Bad Gear - The Yellow B*stard

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Welcome to Bad Gear, the show about the world's most hated audio tools. Today we are going to talk about Teenage Engineering Pocket Operator Modular 400. Can this analog Eurorack compatible modular synthesizer DIY kit be used in actual music production or is it yet another stylish coffee table decoration released by the Swedish design company? Will it survive the IKEA - like assembly process and why do I call it The Yellow B*stard ?

Chapters:
00:00 Intro tune
01:04 TE PO Modular 400 Overview
01:31 First Patch
01:46 Power Supply
01:54 More Patches
02:07 Oscillator Section, Tuning, PWM, FM
02:48 Mixer, Noise
03:00 Filter
03:19 Random, LFO, VCAs, Envelopes
03:43 Sequencer, Limitations, Tricks
04:44 Internal Speaker
05:00 Even More Patches (Generative Patches, Drone, Traditional Synth)
05:19 Build Quality (or lack thereof), Pricing
05:38 Hate
06:01 Jam 1 (Techno)
06:57 Jam 2 (Electro)
07:58 Finale (Disco Banger)
08:28 Verdict"

Teenage Engineering Pocket Operator Modular 400

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Not just for bleeps and blops Pocket Operator Modular 400

video upload by Starsky Carr

"Playing big, brash and melodic lines with other eurorack compatible kit. The Teenage Engineering Pocket Operator Modular 400 is so good at experimental and evolving ambient soundscapes using the onboard sequencer (which is much more flexible than it looks), that there's a whole lot of that already here on YouTube.

The pocket operator modular series has been reduced in price - enough to tempt me into buying the 'big' yellow 400 to see what it's all about.

I'm using it here with the Analog Solutions Colossus - just to have a listen to how well the little yellow one stacks up sonically to something with an undisputed quality tone. It does very well sequenced by the Arturia Keystep Pro, showing not only that it works with other kit, but also that its possible to pay melodic tracks with it, so thought demoing something big, brash and melodic would make a pleasant change"

Teenage Engineering Pocket Operator Modular 400 Synthesizer

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via this auction

"This Teenage Engineering 400 Modular Synthesizer is an assembled analog synthesizer with 3 oscillators, noise, random generator, 2 envelopes, 2 vca’s, lfo, filter, mixer, speakerbox, power pack and a 1-16 step sequencer."

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Building Pocket Operator Modular 400

video upload by Jarkko Tuohimaa

"Building process of Teenage Engineering Pocket Operator Modular 400. Sound in the video are first sequences I patched with Pocket Operator Modular 400."

Teenage Engineering Eurorack, POM-400 Matrix Kits & Talking to Aliens with a Steiner Masters Touch

Talking to Aliens video upload by Dave Vondle

This is a bit of a triple post. Dave Vondle of http://matrix.vondle.com wrote in to let me know the final 9 units of the Ghielmetti Pin Matrix Kit for the Teenage Engineering POM-400, previously posted here, have been completed. It's featured in the video above and in a post by Teenage Engineering on converting their Pocket Operator Modules (POM) to eurorack.

That said, first the description for the video above:

"Figured out how to communicate to extraterrestrial organisms.

The Calmset 3 connected to my brain is generating the frequencies - and the Masters Touch is taking breath, bite, and touch into the Teenage Engineering POM-400 (with my matrix kit attached). Breath controls the amplitude and bite/touch modify filter parameters. This all runs through the VOCU tape echo."

See here for some additional posts featuring the Masters Touch including pics. You can also find some info on Patchman Music here.

Second, info on the final batch of Matrix Kits from http://matrix.vondle.com:

"Over a year ago I created a bolt-on kit to turn a Teenage Engineering Pocket Modular 400 into a matrix synth like the EMS Synthi. Instead of using cables to patch outputs from one module into inputs of another, you use the supplied pins to connect a row (output) to the corresponding column (input).

I have completed the final batch of 9 kits, as the manufacturer of the matrices recently went out of business. Teenage engineering just wrote a blog post featuring the kit, so I figured it would be a good time to get these last kits out there.

More info about the kit:

The matrix itself was made in Switzerland by the established patchbay company, Ghielmetti, and the kit simply bolts onto the back of the POM-400 modules with the supplied hardware - there is no soldering required. Once bolted on, it enables you to make 100% of all the patches you could otherwise make using cables, with the added benefit of having virtually no restrictions on the number of available outputs and inputs for each module. Patch cables can still be used in conjunction with the matrix for interfacing the system with external modules and running sound out from the device.

I thought you folks might be interested! For more details and to place an order go to matrix.vondle.com

Bonus Video - Here’s me when I patched a Steiner Master’s Voice into the POM-400, with the kit installed:" [above]

Third: eurorack conversions for Teenage Engineering's Pocket Operator Modules (and euro racking Pocket Operators):

via Teenage Engineering: eurorack is a very common system format when it comes to modular synths. there are tons of modules and manufacturers on the market and the pocket operator modular series is eurorack compatible. this means any POM system can be used together with any other module, from any other brand. while the pocket rack format is slightly smaller than eurorack, you only need some minor tweaks to fit your pocket operator modules in your eurorack system.

here are a few ways to 'eurorackify' your pocket operator modulars and pocket operators, plus a bonus mod to really expand the capabilities of your POM-400.

eurorack front panels for POM
the two companies malm.audio and jklmnt have joined forces and created custom eurorack front panels for the complete range of modules available in the pocket operator modular POM-400 and POM-170. pick your favorite module and mount that in your existing eurorack system, or create a complete replica of an entire system. the various panels range from 6 hp width, up to 18 hp.

power adapters
they've also made a convenient power adapter that easily converts the power connector from pocket rack to eurorack. no soldering is required and everything above is available through the oddvolt webstore.

pokit for POM-16 by grayscale
the company grayscale makes modules and stylish eurorack front panels for a lot of products. their pokit is a eurorack conversion kit for the POM-16 keyboard. the front panel has a matte black finish and is 42 hp wide. the kit even comes with matching gray official knobs. this is a great option for enabling your system with the 4-channel sequencer, arpeggiator and keyboard that is the POM-16.

pocket operators and eurorack
the usually hand-held regular pocket operators can also be used in a eurorack system. this could for instance be a great way to create a portable and powerful grab-and-go live performance instrument, or to have pocket operators tightly and neatly integrated into your studio setup. here are two examples of how to mount pocket operators in a eurorack case.

EURORACK ADAPTER BY LPZW:

POKIT - EURORACK CONVERSION KIT FOR POM-16:

Teenage Engineering POM 400 - Full Review

Molten Music Technology

"Here's a deep dive into the Pocket Operator Modular 400 synthesizer. I talk about the design, the sound, the price, the possibilities, the flaws and what this thing is capable of. Lots of sound examples, patching and pros and cons."

Teenage Engineering Pocket Operator Modular 2x 400 + 16 - "suspicious" jam

SyntherJack

"Jam with no additional audio effects. Knobs from LEGO Classic sets."

Building the Teenage Engineering Pocket Operator Modular 400

Published on Feb 8, 2020 Wein Glas

"Weinglas builds the Teenage Engineering Pocket Operator Modular 400. A lot of work, but it was worth it: A good sounding small modular synth with battery power!

The sound track was the first test drive of the synth. No external fx, sequencing or editing. Just the sound of the PO Modular 400 direct to camera.

This is not your usual Weinglas video. No wine, no gloves, only hard work. And it sounds a bit different, too. ;)"

Teenage Engineering Pocket Operator Modular 400 動作テストVer.2

Published on Dec 1, 2019 weltron2010

"Teenage Engineering Pocket Operator Modular 400 組み立てたので動作させてみました。Ver.2"

Teenage Engineering Pocket Operators on Amazon

teenage engineering at london design festival

Published on Oct 17, 2019 teenageengineering

"as part of london design festival we were invited by tom dixon to collaborate at the coal office. together we created a concept for an OD-11 musical chandelier, controlled by OP-Z, to effectively blend sound and light into a never seen before performance.

built and designed by louis yearwood, tom butterfield and george lazenbleep, the whole thing consists of eight OD-11 speakers, mounted upside down in an 80kg frame of aluminum, standing on the floor, as well as mounted in the ceiling. 16 rgb flex led strips run along the sides, all controlled live from an OP-Z using the enttec dmxusb pro, via a 24 channel dmx dimmer.

for the music we had a custom designed table, where all the equipment was laid out. all in all we used two OP-1:s (one stationary and one free, to be able to use the accelerometer), four OP-Z:s (one together with the oplab module to control the pocket operator modular 400, one for dmx to control the led strips on the chandelier, and two for main audio), and a PO-32 tonic, triggered via another oplab module. everything was played freely or synced via the oplab modules and lined out into a soundcraft signature mixer, using its built-in effects. from there the audio was fed directly to the eight OD-11:s in the chandelier as well as into a 12k watt custom sound system."

Pocket Operator Modular System 400, 170 & 16 Synthesizers & Sequencers

Published on Aug 14, 2019 Perfect Circuit

"Teenage Engineering Pocket Operator Modular System includes the 400, a yellow synthesizer with 3 oscillators, noise generator filter and sequencer. The 170 is a smaller synthesizer than the 400 with just a single oscillator, but it includes a powerful sequencer. and touch keyboard. The 16 is just the sequencer and touch keyboard by itself.

For this video we added some drums with the PO-32 Tonic. The Pocket Operator Modular System easily syncs with Pocket Operators and can also run on batteries."

available here: https://www.perfectcircuit.com/teenag...

Teenage Engineering Pocket Operator Modular 400

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via this auction

"LEGO wheels provide nice fine tuning of the oscillators and give it a unique look. Feel free to customize however you want and integrate into a much larger modular setup!"

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SyntherJack Teenage Engineering Pocket Operator Modular Jams

Published on Jul 2, 2019 SyntherJack

Jam with no additional audio effects. Knobs from LEGO Classic 10692 set.
syntherjack.net

Playlist:
Teenage Engineering Pocket Operator Modular 400 - "plant" jam
Teenage Engineering Pocket Operator Modular 400 - "techno beat" jam
Teenage Engineering Pocket Operator Modular 400 - "no blip/blop" jam

Teenage Engineering PO / Pocket Operator Modular 400 Assembled

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via this auction

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Pocket Operator Modular 400 Sound Explore

Published on May 21, 2019 True Cuckoo

"Teenage Engineering Modular 400 sound exploring session."

Check out the gold anniversary Moog knob.

Pocket Operator Modular 400 — BoBeats' Opinion

Published on May 19, 2019 BoBeats

"My opinion on the PO Modular 400. I am a bit underwhelmed."

BoBeats links:
►Patreon: http://bit.ly/bobeatspatreon
►Merch: http://merch.bobeats.tv
►Patches & samples http://bit.ly/storebobeats
►Music: http://bobeatsmusic.bandcamp.com
►Circuit Patches: http://bit.ly/bobeatsXisotoniks

Honest Opinion // Pocket Operator Modular 400

Published on Apr 20, 2019 Enrique Martinez Music

"Semi Long term review of the pocket operator modular. Had it for a month now and here are a few of my findings with the POM400 by teenage engineering."

Pittsburgh Modular's Teenage Engineering Pocket Operator Modular 400

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via this auction

"Teenage Engineering Pocket Operator Modular 400 purchased new by Pittsburgh Modular Synthesizers to test with our products. We assembled and used this unit on our test bench for a few weeks before it was packed up to resell.

The sale includes the Modular 400, original teenage engineering patch cables, original manual, original assembly tool, upgraded power supply installed by Pittsburgh Modular(see pic), original battery pack (wires clipped and removed to install upgraded power supply), Pittsburgh Modular power adapter. A new Modular 400 does not ship with a power adapter. We upgraded the power supply and will included the necessary power adapter.

The assembly process requires bending the aluminum panels to form the case. The bending causes the yellow powder coating to flake off at the bends (see pic). This is a byproduct of assembly.

The synthesizer does not include the original packaging. Teenage Engineering designed the packaging to self destruct as it is opened. The Modular 400 will ship fully assembled. This will save you 4 hours.

The synthesizer will be double boxed and shipped from Pittsburgh Modular Synthesizers."

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Teenage Engineering Pocket Operator Modular 400

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this auction

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