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Comment by ralfd | Hacker News Reader

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

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.

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.

They look cooler and have actual buttons and knobs?

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

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

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