Teenage Engineering EP-133 K.O. II Sampler, Sequencer, Composer
4,1 / 5,0 | 
Teenage Engineering EP-133 K.O. II · Source: Teenage Engineering
Teenage Engineering EP-133 K.O. II · Source: Teenage Engineering
Teenage Engineering EP-133 K.O. II · Source: Teenage Engineering
Teenage Engineering EP-133 K.O. II · Source: Teenage Engineering
Teenage Engineering EP-133 K.O. II · Source: Teenage Engineering
Teenage Engineering EP-133 K.O. II · Source: Teenage Engineering
Teenage Engineering EP-133 K.O. II · Source: Teenage Engineering
The EP-133 K.O. II samples and sequences, and could signal a new generation of Pocket Operators with some serious flair and composing power.
EP-133 K.O. II
This is certainly one heck of an upgrade over the original Pocket Operator. The PO-33 K.O! was a palm-sized, stripped-back micro sampler with 40 seconds of sample memory and a frantic interface for under one hundred pounds. The EP-133 K.O. II, while following a similar format, looks to be from some other planet, it’s much bigger than you think, and I have to say, it’s pretty stunning. It evidently blends a lot of different Teenage Engineering vibes. It has the opulence of the OP-1 screen and the precision of the TX-6 and TP-7, yet the Pocket Operator’s fun still shines through.
Teenage Engineering EP-133 K.O. II
The design and layout are top-notch, everything we expect from T.E. But there’s also an abundance of controls, a generosity in the front panel that’s not as typical. At the time of writing, all I have is a photo and some specs, and I am seriously intrigued.
So, what do we get?
EP-133 K.O. II is a mobile sampler, sequencer and composer. That combination of features is probably what we’d usually call a groovebox. There’s an integrated microphone and speaker and a teeny weeny 64MB to sample into. It can handle 6 stereo or 12 mono voices and has room for 999 individual samples. It samples in 46.875kHz(?) and 16-bit with 32-bit internal processing.
Teenage Engineering EP-133 K.O. II
It deals in Projects where each of the nine available Projects can contain 80,000 notes. These are managed through Patterns in Groups of four, where a Pattern has 12 tracks for samples and MIDI. All controls can be recorded and automated, with or without looping.
The numerical pads are pressure and velocity-sensitive with polyphonic aftertouch. They can be used to trigger samples and also drop in effects. There are six built-in send effects and a master compressor.
On the physical connections front, you get a 3.5mm stereo input and output, sync in/out, MIDI in/out and USB-C. 4x AAA batteries can also power it.
Teenage Engineering EP-133 K.O. II
It is super thin and super lovely to look at with a sumptuous screen that, at the moment, I’ve got no clue what it does. I imagine all will become clear as soon as this launches.
Availability
The price is $318, which feels uncharacteristically reasonable for a device of this nature. It’s currently available for pre-order and should be shipping Monday.
On the back, it says “EP Series” so it’s likely that other humble Pocket Operators might be in for a serious overhaul.
- Teenage Engineering EP-133 K.O. II: Teenage Engineering
- Teenage Engineering EP-133 K.O. II: Teenage Engineering
- Teenage Engineering EP-133 K.O. II: Teenage Engineering
- Teenage Engineering EP-133 K.O. II: Teenage Engineering
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4 responses to “Teenage Engineering EP-133 K.O. II Sampler, Sequencer, Composer”
Needs resampling
Wonder if it is possible with a firmware update?
I wish I could sample in while hearing the track playing …. Tall ask – but, if I wanted to sample myself playing keys/synths and stack layers to build a track I would need to play each layer with the song in my head from memory – the rearrange/chop to fit- I get that that is how most samplers work – just would like more live sampling options where I could hear the track to play parts along to
Are we able to record the punch in effects is my biggest question??????