teenage engineering pocket operator PO-32 tonic, drum and percussion synthesizer and sequencer, unlimited sounds with microtonic through data transfer

I have the PO-12 Rhythm and a few of the other melodic Pocket Operators from this series. The PO-32 Tonic is just better than those other devices. What makes this unit interesting (and arguably worth the $30 higher starting price) is that it's not sample player, but more like a stripped-down version of an analog drum machine stuffed into a microcomputer the size of a credit card. For some background, the "full" version of this sound engine is MicroTonic - a PC and Mac-based drum machine plug in first released in December of 2003. Not only does the PO-32 Tonic operate a simpler version of MicroTonic, but the designers of that program collaborated on the production of the PO-32, and it is capable of loading sound patches and pattern data if you have the full paid desktop version (costing $100). MicroTonic actually looks like a great program, but I didn't much interest in buying a $100 VST to use with a $89 drum machine. But as it turns out, I don't think you have to be a MicroTonic owner to appreciate what the Tonic does. It ships with 16 different instrument sounds, and as with the other Pocket Operators, these actually can be pitched and morphed with both the A/B modifier knobs and an even-more-awesome collection of 16 effects that can be applied live or on a per-step basis. The performative aspects of the Pocket Operators and implementation of effects are arguably the strong point of these devices, and the Tonic is the best example yet of that. Along with distortion, bit crush, and filter sweeps, there are several time based "delay" and stutter effects, including a crazy accelerating delay that sounds like a bouncing rubber ball. However, since the patch transfer is accomplished by fax-style data bursts (either through a built in mic or direct line transfer), you can back up your own data as 30-second data bursts, or grab other data bursts off of YouTube or SoundCloud. So, while you won't have the ability to customize your own sounds, you can still expand the palette of the PO-32 with a surprisingly effective transfer method (I tried it a few dozen times without reading the instructions too closely and it worked every time - both from PC and from smartphone). The Tonic sound engine seems impressively powerful and varied. I've heard patches that run the full range from classic analog drum machines (808/909/etc), to more driven, electro-style kicks and blips, to almost acoustic-sounding drum sets. All the normal caveats for Pocket Operators apply - these things are small and they are FRAGILE. The failure point that concerns me the most are the super thing metal tabs that hold the AAA batteries in place. If those begin to fatigue and no longer hold pressure, I assume my PO's will be done. The PO-32 has a workflow that isn't necessarily intuitive from the instructions, but there's actually quite a bit of depth there and you pick it up over time. Same goes for the pulse/CV synchronization with other hardware. It took a bit of trial and error and watching some YouTube videos to get each device in the proper mode, but it did work well after that (except for the problem that devices earlier in the chain are significantly more quite than those closer to the output). Minor gripes aside, there are some seriously great sounds in the PO-32 Tonic. I think the melodic Pocket Operators are more limited because they really suffer from limited scaling and no MIDI or external note sequencing capabilities. But the PO-32, like the PO-12 before, is a self-contained drum machine, and an extremely fun one at that.

5 out of 5. The deep tones from this little machine is worth more than the price. Once you figure out to use the PO, the interface never changes from one to the other. The pros of the tonic is easy drum modulation, you can get whatever sound you are looking for on it. The swing is clutch. You can do cool break, melodic, or uptempo beats. Program sixteen patterns with endless combinations. The only con I have is that it is a little tricky to put different sounds on it. The microphone on it is only used as a way to transfer different drums made in micro tonic which is an additional 99. Although there are many different drum packs that can be downloaded and ran on your speaker online. Another con would be the durability , I would suggest buying or 3D printing a case I personally use this with a PO-33 KO for sampling, and the PO-20 arcade for chromatic chord progressions

Got this as a gift for my boyfriend, and I swear he hasn't put it down yet. The sounds are crisp and clear, and just the whole idea of this thing is amazing. Runs on 2 AA batteries, has recording capabilities, and a cute little game & watch-like screen that reacts to the different inputs. Incredibly interesting and just fricken fun to play with!

My first choice would be the Office PO because it has really cool industrial sounds but the Tonic is a close second. Definitely a pocket operator you need for a proper beat. The thing about the Pocket Operator series is that you certainly can compose a jam with just one but once you start using them together things really open up. This one has its unique charms as all the rest do. I personally have no interest in using the Tonic DAW plugin or application to swap out sounds but that's an option if you want to synthesize some cool drum sounds. I'm more of the type that'll make a beat as good as it'll get on the operator itself and then go off and mess with the sound in a DAW the rest of the way to get it how I want it in my mix.

I like my pocket operator and it seems from youtube research to have the best variety of sounds to create a decently-layered song. Options to create melodies are there but limited because I haven’t discovered how to control the sustain of the synth waves. Still a fun little composer.

I got this for my birthday from my kids. (One of them already has a couple of other PO models.) I'm a complete goof musically, and I'm having an immense amount of fun with this. Being small and limited compared to $900 machines like the OP-1 I see how its value is a matter of debate among pros, but for someone who just likes to play with interesting beats and sounds and effects I find myself picking it up throughout the day. I plan to get another in the future (Factory or Robot maybe).

So most people are probably going to buy this to make cool jams and make house/techno/EDM music which it does well and is a cool niche. But I think it has a wider use for a variety of musicians. This thing is an awesome metronome. Assuming you are in 4/4 time (I think you can force it into 3/4 I have not played with this yet) the PO-32 lets you laydown a simple drum track with bass drums, snares and high hats that although a little mechanical it is light years more fun to practice to than a sterile click from a metronome. You can add some swing for Jazz or blues tracks. it holds 16 rhythms that you can program and you can chain these together to make a more complicated backing track. This is definitely helping me with practicing rhythm guitar.

The synchronization with Microtonic VST makes this micro drum synth the way to go! Chaining patterns, recording in real time make any few patterns sound an endless set, I recommend to buy the PO-33,32,35 and you would have a portable studio with enough tools to create music anywhere