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Teenage Engineering

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Teenage Engineering
IndustryElectronics
Founded2005; 19 years ago (2005)
Founders
  • Jesper Kouthoofd
  • David Eriksson
  • Jens Rudberg
  • David Möllerstedt
HeadquartersStockholm, Sweden
Products
  • OP-1
  • OD-11
  • Pocket Operator
Number of employees
17
Websiteteenageengineering.com

Teenage Engineering is a Swedish electronics company founded in 2007. Based in Stockholm, the company designs and manufactures synthesizers. Its core product is the Teenage Engineering OP-1, a synthesizer, sampler, and sequencer. Although the OP-1 targets a high price point, Teenage Engineering has also introduced the less expensive Pocket Operator series, a collaboration with the Swedish clothing label Cheap Monday. In addition to synthesizers, Teenage Engineering manufactures the OD-11 cloud speaker, a recreation of the 1974 Sonab speaker of the same name, and accessories for their other products.

Teenage Engineering products have been well received for their aesthetic value and functionality.

History

Teenage Engineering was founded in 2007 by Jesper Kouthoofd, Jens Rudberg, David Eriksson and later joined by David Möllerstedt. Möllerstedt had previously headed the audio department at EA DICE. Teenage Engineering has expanded to 30 employees, who work out of a garage in Stockholm.[1] Their first product, the OP-1, was introduced at the NAMM Show in 2010.[2] With influences from 1980s computers and Japanese synthesizers, the OP-1 is a synthesizer, sampler, and sequencer with a two-octave keyboard and microUSB MIDI.[1] Its design is reminiscent of the Casio VL-1, a cheap synthesizer and calculator produced in 1980.[3] The OP-1 received some criticism for its small size and simplicity, which make it resemble a toy.[4] It also lacks velocity sensitivity, resulting in a minimally expressive keyboard. However, reception for the OP-1 was largely positive, citing its powerful synthesizer engines and unconventional format.[5][6] Shortly after the release of the OP-1, Teenage Engineering also produced several "accessories", which could be used to manipulate the unit's knobs. One of the accessories makes the OP-1 compatible with Lego gears and motors, which can be used to mechanically modulate low-frequency oscillators and other effects.[6]

Following the success of the OP-1, Teenage Engineering began working with the Stig Carlsson Foundation to develop the OD-11 cloud speaker. The OD-11 was named after another speaker that was manufactured by Sonab and designed by Swedish designer Stig Carlsson in 1974. The speaker was hugely successful in Sweden at the time, and Teenage Engineering's recreation of the OD-11 was also well received for its minimalist design—faithful to the original—and expansive sound. The new version also added support for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Despite two early appearances at the Consumer Electronics Show and an original release schedule of Summer 2013, the OD-11 was not released until 2014.[7] Teenage Engineering aimed to maintain Carlsson's goal of designing a speaker for use in a "regular home", rather than one designed to be used in an unrealistically ideal, noiseless environment.[8]

In 2013, Teenage Engineering began collaborating with the Swedish clothing company Cheap Monday after ordering new work uniforms from them. While working in the clothing industry, Kouthoofd had previously collaborated with Cheap Monday's creative director, Ann-Sofie Back.[9] In order to access a larger consumer base, Teenage Engineering announced the inexpensive Pocket Operator (PO-10) series in January 2015.[10] The series includes three models: PO-12 rhythm, a drum machine; PO-14 sub, a bass synthesizer; and PO-16 factory, a lead synthesizer. Each model doubles as a 16-step sequencer. According to CEO Jesper Kouthoofd, Teenage Engineering sought to design synthesizers that would retail for US$49; however, each PO actually retails for US$59. The POs target musicians seeking a less expensive alternative to the OP-1, which retails for US$849. The series uses a minimalist design, invoking pocket calculators and, according to Kouthoofd, Nintendo's Game & Watch games.[11] Sonically, they emulate vintage synthesizers, in response to the contemporary surge in the popularity of retro style electronic music gear.[12] The synthesizers debuted at the 2015 NAMM Show.[9] The Pocket Operators were a success at NAMM, and sales were estimated by third parties to be as high as 40,000 units, which delayed shipments by up to three months.[13]

Three new Pocket Operators, the PO-20 series, were introduced at the 2016 NAMM show. The PO-20 synthesizers have some additional effects and functionality that were not present in the original PO-10 series, but maintain the US$59 price point.[14]

Awards and accolades

The OP-1 has won awards for its design and sound engines.

Teenage Engineering has been recognized for the design and functionality of its products. The OP-1 synthesizer won one of ten of Sweden's Design S Awards in 2012. The award committee described the OP-1 as "A technological product which through a clever colour scheme and fantastic graphics is intuitive, easily accessible and incredibly inviting. Music and machine in one".[15] In 2014, the OP-1 was awarded second prize in Georgia Tech's Margaret Guthman Musical Instrument Competition.[16]

Musicians

Musicians who use Teenage Engineering products include Beck, Depeche Mode, Kings Kaleidoscope, Miike Snow, Drew Shirley of Switchfoot, Housemeister, Damian Kulash of OK Go,[1][3] and Lauren Mayberry of CHVRCHES.[17]

Products

  • OP-1 (2010)
  • oplab (2012)
  • OD-11 (2014; with Stig Carlsson Foundation)
  • Pocket Operator 10-series (2015; with Cheap Monday) and 20-series 10-series (2016; with Cheap Monday)

References

  1. ^ a b c Byrne, Ciara (3 September 2013). "More Than An Office, Teenage Engineering's Minimalist Garage Is A Tinkerer's Paradise". Labs. Fast Company. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  2. ^ Wolbe, Trent (14 January 2011). "Teenage Engineering OP-1 synthesizer now available for pre-order, we tour its shiny new features (video)". Engadget. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  3. ^ a b Kulash, Damian; Carnick, Anna (26 August 2013). "Dream Machine". L'ArcoBaleno. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  4. ^ "OP-1 Portable Synthesizer by Teenage Engineering". Cool Tools. Boing Boing. 7 November 2013. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  5. ^ Gaughan, Kevin (February 2014). "Teenage Engineering - OP-1". Earmilk. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  6. ^ a b Ingraham, Nathan (28 August 2012). "Teenage Engineering's new OP-1 gear: it's time to crank, bend, and break the rules". The Verge. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  7. ^ Gardiner, Bryan (21 July 2014). "Review: Teenage Engineering OD-11". Wired. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  8. ^ "Carlsson Story". Teenage Engineering. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  9. ^ a b Sethi, Rounik (20 January 2015). "Teenage Engineering and Cheap Monday Launch new Micro Synths". AskAudio. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  10. ^ "Here They Come: The Pocket Operators!". Cheap Monday. 22 January 2015. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  11. ^ Ingraham, Nathan (22 January 2015). "Teenage Engineering designed a set of incredible pocket synthesizers that cost $59 each". The Verge. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  12. ^ Raymer, Miles (23 February 2015). "Teenage Engineering's Pocket Operators put real synths in the palm of your hand". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 26 February 2015.
  13. ^ "Teenage Engineering Pocket Operator Availability Update". Sonic State. 12 February 2015. Retrieved 26 February 2015.
  14. ^ Zampollo, Matthew (9 February 2016). "Cheap Monday e Teenage Engineering lancia la nuova serie di micro-synth Pocket Operators". Rolling Stone (in Italian). Retrieved 1 March 2016.
  15. ^ "Winners". Design S. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  16. ^ "2014 Competition". Georgia Institute of Technology. 2015. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  17. ^ "Studio Brussel: CHVRCHES - The Mother We Share (Live)". Studio Brussel. 21 October 2013. Retrieved 26 September 2015.
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