teenage engineering OP-Field 1.6 update features a new amp synth engine, multi-channel USB audio, and more.
Believe it or not, I bought the Teenage Engineering OP-1 Field over a year ago, and it’s now my favorite synth. Reasons: it’s a sweetspot synth, integrates well into hybrid setups, is portable, and has simple sound engines that inspire and are perfect for live jams.
The OP-1 Field has also been an integral part of my hybrid live setup for quite some time, and I wouldn’t want to be without it. I am very pleased to report that teenage engineering has a Christmas present for all OP-1 Field users with the new update 1.6.
teenage engineering OP-1 Field 1.6
The new OP-1 Field 1.6 update is available for download and costs a trillion euros. Just kidding, it’s free, like every update so far. As a reminder, the original OP-1 received free updates for 10 years.
With update 1.6, they make it easier to route and process external signals. They introduced a new amp-synth engine that lets you route any external signal, including line-in from a guitar or USB audio, through the filters and FX of the OP-1 Field.
Instead of recording the signal dry to tape, it can now be processed before capture, which is an excellent addition. The amp synth engine is not only the external input gateway to effects but also an amp with volume, compression, tone, and drive controls.
As a bonus, there is also a handy tuner, so you can keep your guitars, synths, and vocal cords in tune while recording or rehearsing.
Another highlight of the new 1.6 update is the multi-channel USB audio support. You can send the four tape tracks as separate stereo channels over USB, in addition to the stereo mix.
I use the OP-1 Field a lot with the iPad, and the ability to now route five streams out to the AUM Mixer app is a massive improvement. Important: You need to switch the USB audio mode from the default 2-channel to 10-channel in the system settings.
This makes it easier to record complete ideas directly into your DAW in individual stems. Or in my case, the external mixing and processing.
More Additions
Then, teenage engineering updated the tape recorders with a smoother engine. It now features tape crossfades that apply a short, non-destructive crossfade on both sides of the edit when lifting and dropping clips.
This reduces clicks and pops and keeps the tape workflow intact. Your audio remains unaltered, so you can move clips around as much as you like without degrading the audio.
Alongside this, you can start recordings with a count-in, giving you a brief moment to lock into the tempo before the tape begins. It’s a bit strange to see that this essential workflow feature is only now being introduced after so many years.
Also new is the drum sampler fade that lets you choose how the fades behave. You can control attack, release, or both at the same time. This gives you greater flexibility to shape transients, tighten hits, or fade loops in and out, while leaving all existing presets unchanged.
Another excellent addition is the preset randomizer that always gives you a fresh starting point. Each randomization preserves the preset structure while reassigning values within it.
The sound engine of the OP-1 Field is very sweetspotish, and I hope this one is just right so that the results are musical rather than just noise.
This also comes with a more flexible preset manager organisation, allowing you to manage your user presets and folders directly on the hardware. You can move, rename, and delete them as needed. This is very practical if you use the OP-1 Field a lot in live situations.
Last but not least, it now offers MIDI clock over Bluetooth. Products such as the TX-6, OP-XY, and OP-Z can now follow wirelessly OP-1 Field’s tempo in real-time.
First Impression
As an avid OP-1 Field user, I’m pleased about the update. I would have liked to see more engines, such as granular ones, as that would have been fitting for 2025. It’s definitely a great gift.
teenage engineering OP-1 Field 1.6 is available now as a free download for existing customers.
More information here: teenage engineering
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