The folks at Teenage Engineering gained fame a couple of years ago when they started showing their prototype OP-1 keyboard that looked more like one of those dinky Casio keyboards from the early 80′s than a serious musical instrument. But when they finally showed fully functional systems … suddenly they had legions of believers. So when they teased a modular music system … people were intrigued.
Now they have introduced the OpLab Musical Experimental Board. It is a bare bones breadboard design that allows you to hook up just about anything in any possible configuration. The website has amazing diagrams and details, here are just a few:
The Oplab Musical Experimental Board allows you to interconnect virtually any electronic musical instruments. And finally it’s just plug and play. No more hassle with one box for MIDI and another for CV or a third for USB. Oplab has it all in one place. Just connect your cables, set the appropriate scenario and experience a perfect sync.
Tap or Kick?
We have worked hard to design some nice accessories for you to start lab with. Like the TS-1 sneaker with a special made rubber side pocket for our TS-1W wireless Gyro sensor. Trig a kick drum or maybe an invisible sustain pedal?One of the fundamental ideas behind Oplab is to let you connect things, toys or junk that you already have around you and to make it interact with your electronic musical instruments. Grab a broken hard drive, rip it apart, connect and use it as a scratchpad. A simple one is to just connect a mouse. Eureka! The mouse is now a pitch bender.
Lights, Please
With 2 x 12 bit switchable Digital in- and outputs you can interconnect more than just synthersizers. How about lights, LEDs, buzzers, motors or sensors? All in sync with your music or controlled by MIDI data from your sequencer.From drumpad to iPad
Oplab has two standard USB host ports and one mini USB device port. So, any mobile device or computer that sends MIDI over USB or can output a audio trig click sound will work as a controller or slave via your Oplab.Easy conversion from MIDI to CV and even Roland SYNC for the 303, 606 etc.
Build your own synth
Connect knobs, potentiometers and LEDs and add some programming skills and you are able to build your own soundmaking machine solely on Oplab. With MIDI in and out straight from the board. A development kit will be ready in the near future.OP-1 no exception
Oplab is the perfect companion to your OP-1. Just plug and play for instant MIDI IN, OUT and THRU.And to please our precious OP-1 owners even more, there will be future OP OS updates that will unlock even more cool functions.
Eurorack or cigar box?
Oplab comes as a bare PCB for maximum flexibility. If you need heavy protection go for the optional Eurorack mounting plate and mount it straight in your rack or build a neat custom case for your Oplab.
From MIDI to CV to USB. All scenarios covered. Oplab is available now. Starting at € 279.
Technical Specifications
•USB IN and OUT x 2. Plus one Micro USB. Oplab can act as Host unit.
•CV IN or any Analogue INPUT
•CV OUT or any Analogue OUTPUT
•MIDI IN
•MIDI OUT + SYNC OUT or MIDI THRU
•Program selection switches
Here is an overview video from the NAMM floor:
The OpLab starts at $299 with each added module costing extra.
Head to Teenage Engineering and check it all out!
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