Teenage Engineering Pocket Operator PO-20 Arcade, Synthesizer and Sequencer, with Parameter Locks, Chord Control and Punch-in Effects

This little device is loads of fun. It comes preloaded with 16 patterns, which can be erased and over written once you understand how to program them. The sounds it makes are fun to play with, easy to manipulate, and they sound pleasing to the ear, assuming you like, bleep-bloop, chiptune-esque sounds. It has a number of effects to apply to the sounds as you play, as well as the ability to set and adjust chord progression through your composition. I have had the Pocket Operator Arcade for about a week and I am still learning about it, but I would say that I am very pleased overall, and will be trying out the other models Teenage Engineering has to offer. One important note, though, it is a small device, and as far as durability of this thing goes, it is basically a circuit board with buttons and knobs. I can't see it holding up if you plan to travel and don't take special precautions. This isn't a criticism, but more of a forewarning. So if you're going to carry this little guy around, you want to think ahead, or spend the extra money and purchase a case for it. It's a great price at $60-ish dollars, so $20-$40 more for a well-made case isn't a bad investment, I highly recommend getting a protective case. If you don't like TE's cases, there are a number of custom and third party options out there. Have fun.

So first of all, if you were like me and this is your first foray to this kind of thing : the guide printed in the cardboard container is useless. The manual in 3 different language is slightly more useful, but its also as confusing. Go to the website and find the fully illustrated guide, thats what you need. The problem is, the thing is loaded with demo patterns etc that is meant for you to remove and re-write over before you start. Which in the guide is like step 5, or 6. If you just kind of press buttons according to the short guide, the thing would make all sorts of demo noise, and you'll accidentally add even more noise and effects to it, and before long you'd be totally, loss. If you just press chords button, you'd be like nothing is happening. There is no reason for you to know that the volume was 0. Etc etc. All in all, great device, bad included manual, but that said, the online manual is good, and the youtube tutorial by ricky tinez will explain the thing to you , the whole thing, in 15 minutes . Have fun!

im a hobbyist/semiprofessional musician that has owned just about every value-priced synth/sequencer/music toy/audio gadget you can get nowadays...i have owned them, and inevitably re-sold them all, losing interest or just not being happy with overall functionality...that being said, this is the most full-featured and easy-to-play musical instrument i have ever owned. for the price paid (even paying full price, which i did not, having gone ding-and-dent from amazon warehouse for 59$ i think? torn package but no damage) i could not have asked for more. its really fun to learn, and even more fun once you get fully accustomed to its interface (or lack thereof?) and controls. Yes, this mainly produces chiptune/video game style sounds, but the tweakability of each sound (along with things like swing/chord/fx) ensures a wide variety within this style...you truly wont be disappointed.

I think the company did a fantastic job creating this really amazing product. I think the construction is very interesting! I love the display, the sounds, the buttons and dials. I think it's a really unique product with a great deal of application. I'm not a music, I'm a designer and purchased it for its great design and retro throwback. For someone like me, it was entertaining for a short while, but very quickly I realized I don't have much use for this. The product isn't cheap, and within a 2 days I realized I'm not the audience for this product. My co-worker who also purchased one is in a band, and has further use of integrating some of the sounds in with some of his songs, but for myself I found that I got bored rather quickly. If your not really into music, or making music, then this just won't have much use to you—and for the price it's rather expensive as just "a thing to have". The reason I didn't give it the full 5 stars was the lack of understanding. It was tough to learn the product. It came with a very simplified "manual" (a single sheet of folded paper), that ran through the basics, but to actually get to a place where your making music ON PURPOSE, took some time. A few hours later I mostly understood which buttons did what, and could intentionally make sound choices. The other reason was the poor rubber case fitting. I had an issue where a metal piece on the back which acted as a stand, would get in the way of the rubber case completely being able to surround the device. So essentially there's a small bit of it where the case is slightly pushed out. Both my friend and I assembled separately, but both had the same issue.

This is actually the coolest thing ever. I have not put it down since receiving it. Easy to learn and very addictive. My only concern is the lack of casing. It’s literally just a chip board with a screen and buttons/knobs. Time will tell if this is an issue, until that point this pretty much a perfect little device.

Perfect Christmas present for creative partner

Bought this as a gift, but the device's own package (not the envelope it came in) was half-torn open. It was delivered in a soft-envelope with no other protection, which is surprising considering the price. I haven't tried the device yet, presumably it works. But be careful buying this if you expect to give it as a gift, because it does not present well at all, unfortunately.

it's fun .. bit over priced

Nice device but for the price how it is packaged is ridiculous. This is an expensive delicate item. Mine came from the other side of the planet. The inbuilt speaker was weaker than i expected. Yes I know that is not how it is meant to be used but still.