PO-33 K.O. : Simple & Fun

The K.O. is the most portable synthesizer I've ever owned. While it can be limited when writing whole tracks, it's very easy to start putting together sounds and making nifty little loops.

The sampler feature is phenomenal and it opens up a world of possibility for recording on the go. Unlike the OP-Z, you can sample instantaneously anywhere, any time. And while the library is a bit limited space-wise, the quality is astounding. And editing samples is easy to learn.

The speaker is low quality but as good as you'd expect based on the wafer thin size of the synth. The look of the exposed solder on the board is a nice aesthetic but sometimes I find myself touching the solder behind the knobs and the synth treats it as if I'm moving the knobs. A slight design issue but a minor problem that I wouldn't fault the company on.

I deleted all the factory sounds almost immediately but I believe others may have more use for them as they're quite nice quality samples.

Finally, the live effects are what make this synth, and the rest of the PO series stand out to me. They make playing this instrument a genuinely fun experience.

I'd recommend to anybody interested in sampling to buy this and see what they come up with. It's certainly limited but it's a good learning tool in my opinion, and tonnes of fun for the bus or train.