Teenage Engineering Releases OP-1 Field VST – The Iconic Synth is Now Available as a Plugin!
An OP-1 Field as a Software Synthesizer for Your DAW
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Teenage Engineering Releases OP-1 Field VST - The Iconic Synth is Now Available as a Plugin! · Source: GEARNEWS / TE
For years, fans of the legendary OP-1 Field have been waiting for a software version – now it seems to be happening! Teenage Engineering has announced that they will be releasing the popular synthesizer as OP-1 Field VST. The software version will bring all the familiar synthesizer engines, sampler, tape mode and even the effects section into a DAW-compatible environment. But there is a catch: the price* remains the same as for the hardware OP-1 Field.
OP-1 Field VST – All the Features of the Software Version
According to Teenage Engineering, this is a 1:1 emulation of the original OP-1 Field. Not only does it offer the familiar synthesizer engines and effects, but it also retains the intuitive design and tape mode – only directly in your DAW. Finally! I’ve already signed up to try out the software synthesizer for a GEARNEWS review.
The main features of Software Synthesizer V1.0 are:
- All original synthesizer engines included – including Dr. Wave, Digital, FM and more
- Full tape emulation with virtual reels and 4-track workflow
- Loop and sampler functionality with drag-and-drop audio file import
- Virtual tape hiss & lo-fi effects for authentic OP-1 Field sound
- Full MIDI integration – finally play polyphonic on a big keyboard!
- Standalone & plugin mode (VST3/AU/AAX/CLAP)
- Enhanced modulation matrix à la Serum – wow!
- All extensible features at a glance
- CPU friendly
- Of course without the annoying quantization – otherwise it wouldn’t have the real OP-1 feeling!
According to Teenage Engineering, the OP-1 Field VST is sonically indistinguishable from the original – and if you already own an OP-1 Field, you can import your own sounds from the hardware version directly into the plugin and of course back again (for a mobile use).
The Price: A True TE Statement
While many expected Teenage Engineering to come up with a low-cost alternative to the hardware, the company remains true to itself. Nevertheless, the manufacturer promises: The plugin version OP-1 Field VST will definitely not be more expensive than $2000 – the price should be the same as for the hardware version, according to TE.
Teenage Engineering justifies this decision with a clear statement: “We want to make sure that the OP-1 Field experience is as valuable in software as it is in hardware. Quality has its price. And development costs us something, too”. That’s a statement we have to deal with.
As a little extra, there’s a special USB dongle for buyers in the form of a mini OP-1 Field – the plugin won’t start without it, so is it an iLok Plus? With the optional silver necklace available in the TE shop ($999) it can be taken anywhere.
And then there’s one more thing: The One More Thing! Because Teenage Engineering wouldn’t be TE if they didn’t add a little something extra to the price. The plugin is available in two limited NFT versions for $50,000 each. Actually a bargain for such software, or do you see it differently? At least the price is really hot.
Revolution or Crazy Idea?
While some musicians are excited about the possibility of finally being able to use the OP-1 Field’s sound directly in their DAW, there are already critical voices in the community. After all, there are alternatives like Arturia’s MicroFreak V or the Plogue Chipsounds plugin for a fraction of the price. Not to mention the devices in our DAWs themselves.
Whether the OP-1 Field VST will really catch on remains to be seen. One thing is for sure: TE is staying true to its vision and has once again delivered a product that is guaranteed to polarize. Nevertheless, TE’s new VSTi is sure to find many new fans – we think it’s already got cult status!
By the way: On a side note, TE revealed that more synthesizer engines will be implemented in the next updates of the plugin. That sounds promising. Maybe we’ll even get the next plugin from Sweden for Christmas: OP-XY VST. We’re more than excited!
Price and Availability
You can buy the Teenage Engineering OP-1 Field VST here at Thomann* for only $1,722 / £1,599 / €1890.00. Unfortunately, there is no introductory offer or discount for hardware owners. A USB dongle is included. Optional accessories can be found in the developer’s shop.
The plugin runs on MacOS 15 or higher and Windows 11 or higher as VST3, AU, AAX and CLAP.
What do you think? Is the OP-1 Field VST a unique addition to the software market or just overpriced? Let us know in the comments!
More Information
- Teenage Engineering website
- More about Teenage Engineering
*Please note: This article about the Teenage Engineering OP-1 Field VST is of course an April Fool’s joke and contains advertising links to help us pay for this site. Don’t worry: the price for you will always be the same! If you buy something through one of these links, we get a small commission. Thank you for your support! Happy April Fools!
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17 responses to “Teenage Engineering Releases OP-1 Field VST – The Iconic Synth is Now Available as a Plugin!”
Oh, I like 1st of April 😀
At this point their releases just feel like trolling 😅
Oh.. you got me! 🙈
Just felt too much like a realistic TE release
Good one! I enjoyed it very much 🙂
Great joke, and a funny milking cow!
Was there until ‘NFT versions for $50,000’, then it twigged. Excellent.
its too close to actual real life
Ha. Ha. Ha. 🍋
Well played. It wasn’t until I got to the dongle I remembered the date 😂
I honestly thought this was real! The statement “Quality has its price” sounds like they would say! Thanks!
you know they’re being serious . I bet
The quickest way to ruin an April Fool is by explaining it.
This is almost certainly the best one I will see all day. It hits all the right notes of absurdity, plausibility, and actually being funny.
Well played; it had me going until the end!
Lirpa Loof strikes again!
Best of today, no competition!!
Next year, you guys should do a Roland and Korg team up to release a clone of a Behringer product. 😄
Pretty huge testament to what a scumbag company TE is that most people didn’t ID the joke until the very end when 50k NFTs were mentioned. I’ll never give them a dime purely on principle.
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