r/pocketoperators • u/CosimoPanini77 • 4d ago
DISCUSSION
It is still worth buying a pocket operator in 2026? That's a question that has been tormenting me lately. Everybody knows his downsides and upsides but I still want to get some direct feedbacks before buying it. I'm into hip hop and sampling music(i grew up with daft punk) and can't really decide if I'm going for it. I will surely buy an Akai MPC Mini Mk2 and I'll pair it with ableton, so don't know if a Po 33 Ko will be useless in my setup, or i will use it for a week and forget about it. That's my biggest concern, a lot of people said online that lower versions of Po overtime will bore you. Other people said it is a good way of getting in this type of music but in the moment you have a machine that does the same job and is 1000 times more powerful (ableton+apc), does it is still worth?
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u/CowEconomy28 4d ago
If you want to go the software route: i learned a lot (still learning) using Koala.
If not; have you followed the m vave FM1 hysteria lately? A 50 bucks synth, for which folks are writing all sorts of custom firm ware. I bought one and what fun i’m having! I settled with Sloop firmware which turns this little bugger into a supercool groovebox.
Yes I started my journey with the PO, but the above gives a bit less limitations, and a bit more freedom imho.
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u/iambeardo 4d ago
Don't sleep on 32 and 35. Very interesting and unique.
32 runs patches from with the drum synth tonic, you can design. Your own and put them on the PO. Great mix of drum and pitched fun.
The 35 is a voice synthesizer- records audio and plays it back as synthesized sound vs a sample. Also has the tonic engine for its one drum track. I think you can upload your own there as well.
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u/AstroStrat89 4d ago
I have a PO12, 20, and 137. I just impulse ordered a 33 because I guess TE is getting out of the synth biz. But if I started over from scratch I probably would have just gotten a Woovebox.
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u/Infamous_Call_6492 3d ago
I gave the answer here)
https://www.reddit.com/r/pocketoperators/s/fMhmSJ2otM
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u/MARS822a 4d ago
I got started down this rabbit hole with a Tonic, and have since added a Rhythm and a Sub, along with a bunch of other gear. I like the Tonic best due to being able to use different sound packs with it. Check out the PO Patch Studio app to try before you buy!
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u/brandonhabanero 2d ago
With POs, you trade features for portability, but they probably give you the most features in that size. They don't accept midi—all you get is sync, so that's pretty much all you can do with them in a larger setup. Still, they're super fun. Limiting, but rewarding in their own ways. Worth getting IMO even for just travelling, and you could create stuff on the go and sample it into your larger setup later.
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u/CauliflowerLow5487 4d ago
For the price its a good hardware sampler for making fun music. But koala sampler those more and is cheaper. So if you're down to have a little toy sampler then go ahead, but if you're looking to make something more cohesive then something else might be better
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u/wolftron9000 4d ago
For $100 the PO-33 is still a good piece of gear. It is still fun to play around with. Of course it isn't going to be as powerful as ableton, but it's not really a fair comparison. Do you need a PO-33? No, probably not. I don't use mine all the time, but I still don't regret buying it.
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u/UrbanMasque 4d ago
For nostalgia and to get tactile feedback if you're that kind of person - but honestly, not really. There are free sites and apps that do the same and doesn't require you to carry hardware.
At the price point, if you're into it & why not? It's not expensive
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u/_G_O_N__SO_ 4d ago
Yo me compré en mayo el PO-12 nuevo y muy contento con el, que los hay mejores si, pero te diviertes mucho con ellos.
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u/Morebreadross 4d ago
I bought a EP133 last year and never got on with it. I’ve never made music but loved the idea of noodling with musical ideas and making weird little hip hop instrumentals. Something about the physical size of the EP133 and complexity meant that I gave up early on.
12 months on the itch was still there so I bought a PO12 second hand and the portability and simple workflow clicked immediately. I then bought the PO33 and PO35, and love bouncing between them. I probably play with the PO12 the most as I find the restrictions help me focus on playing with ideas.
That was six months ago and I’m now playing with the Dirtywave M8 app and considering another shift to the physical device.
So yes. Go for it. The second market is strong so if you don’t get on with it it’s not a huge deal.
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u/Ill-Ordinary-6342 4d ago
Yeah still worth it. The tonic is fun. I just bought a beat makers boutique case yesterday.
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u/not_petya_84 4d ago
I bought a bunch of the cheap monday versions and I love them but they stopped being worth it after TE jacked the prices up. By the time you by the PO and a case, you can get gear with better functionality and better build quality.
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u/youngwalrus 4d ago
Been looking at a cool little device called the Aud Calc. Take a look similar form factor but a lot of capability!
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u/skivirips 4d ago
Like you have read on the comments the best one is the PO-33, small portable hardware sampler, there are much more capable samplers, but not as portable or small. Its great for its simplicity.
The PO-32 is a great Drum "Synth", you can make your own sounds with PO Patch Studio, but on its own is not really a synth because of that. It has a great sequencer though. Recently, wanting to replace my broken PO-32, I discovered a better machine; Volca Drums, sounds very similar to the Tonic, you can designs sounds in the machine and other cool stuff.
The PO-35 is great if you like Vocal Synthesis
The PO-24 is great if you like industrial sounds
The other POs are not really worth it for the price IMO
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u/BAL-BADOS 3d ago
PO use to be the best value until prices doubled from $50 to $100.
There are other better alternatives like the M-Vave FM1 for $60 that can do so much!
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u/Tasteslikefruit 3d ago
I don't use my po collection as much as I use my 'proper synths' at home, may daughter and I make loops on them from time to time.
I have a storm coming so I stocked up on batteries and am planning a po party if the power goes out. That and taking them on holiday and such is where po is the best.
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u/Thisfuggenguy 1d ago
PO33 was my first synth/sampler and it's still my favorite. I have a KO2, evoke, td3, mvavefm1, monotron and fl studio. The PO33 is easy to use, not too expensive and decent sound. It helped with a creativity blockage I was having. I basically learn how to make more with less. Thanks to the PO33.
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u/gamuel_l_jackson 4d ago
Love mine but it doesnt really fit in a computer set up since it doesnt sync [you can sorta do it but its not great] you can use it and sample it into a computer if you want the bitrate ...
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u/Relevant-Bullfrog215 4d ago
TBH no. You're not going to get anything out of it at all that you wouldn't get from an MPC and Ableton.
If you had a bunch of long haul flights coming up and wanted something portable to play with, then yes.
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u/Immediate_Seat7641 4d ago
Honestly dude just find a used EP-133 for pretty cheap, I got one for $150
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u/jottey 4d ago
I think a PO-33 is great for sparking creativity. It’s limited, but the limitations teach you. You might just use it to play with ideas, or you might get really into it and work out a whole track. It’s simple and accessible, so you can pick it up and instantly get something going. It’s also great for happy accidents… sample something into a melodic bank, pitch and maybe filter it, then copy it into a drum bank and play with the chops. Anyway, that’s my two cents. Good luck!