New open source groovebox OTTO is inspired by the OP-1
It’ll take up a different spot in your setup though, according to its developers.
The OTTO is an upcoming open source hardware synth and sampler that takes its cues from Teenage Engineering’s OP-1.
According to its Github page, the groovebox is designed to be “a complete hardware and software solution, with synths, samplers, effects and a sequencer with an audio looper”.
Commenting on Reddit, lead designer Tobias Pisani admitted being heavily inspired by the vastly popular OP-1, but clarifies that “the OTTO would take up a separate spot in your setup”. He goes on to describe the new device as “much more of a groovebox than the portable production beast that is the OP-1”.
OTTO will be built around a Raspberry Pi Model 3 B Plus, and will feature a screen, a DAC, four encoders and 30 or so buttons and keys – as seen in the render above. In terms of software, it will run on modern C++ in a bid to keep things as modular and flexible as possible.
Check out some of the OTTO’s planned features here:
- A synth (with swappable engines) for live performance with MIDI effects (arpeggiator, etc)
- Two send FX – synths and drums can address them as an FX bus
- 10-channel drum sampler with 16-step sequencer
- Separate sequencer for synth and drum sampler sections
- An audio line input with FX send and level
- A simple loop-station-style audio looper that can get audio from line-in or synth, including an overdub feature and one level of undo
- Eight “save slots” – snapshots of the entire system that can be recalled
The project is currently in the prototype stage, and its developers are encouraging potential users to get involved with its progress on their Discord server.
More information on the OTTO’s GitHub page here.
