Teenage Engineering PO-12 Rhythm Drum Synthesizer

The Teenage Engineering PO-12 rhythm (PO12) is a pocket-size drum machine and sequencer with 16 synthesized and sampled drum sounds, 16 punch-in effects and parameter locks. It has a built-in speaker and runs on two AAA batteries.

Program beats on the 16-step sequencer, store up to 16 patterns and chain up to 16 of them into a song, then sync it to other Pocket Operators over a 3.5 mm cable.

PO-12 rhythm specifications

Type	Drum machine and sequencer
Sounds	16 drum sounds, synthesized and sampled
Effects	16 punch-in effects, parameter locks
Sequencer	16 patterns of 16 steps, chains of up to 16 patterns, step multiplier
Built-in speaker	Yes
Audio and sync	3.5 mm audio and sync input, 3.5 mm audio and headphone output with sync out
Display	LCD
Power	2x AAA batteries (Teenage Engineering quotes about 1 month of battery life for Pocket Operators)
Package weight and box	0.15 lb, 4 x 2.5 x 0.8 in

Is the PO-12 a sampler?

No. It plays its 16 built-in drum sounds. To record your own sounds, look at the PO-33 K.O!, which samples through a built-in microphone.

PO-12 rhythm or PO-32 tonic?

Both are drum machines. The PO-12 has 16 fixed drum sounds and chains up to 16 patterns. The PO-32 tonic loads new drum sounds from Sonic Charge Microtonic (sold separately) and chains up to 64 patterns.

Can it sync with other Pocket Operators?

Yes. Connect them with a 3.5 mm cable and they play in time, passing audio through the chain. A PO-20 arcade or PO-28 robot adds melody on top of the PO-12's beat.

Does the PO-12 need a case?

Not to work, but the CA-X silicone pro case protects the batteries and adds anti-slip feet, pro-feel buttons and a neck strap. It fits every Pocket Operator.