Teenage Engineering
Teenage Engineering PO-33 KO Pocket Operator Micro Sampler
The Teenage Engineering PO-33 KO is undoubtedly one of the quirkiest samplers we’ve ever seen. The Pocket Operator range offers a unique feature set and an incredible price point, and the PO-33 is no exception. To keep the cost of the PO range low, Teenage Engineering have chosen to build the units “naked” without casing and have housed delicate components beneath the screen which offers protection and doubles up as a speaker!
Billed as a micro sampler, the PO-33 allows you to sample any sound source – recording through either the line input or the built-in microphone. There are two banks for samples – melodic and drums. Sampling a sound into the melodic banks enables you to play the audio back as a chromatic instrument. But take a loop and record it into the drum banks and this pocket powerhouse will slice your loops using transient detection on the fly – allowing you to play or sequence the snippets of audio in new creative ways.
In addition to this sample manipulation, the PO-33 KO has an on-board sequencer and 16 effects. You can connect multiple pocket operator units together and these can be synchronised via the same cable. If you’d like to protect your pocket operator from damage then the CA-X case, or one of the many 3d printed alternatives available online, is a sensible investment.
The 40 second sample memory might seem tame by today’s standards. But the PO-33 forces you to approach your sample selection carefully, and you’ll find the limited sample time a creative inspiration rather than a limitation after spending a short time with the unit.
Main features of the Teenage Engineering PO-33 KO Pocket Operator Micro Sampler include:
- Sampler
- Built-in sampling mic and line-in for recording
- Sequencer
- 16 Effects
- Sync functionality
- 40 second sample memory
- Melodic mode for play chromatic melodies
- Drum mode