[Solvency]

What is the "secret sauce moat"'for a product line OP-1 that makes it hard for others to replicate?

Is it..

- The hardware? Because I thought low level hardware was a commodity in this day and age... - The software? - The industrial design of the actual unit? - The cool hip design/marketing/brand?

[klodolph]

I don't think that there's any secret sauce or moat, it's just kind of a weird niche.

Multi-engine synths / grooveboxes are getting more common. You see stuff like the Roland SH-4d, or the various options from Elektron. You can combine these things with an ever-increasing selection of pedels. And if you have an iPad, there's all sorts of quirky stuff you can do there.

I honestly don't see why someone would want to create an exact clone of the OP-1. If I made synths, I would want to make something new.

[vintermann]

I think their secret is being deeply in touch with a certain synth subculture. Elektron is a companion company in that niche.

Their PO-2x series, for instance, was designed by Linus Åkesson a.k.a LFT. A lot of his coding and hardware projects have hit the HN front page.

I have a feeling many "serious" studio people scoff at this subculture, especially outside Sweden... But you shouldn't scoff at Sweden when it comes to music production.

[thuuuomas]

“Security thru obscurity” - the TAM of boutique, specialist gear is small enough to deter most profit-motivated copycats.

Waiting on the Behringer OP-B tho I guess :)