Teenage Engineering PO-30 Pocket Operator Metal Series Super Set Bundle with 3-Pack of CA-X Silicone Cases, and Blucoil 3-Pack of 7" Audio Aux Cables

These are my first pocket operators. I have avoided them in the past as they looked cheaply made. I was willing to pay for higher quality kit, something that would really last. This is that kit. You get three pocket operators, and arguably these are the best ones out there: PO-32 (Tonic), PO-33 (K.O.), PO-35 (Speak). These three also happen to be the most expensive POs out there. Also included in the box are three "pro" silicon CA-X black covers (they wrap around the front), and 3 mini stereo patch cables to sync the POs together and provide a line-out.PO-32 (Tonic)- So far this drum synth is my favorite device. You can easily add new patches by putting it in to "receive data" mode, holding it to a speaker, and playing a digital file through it. This makes it super easy and fun to transfer patches and patterns between users. Sounds can be found all over the internet, as you just need to play an audio file. Check YouTube and Soundcloud for some. The default sounds weren't my thing, but some of the user made sounds blew me out of the water. It really makes it feel like a whole new device. There is also a third-party app you can buy that lets you build totally customized sounds for it.PO-33 (K.O.)- This is a sampler in a tiny little pocket-sized device. It has 40 seconds of memory to play with, so you aren't going to do a full remix on this thing. This has the same awesome audio-sound-pack transfer feature of the PO-32. I found it slightly less fun as it was much harder to find sample packs to upload to the device. And, honestly, if you're going to play with a sampler like this you are probably going to make your own samples.PO-35 (Speak)- Before you go any further, search for "PO-35 secret powers" on your favorite search engine. That will help you find the secret key combos you need to really get the most out of this unit. This thing is like one of those old-school speak-and-spell toys. At first you might think it is a one trick pony, but it is actually more of a powerful vocoder/sampler, with a simple drum machine attached. I think this thing is way more powerful than the PO-33, but it is a more nuanced tool.Each one of these tools is surprisingly powerful, but don't expect to unlock that power in one sitting. These are NOT TOYS! While they are fun to play, they are really targeted toward more serious electronic musicians and enthusiasts. That doesn't mean it is just for experts, though. These things are perfect for beginner producers. I wouldn't recommend all three for a total newbie, however. Raw beginners might want to start with just the KO or Tonic, then add the other two later. A serious beginner, enthusiasts, or experienced musician/producer will appreciate how all three of these work together and compliment each other.By default these units are set up to be stand-alone devices. To get the power out of all three working in concert expect to invest some time. If the first thing you do when you get a new bit of kit is to chuck out the default patterns and sounds, then this 3-pack is the right choice for you. Getting them all to work sonically together means you'll probably add additional external kit like an OP-1, or more full-featured DAW (Ableton, FLStudio, etc.).It really is hard to oversell these devices. There is so much power in such a tiny package. Each one of these things is amazing. Be prepared to invest some serious time getting to know each one, not to mention lots of time on forums and YouTube learning the hidden tricks and tips. These metal versions are built to last years, and I do mean years... like decades. If you love electronic musical devices these are for you, especially for those dedicated lo-fi edms & chillwavers out there. You probably already own like 5 of these, right?Some final thoughts:- TE sells screen protectors in a 3 pack. This kit didn't come with them. Buy them if you want to protect the screens.- Don't forget to take off the metal stand before putting on the cases. It won't fit right with them on. Be careful putting on the cases. Take your time to avoid damaging the unit.- The cases themselves are okay. Would love to see a transparent option to see all the cool graphics on the board. It also needs a tighter fit around the battery. It does a great job of keeping the devices from sliding around the desk.- You'll get a tactile feedback "click" as you press down on a button, however that isn't when the button actually engages. If you don't press down hard enough it won't actually register it as a button press. Remembering to press firmly takes practice. The tactile feedback you get actually messes you up more than it helps. Just get used to really smashing the button and you'll be good to go.- The batteries can sometimes be hard to remove. You can use a plastic (not metal!) tool to help pry them up.

Was considering just getting one, really glad I got all three! Very fun. I can’t imagine using them for “actual” production but if you’re looking for a fun toy this is it

Everything showed up as advertised, and all three of them have been a blast to use. Compact and powerful- really great addtion to my mobile Volca setup!

I absolutely love these pocket operators. They are fantastic and I would recommend them to anyone who is looking for a fun little MIDI sampler or small electronic kit. I wish the packaging would’ve been a little better, and that’s the only reason this product gets 4 stars. You can see in my included picture how the top of the box was lightly damaged. For the price, you really feel like this would get shipped in a box, and not in an envelope.

Haven't made anything worth recording, but id be wrong to say they arent a blast to mess with.

Just get this set instead of trying to decide which one is better :)

Works as expected. Cool product.

Excellent attention! Thanks!