Get started with the new EP-133, K.O.II by Teenage Engineering (Tutorial)

[bxbrkrz]

[joeyluck]

$299. I haven't watched the whole video, but just looking at it and knowing it's from TE, I was expecting it would cost more.

https://teenage.engineering/store/ep-133/

[Heater]

Looks to be a very fun device.

[bxbrkrz]

$299. I haven't watched the whole video, but just looking at it and knowing it's from TE, I was expecting it would cost more.

https://teenage.engineering/store/ep-133/

46Khz? Could it be a simple typo?
Anyway, amazing little tool for the price. Great choice for the UI, for the look and low energy taxing.
https://teenage.engineering/products/ep-133

[tt_lab]

46Khz? Could it be a simple typo?
Anyway, amazing little tool for the price. Great choice for the UI, for the look and low energy taxing.
https://teenage.engineering/products/ep-133

stereo / mono sampling at 46.875 kHz / 16-bit
Is stated in their web https://teenage.engineering/products/ep-133

[bxbrkrz]

46Khz? Could it be a simple typo?
Anyway, amazing little tool for the price. Great choice for the UI, for the look and low energy taxing.
https://teenage.engineering/products/ep-133

stereo / mono sampling at 46.875 kHz / 16-bit
Is stated in their web https://teenage.engineering/products/ep-133

[tt_lab]

I find it intriging.
not a usual bitrate. I guess something to do with the electronics used and/or memory. But I'm just guessing.

[joeyluck]

It looks fun. It's in the price range of the Sonicware stuff that I've had my eye on.

What I'd really like is a PO-32 Tonic or PO-35 Speak in this form factor with Microtonic data transfer. That would be cool.

[chimp_spanner]

I was very close to pulling the trigger. Went with K14 Collector's Edition in the end to absolutely max out my Maschine Mk3 soundsets and I _think_ I'm glad I went that route instead but damn if the FOMO isn't getting to me. My YouTube is absolutely full of this thing, and I absolutely love the look of it. It's like a 70s sci-fi calculator and I do still kinda want it.

[DaveyG]

I must admit I initially ignored this product as I assumed the price tag would be close to four figures!

It's an interesting one and I'm not sure it has much competition at that price point. I wish the display was better. At least it's a starburst rather than a seven segment but in 2023 there are much more user-friendly displays where you can write a nice clear "Reverb" rather then a wonky "Rvb".

I'm interested to see what the rest of the EP range brings and I definitely welcome TE's return to sensibly-priced stuff!

[bxbrkrz]

Let's compare its limitations with a creative tool people love to use everyday. I would be surprised if, based on some early feedback, it will last 35 years.

[chimp_spanner]

I must admit I initially ignored this product as I assumed the price tag would be close to four figures!

It's an interesting one and I'm not sure it has much competition at that price point. I wish the display was better. At least it's a starburst rather than a seven segment but in 2023 there are much more user-friendly displays where you can write a nice clear "Reverb" rather then a wonky "Rvb".

I'm interested to see what the rest of the EP range brings and I definitely welcome TE's return to sensibly-priced stuff!

This is the company that has a 250 dollar toy car, and a 1500 buck table that looks like it's made of Meccano. So your assumption was not baseless lol It's actually affordable. See, they can make things normal people can buy when they choose to.

[Jackjackdaw]

I do not trust that company at all. That thing looks like some junk you’d get for £29 on Temu.

[Aosta]

Looks interesting to play around with but all that 'hold shift, choose bank 2, turn this knob, wiggle this slider, select a number, press it twice, blow on the device, say the magic word, turn around 3 times and voila!! You have a pad sound'

I'd rather just use my ipad.

[chimp_spanner]

I do not trust that company at all. That thing looks like some junk you’d get for £29 on Temu.

Yeah quality issues coming to the fore now. Poor packaging and tight fader caps causing damage on fitting are the main culprits. Plus I've heard of people's speaker dying (not that it's much use anyway). So yeah I'm kinda glad I resisted. My Maschine Mk3 with K14 Collector's Edition and what feels like every expansion they've made absolutely dookies on it. And the controller only version goes for $100 more than a KOII right now.

[bxbrkrz]

[joeyluck]

Yeah hopefully they get those issues figured out. What I'm still most interested a version with Microtonic sound transfer. If that is planned, I'm glad now they weren't all released at once.

[bxbrkrz]

Yeah hopefully they get those issues figured out. What I'm still most interested a version with Microtonic sound transfer. If that is planned, I'm glad now they weren't all released at once.

Cool sexy design, or safe packaging. Why not both TE?

[joeyluck]

Yeah hopefully they get those issues figured out. What I'm still most interested a version with Microtonic sound transfer. If that is planned, I'm glad now they weren't all released at once.

Cool sexy design, or safe packaging. Why not both TE?

Some of the Pocket Operators had some issues as well. The ones I have are fine. I think people brushed it off because they're cheap.

Now that TE is in this price point of $300, hopefully they understand expectations. They've had products that are ridiculously expensive and the cheap little gadgets that nobody takes too seriously. Now they have something at a price point that I'd say has more interest of the average customer and musician, and this could really shape their image more than anything. So hopefully they handle it well.

The comments on those videos are pretty bad. And it's easy for them to make jokes with the "teenage engineering" name with them needing some "adult engineering". I am a fan of their stuff, so I hope they make an announcement, make fixes and move on.

[chimp_spanner]

Following up on this, I saw a great video on GAS Therapy that put me on to Koala. It's like 3 bucks, with perhaps around 10 worth of IAPs to unlock everything. And I'd say it mirrors and surpasses the KO II in most ways, except;

- No patterns/scenes per group; just multiple global patterns for all pads at once.
- Obviously no direct means of sampling beyond the mic (which on iPhones is pretty damn good anyway). There are portable class compliant interfaces though that would let you sample from vinyl.
- There is time stretch but you can't play melodically with it engaged
- No automation that I could see

Otherwise, it's an amazing sampler app for like 13 bucks. Including stackable 'punch in effects'. Note repeats, scales, all sorts. Seriously cool if you're jealous of everyone walking around with their KO II sampling the world around them!

[joeyluck]

Koala is awesome and I was just using it at work.

I also have the PO Pixel app which is pretty fun playing with video.