Teenage Engineering releases a Vocoder update for its OP-1 Field

Teenage Engineering OP-1 Field is now with vocoder! The vo(ice)(en)coder revolutionized music since its introduction to the world by Homer Hudley at Bell Labs in 1938.

Designed to analyze and synthesize the human voice, it has been used by iconic artists to make their synthesizers sing. From Wendy Carlos and Bob Moog, to Kraftwerk, Herbie Hancock, Beastie Boys, Tupac, Daft Punk, and countless others.

Now all the OP-1 Field owners can enjoy it.

How to install

The feature can be enabled by downloading and installing the new free firmware update for OP–1 field. Just follow these simple steps:

• download and install the firmware
• press synth
• hold shift and press any sound slot key 1–8
• load vocoder

Operation

With the vocoder active, press mic to select the input source.

This is the input for the voice and it will be used as the modulator.

Any input source, such as the built-in microphone, a headset or even the radio or usb can be used.

After you have selected your input source, speak and play notes on the musical keyboard.

You should now hear your OP–1 field burst into beautiful singing.

n the OP–1 field vocoder, the audio input is passed through a bank of 20 filters with controllable bandwidth and formant shift.

The carrier signal is built-in: a custom 7-oscillator polyphonic synth that goes from a single sawtooth to pure white noise.

As always, everything is fully real-time and can be modulated. The controls at your hand are as follows:

• blue is a one knob synth engine
• ochre is formant shift
• gray is number of bands
• orange controls the dry/wet mix

Let’s see hot to use the new function in this video:

Download the latest firmware here. If you don’t own your Teenage Engineering OP-1 Field yet, check for availability at Milk Audio Store!

Source: Teenage Engineering