The PO-33 KO! sampler gets an enhanced ‘evolution’
Seeing as Teenage Engineering has spent much of the past few years focused on high-priced gadgets – such as the slick, pocket-sized and punishingly expensive ‘Field’ range – it’s easy to forget that the Swedish brand is also responsible for some of the best-value instruments on the market with its battery-powered Pocket Operators.
First launched back in 2015, the PO range comprised a variety of compact, calculator-like instruments each focused around a quirky digital engine and a selection of fun ‘punchin’ effects. Now Teenage Engineering is launching what it calls an “evolution” to one of the range, with the release of EP-133 KO II, a redesigned and enhanced successor to the popular PO-33 KO! sampler.
Teenage Engineering claims the PO-33 is “the world’s most sold sampler”, and while we’ve no way to verify this, its fun design and bargain price certainly made it very appealing. The EP-133 KO II does away with the barebones design of the original Pocket Operator to offer something far more refined: the EP-33 KO II looks like a fully-finished piece of audio gear rather than something that’s awaiting the fitting of a case. There’s a reworked sequencer, new punch-in 2.0 effects and a supposedly faster workflow.
The EP-33 KO II also offers a built-in mic for instant sampling, and a built-in speaker so that you can use it completely standalone. There are 999 sample slots (the sample rate is 36kHz/16-bit), 64MB memory, a multi-functional fader and a selection of drum, bass and ke
