The custom LCD is ~1$ in bulk, PCB maybe $1-2, Microswitches can be had for like $1-2 usd per 100, probably another $2 in bits and bobs (passives, battery holder).

CPU is just a cortex M3 IIRC, probably some ADC/DAC, so maybe $5-7 for the "brain" of the thing ?

Then shipping, handling, rest of manufacturing (arguably very simple, no case, just board with components).

So there is probably still a healthy margin left, not anywhere near "absurdly low", just at that price the volume helps a lot.

> (why is OP-1 so absurdly high?!).

Coz they know people will buy it. They hold that price used too.

Don't forget that they need to make enough profit to recover their engineering NRE costs. At low volumes that can force pretty high prices.

this pricing is still quite high, it’s just a lower priced category. it’s priced at twice the japanese market version.

Closer to 3x, if we're not including stuff like shipping. The Japanese version is $55, TE's is $150.

Are the pocket operators really that cheap for the functionality they provide?

I was always of the opinion that Teenage Engineering was ridiculously overpriced, but so much of what they make is so cool that it makes me want to buy anyway. I'm not creative/musical/rich enough to justify buying an OP-1. If I ever was, though...

> I'm not creative/musical/rich enough to justify buying an OP-1. If I ever was, though...

Digitone/Digitakt/Syntakt are much better at high but still lower than OP-1 price while still being very playable

On the entirely other side, Korg Volcas are pretty cheap and fun little devices, few other companies also make similarly priced and sized ones.

And lastly, cheap midi keyboard and just software synths are cheapest option, if less "touchable".

OP-1 niche is basically people wanting to be limited on purpose and/or just having something super-portable to jam on

Dirtywave M8 is also kinda in similar space of "small & portable" but it's based off the old school trackers so super-powerful. But again, pretty pricy, and tracker workflow.

I think the Korg Minilogue xd is the best synth for the price. I also have several pocket operators, an Elektron Model:Samples (eh), and I’m borrowing my friend’s Volca Modular (which is pretty sweet).

If you need/want something all in one with keyboard yeah that's a decent choice. Throw some drums (I got TR-6S) and it's all you need really. They also have wavestate and opsix in similar price range. Funnily enough those two are powered by raspberry Pi CM

Microfreak is kinda cool and almost half the price of that but it's keyboard is both advantage and disadvantage.

Yamaha's reface series is also kinda interesting.

I wish some company would just release a midi keyboard with some knobs, buttons and screens and rpi socket, I feel like a lot of cool stuff could happen if all of the effort was focused on one hardware platform. There are a bunch of "a rpi doing music things" out there but mostly incompatible with eachother...

The pocket operators are great value, the PO-20 is one of the best all-in-one groove boxes around and the price makes it a total bargin.

However, the cases are pure ripoff territory. I wonder if there are 3rd party ones available.

$29 for a case is a very standard price for phones, and the PO cases have more functionality.

The pocket operators are, on the whole, amazing. Rhythm, Tonic, and Arcade are my faves. The pack a shocking amount of flexibility into a tiny package, and really aren't overpriced at all.