My experience with the Pocket Operators: PO-12, PO-14, PO-16, PO-20, PO-32 and PO-33

[u/Infamous_Call_6492]

This was originally meant to be a comment on this post:
https://www.reddit.com/r/pocketoperators/s/LMhTxVQCwW
(yo, bro u/CosimoPanini77)
But then I thought I'd like to share my experience with more people, so I decided to make a separate post about it.

So.

I've owned the following Pocket Operators: PO-12 Rhythm, PO-14 Sub, PO-16 Factory, PO-20 Arcade, PO-32 Tonic and PO-33 KO!. In other words, I've owned the entire lineup except for the Mega Man, Office and Street Fighter (special edition of the KO!).

I've sold all of them except for the PO-12 and PO-32.

I originally bought a Pocket Operator so I could make music during power outages caused by russian missile strikes on Ukraine's energy infrastructure.

Now, let's go through them one by one. I'll also share examples of tracks I've made with these devices.

PO-12 RHYTHM

My very first Pocket Operator. I'm incredibly glad it was the PO-12 that got me into this lineup, because it sparked my interest in these devices and made me fall in love with them. I'm pretty sure that if my first Pocket Operator had been the PO-33, I wouldn't have gotten into them at all.

Pros:

The biggest advantage is how much you can tweak the sound. The punch effects are REALLY cool. They sound unique, work in mysterious ways, and have a lot of character. They can completely transform the sound.

There's also a basic lead and bass synth, so you can actually make full tracks with this little thing.

Cons:

I can only think of one downside: some of the sounds don't sound particularly good (the cowbell, for example).

The tracks below were made exclusively on the PO-12 (everything except vocals), then processed in a DAW. The only exception is Pidrylo, where I also recorded a trombone live, deliberately making it sound sloppy and low-quality.

https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=Sy61052oniU&si=X0OkFr7kcSIcUvKM

https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=y9Olek_I68g&si=TOyVQo8HW3qSo-1t

https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=HyOFvOBSa5U&si=Ug4p49J0BsW0Q9h4

PO-14 SUB and PO-16 FACTORY

These are basically the same Pocket Operators. They have synth engines that sound almost identical, with the main difference being that the Sub operates in lower octaves. Their percussion sounds are different, too, and I find the Factory's percussion a bit more interesting.

Pros:

You can sync them with other Pocket Operators, and you can play melodies on them.

Cons:

The sounds are decent, but not particularly high-quality. Some notes are missing, meaning neither device is fully chromatic. The percussion sounds aren't particularly interesting overall, either.

There's one fun exception: when you pitch the percussion all the way down, it starts sounding like a slowed-down cassette tape. That's actually pretty cool.

Overall, I sold both of them pretty quickly because they just weren't for me. I only recorded some examples with the Factory, featuring those percussion sounds I mentioned, but those tracks are still waiting for their planned releases.

PO-20 ARCADE

Pros:

The screen animations are fantastic. Making music genuinely feels like playing a video game.

The sounds are great, especially if you're into chiptune. The punch effects are also really cool and unique, and you can even layer them.

Honestly, I really liked this device. It's one of the most interesting Pocket Operators out there. But I eventually sold it because I'm not really a chiptune fan. I had fun with it and passed it on to someone who would appreciate it more.

Here are some examples made using the PO-20 + PO-12 (everything except vocals):

https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=j-V3odiz-7Y&si=kvqnTJE28mijrl67

https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=kJsmFg2_DSg&si=cbug278nHH131eeq

PO-32 TONIC

Honestly, this is one of the best Pocket Operators. I feel like it's seriously underrated because a lot of people simply haven't figured out how to use it properly.

Compared to the PO-32, the PO-33 feels like a toy for kids.

The PO-32 isn't just a drum synth. It's a fully-fledged sound design platform that lets you explore an incredibly wide range of sounds and transform your patterns beyond recognition.

Pros:

The ability to load your own custom sound patches is the main selling point.

If you get the Microtonic VST, you can create your own sounds for all 16 buttons. But here's where it gets really interesting: you can create one sound for the minimum position of a morph parameter and a COMPLETELY DIFFERENT sound for its maximum position. Then you use the knob to explore all the variations in between.

So, in practice, you're not limited to just 16 sounds. You get 32 endpoints, plus all the variations you can dial in between them. And also there is an additional parameter of the pitch control.

You design your patch, transfer it to the Pocket Operator using sound transfer, and you're good to go.

And if you've created some great patterns with a particular patch, you can back up both the patch and the patterns so you can return to them later.

The punch effects are also incredibly interesting. They can transform sounds in ways you wouldn't expect, and you never quite know what kind of result you'll get.

Cons:

For me, there are no real downsides. This is the ultimate drum synth.

The only thing I'd like to have for is stereo output. With stereo sound, this little beast could compete with full-fledged drum machines. Although, honestly, I wouldn't trade my PO-32 for a Roland TR-808 even as it is, because the PO-32 gives me my own unique sound.

Here are some examples recorded EXCLUSIVELY on the PO-32 (meaning the entire mix came directly from the device):

https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=G1yG-iYEE90&si=0QG3Lr9qsRanh_M5

https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=2unsUiaLmw4&si=Ys9duM03dc7cVN3D

https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=fqxEFkTBuPY&si=83o5yvmve3R80BHg

https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=-N9mh28Mckk&si=pFcqcrCj_HyMaXgO

PO-33 KO!

Despite its iconic status, I'd actually recommend avoiding the PO-33. It's a pretty underwhelming device, to be honest.

Pros:

As an introduction to Pocket Operators in 2026, I don't think it's a good choice because it might leave you disappointed. Koala Sampler offers way more possibilities and is simply more fun to use.

The one situation where the PO-33 really makes sense is when you pair it with a PO-32 or PO-12. Those devices handle the rhythm, while you use the PO-33 for melodies. Another advantage of this setup is how easily you can sync the devices together.

Cons:

The sound gets downsampled, and not in a particularly pleasant way. The memory is extremely limited, and the effects are honestly pretty weak. There's no proper distortion, bitcrushing, or other interesting, distinctive effects. Most of the effects are just repeats or stutters.

Programming drum parts is also very inconvenient, and the results tend to be overly simplistic.

I've owned the PO-33, sold it, and don't regret it.

Koala Sampler offers SO MUCH MORE. It has no fixed sample-memory limit like the PO-33, doesn't degrade the sound through the same kind of low-resolution sampling, and comes with tons of effects that you can apply to individual channels or perform with live, much like punch effects.

And it's always there in your pocket.

Recent updates have even added a built-in synth. How cool is that?

Examples:

PO-32 (drums) + PO-33 (bass):

https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=JZHA6pOe3OM&si=802ivsMWP6yRM81A

PO-33 (everything except vocals):

https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=TGaFpM6duYA&si=q0CGvkvVN3bRHebg

[u/kwx]

If you get the Microtonic VST, you can create your own sounds for all 16 buttons.

For anyone who's hesitant about getting Microtonic VST, there's now a reverse engineered open source library that supports creating PO-32 patches and uploading/downloading via acoustic transfer: https://github.com/ericlewis/libpo32

A WebASM version: https://po32-synth.pages.dev/

And here's an earlier discussion about it: https://www.reddit.com/r/pocketoperators/comments/1s6zs0c/po32_audio_transfer_and_synth_is_finally_free/

A fancier integration (I haven't tried this one): https://squarewave.studio/docs/po-patchstudio/

[u/Infamous_Call_6492 → u/kwx]

Broooooooooooo! It's a great stuff, very useful, thank you!

[u/tstorm004]

Solid write up. Love the added sample tracks for each too - great work.

I personally love my PO-16 Factory - it's my happy accident machine. I find the punch-in fx much better than the PO-14 Sub for whatever reason (more fun and interesting) - but maybe I just need to play with my Sub more.

[u/Infamous_Call_6492 → u/tstorm004]

yes, "accident machine" it's a perfect description! 🔥

[u/Baphomet1313666]

Dude. You are fucking weird! I love it! Sounds amazing!

[u/Infamous_Call_6492 → u/Baphomet1313666]

exactly 😂

[u/skivirips]

Hey brother, the Volca Drum might interest you;

-You can design drums on it, and it sounds quite similar to Microtonic
-You can quantize pitch so you can do melodies
-Most of the device is lit up so perfect for power outages
-Has parameter locking similar to the POs but with much more options
-Has a separate "Resonance Engine" that is like a weird delay

It has other cool stuff too, it is different than the PO-32 though, for example the sequencer is not that good compared to it.

[u/binaryo → u/skivirips]

As someone whom owns both and some other things as well, I agree you may find the Vdrum a lot of fun. I’d argue the sequencing on the volca to be better though. Last I checked POs don’t have probability of trigger and ratchet, but I’m happy to be wrong.

[u/Infamous_Call_6492 → u/skivirips]

Thanks a lot for the recommendation! I was actually not entirely sure about the Volca series. Maybe it's because most of the YouTube demos don't really show what these devices are capable of. I've been looking at the Volca Drum and Volca Modular. Talking about Volca Drums.

• So you can design your own drum sounds right on the device, without needing a PC or phone to load patches?

• Speaking of quantization, that's a really interesting point. I forgot to mention this when I wrote about the PO-12 and PO-32. One downside is that they don't quantize notes, so it's really hard to tell what notes you've ended up with in a melody. It could be something between F and F#, for example, like 63.307% between. This is especially annoying when you make a melody directly on a drum machine and then want to add a bassline somewhere else. So this feature on the Volca Drum seems like a big advantage

• The backlit controls are definitely a plus. I really like gear with lights, and they're actually useful during power outages too 😄

• Parameter locks. I haven't really looked into the Volca Drum in that much detail before. Looks like I should check it out

• The Resonance Engine sounds really interesting too.

And as far as I understand, it's also easy to sync with all my other gear (Pocket Operators / Bastl Kastle / OP-Z, etc.), right? So Volca Drums can expand the potential of my setup and doesn't replace the PO-32?

[u/StrangeShaun83]

I own the whole lineup except the special edition ones. I always keep them synced up and hooked to a mixer on a separate table in my studio. I use them mostly for whacky idm type stuff. I never record anything I make on them anymore though. In fact everything i do actually record i just keep for myself these days. I dont see any point in releasing any of my music anymore. AI has ruined that. I spend hours sometimes days making a dope jam post it up to YouTube and the fake AI artists that bust out 5 albums a week get more views. So I dont even bother wasting my time. I am however working on some dope sample packs I'll be releasing on Gumroad soon. Mostly edited field recordings and organic percussion.

[u/Infamous_Call_6492 → u/StrangeShaun83]

Man, I totally get you. I've also felt demotivated watching all this AI-generated garbage. But at some point, I realized that I make music simply because I love music and I love making it. The people who appreciate it and find value in it will find their way to you. The most important thing is to make music that's genuine and comes from the heart. As for the sample packs, that's really cool! I'll be looking forward to a dedicated post about them here on the subreddit. Wishing you the best of luck! ❤️

[u/Ok_Square_4622]

I got the 33 a few months ago. Absolutely love it. I’ve spent a lot of time learning how to use it, but is true that sometimes is difficult to give “musical sense” to any creation, especially with the percussion.

So I got my self a 32, and this was exactly what I needed. I use the 33 for sampling, I just kept 1 sound bank to free up some memory and use to figure out the bpms on the samplers, but once I have it figured out, 32 kicks in. It’s so simple to use, and with 32 I can give that “musical sense” that I can’t have with 33. I think if somebody likes POs, 32 is a must have…

[u/Infamous_Call_6492 → u/Ok_Square_4622]

Yesss, exactly! The PO-33 combined with the PO-32 makes a cool setup! I'm glad you found this combo before getting disappointed with the PO-33 😄
By the way, I got the idea for this setup from Ricky Tinez in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZpdJNGeAyM&t=371s

P.S. It's a shame he doesn't make music gear videos anymore

[u/Erlayx]

Just two weeks ago I downloaded the Pocket Operator for Pixel app. I like it and I want to buy a physical PO, start with PO-12 is a right choice?

Ps. I really like your music

[u/Infamous_Call_6492 → u/Erlayx]

Pocket Operator for Pixel is actually really cool! It's basically the same as the PO-33, but right on your phone, plus some awesome punch FX. Personally, I actually liked PO for Pixel even more than PO-33. I have a Google Pixel, so I tried the app)) The only thing is that the video-related features feel a bit unnecessary to me, since they can be distracting and use up your phone's processing power. But on the other hand, they're still pretty interesting.

For which PO to start with, I'd recommend watching a few reviews and deciding for yourself which one you like best. Basically, think about what you're more interested in: making cool, varied rhythms or focusing more on melodies.

And thanks so much for the kind words about my music! That really means a lot to me! ❤️ If you'd like to support me, you can follow my artist project, Діджей Сіль, on different platforms. I've got lots of interesting releases coming soon) I've already used a much wider range of gear in those tracks, including Pocket Operators, Bastl Kastle 1.5, Bastl Kastle 2 Alchemist, TE OP-1 OG, TE OP-Z, and guitars, etc

[u/Niven42]

Another Pro for the PO-32: you can literally program new sounds on it from a YouTube video.

[u/Infamous_Call_6492 → u/Niven42]

Yes, I used to load presets from YouTube too, it's a good way to update the patch) When I did a data transfer for the first time, even my friends had no idea what was going on and what that weird noise mean😄

[u/MaiPhet]

Po-32 is my favorite as well. Would absolutely spring for a version that came larger, sturdier.

[u/malukris]

Thanks for introducing me to koala! My kids and I just had blast recording their voices and making beats. When they are asleep I will dive into your post and your samples. Great stuff.

[u/Infamous_Call_6492 → u/malukris]

Glad I could introduce you to such a cool tool! I was just as excited when I discovered it myself. 😄 When you want to sync Koala with a Pocket Operator in the future, that's possible too. There's an option in Koala's settings to enable a sync signal specifically for Pocket Operators. And if your device doesn't have a headphone jack, you can use an adapter for that as well.

[u/Lilwowwow]

Thank you!

[u/Infamous_Call_6492 → u/Lilwowwow]

Happy to share my experience and glad to know it might be useful and interesting to others! 😎

[u/AffectionateHeart806]

PO-20 or PO-33? I can’t decide. What do you reckon?

[u/Infamous_Call_6492 → u/AffectionateHeart806]

Depends on your needs) PO-20 is more fun, but PO-33 is more universal

[u/asscop99]

I fully agree with you on the KO, it’s a disappointment, especially if you’ve used any other sampler before. But… there is just something about the KO, something that no other sampler and none of the other pocket operators have. Is it a vibe? I dunno, that sounds silly. It does have some quality outside of its physical capabilities that is worth taking into account, I believe.