Teenage Engineering OP-XY

'Precision Workflow without Compromise'Designed for prolific music makers, professionals, and roving musicians, the teenage engineering OP-XY is an ultraportable advanced sequencer, synthesizer, and sampler, inspired by iconic underground subcultures of dance music all over the world. The OP-XY boasts TE's most advanced multitrack sequencer to date, along with powerful production tools to help you compose entire songs in the unit without ever having to move files to your DAW. You can stack compositions like building blocks and manipulate them by adding complexity with Punch-in FX. Engage the integrated Brain transposition function and let your hands do the talking.

The newly developed multisampler allows you to pull samples form several Zones simultaneously, while the ultrapowerful synth engine generates remarkable tones and textures. An onboard gyroscope adds a unique layer of interactivity, allowing you to manipulate tracks by simply moving the device. The internal dual-CPU system provides ultrafast processing power and efficiency. All of this wonderous technology is wrapped in an anodized matte-black aluminum finish that provides a sleek look while offering ample protection.

4 primary modes of operationInstrument: The 8 track buttons allow you to control and edit the 8 instrument tracks available in the OP–XY.
Auxiliary The 8 track buttons allow you to intelligently transpose your tracks, edit the send effects, edit external inputs and outputs, and play and sequence punch-in FX.
Arrange: Allows you to build your song by chaining scenes, which are made up of patterns from your 8 tracks.
Mix: Here is where you control levels and panning for each of the tracks. The main EQ and master compressor are also adjusted here.

at a glance • Dynamic synthesizer, sampler and sequencer
• Unique multi-sampling from various sound zones
• Onboard gyroscope for intuitive, motion-based track control
• Versatile step sequencing for powerful creative control
• Multi-out connectivity for studio-wide integration

The OP-XY is designed around a powerful step sequencing workflow. At its core is a row of 16 buttons across the center of the control panel, representing the musical grid where sounds and notes are recorded. At the end of the row, you'll find the bar button, which allows you to navigate through up to 4 bars. This button also lets you adjust the sequence's length and scale, enabling a maximum pattern length of 64 bars or 1024 1/16th notes spread across four bars.

You can manually input notes and chords or use the live record function by pressing the record and play buttons simultaneously. When activated, the sequencer begins recording from the first note or chord you play. During playback, holding the record key allows you to overdub. You'll have access to quantization and editing options, and you can record parameter changes, either locked to a single step or automated smoothly over multiple steps.

The Step Components feature offers rapid variations to specific steps, expanding the sequencer's capabilities. You can alter anything from pitch randomization to bending, skipping, and even multiplying steps. These options are visually represented by graphic icons on each of the major keyboard notes.

In Instrument mode, the OP-XY's 8 track buttons provide control and editing capabilities for its 8 instrument tracks. Instruments can either be packs of stereo drum samples or built-in synth engines, each with unique characteristics. Choose from a diverse array of presets within the 8 synth engines, offering a vast palette of sonic options. These include an FM synth for pads and digital leads, Dissolve—a tonal noise engine, an electric piano, a hardsync synth tone, an organ with transistor and church presets, Prism—a versatile synth for basses and leads, a simple synth for basic patches, and a wavetable synth with 9 different wavetables. All patches can be intuitively adjusted using the 4 encoder knobs to modify parameters such as envelope, filter, and LFO.

To further enhance your synth and drum sounds, the OP-XY includes 6 built-in send-effect engines that can be assigned to 2 FX tracks. Available effects include chorus, delay, distortion, bitcrusher, phaser, and reverb. Just like the synth engines, the 4 encoder knobs allow for quick and easy effect adjustments to customize your sound.

Auxiliary mode offers 8 aux tracks, perfect for adding MIDI effects, audio effects, FX sends, and punch-in FX. Use these tracks to modify the OP-XY’s built-in sounds or to control and send to external instruments. Track 1 in Auxiliary mode, known as the Brain track, provides an intelligent transposing feature. It listens and identifies the key signature of your song/track, allowing you to manually adjust the key and scale to your liking.

Track 2 in Auxiliary mode is the Punch-In FX track, ideal for quickly adding variations to your song. Use it during production to generate new ideas, record them swiftly, or perform live to enhance your beat with dynamic variations. The lower octave applies Punch-In FX to percussion tracks, while the higher octave affects melodic tracks. Some Punch-In FX utilize the gyroscope and pitchbend functions, adding modulation or altering behavior with movement or pitchbend activation.

Tracks in Auxiliary Mode can also control external MIDI and CV/gate instruments, manage audio routing in and out of the unit, and provide drive from the OP-XY's built-in preamps, along with filtering, tape effects, and LFOs.