--- product_id: 24480926 title: "Pocket Operator PO-20 Arcade, Synthesizer and Sequencer, with Parameter Locks, Chord Control and Punch-in Effects" brand: "teenage engineering" price: "£101.88" currency: GBP in_stock: true reviews_count: 13 category: "Teenage Engineering" url: https://www.desertcart.co.uk/products/24480926-pocket-operator-po-20-arcade-synthesizer-and-sequencer-with-parameter store_origin: GB region: United Kingdom --- # 128 chord & pattern chaining for complex tracks 1 month battery life on 2xAAA for nonstop creativity 16 punch-in effects for dynamic sound tweaking Pocket Operator PO-20 Arcade, Synthesizer and Sequencer, with Parameter Locks, Chord Control and Punch-in Effects **Brand:** teenage engineering **Price:** £101.88 **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Summary > 🎮 Pocket-sized arcade synth: unleash your inner chiptune maestro! ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** Pocket Operator PO-20 Arcade, Synthesizer and Sequencer, with Parameter Locks, Chord Control and Punch-in Effects by teenage engineering - **How much does it cost?** £101.88 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.co.uk](https://www.desertcart.co.uk/products/24480926-pocket-operator-po-20-arcade-synthesizer-and-sequencer-with-parameter) ## Best For - teenage engineering enthusiasts ## Why This Product - Trusted teenage engineering brand quality - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Key Features - • **Studio-Quality Output:** Built-in speaker plus 3.5mm line out for crisp stereo sound anywhere, anytime. - • **Endurance for Creators:** Runs on 2 AAA batteries with up to 1 month of playtime—no charging downtime. - • **Dynamic Sound Sculpting:** 16 punch-in effects let you instantly transform your beats live or in production. - • **Pocket-Sized Powerhouse:** Ultra-portable synth and sequencer fits in your pocket for music on the move. - • **Next-Level Beat Sequencing:** Create and chain 128 patterns with chord control to build professional-grade tracks. ## Overview The Teenage Engineering Pocket Operator PO-20 Arcade is a compact, battery-powered synthesizer and sequencer designed for rapid beat making with iconic chiptune sounds. Featuring 16 punch-in effects, 128 chord and pattern chaining, and studio-quality stereo output, it empowers creators to build complex tracks anywhere. Its ultra-portable design and long battery life make it a must-have for millennial professionals seeking creative freedom on the go. ## Description Product description Review: Exactly what I was hoping for. - This little device is loads of fun. It comes preloaded with 16 patterns, which can be erased and over written once you understand how to program them. The sounds it makes are fun to play with, easy to manipulate, and they sound pleasing to the ear, assuming you like, bleep-bloop, chiptune-esque sounds. It has a number of effects to apply to the sounds as you play, as well as the ability to set and adjust chord progression through your composition. I have had the Pocket Operator Arcade for about a week and I am still learning about it, but I would say that I am very pleased overall, and will be trying out the other models Teenage Engineering has to offer. One important note, though, it is a small device, and as far as durability of this thing goes, it is basically a circuit board with buttons and knobs. I can't see it holding up if you plan to travel and don't take special precautions. This isn't a criticism, but more of a forewarning. So if you're going to carry this little guy around, you want to think ahead, or spend the extra money and purchase a case for it. It's a great price at $60-ish dollars, so $20-$40 more for a well-made case isn't a bad investment, I highly recommend getting a protective case. If you don't like TE's cases, there are a number of custom and third party options out there. Have fun. Review: Fun machine to learn - So first of all, if you were like me and this is your first foray to this kind of thing : the guide printed in the cardboard container is useless. The manual in 3 different language is slightly more useful, but its also as confusing. Go to the website and find the fully illustrated guide, thats what you need. The problem is, the thing is loaded with demo patterns etc that is meant for you to remove and re-write over before you start. Which in the guide is like step 5, or 6. If you just kind of press buttons according to the short guide, the thing would make all sorts of demo noise, and you'll accidentally add even more noise and effects to it, and before long you'd be totally, loss. If you just press chords button, you'd be like nothing is happening. There is no reason for you to know that the volume was 0. Etc etc. All in all, great device, bad included manual, but that said, the online manual is good, and the youtube tutorial by ricky tinez will explain the thing to you , the whole thing, in 15 minutes . Have fun! ## Features - pocket-sized sound – start rapid beat making with chiptune improvisation synthesized arcade sounds, all in one tiny pocket synthesizer. - sequence and add effects – sequence your beats. the nano sized PO-20 also includes 16 punch-in effects to enhance and modify your sounds, get creative and tweak your compositions in any direction. use 128 chord and 128 pattern chaining to put them together and build your track. - studio quality sound – use the built-in speaker or the 3.5 mm line out to connect your headphones, like M-1, or plug into an external speaker like OB–4, to hear your tracks and in full stereo. - a wall of sound in your pocket – pocket operators are small and ultra-portable music devices that can be used individually, together, or with other compatible gear. each edition is battery powered (2xAAA) with 1 month battery life and 2 year standby time. you'll also find a folding stand, clock and alarm clock function. ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | ASIN | B01BKO0HKW | | Best Sellers Rank | #6,345 in Musical Instruments ( See Top 100 in Musical Instruments ) #4 in Drum Machines | | Body Material | Plastic | | Brand | Teenage Engineering | | Brand Name | Teenage Engineering | | Color | PO-20 | | Connector Type | Auxiliary | | Customer Reviews | 4.7 out of 5 stars 770 Reviews | | Global Trade Identification Number | 07350073030804 | | Item Dimensions | 7 x 3.5 x 0.2 inches | | Item Type Name | A-B Box | | Item Weight | 0.13 Pounds | | Item dimensions L x W x H | 7 x 3.5 x 0.2 inches | | Manufacturer | Cascio Interstate Music | | Material | Plastic Metal Rubber | | Model Name | PO 20 | | Model Number | TE010AS020 | | Part Number | PO-20 Arcade | | Set Name | 16 Sets | | UPC | 714573521236 714573520789 | | Warranty Description | 1 year limited manufacturer warranty. | ## Product Details - **Brand:** Teenage Engineering - **Color:** PO-20 - **Item dimensions L x W x H:** 7 x 3.5 x 0.2 inches - **Material:** Plastic Metal Rubber - **Model Name:** PO 20 ## Images ![Pocket Operator PO-20 Arcade, Synthesizer and Sequencer, with Parameter Locks, Chord Control and Punch-in Effects - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71cuWtwtNuL.jpg) ## Questions & Answers **Q: Which batteries does it use, how many, and how long can it last?** A: Using the including batteries and frequently building loops and carrying the my po16 around in a bag (where it would frequently get turned on by being jostled) I got about 5 months. At the end, I thought that seeing it die meant I would lose all of my saved loops. That is not the case. Your patterns stay in memory unless you hold 2 buttons while replacing the batteries for a factory reset. Which is great because, swear to God, I made some str8 bangers. I'm buying a second one and can't decide between the KO! and the Arcade. **Q: Is there a case for the arcade? i see them for the others, but not po-20.** A: I searched for one on the net and on amazon when I purchased this and I did not see one available as yet. There are 3D printer case designs out there much much much cheaper... **Q: What chord/cable do I need to plug into my computer to record from the pocket operator?** A: I believe L and R are identical unless you're moving clock information. In that case L is clock and R is your audio. From what I've read, the POs are dual mono, which makes sense because there is a mono speaker. So, to answer the question, you need to plug a 3.5mm trs in your operator's right side (which is sending two signals and ground) and you can pick up either side (tip/ring or tip/sleeve) and send it into a single channel on your interface. Most interfaces are 1/4"ts, so a 3.5mmTRS stereo to dual 1/4" mono y cable m/m will work. If you're using your computer's onboard soundcard, 3.5mm trs to 3.5mm trs m/m will work. If your interface takes xlr, 3.5mm trs to male xlr. **Q: What is the advantage of using something like this over just looking up loops like "Drums Only" on a streaming service?** A: The advantage of using this is that you can quickly create the exact loops you want, instead of searching for something similar on the internet. ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Exactly what I was hoping for. *by R***N on February 22, 2017* This little device is loads of fun. It comes preloaded with 16 patterns, which can be erased and over written once you understand how to program them. The sounds it makes are fun to play with, easy to manipulate, and they sound pleasing to the ear, assuming you like, bleep-bloop, chiptune-esque sounds. It has a number of effects to apply to the sounds as you play, as well as the ability to set and adjust chord progression through your composition. I have had the Pocket Operator Arcade for about a week and I am still learning about it, but I would say that I am very pleased overall, and will be trying out the other models Teenage Engineering has to offer. One important note, though, it is a small device, and as far as durability of this thing goes, it is basically a circuit board with buttons and knobs. I can't see it holding up if you plan to travel and don't take special precautions. This isn't a criticism, but more of a forewarning. So if you're going to carry this little guy around, you want to think ahead, or spend the extra money and purchase a case for it. It's a great price at $60-ish dollars, so $20-$40 more for a well-made case isn't a bad investment, I highly recommend getting a protective case. If you don't like TE's cases, there are a number of custom and third party options out there. Have fun. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Fun machine to learn *by D***S on March 2, 2020* So first of all, if you were like me and this is your first foray to this kind of thing : the guide printed in the cardboard container is useless. The manual in 3 different language is slightly more useful, but its also as confusing. Go to the website and find the fully illustrated guide, thats what you need. The problem is, the thing is loaded with demo patterns etc that is meant for you to remove and re-write over before you start. Which in the guide is like step 5, or 6. If you just kind of press buttons according to the short guide, the thing would make all sorts of demo noise, and you'll accidentally add even more noise and effects to it, and before long you'd be totally, loss. If you just press chords button, you'd be like nothing is happening. There is no reason for you to know that the volume was 0. Etc etc. All in all, great device, bad included manual, but that said, the online manual is good, and the youtube tutorial by ricky tinez will explain the thing to you , the whole thing, in 15 minutes . Have fun! ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ The most fun I've had with a synthesizer *by J***M on June 24, 2016* This little guy blurs the line between being a toy and being a "real" instrument, and my time messing around with it has been the most fun I've ever had with a synthesizer. All of its sounds are reminiscent of old school video games and arcade machines. You get an 8-bit Mario fireball "bloop" sound, chord stabs, arpeggios, simple percussive sounds, and each sound can be tweaked in its waveform and pitch. As you play with it, you essentially feel like you're creating a scene in a video game, everything moving to the beat of the music. You punch the buttons on this crazy looking computer chip thing, objects on the screen dance to the music, and you're surrounded by crunchy and crisp 8-bit sounds of nostalgia. Its physical build quality is exceptional. All the buttons feel very solid and sturdy, and the feedback you get from each button is perfect. You know when you've pressed a button, and you know when you've turned a knob. A weird thing you have to get used to is how naked it is. It's basically a naked computer chip with buttons and a screen on it. Even the batteries underneath it are exposed. None of this is to say it looks flimsy, though. It looks like I can drop it a few times and it'll hold up just fine. Plus, this unique look adds to its personality, and is bound to turn heads. Musically speaking, it's not the most powerful synth in the world, and it has many limitations (eg you can't do sustained notes, notes are mostly limited to the chord you set the pattern to, everything is cemented into 16 beat sequences). But in a lot of ways, these limitations allow for even more creativity in the way you use it to make music. One unexpected thing is how small it is. I was expecting it to be small, but it's basically the size of my palm, and about the same size as an iPhone 5 (see photo). Overall, I love this thing, and I'm sure it's going to be a coffee table piece 24/7 now, so me and anyone else can pick it up and start making some cool beats at the push of a few buttons. This synth is perfect for people who grew up with retro video games, gamers, chiptunes fans, and anyone looking to create some cool old-school video game sounds. Highly recommended! ## Frequently Bought Together - Teenage Engineering Pocket Operator PO-20 Arcade, Synthesizer and Sequencer, with Parameter Locks, Chord Control and Punch-in Effects - teenage engineering CA-X Silicon pro-case for Pocket Operators with Built-in Battery Protection and Anti-Slip feet (Black) - Teenage Engineering Pocket Operator PO-33 K.O.! Micro Sampler and Drum Machine with Built-in Microphone, Sequencer and Effects --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.co.uk/products/24480926-pocket-operator-po-20-arcade-synthesizer-and-sequencer-with-parameter](https://www.desertcart.co.uk/products/24480926-pocket-operator-po-20-arcade-synthesizer-and-sequencer-with-parameter) --- *Product available on Desertcart United Kingdom* *Store origin: GB* *Last updated: 2026-06-18*