Comment by jasode | Hacker News Reader

Comment by jasode | Hacker News Reader

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>, but if anything these are just entry points into analog synthesis.

I just saw several demos of this Pocket Operator on Youtube and what I saw was more of a sampler than an analog synthesizer.

Samplers are more about sound clips manipulation. Analog synths would be more about waveform generators, sine/sawtooth/square, oscillators, envelopes, etc.

E.g. Pocket Operators makes it easy to record some percussive sounds. It auto-analyzes the input for transients and chops them up at boundaries. It instantly maps multiple pitch-shifted versions of those sounds to the buttons. Users then have a quick DIY drum machine that triggers custom sounds.

If these devices can also do traditional analog synthesis, none the Youtubers I browsed demonstrated that capability.

EDIT based on replies: Yes, I now see that searching youtube for specific devices such as "PO-14 Sub" or "PO-16 factory" will show the demos that manipulate synth sounds. Searching only for generic "pocket operator" gets you the sampler demos.

"Pocket operator" is just the size of the device they're making. There are lots of them from samplers (like you're seeing) to little synthesizers: https://teenage.engineering/products/po#features

Regardless, these are driving the concept of small, packagable audio devices, which eventually leads to modular synthesizers.

Stupid question, but what is the advantage of having this as a hardware device instead of an iPad/Phone App?

They look cooler and have actual buttons and knobs?

Marx and Mumford may approve of this approach. The batteries are cheaper.

They fit a little easier into certain audio chains too. The POs have an in and out audio jack and use them to synchronize with a lot of other small instruments so they all play at the same tempo and can start and stop all at once.

I'm not sure if a generic phone's DA converter can match the signal quality of a specialized circuit.

The Pocket Operators are just a generic DAC+amp chip, the Cirrus CS42L52. The DAC is driven by a 48MHz MCU with just 32K of RAM. If it were purely a question of technical / hardware capabilities it would all fit into an app ten times over.

http://hackingthepo.weebly.com/ has a terrifically detailed teardown of a PO-16. Or SiLabs (the MCU's manufacturer) did a marketing video / interview with one of the Pocket Operator's designers about the hardware design: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZjrOnlMkJHU

Most importantly: having real physical controls (buttons, knobs, etc) makes a huge difference. Tapping fingers on a hard glass surface just isn't the same.

Also, the joy of a single-purpose device which makes it easier to get deeply into it. Also means no notifications or other distractions.

Every model of Pocket Operator has totally different capabilities. Some can sample, some are synthesizers, sequencers, drum machines, etc.

Some are analog, a couple do sampling or simple VST controlled sounds.

None are analog. They make make analog-style subtractive synth sounds, but all the PO’s are completely digital devices.

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