Teenage Engineering PO-33 K.O. Reviews

PO-33 is a knockout sampler

For the money its a very nice beginner sampler sequencer from TE. The sampling time is limited in this unit but with some creativity you can make some nice grooves. Also the PO-33 ko can use a housing. It’s rather barebones. For the price it is one of the best pocket operators.

Fun to play with

Fun to have around and jam on, though default samples quite bad and not well organized within the sample slots at all

If you are looking for a first drum machine I would get something else

Small. Simple. Fun :)

This thing is really easy to use. I think it took about 50 minutes before I was comfortable with using all the features.

You can do a lot with what it has to offer and I'm satisfied with the execution. The one feature I miss is being able to adjust the amount of steps used as I like to mess with other time signatures (unless I just haven't found it yet). Everything it has works a treat.

The stock sounds a very usable, especially the stock drums, but the beauty of this is that it's up to you to capture and edit some cool sounds. It's a little lofi with its internal mic but I see that as a positive :) You can of course sample via line in also.

It is a little flimsy feeling but that it the sacrifice of making it so small and portable. I feel a lot more comfortable using it when in its case.

Fun little groover

Only recently got it, so I'm yet to fully explore it, but from what I've played with, I can recommend. It's a fun little groover that's extremely portable. Super fun to record my own samples and put together some jams (if simple)

Madness

A funny and weird experience. It is a good laugh playing with this and is a great antidote for when you are getting too precious with your music.

So much fun!

I wanted something to take with me while traveling - small and battery-powered. And while i normally buy guitars here, i was looking for something different and dive into the world of samplers.

You hear good things about the PO-33 and I can only confirm. It is just so much fun to tinker with this thing.

No, i does not have the most versatile features, no, it does not have loads of memory, no, it does not have high audio quality. But that's not the point. This is a little sampler with its very own character. Its limitations - if you're going to compare it with full-size samplers - are actually what make it so fun and inspiring to use.

I can highly recommend this to anyone looking for a small, inspiring sampler.

Best value device for young creative

absolutely limitless with your imagination. I found this incredibly intuitive. What an interesting concept and execution of design perfection.

Instant Sequencing Sampler/Slicer with Analog Crunch

Got his Sampler (3 times), mainly for Amen-Breakage.

1) Record via audio-in or mic something u like (recod in doublespeed for double length).

2) Trim (a bit tricky) then Reclice automatic into 16 steps (nice!) or manualy (tricky) into 16 sciles

3) Copy parts into tonal mode

4) Have fun! :D

The step sequencer (up to 4 samples at same time playable) is very nice and offers true analog pitch, tonal play, filter (lpf, hpf, bandpass, notch) per track. steps are programmable (volume, pitch, lenght, retrig, filter, etc).

Trig in to synch with external clock.

The sound is very crunchy and has character. Stuff sounds rich lofy (90ies style). Has punch.

Very portable. Blug in hedphones or even use the speakers to jam around. You can punch in (careful) the slices like on an mpc or programm step by step.

With the built-in mic u can sampe anything. Quality is good (rich lofi).

It takes some time to get the trimming right, but onceu know this gear, u will know how to work.

Happy accidents happen. Very fun.

Do not get the silicone casing tho, it sucks (cant see the step leds at all). There are third party see through hard-cases which are better. I enjoy it without any casings.

If you want a rich lofi mutlipurpose sampler and slicer with instand workflow, this is the thing. GLHF :D

Not just a toy

Endless fun to be had with this guy. I always grab it with me if I have to go on the road, since it's battery powered It can be taken anywhere. With a case it's a really solid piece of equipment that can even be introduced into larger setups (it punches way above it's weight imo), It can be synced to other Pocket Operators, and heaps of other outboard gear.

The workflow is great, you can sample and whip up a groove in just a couple of gestures, and the automatic slicing is super smooth. I've sampled some kits directly from my computer headphone output and it sounds great!

Just spend a little time to actually learn the ropes on this thing, and you will be all set.

Super entertaining!

This is the most fun per € I've had in a long time!

I've been using this as a "creative sketchpad" to lay down ideas, as well as a source of inspiration. It's also a great way to lay down some lo-fi beats.

The workflow is super effective, it takes you two minutes from recording a sample and putting in some drums to having a solid track and fiddling with effects.

-- Features --

It's almost unbelieavable how this little calculator looking device packs so many features:

Built-in mike and speakers (!), sampler, sequencer, a bunch of effects, decent sound quality and input/output + sync features.

You can record any effect that you apply over playback, effectively recording a "performance" (limited to the max 16 patterns that you have which is quite a lot).

-- pros and cons --

This is obviously not supposed to be a feature heavy or complete sampler, so I still give it 5 stars despite it's limitations (limited number of patterns, limited recording memory for samples etc..).

For a newcommer, it is certainly a great introduction to the world of sampling and beat making.

For anyone, it's super entertaining and actually usable: just look at the huge number of videos people post jamming with the PO line.

Big thumbs up!

Fun on the go, frustrating in the studio

Consider this what it is, a compact cheap very fun sampler.

I have wasted hours on the go with this thing, sampling all and everything on the fly. Creating ideas and inspiration while on the move. Like a notebook for beats.

Yet i rarely use it at home, there is just no point in pairing it up with better quality equipment enless you want to go for that lofi sound, or use it to spice your track up with some glitchy details, the fx can be fun in this way. I don't own any other PO's to pair it with, but i can see this being a major perk if you do.

Fun little inspirational device, but more a plaything than an audio tool for me, and extremely fun on the go!

Perfect Entry Point

Never having used a sampler before, I thought the PO-33 was a good jumping off point to figure out what this kind of thing could do. And it didn't disappoint.

So far I've used it mainly as a percussion tool, sampling everything from silverware hitting wood, to youtube videos of The Dead Weather recordings, and Orson Welles interviews. The built-in microphone is pretty darn good and should satisfy basic needs of just having fun when you're on the go, but to me it's the most interesting by connecting to my interface/computer/phone and recording whatever sound I can find and produce, then manipulating the hell out of it.

Of course, it isn't exactly hi-fi, but given the price point, it shouldn't be. Still, in a mix, you'd be hard-pressed to find anything as feature-rich as what this little monster that Teenage Engineering put out. It's fast becoming one of my favourite pieces of gear just because you can literally pull-off a full song out of it, with simple volume mixing controls, and an almost eternal string of sequences that you can program.

Basically, it looks like a toy, but it's became a mainstay of my production flow.

Overall best price/performance sampler.

Mainly used it for some piece ideas on the go as a device to make drafts on. The device is really easy to use and has a great built in speaker with what you can sample anything anytime. The device also has a mic in port from which you can import sounds from your computer.

The only complaint is that you need to buy a separate case for it or it will break easily as it is quite fragile. The case is a must have if you want to buy this. Otherwise I have no complaints and its definitely money well spent.

My first Sampler, I don't need another.

Perfect if you're thinking of trying making beats or composing songs, but aren't sure about what to get.

It's got a fairly wide selection of effects and features, and can be used to build a track at least in demo form.

It's easy to get started, but there is a learning curve. Still, great value for money.

Amazing sampler for small price

I used it for an art project. This is an entry point sampler opening an entirely new world of possibilities for my music-making. Super small, portable, and yet so many functionalities.

The only con is the size of the buttons. Otherwise, excellent machine

A True Knockout

This is the second po-33 I have purchased. I use it for quick sampling sounds out in the world and to create music on the go.

This device is one of the most fun I have ever used. It's lack of instructions can make it seem like it has a steep learning curve but once you understand the basic functions it is only a matter of time before you will become more skilled and learn all the tricks you need to create music.

The only downside to this device is that in order to make a backup of the samples and patterns you have created you need a way to record a stereo signal. You can easily record the audio output of the device using a mono interface if you just want to edit your music in a DAW or simple software like Audacity.

This remains one of my most heavily used and enjoyable instruments. I love the po-33 and cannot recommend it highly enough. A must have for anyone interested in sampling or mkaing music on the go.

I purchased some rechargeable AAA batteries to power my device so I would not have to use disposable batteries repeatedly.

Introduction to Teenage Engineering / Most Versatile PO

This is my first Pocket Operator and I have to say that I've spend some time having fun while playing with it !

The PO 33 is a perfect introduction to the world of drum machines and hardware sequencers.

Even though all these buttons and leds might seem a little disturbing at first for the newbie, the PO is quite easy to handle, plus there are tons of tutos on the internet.

The built in FX are nice (some of them amazing) and very nice thought to live jam with.

The built-in mic does its job when you create patterns with friends, just for fun. And actually this is why it's so cool: you can take it anywhere with you, record a few sample sounds and easily create a small chain pattern that sounds like a "mini track".

Also, the more POs the merrier, and it all becomes truly interesting when you link them together!

On the other side you have to buy separately the plastic case or be careful when transporting even though the built feels relatively sturdy.

2 of my non-musicians friends bought one after I showed them the tiny machine.

really great pocket sampler

This is an amazing little machine, easy and fun to use.

Teenage Engineering know how to market a product. These things really ARE great but..

Tricky to get used to all the menus, so in that sense has a somewhat steep learning curve. That said, the enjoyment of creating beats out of whatever you've just recorded is pure childlike bliss. I wanted something like this when I was 13 - record whatever noise you like, and it's instantly converted into a 16 note sampler. Beautiful. I did a bit of research and found that for the average consumer (like me) the KO was the best pocket operator to go for, as it offered the greatest flexibility of originality.

For sheer enjoyment level it's 10 out of 10, but as a serious music maker in a studio, I'm not so sure. When there's a DAW sitting in front of you, there's no competition. BUT, for on the road fun, it definitely beats mindlessly scrolling through social media.

Probably worth factoring in one of the TE cases too, unless you like the aesthetic of the pcb.

Oh, the only other thing worth mentioning is the fact that headphones are moving/have moved into Bluetooth only territory. Worth bearing in mind unless you fancy plugging your studio headphones in every time, my old iPhone headphones keep dissapearing...

Great lo-fi Sampler

Teenage Engineering is well known for his PO Series and the KO 33 doesn't disappoint any expectations.

A well packed great sampler with a bult-in step sequencer to get your creative flow on the road in no time!

Only complain I have is that it's not possible to sample with your hands free, you must hold down a button or record through line in.