Not just for bleeps and blops Pocket Operator Modular 400
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- Опубликовано: 5 сен 2024
- Playing big, brash and melodic lines with other eurorack compatible kit. The Teenage Engineering Pocket Operator Modular 400 is so good at experimental and evolving ambient soundscapes using the onboard sequencer (which is much more flexible than it looks), that there's a whole lot of that already here on RUclips.
The pocket operator modular series has been reduced in price - enough to tempt me into buying the 'big' yellow 400 to see what it's all about.
I'm using it here with the Analog Solutions Colossus - just to have a listen to how well the little yellow one stacks up sonically to something with an undisputed quality tone. It does very well sequenced by the Arturia Keystep Pro, showing not only that it works with other kit, but also that its possible to pay melodic tracks with it, so thought demoing something big, brash and melodic would make a pleasant change
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@teenageengineering
I'm watching this video while taking a break from cleaning the ceiling. In my present physical state I have to say that the PO 400 is clearly superior to the Colossus because with it you can adjust the filter without having to reach up!
I guess holding your hands up is quite high in your radar at the mo 😂
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤦🤦
I know what you mean, I have a 5u setup and often suffer from "modular shoulder"
It makes the Keystep look huge in comparison ; )
These really shine if you sequence them with the OP-Z and CV module.
Thanks for clearing up the difference between the Colossus and the Pocket Operator. Here was I thinking that I'd look ridiculous with that great thing poking out of my pocket.
Glad I could help! :)
So many synthsnobs hate this, I'm definitely getting one now.
This exactly the video I was looking for! An up to date review of what you can do with it! Thank you!
I can cleanly hear a difference between the two of course, but they're not worlds apart, and there's a case for prefering that little yellow friend's sound, depending. What a pleasant little surprise.
At the sale price it seems like its sort of ok. There are a lot of downsides but if you're aware of them and thats ok, why not? Not on sale I'd say a behringer semi modular is probably money better spent.
I’d like a compilation video of your chuckles at the end of each sentence. A chucklejam if you will.
Your wish is your command.™
Haha… … you can use that one as well 😂
@@StarskyCarr That's a Patreon tier right there ; - )
I'd like to see a full build video. It could be helpful to people like me who are completely useless at putting things like this together!
cool melody! must be nice having a Colossus around 💚
Indeed!
You’ve shown this instrument in a whole new light… and I cant help but think had TE done this very thing from the get go, they wouldn’t have needed to drop its price as much as they have.
I think it’s because it really shines doing the ‘experimental’ stuff because of the range of the oscillators - the down side to that is tricky tuning.
Thanks for the heads up, bruv.
Cool: The smallest and cheapest modular system on the market side-by-side with the biggest, most expensive 🙂. They actually sound really good in stereo. I really like the sequence.
Unfortunately it's still $599 here in the US.
Try perfect circuit. It’s out of stock currently-maybe because of th price drop… click the link in the description 😉
"It's just Synth LEGO, innit?" - Super Hans
I’ve been a little sceptical of this guy from other demos due to them generally going the bleeps and squawks root (no issue with that as such but I can already do all that stuff) so good to hear something a little more musical and know it can produce it. I’ve come looking again on finding the price drop which tempts my interest.
I'd like to see someone use like 10 of those at once, still smaller than that one in the back by far.
Thought I recognized the tune from the midimimi video, I really love that pattern. Give us a one hour version for Christmas for I could listen to it all night:)
If the price drops to 20, I might consider.....
VCV software first spend time in that before going to hardware, if you are very new aka new user to eurorack ecosystem.. (google keeps deleting my post)
I had a longer explanation but google keeps deleting my post. And yes I am an experienced audio engineer.
Funnily enough, I screwed my Blue Barvin into the rack in the same way, but not because it's too flimsy - but too top-heavy.
This is basically the only competent product line TE make lol.
Maybe a 1.5K field desk will make modular bettererererer?
what about the pants?
@@russ254 what about the pants?
don't diss the pocket operators like that or maybe a opz if it had a better build everything else is trash or overpriced lol
If I owned one of these, first thing I'd reinforce the flimsy case with steel brackets or wooden sides. That wobbliness would annoy the heck out of me.
Love those chords in the arp at the start, is it from one of your tracks ?
pretty sure that's a deadmau5 tune
It’s from the Deadmau5 midi pack.. re-jigged to give a 3 note/3 oscillator sequence. I think the packs called Chimera.
Bargain price…btw that is the first review of it that I have watched.
Imo great addition to CRAVE, volcas or smaller eurorack setups…very cheap!
Anytime you see big price drops I’m thinking: they’re clearing out a channel that isn’t selling; or a new model is coming; or EOL will be announced.
Either that or they’ve got their investment back on the machining and can pass on the reductions, i.e. they can now afford to sell it cheaper.
@@StarskyCarr I think they discontinued it and just tried to move what's left in stock faster.
Definitely NOT selling in the numbers they would like, this is TE we're talking about, one of the most overpriced companies out there.
One of each please
Just makes me want a Colossus. 😅
Haha me too! Unfortunately it’s going home today 😩
3:20 - Shonky.
Would it be possible to use the individual modules independently later on or is something that is quite hard to take apart once assembled? Is it something you could potentially put together with a kid and both have fun doing so (had a bunch of fun doing that with the Gakken Record Maker a few years back)
Mainly curious about it as a toy to assemble tbh, figure I might learn a bit about modular synthesizers in the process. The reduced price just about pushes it into affordable territory for that use case (plus I imagine it'll at least hold half its price long term assembled?)
The modules would be difficult to use separately in a modular system - the power supply isn’t the same, plus you wouldn’t have the front panel.
As far as building with a child - definitely. The first bit is fun - bending the shell. The next bit is very simple, open the box, screw it in place and attach the power cable. Each one takes a few minutes though and there’s lots of them! Id imagine a child doing the first few and leaving you to complete the rest 😂.
@@StarskyCarr Thanks for the reply!
Think I'll probably take a punt on it at this price, either I'll love it and wind up going deep into modular synthesizers and mildly begrudge the 250 I blew on it, or it'll be briefly fun, we'll learn a bit and never go near modular synthesizers again (kinda hoping the latter seeing how much this gear can cost!)
Feels like the kind of thing it'll be hard to find much cheaper than the current price it's going for again.
Was the packaging especially big?
@@padraigwastaken I’d say it’s worth it for a bit of fun tbh. The cheapest way you’ll get to have a go at real modular. It’s all flatoack so comes in a large rectangular pizza box sort of size.
Considering how much Teenage Engineering value their industrial design and charge 'accordingly' for it, the build on this thing is surprising it passed their quality control process.
That all said, it *does* sound fantastic!
Quality design is not necessarily related to quality control.
that’s some big pockets you‘d need 😂
Can you control it from a keyboard? CV or Midi?
Yes I’m doing it in the video 🤷♂️😀
I’d love a build video
There’s no sound as my kids were in the room at the time but I’ll add a link - btw DivKid made a ‘proper’ one.
I really would love to get it, have felt this way for a good while. I like the cute form factor, love a bit of colour; seems like a nice companion to my lil 84HP setup. BUT, in New Zealand this thing is near $1000. Just is not remotely justifiable.
Oooh that’s a fair bit more!
teenage engineering ships it worldwide. 290 euros on their website
❤️👏
Absurd products for absurd prices .. Teenage Engineering!
I will buy any Behringer synth over that.
For £250 this is very good value. The nearest Behringer I guess would be the 2600 which is another £100 or so. But then you can’t add Lego parts to the Behringer’s controls 😂
@@StarskyCarr Lego is a brand name - Behringer people would want to add BlueBrixx . . .
@@StarskyCarr The B2600 has fine tuning on every oscillator, making it a 100 times more useful
@@jensmandreasen2230 I've got the B2600 - think its amazing.
I like the way it sounds, but I can't get over this flimsy housing they chose.
Still $600 in the US! :[
I saw perfect circuit have it at the discount (but not in stock at the moment - possibly getting more jn?)
@@StarskyCarr hey thanks :]
@@StarskyCarr Yes I bought one last month for $290 at Perfect Circuit.
I fail to see why the colossus is in this piece. Is like reviewing a Dacia while casually driving a Ferrari all the way along :)
It’s fun.
Why hello there, that pattern's from here yes :)
ruclips.net/video/VmmelEdNfR4/видео.html
man this video is confusing without headphones
I owned one and had both of its filter modules. The first version was terrible, literally the worst filter I have ever experienced. The second was merely awful, barely a step up. The speaker is tinny, the oscillators are an extreme pain to keep in tune, and importantly the case eventually develops metal fatigue and breaks. It's not a good design.
I’ve not had the joy of metal fatigue yet! The filter seems OK to me. I did some tests but decided not to put them into this. Maybe they’ve updated again as the oscillators stay in tune .. although it’s never perfectly tuned. I can only ever get within around 15 cents of perfect tuning if I’m lucky, but once it’s there it’s pretty stable - not as stable as the colossus, but definitely useable.
It’s trash from a trash company. TE’s customer service is horrible.
@@theleastsignificantbit4794 Completely disagree. I worked with them directly, and found them to be friendly and very helpful. However I am not a fan of the PO-400.
So, 450 for a pizza box of electronic components. Pass.
Its the same price as 10 might meaty large pizzas from my local Domino’s- I’d rather have this and lot of cheese sandwiches! 😂
Eh.... don't see much point, would have to drop another 50 to even be remotely interested.
Like I say it’s a great if you’ve not got anything and are having a think about eurorack or just want something to scratch that itch and make some experimental FM modular stuff… but if you’ve other eurorack already not so much.
@@StarskyCarr Designed by Jon Nensén (I'm sure you know this but others on the thread may not), it's more interesting (IMO) that it might first appear. I have a bunch of Eurorack gear and this was still a very desirable 'piece of kit', especially when the price dropped so low. AND it's bright YELLOW!!!
This thing is waste of money at any price!
I’ve been really enjoying it. I was surprised tbh as I’d heard so many bad things.
@@StarskyCarr When everyone worth their salt says it rubbish then it's rubbish.
@@straighttalk2069depends what you do with it. I think I’ve shown it can sound massive… putting it up against the Colossus for a bit of fun shows it’s not rubbish. Definitely not worth the original asking price, but that’s a different discussion.
Think for yourself - don’t go with the crowd - follow your own ability, experience, knowledge and creativity.
One of the worst sounding piece's of kit ever, it was just featured on Bad Gear and it sounds terrible 🤮
Unless you make it sound good. 😀🤷♂️ no offence to Bad Gear it’s a great fun channel… he’s doing what he does, and it’s great entertainment. I think I’ve shown it can sound good, as did DivKid.
@@StarskyCarr Agreed...a cool thing about modular in general is that it reveals just as much about the capabilities of the user as it does the gear itself. Probably the by-product of not having an architecture and preset patches to start with. You gotta really know your synthesis.
Isn‘t it that the outgoing voltages are lower in power? So that connecting outgoing from the PO400 Eurorack modules can not interpret things correctly? Divkid told this in his video…and no word here in this…?
I’ve not done extensive testing. I didn’t find any issues when playing with the Colossus, I used the LFOs and other bits as far as I recall. But I would 100% trust DivKids word on it.