Small enough to fit in your pocket and powered by a pair of AAA batteries, theTeenage Engineering PO-32 Pocket Operator Tonicis an analog drum synthesizer with 16 on-board sounds and limitless external timbres thanks to a collaboration with Magnus Lindström of Sonic Charges. Indeed, the product was developed by Magnus and Teenage Engineering to jam-pack the sound of Sonic Charge's well-regarded Microtonic drum synthesizer into the pocket operator's form factor, recreating the oscillators, envelopes, and filters from the original Microtonic plug-in.
With 16 on-board sounds and 16 tweakable effects, the PO-32 is not merely a replica of the Microtonic. Instead, you can actually create custom sounds in the Microtonic plug-in and transfer them from your computer to the PO-32 by means of its on-board, receptive microphone. Thus, you can take the sound of the software with you in a highly tweakable analog format. You can also share sounds you've tweaked with other users of the PO-32 in a similar manner as described above. Conversely, you can receive data from your friends'/collaborators' PO-32.
The unit's parameters can be locked, while a 16-step sequencer, which holds 16 patterns in memory, can be chained into a song. An integrated clock and alarm clock expand the creative possibilities of the instrument. A jam-sync function with 3.5mm audio in and out connections allows for multiple synthesizer units to be linked together. A foldout stand makes it easier to play and rear-panel speaker solder terminals allow you hook up the unit to a larger sound system. An optional tailor-made silicone pro case (sold separately) adds anti-slip feet, battery protection, and professional-feel buttons to this truly unique music-making device.
Key Features at a Glance
Analog synthesizer engines
On-board sequencer
Parameter locks
Step multiplier
Unlimited sounds with Microtonic VST
Built-in speaker
Built-in microphone for data transfer
3.5mm audio I/O
Jam-sync function
Animated LCD display
Folding stand
Breakaway lock tab
Clock and alarm clock
Battery powered (2 X AAA)
1-month battery life
2-year standby time
On-Board Sounds
Kick 1
Snare 1
Shaker / zap
LFO effect
Kick 2
Snare 3
Close / open hi-hat
Claves / cowbell
Low tom / kick 3
Rimshot
Tambourine / crash
Hand clap
Bass
FM snare
Cymbal
High tom
On-Board FX
Half rate
Distortion
Squash
Echo fade
Pitch LFO
EQ sweep
Mega morph
Pitch bend up
Punch
6/8 quantize
Beat-repeat
Beat-repeat faster
FM
Granular
Reverse
Bouncing ball
Notable Controls
The PO-32 affords you many controls, including:
Accent
Swing
BPM
Step Multiplier
Copy pattern
Clear pattern
Chain pattern
Transfer Microtonic Sound to your Pocket Operator
You can craft your own unique sounds in Microtonic and send them wirelessly to the PO-32 by means of its microphone. Conversely, you can download sounds and patterns from Sonic Charge's online Rhythm-Generator Patternarium.
Lock Tab
Adding to the PO-32's guerrilla mentality is a breakaway lock tab, which allows you to permanently protect all written patterns, restoring all tweaked parameters to locked settings any time you remove the unit's batteries. This process is reversible by soldering the two pads located by the lock tab together.
Transfer Capability
You can transfer sound and pattern data directly between separate PO-32 Tonics using the built-in speaker and microphone, or using the 3.5mm line in/out connectors.
Backup Capability
Sound and pattern data can be stored to any device for saving and sharing. You can back up the data via built-in microphone or line out. Likewise, you can restore data from a transmitting unit.
