---
product_id: 67594175
title: "teenage engineering pocket operator PO-33 K.O.! micro sampler and drum machine with built-in microphone, sequencer and effects"
brand: "teenage engineering"
price: "€ 183.42"
currency: EUR
in_stock: true
reviews_count: 10
category: "Teenage Engineering"
url: https://www.desertcart.fr/products/67594175-teenage-engineering-pocket-operator-po-33-k-o-micro-sampler
store_origin: FR
region: France
---

# Built-in speaker & line out 1 month battery life 40s sample memory teenage engineering pocket operator PO-33 K.O.! micro sampler and drum machine with built-in microphone, sequencer and effects

**Brand:** teenage engineering
**Price:** € 183.42
**Availability:** ✅ In Stock

## Summary

> 🎶 Your pocket-sized studio for beats that won't wait.

## Quick Answers

- **What is this?** teenage engineering pocket operator PO-33 K.O.! micro sampler and drum machine with built-in microphone, sequencer and effects by teenage engineering
- **How much does it cost?** € 183.42 with free shipping
- **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship
- **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.fr](https://www.desertcart.fr/products/67594175-teenage-engineering-pocket-operator-po-33-k-o-micro-sampler)

## Best For

- teenage engineering enthusiasts

## Why This Product

- Trusted teenage engineering brand quality
- Free international shipping included
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## Key Features

- • **Pocket-sized powerhouse:** Credit card-sized sampler with 40 seconds of versatile sampling via built-in mic or 3.5mm line-in.
- • **Dynamic sequencing & effects:** 16-step sequencer with 16 built-in effects lets you craft and tweak beats and melodies on the fly.
- • **Limitless creativity unlocked:** 8 melodic + 8 drum sample slots with chromatic play and slicing for unique sound design.
- • **Studio-quality sound anywhere:** Stereo output through built-in speaker or headphones for professional sound on the go.
- • **Ultra-portable & long-lasting:** Runs on 2 AAA batteries with up to 1 month of life, perfect for spontaneous music sessions.

## Overview

The Teenage Engineering PO-33 K.O.! is a compact, battery-powered micro sampler and drum machine featuring 40 seconds of sample memory, a built-in microphone, 16-step sequencer, and 16 effects. It supports melodic and drum modes with 8 sample slots each, stereo output, and a durable design, making it an affordable, ultra-portable tool for creative music production anywhere.

## Description

Buy teenage engineering pocket operator PO-33 K.O.! micro sampler and drum machine with built-in microphone, sequencer and effects: Drum Machines - desertcart.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

Review: Unparalleled size and price point for a credit card-sized sampler! - The first time I saw a demo of the Pocket Operators - a YouTube video of the PO-12 Rhythm shot in some dreary, overcast field in Scandinavia - I was blown away. I assumed what I was looking at was just a prototype (nope) and they would rehouse this fragile-looking computer chip...thing in some actual protective case for sale (nope again). But still, it sounded incredible into a powered speaker, seemed legimiately fun to tweak and program, and cost only $60! We've reached a total of nine Pocket Operator units now (as of August 2018), and while the various models have had their ups and downs, it wasn't until I saw demos of the PO-33 K.O. Sampler that I was "blown away" by this series the way in the way that I was when I first saw that YouTube demo and was introduced to the whole concept. Until now, each Pocket Operator seemed planted in its own little niche, but the K.O. Sampler seemed almost limitless. A credit card-sized sampler that can actually sample 40 seconds of audio via on-board microphone OR 3.5mm line in? Powered by 2 AAA batteries?!? For less than $100?!!? Of course, you can't triangulate affordability, quality, and depth of features without making some compromises, and there are important limitations you should know about the PO-33. But I find it to be that rare case with music gear where an affordable piece of hardware with notable shortcomings on paper turns out to be much more powerful and enjoyable once you actually get it in your hands. SAMPLING ENGINE & SOUND QUALITY: There really are quite a large number of ways to get sound onto the PO-33 and then move them around and edit them once there, so I will try to keep this short. The PO-33 is an 8-bit sampler, which basically means that it has a fraction of the digital "information" contained in a note from a 12-bit sampler or a 16-bit Compact Disc, for example. While I found it to be entirely capable of clear, detailed notes, it does reveal a gritty, raw character on many sounds, particularly when you turn it up. This may come across as "bitcrushed" or even "chiptune", depending on the type of sound involved, but this is consistent with the character of the overall Pocket Operator series. In some cases, the 8-bit audio engine creates a cool, driven effect, but I do have to admit I've struggled with it trying to sample a lot of sounds with the Line In jack - particularly bassy sounds like an 808 Bass Drum, which becomes fizzy and almost unrecognizable. Crisper or higher pitched sound better, and you can work with filter/resonance control to try and improve this further. The face of the PO-33 has 16 numbered buttons. These represent both the 16 steps of the sequencer, as well as the 16 "banks" for sampled content. Banks 1-8 are "Melodic" samples. By selecting one of these 8 banks, you get control over 16 notes, representing two octaves of a "harmonic minor plus one" scale. (The original sample/root note is located at the "5" key, and one octave lower on the "13" key, so the scales mirror each other on the upper and lower halves, which is nice). This is a bit of a strange decision by Teenage Engineering, as many of their other melodic Pocket Operators were locked in a C Major scale, presumably so those new to music could just mash in notes and play things in key with multiple devices. More on that in the "Workarounds" section later. Sound banks 9-16 are for "Drum" samples, but here's where it gets a little weird. The default way that "Drum" banks handle samples are to listen for transients and "slice" up 16 samples of different sounds to be laid out as buttons 1-16. So if you sampled a 3-second clip of an "Amen Break", or whatever, it would (in theory) grab different kicks, snares, and hats, and lay them out as 16 triggerable samples. That's potentially very cool, and you CAN adjust the start point and length of each slice, but it isn't a very repeatable or dependable way to set up a new kit. What you can do as an alternative is to copy and paste individual hits recorded as melodic samples into the slots of a "Drum" kit, though that takes a bit of doing. The way that you sample is to hold down the red "record" button and then either make a noise into the microphone OR play a sound through the left side 3.5mm audio jack. The quality of the resulting 8-bit audio is a mixed bag. Some of the synth notes I tried to sample into the K.O. had a noise floor going on that made them almost unusable. At the same time, I was amazed how clear and dynamic the extremely small on-board microphone picked up noises. As an example, I banged an empty soda can on the table, figured out that the note I made with that was close to a C#, and then made a whole melodic loop out of...banging a can on a table. That's an absurd example of what you could do much more effectively with your voice or an actual instrument. One minor annoyance is that while the sample doesn't record until it senses a certain noise level, you do have to hold down two buttons at one time, which then makes it hard to produce whatever noise you are making with your one free hand. SEQUENCER: I won't say too much about the sequencer because if you are familiar with Pocket Operators, it is very similar to how the other units work. I also think the sequencer is the glue that holds these units together and converts them from "adorable music toy" to "surprisingly deep sub-$100 musical instrument". Although each pattern is only one bar (16 steps in 4/4 time), you can program 16 of them and then chain them to repeat in any order over 100 times. It's almost embarrassing how much more powerful the sequencer is on Pocket Operators versus some "serious" music gear costing 5 times as much. And it's full of hidden tricks, such as the ability to set up to 8 note re-triggers per step. (Start playing a sequence, program a note, and then hold the button for that step while pressing the BPM button to cycle through re-trigger options). EFFECTS: The effects options in the PO-33 K.O. aren't as memorable as some of the other units in this series (notably the PO-20 Arcade and especially the PO-32 Tonic), but they cover the basic needs of a sampler and get the job done. You have low- and high-pass filters and resonance control for each sample. There are 15 different effects (plus an "erase" key on "16"), though most of these are variations of stutters and loops. It's still a lot of fun for live performance, and you automate different effects and control parameters within a sequence. LIMITATIONS & WORKAROUNDS: In researching the PO-33, I came across a few pretty major limitations that I feared might sink the device. However, thanks to the overall depth of features, and some clever workarounds to defeat these weaknesses, I find that the K.O. Sampler overcomes them. Probably the most major limitations is that each SAMPLE slot (of which there are 16) is monophonic, while the overall polyphony of the device is limited to four samples played per step. What this means is that if you load "Drum" Bank 9, you can't play a snare and a hi-hat from that bank on the same step. You also can't layer different pitched notes from a single "Melodic" sample on the same step to make chords. I believe the PO-33 prioritizes "Melodic" hits over "Drum" hits. However, you can play multiple "Melodic" samples from different banks at the same time, or individual drum hits from different banks, provided the total number of sounds does not exceed four. You can also copy instruments from the "Drum" banks as individual melodic samples, and the K.O. functions much more like an actual drum machine in that way. The limitations on the scale are another annoyance, but there's an ingenious workaround I came across online that should allow you to play in any major or minor scale: Minor scale: The note you sample becomes the root note of the scale, playable with the "13" button. The remaining notes of the Minor scale can be played in this order: 13-14-15-16-9-10-11-5 Major scale: Sample a note that is 3 half-steps or "semitones" lower than your intended root note. So, if you want a C Major scale, sample an "A" note, and then the root "C" will be on the "15" key. The remaining notes of the Major scale will be on these buttons: 15-16-9-10-11-5-6-7. It sounds convoluted, but try it and match it up to a piano or other instrument for reference, and you'll immediately hear the notes of your scale! SUMMARY: I'm leaving out a ton of features, but the bottom line is that this is a very full-featured sampler that's just a lot of fun to use, and extremely affordable. By comparison, the Korg Volca Sample is nearly twice the price, holds just a bit more sample data (65 seconds vs. 40 seconds on the PO-33), and you cannot load any samples onto it without a computer data transfer. It's really the ability to sample anything, anywhere with such a small (albeit fragile) device that propels the PO-33 K.O. to new heights. Its limitations of a piece of hardware are noteworthy, but the musical possibilities with it are endless.
Review: Legendary and fun - Love this thing, great for making beats and sampling.

## Features

- pocket-sized sound – with PO-33 K.O.! you can sample any sound source using 3.5 mm line in or the built in microphone. melodic mode lets you play chromatic melodies and drum mode lets you to create dynamic drum beats. sequence it all and add effects on top, listen back using the built-in speaker or headphones.
- 40 second sample memory – the built-in microphone lets you easily sample any sound source, making for a convenient and versatile sampling experience. from environmental sounds to vocals, you can save your samples onto any one of PO-33 K.O.! 8 melodic sample slots and 8 drum slots.
- sequence and add effects – sequence your sampled sounds, melodies, and drum patterns. the nano sized PO-33 K.O.! also includes 16 built-in effects to enhance and modify your sounds, get creative and tweak your compositions in any direction.
- studio quality sound – use the built-in speaker or the 3.5 mm line out to connect your headphones, like M-1, or plug into an external speaker like OB–4, to hear your tracks and in full stereo.
- a wall of sound in your pocket – pocket operators are small and ultra-portable music devices that can be used individually, together, or with other compatible gear. each edition is battery powered (2xAAA) with 1 month battery life and 2 year standby time. you'll also find a folding stand, clock and alarm clock function.

## Technical Specifications

| Specification | Value |
|---------------|-------|
| ASIN | B079M56Z4G |
| Best Sellers Rank | #2,711 in Musical Instruments ( See Top 100 in Musical Instruments ) #2 in Drum Machines |
| Body Material | Silikon |
| Color Name | Black |
| Connector Type | Auxiliary |
| Customer Reviews | 4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars (2,197) |
| Date First Available | February 11, 2018 |
| Finish Type | Lacquered |
| Global Trade Identification Number | 07350073030842 |
| Included Components | Drums |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Item Weight | 3.21 ounces |
| Item model number | TE010AS033 |
| Manufacturer | Teenage Engineering |
| Material Type | Silikon |
| Power Source | Battery Powered |
| Set Name | PO-33 |

## Product Details

- **Brand:** Teenage Engineering
- **Color:** Black
- **Item Weight:** 91 Grams
- **Material:** Silikon
- **Model Name:** PO 33 kb

## Images

![teenage engineering pocket operator PO-33 K.O.! micro sampler and drum machine with built-in microphone, sequencer and effects - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/7123uwwRA-L.jpg)

## Questions & Answers

**Q: Can you record any sound into the mic? or only from the software?**
A: That other answer is incorrect, there is a built in mic and you can sample any audio you can output over a 3.5mm cable, though note the 35 puts all samples through the synth engine, the 33 records sounds as they are, so if you don’t want a change to the sample, the KO (33) is the one to get.   33 also has 4 voice polyphony, though the 35 still is cool, just better suited to syncing with others than standalone.

**Q: Why is this more expensive than buying directly from Teenage Engineering?**
A: #1 - TE rarely has it in stock
#2 - Not a lot of sellers want to sell at TE price because they lose money selling it on Amazon

**Q: Would this be suitable for a 9 year old kid?**
A: Absolutely. It is very easy to understand and clear instructions. I have 2 kids around that age and they have no issues. Very little learning curve and plenty of YouTube videos on how to use it.
The po-33 is more for recording sounds and making a beat where as the po-32 is synthesizing sounds and a little bit higher skill.

**Q: What is the function the “Lock” tab?**
A: When you break off the Lock Tab, all patterns are frozen or "locked". To reverse this, you'll need solder the two pads by the lock tab together. You can learn more about the functions and features of PO-33 at [https://teenage.engineering/guides/po-33/en].

## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Unparalleled size and price point for a credit card-sized sampler!
*by S***1 on August 23, 2018*

The first time I saw a demo of the Pocket Operators - a YouTube video of the PO-12 Rhythm shot in some dreary, overcast field in Scandinavia - I was blown away. I assumed what I was looking at was just a prototype (nope) and they would rehouse this fragile-looking computer chip...thing in some actual protective case for sale (nope again). But still, it sounded incredible into a powered speaker, seemed legimiately fun to tweak and program, and cost only $60! We've reached a total of nine Pocket Operator units now (as of August 2018), and while the various models have had their ups and downs, it wasn't until I saw demos of the PO-33 K.O. Sampler that I was "blown away" by this series the way in the way that I was when I first saw that YouTube demo and was introduced to the whole concept. Until now, each Pocket Operator seemed planted in its own little niche, but the K.O. Sampler seemed almost limitless. A credit card-sized sampler that can actually sample 40 seconds of audio via on-board microphone OR 3.5mm line in? Powered by 2 AAA batteries?!? For less than $100?!!? Of course, you can't triangulate affordability, quality, and depth of features without making some compromises, and there are important limitations you should know about the PO-33. But I find it to be that rare case with music gear where an affordable piece of hardware with notable shortcomings on paper turns out to be much more powerful and enjoyable once you actually get it in your hands. SAMPLING ENGINE & SOUND QUALITY: There really are quite a large number of ways to get sound onto the PO-33 and then move them around and edit them once there, so I will try to keep this short. The PO-33 is an 8-bit sampler, which basically means that it has a fraction of the digital "information" contained in a note from a 12-bit sampler or a 16-bit Compact Disc, for example. While I found it to be entirely capable of clear, detailed notes, it does reveal a gritty, raw character on many sounds, particularly when you turn it up. This may come across as "bitcrushed" or even "chiptune", depending on the type of sound involved, but this is consistent with the character of the overall Pocket Operator series. In some cases, the 8-bit audio engine creates a cool, driven effect, but I do have to admit I've struggled with it trying to sample a lot of sounds with the Line In jack - particularly bassy sounds like an 808 Bass Drum, which becomes fizzy and almost unrecognizable. Crisper or higher pitched sound better, and you can work with filter/resonance control to try and improve this further. The face of the PO-33 has 16 numbered buttons. These represent both the 16 steps of the sequencer, as well as the 16 "banks" for sampled content. Banks 1-8 are "Melodic" samples. By selecting one of these 8 banks, you get control over 16 notes, representing two octaves of a "harmonic minor plus one" scale. (The original sample/root note is located at the "5" key, and one octave lower on the "13" key, so the scales mirror each other on the upper and lower halves, which is nice). This is a bit of a strange decision by Teenage Engineering, as many of their other melodic Pocket Operators were locked in a C Major scale, presumably so those new to music could just mash in notes and play things in key with multiple devices. More on that in the "Workarounds" section later. Sound banks 9-16 are for "Drum" samples, but here's where it gets a little weird. The default way that "Drum" banks handle samples are to listen for transients and "slice" up 16 samples of different sounds to be laid out as buttons 1-16. So if you sampled a 3-second clip of an "Amen Break", or whatever, it would (in theory) grab different kicks, snares, and hats, and lay them out as 16 triggerable samples. That's potentially very cool, and you CAN adjust the start point and length of each slice, but it isn't a very repeatable or dependable way to set up a new kit. What you can do as an alternative is to copy and paste individual hits recorded as melodic samples into the slots of a "Drum" kit, though that takes a bit of doing. The way that you sample is to hold down the red "record" button and then either make a noise into the microphone OR play a sound through the left side 3.5mm audio jack. The quality of the resulting 8-bit audio is a mixed bag. Some of the synth notes I tried to sample into the K.O. had a noise floor going on that made them almost unusable. At the same time, I was amazed how clear and dynamic the extremely small on-board microphone picked up noises. As an example, I banged an empty soda can on the table, figured out that the note I made with that was close to a C#, and then made a whole melodic loop out of...banging a can on a table. That's an absurd example of what you could do much more effectively with your voice or an actual instrument. One minor annoyance is that while the sample doesn't record until it senses a certain noise level, you do have to hold down two buttons at one time, which then makes it hard to produce whatever noise you are making with your one free hand. SEQUENCER: I won't say too much about the sequencer because if you are familiar with Pocket Operators, it is very similar to how the other units work. I also think the sequencer is the glue that holds these units together and converts them from "adorable music toy" to "surprisingly deep sub-$100 musical instrument". Although each pattern is only one bar (16 steps in 4/4 time), you can program 16 of them and then chain them to repeat in any order over 100 times. It's almost embarrassing how much more powerful the sequencer is on Pocket Operators versus some "serious" music gear costing 5 times as much. And it's full of hidden tricks, such as the ability to set up to 8 note re-triggers per step. (Start playing a sequence, program a note, and then hold the button for that step while pressing the BPM button to cycle through re-trigger options). EFFECTS: The effects options in the PO-33 K.O. aren't as memorable as some of the other units in this series (notably the PO-20 Arcade and especially the PO-32 Tonic), but they cover the basic needs of a sampler and get the job done. You have low- and high-pass filters and resonance control for each sample. There are 15 different effects (plus an "erase" key on "16"), though most of these are variations of stutters and loops. It's still a lot of fun for live performance, and you automate different effects and control parameters within a sequence. LIMITATIONS & WORKAROUNDS: In researching the PO-33, I came across a few pretty major limitations that I feared might sink the device. However, thanks to the overall depth of features, and some clever workarounds to defeat these weaknesses, I find that the K.O. Sampler overcomes them. Probably the most major limitations is that each SAMPLE slot (of which there are 16) is monophonic, while the overall polyphony of the device is limited to four samples played per step. What this means is that if you load "Drum" Bank 9, you can't play a snare and a hi-hat from that bank on the same step. You also can't layer different pitched notes from a single "Melodic" sample on the same step to make chords. I believe the PO-33 prioritizes "Melodic" hits over "Drum" hits. However, you can play multiple "Melodic" samples from different banks at the same time, or individual drum hits from different banks, provided the total number of sounds does not exceed four. You can also copy instruments from the "Drum" banks as individual melodic samples, and the K.O. functions much more like an actual drum machine in that way. The limitations on the scale are another annoyance, but there's an ingenious workaround I came across online that should allow you to play in any major or minor scale: Minor scale: The note you sample becomes the root note of the scale, playable with the "13" button. The remaining notes of the Minor scale can be played in this order: 13-14-15-16-9-10-11-5 Major scale: Sample a note that is 3 half-steps or "semitones" lower than your intended root note. So, if you want a C Major scale, sample an "A" note, and then the root "C" will be on the "15" key. The remaining notes of the Major scale will be on these buttons: 15-16-9-10-11-5-6-7. It sounds convoluted, but try it and match it up to a piano or other instrument for reference, and you'll immediately hear the notes of your scale! SUMMARY: I'm leaving out a ton of features, but the bottom line is that this is a very full-featured sampler that's just a lot of fun to use, and extremely affordable. By comparison, the Korg Volca Sample is nearly twice the price, holds just a bit more sample data (65 seconds vs. 40 seconds on the PO-33), and you cannot load any samples onto it without a computer data transfer. It's really the ability to sample anything, anywhere with such a small (albeit fragile) device that propels the PO-33 K.O. to new heights. Its limitations of a piece of hardware are noteworthy, but the musical possibilities with it are endless.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Legendary and fun
*by T***T on January 4, 2026*

Love this thing, great for making beats and sampling.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Oldschool LoFi Phrase Sampling at a Fraction of the Cost!!!
*by D***Z on May 19, 2019*

I hate to be one of those back in my day old guys, but this sampler reminds me of the early days of phrase samples/ samplers with units like the Akai S20, the Yamaha SU10, and of course the Roland SP 202, which I owned them all and regrettably sold at one point, fast forward and there's this Teenage Egineering PO 33 (knockout) phrase/Auto drumchop (Wow just wow) sampler with a built in pattern sequencing and a built in MIC for all under $100 , actually at one point under $70. Is it perfect? No, but for a price point at a fraction of what a used SP 303, or forget about the price of a new Roland SP 404 costs, you get nice grungy but clean 8 bit sampling and stereo (or at least fake stereo, doubling mono) sampling at that. Does it have all the bells and whistles like MIDI or CV, nope but you can sync it to other Pocket Unit by playing a click track, I have the PO 12 drum machine as well and most times I just sync them manually (pressing play) when I use them together. I've included a video of me using the PO 33 with a vocal sample of my own I recorded right into the mic input, and a pattern chain of some of the factory patterns and a few of my of my own made from scratch so far on this unit, hope you enjoy! And I highly recommend this for anybody who makes hip hop/dance/whatever music to have as a basic sample scratchpad. I own other units like the Korg Volca Sample and my biggest grip is that nothing in the sub 500 price range (and please don't mention electribe) actually samples besides the old Korg Microsampler and now this gem. And yes I have an MP and DAW software plug ins yadda, yadda but this brings back the fun of using those old samplers like the Akai S20 and Yamaha SU10 at a fraction of most hardware costs, great job Teenage Engineering!

## Frequently Bought Together

- Teenage Engineering Pocket Operator PO-33 K.O.! Micro Sampler and Drum Machine with Built-in Microphone, Sequencer and Effects
- teenage engineering CA-X Silicon pro-case for Pocket Operators with Built-in Battery Protection and Anti-Slip feet (Black)
- teenage engineering CA-X silicon pro-case for pocket operators with built-in battery protection and anti-slip feet (red)

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*Last updated: 2026-03-10*