitely wanna try an OP-1 field though
I am a designer and a music maker… but.. if the design is the main priority of a brand, without a specific and meaningful purpose, it is only a trendy product, not an essential creative tool. This, plus the pricy aspect makes TI a « non serious » brand in this specific industry. As simple as that!
Yeah they're targetting a different demographic for sure. That being said the devil's advocate is that there are some great beat makers using TE gear on the regular !
I remember that I was very much intrigued when the first op-1 came out but the price was ridiculous. I think TE had their peak time with PO33. After that, all their gears are either plain right shit or way too over priced.
I enjoy my ep 133 but TE is basically the poster company late capitalism, in the way that they exist only to transform culture into commodity. TE product designers subsume a previous history and render it into these weird cultural artifacts that are very removed from their original context. TE's emphasis on novelty and aesthetic over utility illustrates how late capitalism absorbs and metabolizes anything that it comes into contact with, strips it of meaning and assigns value that is purely monetary. i find them to be a deeply problematic company but then again so are many of the other synth companies that i buy crap from -- and as someone who likes to play synths but can't build my own, i ultimately buy TE stuff even if I know I'll feel guilty about it later.
i bought the po33, minifreak, the east beast and the roland t-8. 4 pieces of gear with minimal overlap and if i could go back and redo it all i wouldve just bought vsts.
I got into synths because I thought the op1 and opz looked cool but I’ve just been using ableton and a midi keyboard and see no reason to buy any this else so far. If I had gotten an opz as my first instrument I probably wouldn’t have stuck with the hobby.
My Discord is poppin' - join up ! :-)
►discord.gg/xj8J2xJuBP
Check out my Patreon for the extended version of this video:
►www.patreon.com/liamkillenmusic
Thank you for inspiring to start my YOutube page, Liam!
Gas seems manifest itself near the end of day. The secret is to sleep it off, and see how you feel about it. Clarity is somehow better in the morning as compared to lower will power in the evening.
Wise words my friend
It's an amazing phenomena that most buying decisions are easier to take during the night time.
Shit almost every day a browse web and Im like "Why do I even think about buying this thang when I have never thought about it before?"
3am scrolling UA-cam is the worst time for impulse purchases. I’ve bought so much TE stuff and it’s all in a drawer untouched for months like a box of pebbles.
@@markstephenson9280 Thanks for making me feel better on a rainy day in late June.
That is even scientifically accurate. There are whole economic models based on this, people that bet against people that buy stock late at night (bc their judgment is impaired). Neuro-economics
The poor quality control, the lack of documentation and the crap customer support are the things that bug me about TE.
👎
@@LiamKillen thumbs down you agree?
I had the same thing when I bought the OP-Z. I had all the problems: bending, double triggers, oplab module doesn't fit. It lasted about 18 months, then became practically un-sellable. And I take care of my gear.
I was on board with them until I experienced one of their products. But, I'd never buy from them again, and I advise everyone against doing so.
If style over substance was a tech brand, it'd be TE.
I am so incredibly let down with the way they handled the opz.. so much so that despite loving it I sold it and never bought a op1 field or will I buy a new opz field either.. completely over anything like that from them..
Yet just like in this video.. they suckered me again somehow and I did buy a ep133 despite really not wanting to support them.. and I absolutely love it.. everything it lacks compared to the competition, is what makes it so incredible.. it is just so much fun to use and I love how it is so customizable.. it does only exactly what I need and does it in a fun and super concentrated easy way.. I hate to support them, but they knocked it out the park with that knockout..lol
I had gas for the Monomachines, but the bugs made me angry, so I resold it.
Now it costs millions 😅
That whole "I buy a piece of gear to rush to make an ad about it using my lifetime of experience as a musician... and then publish it on a platform I spent years building" part... that's at a similar depth as humans being a part of the universe looking inwards marveling of its own existence.
Your other point about that shiny new gear chipping away from the time you could spend mastering your existing gear is also spot on. Yes, exploring different workflows to understand which ones you enjoy the most is worth it, but only to a degree.
Thanks for a great video.
It’s my pleasure! Thx as always for your addition here and for watching 😊
The more time I spend on the ep133 the better it gets though. I think TE put a lot of thoughts into how instruments are programmed and what possibilities and creativity they open up within their own limitations like no other brands have IMHO. The workflows they propose have a learning curve to them but once you master the advanced concepts they become extremely capable and unique.
Yeah I actually agree with you on this one 100 %
I have learned to spend as little time as possible talking about Teenage Engineering.
😂
True. TE is a love/hate thing to me, so I can't judge that company. Personally I like stuff that looks like toy.
They are pure pretentiousness in company form
Sometimes I take a step back and think about how deep acoustic instruments like piano and guitar are. So much self expression and music across virtually limitless genres have been made with the same “patch” of a piano or acoustic guitar. What’s helped me with GAS is looking at purchases as instruments rather than “gear”. Designs that stand the test of time and have use across genres appeal to me more now and help me see through cool, but ultimately un-useful “stuff”.
I’m on this boat too- the idea of quintessence
I watch your channel to avoid purchasing gear I don’t need. So in many ways you are the GAS antidote. I also like the fact that you are usually not a day one guy. I prefer reviews, tutorials, and jams on gear that you have worked with for a while.
This is why my favorite videos of yours are those where you have someone on who talks about how they set up their live sets, or when you talk about how pt together your own setup. There are so many companies and people trying to sell me something all day long, its refreshing to just see how you all are making music.
Exactly!!!
I’ve always appreciated your honesty and joy. It’s good to talk bout this kind of thing.
Absolutely 😊 thx as always for watching
Man this video is all so much more true than I care to admit lmao.
I’m a guitar player, but I’ve been curious about taking a peak into the world of synths, sequencers, drum machine and what not for a while now. Last year I bought a used OP-1 purely cause I always thought it looked cool over the years and had heard some neat sounds come out of it online, not that I really knew what it was or if it was really what I was looking for. Ended up getting distracted and shelving it, but wanting to come back to it eventually and learn.
Fast forward a year, still haven’t learned the OP-1 and I find out about the POs. After watching a few videos of em, now I’m GASing for one or two. I don’t know if it’s cause I’m coming from the world of guitar and all this stuff is so new and interesting to me, or if TE really are just design geniuses 😂
They got us all by the gonads through their designs alone!!
@@LiamKillen For real! What TE gear do you still have left and where would you say is a good place to start for a guitarist? Cheers!
During lockdown I bought a PO-33 and discovered the world of music. After I learned a machine I bought the next step up. Now I have Elektron products and really, that is the end goal for me. Learning to make music through these machines while having fun. Getting the machines and learning them is part of me learning to make music. And all of it is fun.
That’s the ultimate end goal!
As Im learning to make some music (my girlfriend calls them techno noises), I ran into Ableton's website, it has a "learn music" link, which is pretty cool as it brushes on the surface of many topics, and it is not super dense, and you have some exercises as you go along. As you go along you see some popular songs being dissected so you see how to build some parts yourself.
This is by far the best video I’ve seen from you in my opinion. I like your content, but this video really invokes thought and self-reflection, as well as shows us a little bit more about you as a person, and I appreciate that a lot.
It’s a pleasure- thx for watching. The discussion’s already going further over on the Patreon if you’d like to invoke some more thought haha.
@@LiamKillen btw I’m not saying your other videos don’t. This one just got me, probably because I saw it as I’m scrolling reverb looking for my next piece of gear when I really should be paying down my credit cards rather than spending more. I’ve been struggling with GAS for years now.
Don't forget about their involvement with Nothing (the electronics company). I personally believe a huge part of their success as a brand new entrant into the smartphone/smartphone accessories industry has to do with Teenage Engineering doing the industrial design.
They really are the kings of design
They also worked on Rabbit…
@@akuro2685 that's featured in the video..
@@akuro2685Did you watch the video?
and some IKEA products
Thanks for keeping it honest, vulnerable, and genuine!
🤝
Interesting video. Definitely agree with a lot of what you talked about. For me, videos of the OP1 got me into groove boxes and “dawless”. I never got an OP1 but my first hardware was a KO33 and it just opened my eyes so much to how fun music can be outside the computer. Before that I was only making music in FLStudio and had kind of taken a break from it. So from that standpoint I owe a lot to TE for getting me back in in such a strong way. Since then I have gotten an OPZ and Dirtywave M8 and couldn’t be happier. Haven’t opened FLStudio since. I agree that it’s a problem when you feel the need to collect them all though. Especially at their current prices. I think it was essential to me to choose to master the gear I have before getting new gear. Certainly a problem in the community though.
Thx for watching and for this addition! 😊
I don't see them ever stopping production of the OG pocket operators but with the K.O. II it seems pretty clear that they're done with expanding what was once their cheapest range of synths. I wish they ended up going to production with the individual synth modules from the po modular range because those had a very strong DIY ethos. I'll always be a fan of the "metal series" pocket operators ever since I purchased a used tonic but to me it's clear TE are moving towards being more of a design firm and luxury brand. They fully take advantage of drop culture, the magic speaker, field desk and the collab with Off-White were unfortunately just the beginning.
Great take on this- thx for adding this!
I spend months agonising over buying gear, often selling other gear to fund it, my finances are tight and I really don't take these decisions lightly, so it's refreshing and massively appreciated to hear some honesty from a hardware reviewer in this respect. I love my OG OP-1 and was always defending it from my modular real ale friends, but the price of the OP-1 Field is an absolute piss-take, that's kind of soured my opinion of TE. Just purchased a nearly new SP404mk2 off the back of your vids anyway, CANNOT WAIT to get stuck in, cheers!
Oh man you're in for a world of fun ! :-)
Great video. I got into this channel (and back into making music) cause of the KO II. It was the first time in a long time i saw a thing i just had to have, even though i didn't know exactly what it did. The TE design ethos is powerful. I've just had to accept that this is my hobby now and i like to collect this stuff. I've since got an mpc key 61 and some other gear. I'll never go platinum, but there's something about messing around with black boxes that go bleepy bloop that makes a stressful day at work fade a little bit. Some guys collect $20k plus watches that they store in their closets. Other guys buy $10k mountain bikes that they never ride. Of the crazy expensive stuff to collect, i feel like synths aren't the worst thing... At least, that's what I've tried to convince my wife of
Haha thanks so much for watching! 🍻 and for your input
well thought out and even handed vid, dude. thanks
It’s my pleasure
I thought these guys were an industrial art house that shit out music toys for fun, and imo the commentary surrounding them is some of the best meta humor dealing with peoples disconnectedness from what they are actually buying and why.
there's a lot of controversy for sure.
Excellent video Liam. As I put my studio together over time, i diligently research the instruments that go into it to have a specific and hopefully permanent surface. This with the recent (last 5 years) exception of the Moog Sound Studio and The Microfreak, both of which I bought sight unseen/unheard. Needless to say I wasn’t disappointed with either. With that being said, I find no desire or temptation to do anything but create the music and produce sample packs I freelance. When the Digitakt II came out recently I was scratching my head as to why so many’s people all the sudden found out that the digitakt wasn’t sufficient for their needs anymore. This is a laughable cover for GAS. I love how you touched on that in the video. With the exception of a select few experiments and trials everything in my workshop has a very specific purpose for being there. Even with the overlap this is true. I have both an Octatrack and Digitakt but for different sampling purposes. Same goes with my Roland SP. At the end of the day if they are more into looking cool with new trends or simply just like playing with the gear.. (thats not such a bad thing really) and not really into creating actual music, they are hobbyists at best funding the TE CEO’s senior advisor’s new penthouse office in Stockholm. Probably putting a few kids through some ivy league educations too. Just sayin lol. Awesome video and spot on. A sigh of relief when my fellow EDM veterans are standing up and calling out the bs. You have my respect Liam. 🍚 🥕 ☮️ ❤️ 🕊️
Thx for watching and for your take on this! 😊
Thanks for that, Liam. Nice to hear an honest assessment of "GearTube" in general, and to be reminded that the goal is to actually make music, not just to accumulate more stuff. I think there's a fine line - especially when you're new - between finding the pieces that you really vibe with and simply buying into the hype. There's a lot of amazing gear that doesn't get much attention, and for me, it's often the more obscure items that end up being the most essential - not because of their obscurity per se, but because they're uniquely suited for the role they play in my setup.
For anyone that reads this, here's a tip when it comes to GAS: try to identify what your setup is missing first, then, once you have an idea of what you need, start looking for synths that have those features. While it might seem obvious, I think we're all guilty of doing the opposite sometimes; we buy a piece of gear because it has a great set of features, and then we try to shoehorn it into our workflow. That's not always a bad thing (it's how I came to own the Octatrack, which I absolutely love, and which has totally changed the way I make music), but oftentimes it's the reason a purchase leaves us feeling underwhelmed or frustrated - we get ourselves worked up, thinking of all the amazing things we could do with some unit or another, spend hundreds or thousands of dollars to acquire it, only to find out that our music sucks as bad (or worse) than it did before.
Don't worry. It happens to all of us.
There's nothing wrong with buying gear. I love it, personally, and I've probably got more than I need right now. I know I do, actually, and pretty soon I'll probably have to sell a few things off to make way for whatever's next. Buying gear is fun, but it's more fun when you get it right - when you hook up that new synth, and it fills the exact niche you were looking to fill, and suddenly everything clicks, and your workflow gets easier, and your music sounds better, and you start having more fun... that's when you know you chose wisely: another piece of the puzzle falls into place, and you get one step closer to wherever it is you're trying to get.
This video is a pretty good example of what I mean: ua-cam.com/video/OwTLnQ9VmX0/v-deo.html (it also happens to be the first of Liam's videos I ever watched). Keep up the great work, homie. ♥
There’s def a sense of hoarding in the gear / UA-cam community
I find myself hopelessly buying new synths and groove boxes and never mastering anything. Then I sell them and start all over again. I see my character flaw but I haven’t fixed it yet.
It’s never too late!!
Thanks for the heads up on this whole product driven world .. going out on a limb to highlight the highs and lows of this consumer ideology we all too often fall prey to ...as we are constantly being fed the idea that we absolutely " need " something .. when in fact if one steps back and reflects .. comes away realizing .. no.. i do not .. we all have our " weak spots " .. your video is a great wake up call to all of us to stop and think more before rushing into the purchase of a product whatever that product may be ... thanks for being open .. honest .. transparent ... we need more of that .. over .. buy .. buy .. buy! Cheers !
Thx for watching and of course…cheers to you!
99% of modern gear is all hype and geared (no pun intended) to make us feel like we're not relevant musically unless we have the shiny new product advertised! I do have a resentment to a lot of content creators not just in music but in the photography business too! The camera industry releases more cameras 4k 6k 8k more pixels more features etc. When most people view photos and video content from their 5 inch phone screens when you can't tell the difference between 4k and 8k on something so small!
Props to you for making this video and explaining how we're all getting taken for a ride with these gear companies!
Yeah it’s a problem- i admit it’s hard to navigate that balance though as a creator
This is a great video! Thank you for addressing this topic and kudos for not excluding yourself. Teenage Engineering POs are a great gateway into the electronic music world as well as GAS. A good way to curve the GAS is also selling your gear. I had some POs but really wanted the OP-1. I ended up selling my PO's for an OP-1 which I don't regret. When the OP1 Field came out shortly afterward I got my OP 1, I had no interest in the OP1 Field and still am happy with that decision. Maybe TE has hit a ceiling, which is fine because they still have very strong products and are always find ways to improve themselves. I still reference your TE videos and tutorials. Thanks again for addressing this and as always keep up the good work 🙌
My pleasure and thx for your take as well!
Very thoughtful video. 12 years later i’m still rocking an OG OP-1
Hell yeah
Sigh i loveeee the op 1 and will be getting the field (basically teaching myself to fix it if problems occur.) other than that I couldn't pressure myself to get any of the other product they have. I dont really have a lot of gear and the stuff i do is old which is fine for me cus it works for me. I stay updated on the new gear coming out because its cool but i know what works for me and what doesnt. It does get tempting from time to time lol but i just think "how would this work with what i have and do I really need it." People also need to remember some of their favorite artists use old ass gear to make some bangers.
Thanks for your take on this ! :-)
@@LiamKillen no problem
"what is right for you"
I think this is the key. It's easy to focus on the creator and or the company. The hard part is to look inward and be honest with yourself. Is it right for me. We already know how things work. We know the theory if something is too good to be true it is, yet still fall for it. The game changing moment is when we begin to make our own decisions vs being influenced by another human being.
Yes! And what’s right for you comes with experience- maybe it’s just part of the game
When you look at the groovebox market, TE just doesn't make a compelling full featured product and probably never will. Anyone who's been around the space for more than a couple of years has ended up choosing 1 of 3 workflow options. 1. Elektron 2. MPC 3. Tracker (M8 or Polyend). Just choose one of the 3 workflows and go with it. Learn the device you choose well, and forget TE ever existed.
You’re forgetting Roland but also yes
@@LiamKillen Your right. Roland too (begrudgingly)
Deluge
Sorry but the OP-Z is the best groove box on the market for its price, no contest.
@@evankadan1041 Glad you like it
looking forward to your future posts and how they relate to this one...cheers!
I got some dope set ups coming up
great video. thank you for being so honest!
Pleasure! Thx for watching
I admire the TE deaign chops, but I know i would struggle with the OP-1's limitations, I loathe the OP-Z lconcept of locking stuff behind an app, the modular stuff looks great but is undercooked, and I stipped taking them seriously as an enterprise after the $1500 noize table.
the 133 appeals, but is what those caseless calxulators should've been first time around!
Appreciate your take on this ! :-)
Not referring to Teenage Engineering, but if it helps smaller synth companies survive by selling desirable trinkets to non musicians, then good for them, the rest of us benefit. Hello Elektron 😉
lol- yes … hello Elektron!
I was really hoping to see a clip of my Grip Car video in this video! Appreciate the chat, Liam.
Haha! Thx for dropping by
I got my Novation Circuit maybe late 2016 my first synth/groovebox…I started freestyle-in then writing songs…then went to the studio started buying beats and got inspired by my beat guy to try and make track beats now I’m trying to add a little to my at home studio and produce my own music and upload to Distrokid…Whoop There It Is 🎹🎤🎶🔊‼️
🎉 💃 🎊
this is so true, Hologram has made me want to buy a chroma console so bad, but also realizing that i have great gear already, and don’t need to get more.
Good move!
Very good reminder for me that I don’t need the rush of buying something new because it looks cool. I’m not always impulsive but some time can be. Thanks for this opportunity to let me look inward and ask if I really need that thing I’m itching to buy that I might not be able to afford. 😂
It's my pleasure - thanks for watching.
I think it requires some experience with gear (and some poor buying decisions) to know the difference between what it seems and what it actually does. There are too many details and individual stuff which is not obvious until you get a hands-on experience. For example, I was really excited about the MC-101 until I actually got it. There are a lot of things that doesn't work me in the device, but it also opened my eyes onto some things that I didn't think about before. A checklist of features for my next groovebox was expanded, and it was a more conscious purchase, I've got the Polyend Tracker, and I'm pretty happy with it.
As for TE, I think their non-expensive devices (POs and EP) are cool, but things like OP-1, TX-6, TP-7 with prices like that are beyond my understanding.
Yeah it's kind of part of the deal with gear - and hopefully this video points people into the right direction!
Great topic. Very interesting to discuss with people in the marketing field. I do find TE stuff very expensive and not very resistant. Although it looks cool and is fun. Only thing I have from them is the KO-33. Interesting what you talk about the rush from buying new things, its something to be careful about. I like learning about the story of musicians I admire. You find out its truly more about putting in the time to create something special, than to have all the gear. If you know what you're doing, you can do great things with little.
Appreciate you watching 🤝
I fully agree1000%! About rushing a gear I remember this new year everyone wants ep-133 , and I have Roland sp-404 mkii it even better take it and use it.🙌🙌🙌
❤️ thx for watching!
Hello, i did not know GAS concept before watching this video. Big Thanks.
I bought a digitakt 5 years ago, as a no brainer call, without any regret, and got a lot of pleasure to explore elektron sequencer etc..
this year i bought a PO33 to try and got more fun that i've expected. So naturally, i've looking for which other TE gear i should buy, and it seems that only OP1 (field) fits to me. But ofc price did not, after few months of headache (rly), i finally bought one and I found a taste of making music that remind me my first step in electronic music (~ 25/30 years ago with Roland MC303 and a 400 bucks computer). This feeling has no cost even if i get a bit abused by TE.
(excuse my bad english)
I'm glad that you've found your space in this gear community ! :-)
Gear be expensive !
Thanks! A very good and important video. I like your honesty!
Always a pleasure! Thx for watching
Ey, me too…I wouldn’t have begun dawdles and grooveboxes without pocket operators
Well there ya go
Deeply true.
Yyyup
the dopamine hits with gear acquisition moreso than finishing a track.
There's def some truth to that haha.
So true about what you say with 'form over function' with TE products. I mean, their products are truly amazing in function, but also leave much to be desired. Take for example the OPZ. I have two I sync and play at the same time which does produce some amazing outcomes (i work in marketing for a boring corporation, making jingles and content sounds with the OPZs!), BUT.... to create a 'full' song which lasts for about 3-4 minutes is not possible or straightforward with the OPZ, or almost any product for that matter, short of perhaps an MPC or MC707, where you lose that 'speed of creation/immediacy' factor.
Thanks for you take on this and for watching ! :-)
Yeah, spot on at the end there. Despite it being an overpriced toy mostly targeted towards yuppies, I do like how they’ve brought the power of design and form into the conversation. I have a modest amount of keyboards and instruments, but I don’t use them as often because I work at my desk and have to clear it off to switch to music. Meanwhile I use the OP1 every day as i can simply flick it on and get some ideas down. I also bring it around other musicians and they love it, and can start jamming immediately-(till it becomes awkward when they ask how much it costs). All to say that while its downsides are immediately apparent something here is working.
We’re having this whole discussion in my discord about how TE builds gear for now and not the future in terms of build quality
Hi Liam,
I like your videos very much, you've been a great resource for me with regards to getting into the PO series in recent months.
Your disclaimer about TE and their role in R1 comes too late and is at odds with what you say beforehand:
"a handheld ai designed by teenage engineering" we know it's the housing primarily, not the AI service.
"it also seems like they straight up lied about how it actually works" the Rabbit team would be the "they" here, not TE
I really admire your work, but think you've made some mistakes here and it's the first impressions that really matter.
It's great to hear your takes on your role and interactions with technology, the users and the various industries (goods/content)
On a side note;
PO's have helped me get into music like I never thought possible, at a great price point (specially 2nd hand)
EP-133 I'm a bit skeptical of this becoming a whole series like the PO myself, but the 133's price point / accessibility is wild.
Ah apologies for that confusion - we’ll see about the EP series and where they decide to take it! If anywhere!
My AuDHD brain has been totally sucked in to this cycle of lusting after the new thing while the other six samplers I own sit gathering dust. I made tons more music in the early 2000s when I just had a cracked copy of Sonic Foundry Acid, and then a proper copy of Ableton. Now I’m just overwhelmed by all the gear I own and I make hardly any music, and have a big credit card balance to try and clear down. I feel a bit stupid, tbh, but (and slightly off topic) I think this is just how high capitalism takes advantage of people who share my neurotype. Being able to ignore all the noise and actually focus on doing The Thing is very much the AuDHD experience. I haven’t found the answer yet but thank you for this video, I feel it’s helped me a step or several in the right direction on that!
I’m stripping down to a simpler set up and have also been wayyy more productive- it’s just the way it is!
don't blame your consumerism on your adhd
Have you checked out HealthygamerGG?
@@i-never-look-at-replies-lol Firstly it's AuDHD, secondly I'm not blaming anything on anything, I'm talking about my neurotype and how it influences my thought processes and behaviour, thirdly what's it to you anyway?
@@LiamKillen Definitely the way forward! Related: know anyone who wants to buy six samplers off me? :)
I literally bought a Roland mc 303 today because it’s cheap and works for what I need it to. Having said that though, holy moly are the urges to buy into GAS crazy, I want a digitakt II so bad almost purely because it’s the new shiny thing.
Yeah it’s bonkers - although gotta say…the D2 is fkn dope lol
I have a mc303. Its awesone.
@@LiamKillen Yeah, it's what's keeping me from just picking up a cheaper used D1, lol. But yeah, with a synth showcase every year and countless releases between, It's really hard to not just buy up every cool new thing.
@@ripmrnegativeOnly had this for a few hours, but already starting to love it, though I can definitely see where the complaints come from.
On point. It's easy to fixate on the rush of a new, shiny thing than deepen my relationship with the fantastic tools that I have even though that is where the magic happens.
It's easy to buy into the idealized concept of the new thing, the sweet promise of its potential, especially if that let's you defer putting in the work with the gem you have already.
Oh god, am I describing marriage? 😂
I think one of the appeals of eye-watteringly expensive vintage gear is that it provides an countervaling force. It's already proved its worth by standing the test of time, and sunk cost means that you're incentivized to deepen your relationship and learn to get the most out of it. If I bought myself a Buchla Music Easel like Caterina Barbieri, you'd better believe I'm milking it for all it's worth.
lol to the marriage point! Thx for watching!!
Love it or hate it, and price aside, the OP1 Field is an absolutely amazing product. Sounds great, built like a tank, visually stunning
I agree with everything except built like a tank. I had to send my OG op1 back to TE twice to get it fixed
Op1 looked good on youtube videos and probably kickstarted a lot of peoples GAS.
Being almost broke does have 1 advantage, it cures that GAS fast af.
unless you have lvl 10 GAS - in which case, you go into debt 😅 )
Bravo! Best video!
Thx for watching!
Cuckoo going crazy that we can FINALLY sample in stereo with digitakt II is prime GAS creation in my eyes. I love his stuff but that video had me laughing out loud 🙂
Cuckoo’s the man I’m not gonna diss my guy
@@LiamKillen tru dat 👍
I love Teenage Engineering's approach to design.
It's pretty much cribbing from Braun and other neo-modern Bauhaus style designs. Which makes their gear look at home next to other companies which borrow that design language. Like Apple.
As far as the practice of selling the idea as opposed to selling the function itself. This is what we called selling the sizzle, not the steak back when I worked in sales.
No restaurant is selling you 35 grams of protein, with 40 grams of carbohydrate and another 25 grams of chlorophyl impregnated fiber. A seared flank steak with Idaho potatoes and butter sauteed brussel sprouts is much more appealing.
They truly are masters in the domain of design - and clearly that's a HUGE accomplishment.
Hey Liam! Best experienced I can share is I bought the KO 2 on day one direct from TE. Took ages to arrive in Belfast. I made one UA-cam video and then soon realised I didn't need it and sold it soon after
You went through the cycle lol
Thanks for a little honesty. There isn’t much in this space.
It’s my pleasure
And then we have Roland packing a million features into a tiny piece of gear like the S1, but it’s so inconvenient to access and much more effort to learn and get the most out of it 😅
I do find that about the s1- it’s very menu divy
I waited till the KO2 when on sale and I actually wish I got it sooner. It’s the only teenage engineering piece of gear I own. I have the NI Maschine mk3 but the the KO2 is great for what I do. I love experimenting with it and I use guitar pedals and other synths with it as well as guitar.
Great video. The GAS is a real thing and I’ve slowly moved away from first day preorder mania. I have so much gear that I’ve been selling a bunch and don’t even remember owning half of it. lol.
Running a recording studio informs my purchases on a as needed basis but sometimes those wants be callin me.
Thanks! And thank you for watching :-)
Thank you for this video! I agree with much of what you are saying, especially about TE. I have a studio full of gear. I've been GAS'd many times. However now I ask myself what problem a piece of gear is going to solve before I purchase, and is it really something I need - because 8 times out of 10 I don't need it. But there are those 2 out of 10 that I do. As for TE, I have the original OP-1. It is a very interesting piece, but ultimately I really only use it sparingly, and its best use for me was travel, although I'm too scared to travel with it anymore due to the documented issues with it being fragile. I would not pay 2K for it today. Same with a hand-held mixer. Hand-held - why? It's functionally too small for anyone's hands, and I can use a big, capable mixer's iPad or iPhone app to do it in my hand. It's just an unnecessary tool that looks cool. It has some cute functionality, but it can't compete with a real mixer in so many ways. Anyway, good video, thank you again!
It's my pleasure ! Thank you for watching :-)
While I agree with many things you say in this video there is a bit of irony of you having teenage engineerings name in the title and then talking mostly about GAS in general:) In some strange sense I think that the OP1 field being as expensive as it is, is a good thing for GAS. Since it’s not possible for most to just impulsively go buy it. In that way buying it will be a bigger investment and you will probably take it more seriously spending time with it. A weird justification for a high price, I know. But I also suffer much from GAS. I have every Pocket operator but none of the OP1’s.
I appreciate you watching! 😊
Had a serious case of Gas at the beginning of the pandemic. Cash in the bank, nowhere else to spend it.
Once the world emerged, coupled with our toddler becoming a kid, my gas tank was running out.
Yeah that'll do it for sure.
great video
Thx for watching 😊
I think TE was what apple tried to say it was, and is slowly turning into what apple actually is.
Perhaps
For me, someone chronically short on cash, it’s so weird to see other people talk about GAS, because I’ll save for weeks to be able to afford a new guitar pedal and then I’ll use that thing for literal years even if it’s a piece of shit. I do feel though that if I had the money I would absolutely fall into that trap
yeah it's a problem. I noticed that pretty much everyone has "(x)AS" - it's like a human behaviour thing. Just fill in the "G" with something else.
GAS effectively exploits musician's insecurities and sense of imposter syndrome. If we were all a little more confident in our abilities using the stuff we have at hand, and being kinder to ourselves creatively, they'd find particularly difficult to get you buy the next big thing.
Yeah I think there's def some truth to that.
I just traded my OPZ for a Volca Sample, IK Uno Synth and the EP-133. However, the PO 33 is the best $89 you can spend.
It’s true the 33 is fun AF
I actually told my self that after the last module I bought in may, I will not buy another gear until next year. We'll see how that will workout by the end of the year.
You can do it!!
I remember seeing thr OP1 'centre for ants' video (i think it's by red meand recording?) probably during lockdown. I didn't know anything about synths but i thought to myself 'if that is about £400 I'll buy one'... Needless to say I never got one. When the ko2 came out i got that same sense of excitement and the price point was really decent! It was a massive gateway for me and i now have that, the opz, syntakt, sp404mk2, roland s1 and i couldn't be happier (like a pig in proverbial..). It's an amazing hobby and TE (and creators like you) absolutely got me into it. GAS is real but i don't mind it and that's just fine for me!
It’s really different for everyone- all about finding that balance!
It actually wasn't RMR, but it makes a lot of sense that you'd think it was since the creator of that video definitely ripped off RMR's video style for the op1.
@@adeenooo5799 ah yes I've just checked and it was Yuri Wong. Sick video either way.
This video makes me want a Rabbit R1 even more! Lately I've been sucked into the TE rabbit hole(again after not liking the op1 years ago), KO2 then OP1 field, then m1, then OB4, then TX6, and then TP7... Today after about a week's ownership of the TP7 I got into a TE existential crisis thinking "have I fallen into a trap?"...I'm not sure, but what I do know is the design, aesthetics and playability of the TE stuff I value more than the pure functionality of them. If that weren't the case there isn't anything better for functionality than a DAW, no? What am I using my DAW for, loaded with great software, to watch this video. Not sure exactly if my point went through, but TE's design proposition I think to many out weighs their function proposition. When talking to other TE folk, a bunch are profitable off their music and aren't just hobbyists, but the TE designs help them(and myself) deal with gear and daw burnout.
Design is important too! But I noticed that other functionality takes a back seat as a result
Honesty here, i like it
Appreciate you watching
Great video. And i feel like you are being honestly honest. Unlike many other youtubers who do these honest videos, with honesty used as an instrument to make money.
That being said... Yes, you are right, there is a problem with GAS. But i feel like we should blame ourselves, not companies that are doing great products like TE.
Dont poop onto❤ TE. We are invaded by shitty products. TE, just like Apple, has been changing this for the better.
The internet is a reflection of human behaviour you’re right
Kudos to you for saying out loud what so many people need to hear. We gotta stop fanning over products and start fanning over the art and artists. TE has been a prime example and it seems like most synth youtubers are unwilling, or maybe even scared, to say the truth, you may feel like your platform isn't big, but I promise it means more to people looking up gear than you may realize.
The DT2 has so many issues as well and no one with a platform is willing to call it the rushed, incomplete thousand dollar box that it really is, again, probably out of fear? I'm not sure. But in reviewers failure to call it as it is, it is pushing people to spend tons of money only to find out it doesn't work as promised.
Keep these videos coming!
Lots more to come and thanks for your addition here!
I’ve learned a lot from your Discord ❤
Thx for being there 😊
I have an r1. It is kinda cool, but it doesn't work well and is more of a toy than a "pocket companion"
Yeah it looks like that’s the general consensus
I got the dirtywave M8 three years ago and ended up selling off a ton of elektron gear, some synths, etc. I kept my 404mk2 and eventually replaced my octatrack but the little M8 really killed my GAS for other stuff. Every time something new comes out I sort of stop and think like “ok but does M8 do this in some way?” And almost every time the answer is yes and when it does turn out to be no, usually it isn’t something I really need anyway. Not to stump for buying more gear or anything but when you find the right thing for you, you don’t really need other stuff. Go through your gear and sell off everything that doesn’t get used every week. You’ll see that your favorite machines tend to be all you really need. Also, I talked myself out of getting plugins by getting much cheaper apps on iPhone/ipad that essentially do the same thing. ButterSynth for 20$ pt me from buying phase plant for 200$
M8 is a piece I haven’t messed with much!
@@LiamKillen it replaced a lot of things for me. Once I recognized that I was able to downsize in a big way and I’m not saying everyone should have an M8 I’m just saying once you find something that works well for you, just get really good with that and maybe take it easy on getting new stuff
Of course I know you already know what you’re doing I just meant in general people have way more than they’ll ever use and nobody is particularly great with any one thing they have. Except Baseck. That dudes a wizard on everything lol
The M8 is an absolute game changer
@@matthewdavis473 absolutely! Best piece of hardware I’ve ever used.
i sold my OG OP1, man i miss it .
Did you sell to fund the op1 f?
@@LiamKillen no, sold it before the field was out
“ I WANT THAT “ for me trigers how expensive/quality is the SOUND and how expensive/quality is the circuitry inside which makes the sound.
the real 303 is just plastic outside and no clone replica give you the depth that the real unit dies because it is cramped with more quality circuitry inside than any modern monophonic / polyphonic analog synth.
my advice is PAY EXPENSIVE MONEY FOR EXPENSIVE SOUND / EXPENSIVE CIRCUITRY
We’ve all entered into an expensive world here- aka we’re fucked for life!
Not me watching this after buying a Roland SP404 MK2 about a year ago but procrastinating learning it, then buying the EP133 about a month ago and beep booping the pads for 40 mins before going back to Koala Sampler on my iPad…which I have an Arturia Minilab 3 and Minifuse 1 still in boxes that I got for my birthday specifically to use with Koala…while my MPC 1000, Maschine MK2, Maschine Mikro MK3, Launchpad X, Launchcontrol and Ableton on my Mac all collect dust.
Oh and I have 5 Pocket Operators in a box haha
I think I need to do a cleanse 😂
Oopsie daisy!
@@LiamKillen that Microcosm in your video sure do be looking mighty tempting though…😳😳😳
GAS is not as strong in the DAW side of the Force, once you got a couple controllers you're pretty much done.
The only DAWless gear i decided to keep forever is my Deluge which keeps on getting better over time thanks to its community.
When you step into live performance dawless is a whole different ball game though
GAS is powerful, and has especially become a problem with advent of UA-cam synthfluencers. I've bought quite a few new pieces of gear with a conviction that it's something I need to make more/better/different music. But as with all trends, it seems to be dropping. I missed out on the initial batch of the K.O. II and by the time it was back in stock GAS had subsided and I was no longer as excited about it, especially with no 16 pad grid and the scroll through steps sequencer with no dedicated buttons per step.. Same with Digitakt II, it just doesn't feel enough for the asking price. It would seem, the problem solves itself - once it comes out, it's sold out and by the time it's back in stock, the first wave of reviews has passed, so has GAS (pun intenden).
Yeah it’s true - usually after about 1-2 months the interest drops dramatically for thT reason
I would argue that hardware is a better option than software. At least you can sell it and make back a decent chunk.
Yeah that’s true!
First! Nice to be part of the discord, nice community you are building there.
Thank you for being there ! :-)
It's very simple. GAS becomes a problem when [see more]
precisely lol
Glad to hear you include yourself in the category of humans. That's reassuring.
Im not so sure I’m human
I bought into the UA-cam EP-133 hype before it was released. I didn't have enough money to buy it when it first went on sale and I almost borrowed some money to get it, thankfully I decided not to. I put a saved search on eBay to see what would happen - The RRP of the EP-133 was £299. Initially the prices of new units on eBay starting hitting upwards of £600, and people were buying them too. After a month, prices were down to RRP on eBay. Today I'm seeing people trying to shift them for £250 or lower in a couple of cases. Need it right now? No you don't. Wait until the reviews hit after a couple of months, wait until the hype has died and then if you're still into it, go for it. Patience is your friend.
Patience is GOLDEN!
i like testing gear out
Me too :-)
For me, TE gear is just plain horror. While the OP-1 might have been a great pocket synth at the time, all of their other stuff is just "form over function". I mean, they're now even selling devices without people actually having one clue about what they actually do, the EP-133 is a perfect example.
They’re not bad units in retrospect but yeah- design gets us by the gonads
They also worked with ikea on a few things. I have a Bluetooth speaker from them that I got for $30 on sale a few years ago. The thing actually sounds pretty good for what it is. Definitely wanna try an OP-1 field though
Yes! Their aesthetic is perfect for ikea lol
I am a designer and a music maker… but.. if the design is the main priority of a brand, without a specific and meaningful purpose, it is only a trendy product, not an essential creative tool. This, plus the pricy aspect makes TI a « non serious » brand in this specific industry. As simple as that!
Yeah they're targetting a different demographic for sure. That being said the devil's advocate is that there are some great beat makers using TE gear on the regular !
If huge prices make UA-camrs make countless videos about the product and make other people comment on it... it means their tactics works
A lot of UA-camrs don’t cover because of the price!
@@LiamKillen haha also true but i guess they are not the target audience like at all
I remember that I was very much intrigued when the first op-1 came out but the price was ridiculous.
I think TE had their peak time with PO33. After that, all their gears are either plain right shit or way too over priced.
There’s some hope with the potential of the ep series!
Remember when they were the ones saying “op-1 is not worth 1k dollars”?
yyyup
I enjoy my ep 133 but TE is basically the poster company late capitalism, in the way that they exist only to transform culture into commodity. TE product designers subsume a previous history and render it into these weird cultural artifacts that are very removed from their original context. TE's emphasis on novelty and aesthetic over utility illustrates how late capitalism absorbs and metabolizes anything that it comes into contact with, strips it of meaning and assigns value that is purely monetary. i find them to be a deeply problematic company but then again so are many of the other synth companies that i buy crap from -- and as someone who likes to play synths but can't build my own, i ultimately buy TE stuff even if I know I'll feel guilty about it later.
Thanks for watching and for your take on this!
I didn't know TE was involved with the rabbit.
Yes!
i bought the po33, minifreak, the east beast and the roland t-8. 4 pieces of gear with minimal overlap and if i could go back and redo it all i wouldve just bought vsts.
I got into synths because I thought the op1 and opz looked cool but I’ve just been using ableton and a midi keyboard and see no reason to buy any this else so far. If I had gotten an opz as my first instrument I probably wouldn’t have stuck with the hobby.
I’m personally really into hybrid combos- best of both worlds