I don't get why everyone is jumping on this like it's supposed to be some DAW busting sampler. Have a look at what some people are doing with the Volca Sample. It's crazy. Sometimes limitations breed creativity.
So, I watched the whole thing… I kept waiting for something that would be worthy of saying you “almost lost your mind” working on a song. That’s some clickbait for sure, and the facepalm preview pic? Running out of voices? Yeah always annoying but c’mon buddy, it’s obvious you never worked on an Ensoniq EPS and had it crash and lose everything from the last five hours… THAT is something to lose your mind over.
this guy is well experienced in using other sequencer and samplers this particular sampler have steep learning curve specially if you compare T.E's pocket operators. usually expensive product's luxurious thing is Ease of Use right? well T.E. trying to convey exactly the opposite.
One ting certain, seems like yu can knock up a decent vibe in no time in thing ting! Every demo I’ve seen on this, the common factor seems to be the ability to make a nice groove in almost an instant. All that other shit they can sort with later updates 🤷🏾♂️
Same....crazy how quick he figures it out. Guess that's what years of making music on many devices gets you. Just wish I wouldn't have waited until 44 to get started.
@@JoshuaNeedham You'll get there, too! Music gear like this has a high learning curve which a grown and fully developed mind is perfect for. Give it a few years of daily practice and you'll be smooth with it, too:)
haha! at this point all gear feels "similar" to another piece so maybe that's why there are remnants of muscle memory. At the same time, when a workflow changes I struggle to unlearn/not compare a device to another!
@@velloklemm6121 Sure there is. The max recording time per sample is 20 seconds, but the total sample memory for the machine is 64MB, which is around 5-6 minutes of stereo samples, double that for mono. I don't remember the exact time, but someone did the calculations.
@@TheArtisticFlavor my unit has 32mb free from just the factory samples. So sure, you can do some 1-8 bar resamples but you will hit a wall sooner then expexted. This would not be a problem if loading and unloading the machine was a little simpler. Ie sd card
Should be super easy with a firmware update! But I have a feeling TE doesn't really listen to users feedback. They are luck to have talented people work for them so they able to produce cool products. But when it comes to iterations based on users feedback they choose to go with their own way.
Just use something like a small jewellers weight to hold down the button. Use a small stack of coins to calculate the correct minimum pressure so you don't knacker the button.
Cool video but seeing this thing in action over the last few days completely relieved my GAS for this sampler. Even if it had an update that included resampling and not having to hold the pad key for recording, I might still be frustrated by its workflow. All their products have a frustration curve.
I haven't used the EP-133 but I know with the OP-1 at least it always felt like it was missing the last 20% of features (undo, quantization, etc.) to be perfect, which is a shame because the first 80% are awesome.
@@SachaGreif that’s exactly how I feel being an OP1-F user. I keep holding onto it hoping they’ll shadow drop an amazing update that makes the OP1 F indispensable but I think I might ditch it for a digitakt. It will go nicely with my other Elektron boxes and I won’t feel so precious about it
@EVILJAMARR I hear you. I really want to like the OP1, but it feels lacking. I've heard the pitch that the limitations are features for creativity, but I don't buy it. We're living in a golden age of music gear. Limitations are limitations, not positives when there are 5 other pieces that don't have those limits. I keep the thing, but it's rarely in rotation when I can pick up a Deluge, MPC Live, 404mkii or any number of tools that just let me play ball instead of working around their (intentional) hassles. I mean, for $1300, how tf you not going to have midi support that doesn't require a computer?
@@Andi89699 Currently can't play and sample at the same time. Not a big deal for me, but seems maybe possible in the future. Or flatten a group to a sample would be nice.
I canceled my order last week. Looks like a very fun product, but in the end I think I’m better off sticking to what I got (which is way too much gear already, lol).
hell yeah, i didnt cancel my order but i was ..just seeing photos on the fence of like.. do i need this? and im so glad i didnt order it are you sticking with the sp404mk2 or what is your gear replacement for this?
@@daneguitarist1 I have a ton of gear, but rotate and use it all. So Elektron products, sp 404, Mpc live, several drum machines and groove boxes. When I buy something I try to make around 10 songs/jams with it right away. That way I learn the product and also get something from them. Sometimes these products aren’t so good until you gets hours into them. Stuff that doesn’t move me I sell. Funny as sometimes I like the songs I make more than the gear, lol. I always sell the value of what I buy. So if I’d buy this I’d sell something $300 or more. These little rules help me keep things in control, lol.
Agree to disagree. It's way less menu diving than the octa, digi, tr8s, seqtrek brothers and it's portable. Of course you need time to get into it, but which gear doesn't?
Came here for the KO II and stayed for the beat! Awesome groove 🔥 However, seeing this workflow, limitations and voice stealing issues, I believe it really is more like a toyish gadget. Guess, I'll stick with my Circuit Rhythm and Koala 😂
How come Ricky doesn't have a single video on the Korg Volca Sample? Or any Korg Volca ever? Some of the things people are doing on the Volca Sample are amazing. These devices are in the same price point (the Volca Sample is actually about half the price tho). So why nothing on the Volca Sample or any Volca ever? Actually I can't find a single upload about any Korg device (I did a very quick search so I may be wrong). Just wondering if it's to do with your day job?
They could have knocked it out of the park with this device if they had just added a few things. More effects, more memory, more polyphony. Just those things and it would be significantly better. They could have even charged 50 bucks more if needed. $350 would still be a great price.
It’s the most fun I’ve had with an instrument/tool in a while. Is it perfect? No! Is it $300 worth of endless joy and creativity? HELL YES! I use my JBL charge 4 speaker to amplify it and power it on my porch… talk about an easy on the go setup. All that is required is two cables and you’re having fun annoying the neighbors as they walk by!
Muhammed Ali’s image should not be associated with anything other than something impeccable. This is an embarrassment to his legacy. And the weird thing is nobody is talking about that.
pro tip by working with minimal voices just mmute group everything that should not overlap like the bass the hihats with the snare i come from the mpc 500 field
Despite all the nuisances of this EP-133, im really liking what im hearing people make from it. Creativity by limitations, or just quick workflow? Btw nice track, reminds me of Kerri Chandler in a way
yea it does have a vibe to it I'll say that. A sample I heard had some trippy distortion with the filter down and it being pitched down. I think little things like that start to stack up and create a pretty decent sound!
its a 300 dollar sampler not sure why everone making videos about it are losing the're mind about work flows and features you cant get for 300 dollars any other way i have a feeling itll end up ike the low end grove solutions from the 80s where those that cant dish out 1500 and up will buy these and learn the work flow and use its limits in a creative way that kills it
Thanks for this. Almost all other videos out there blindly shout praise for this machine, but the issues you've had are a deal breaker for me and I'll save my cash!
Honestly you should just give it a try if you can. I was down on it until I actually played one and was blown away by its workflow and creativity. There’s something just very cheerful about the machine that makes you want to play it
I remain amazed you have yet to check the Synthstrom Deluge on the channel, esp. now with it open source updates. Not a criticism, you prob have used it I'm sure, and tbf the polyend covers some of its bases. but it really is a fantastic bit of kit as a central sequencer, sketch pad etc. Biggups for the vids as ever !
I wonder if you'd recorded the keys sample into the D bank, it might not have done the voice stealing so badly? Seems to me that they kinda expect the workflow to be A=Drums B=Bass C=melody D=samples and loops. Mine of course shipped with broken fader so I've not spent too much time exploring it.
I own the OP-1 (OG), OP-Z, Digitakt, 404mk2 and now the KO2. Of these devices, the OP-Z still remains my absolute favorite based on workflow alone. My expectations were a little too high with this thing as I hoped it would basically be an expanded OP-Z.. it borrows some workflow elements but the things that make the OP-Z great were left out of this thing imo.
For $299 I wasn't expecting it to be as flexible or powerful as an Elektron machine. It's like Teenage Engineering smashed an MPC60 and a Casio VL-TONE together. It seems to be coded to the limits of its processing power.
At this point, I would spend your money on 2 PO-33’s instead. Sure you don’t have the effects or stereo sampling and playback, but you won’t cap out your voice count with the combined 8 voices from the two PO’s. Plus you’ll save $100 in the process.
It seems that they've rushed firmware development, with all those workflow / feature issues. Kind of unusual for TE to release a product with such unpolished, alpha-level firmware. hope they release an update soon...
I wanted a cheap and portable sampler that can get the work done. So far this little thing delivers. I was almost put off by the massive amounts of negative reviews, but I got it eventually after watching many videos and reading it's manual. I was torn between this and the MPC One, but KOII is half the price and more simple. If I want a DAW I have my pc.
Very thankful for your honest look at the EP-133. I was seriously considering getting it but I'm someone that needs a simple workflow to get anything done, especially when it comes to applying effects and recording samples so I'm likely going to give this a pass even though I was hoping for it to be my first T.E. device. Might just look into the SP404 MK II instead.
Yeah I've been thinking about it but I think for my wants the 404 gives a bit more functionality. Certainly wouldn't hurt to have a PO-33 as well though.@@GreatistheWorld
one way to get around the limitation of voices.. you can compose outside of the KO2... use a project in the KO to get as many things done as you can. record audio tracks into your daw. use another project within the ko2 to build more up. not the best, but it is a way.
i think this is not a daw for song, this is device for make groove and ideas. Like Groovebox, or old samplers, this is not digitakt, or real groove box for song mode.
this thing has to be the least appealing piece of music hardware i came across in the last three decades. it also masterfully follows the increasingly popular "do less in more time" concept, which seems to be a plus for some consumers.
wow SO happy i watched this!!!! teenage engineering fixed NONE of the essential problems with the PO-33 that would have made it an absolute powerhouse! they just made it bigger to sell shit!!! i hate them i REALLY really really really wanted this to answer all of my desires left unfufilled from the 33 and they have failed in literally all ways. Thanks.
This is the first product release that hasn't triggered my GAS. Maybe I'm just getting tired of learning new equipment and realizing I could have done it in Ableton all along.
Great clip, Monsieur Tinez! Afa I can see., the number of voices, no resampling, and the holding down the pad while sampling are kind of.. big cons. But at this price point? Still pretty much liking it.
The real problem is that you can't resample.. I kind off like the restricted environment. Maybe there should be some kind of 'freeze' function, next to 'commit'. That would potentially free up voices as well. Groovy track though!
I'm getting strong Yamaha SU700 vibes from this, right down to the 64MB memory (well, 64+4 on the Yamaha). I loved that thing, and it was janky as hell too.
I reckon it might boil down to how willing/able teenage engineering are to develop the firmware. If you look at the novation circuit, it started out with quite a few limitations but novation listened to the community and put years of development into it making it much more flexible. Fingers crossed TE can do the same?
to be fair the bass line should have been one single sample and you would have saved yourself 3 voices immediately.. This machine is sooo beautiful though, whether it's not perfect just doesn't bother me!
You dont need to look at what it doesnt do, but what it does. It is not an entire recording studio stacked in a 1970's calculator! the fact that it has 64mb sampler tatooed on the front of it, should be enough to define both the limitations and the possibilities of this device. That is why your stereo samples are so limted! For a review, you need to explore the device, and not your brain programming.
Not gonna lie man. Losing a bit of respect for you for making these hit pieces against a product that directly competes against the company you work for. Even if your feelings are true, it’s still a line that shouldn’t be crossed imo because there will always be questions. A little too slimy for me tbh.
I really like how you are positive thinking person and how some obstacle (lije voicec stealing, or other details) doesn’t stop you from creating cool groovy pattern.. respect !
Totally second this. Most devices have some annoying limitations, but creative people accept the challenge and adapt to create something while non-creatives just whine and give up.
Dude Same. I was trying to record op1 onto a pad and just treat it like a sequencer or an audio track and you can't (kinda makes the threshold parameter useless if you have to hold the pad to start recording, leaving you one handed on keys) :( and it's a shame they took away some features of what made the Pocket Operators so cool. Thought it would be the ultimate portable one shot drum machine to pair with ipad but forgot how small 64mb really is lol. Would have 0 complaints if it had at least a 1gb of space on there and just treat it truly as a sample composer. but realistically you aren't sampling much with that limited amount of space . if you get 900 samples on there I have no idea how. Even with all the gripes its a great thing to have laying around and to pick up if you don't run into hardware issues. definitely sketch like though. more approachable than a lot of others in the price range. Hoping for a revamped OPZ with a screen.
It's not an instrument Ricky! It's a "lifestyle product" aimed at music hobbyists. You're only supposed to wave it around so other people know you have one, not actually make music with it. ;)
Ha yes, much like the film photography snobs. Waving around their $4K Lecia's and saying they are a street photographer, and they listen to 'Neo-Jazz'.
Yeah the low price of this is as weird as the high price of OP1, OP-1 Field and that mini mixer. This new thing would have been better if it was 500 dollars and the build quality was nicer and the features were ironed out (reverse sample, resampling, internal battery, tying scenes for song mode etc.) But for the price who can complain. In the same price range I love my Circuit Rhythm but it has no mic or polyphony. SplTrek has everything but that screen is minuscule.
They’ve always had a line of expensive products like the OP-1 over a line of super accessible ones like the pocket operators. Just ignore the ones you’re not interested in
@@GreatistheWorld Yeah but something in the middle between cheap toys and boutique toys would be nice. Like if this was solid quality, had resampling, and the muscle you actually need. I'd gladly pay 400 or 500
Playing this video on repeat so I can learn how to lose my mind with Tinez levels of chill
😂
Although I'll never buy one of these, I always enjoy watching you create. A lot of insight to be gained no matter the devices you prefer.
Thanks for tuning in Araghajanian! I appreciate the kind words.
You're cutting this thing some serious slack, so understanding and chill at the point when I'd be swearing profusely
It’s not an Octatrack. It’s fun little sampler. I don’t think TE meant for it to be anything except that.
@@Hanoveurthe amount of people making excuses for TE is crazy. They made a dodgy product. It’s okay to admit that
I don't get why everyone is jumping on this like it's supposed to be some DAW busting sampler. Have a look at what some people are doing with the Volca Sample. It's crazy. Sometimes limitations breed creativity.
He is using 2 bars? Why? Make an actual beat thats 16 bars. 2 bars?
@@EVILJAMARR QC is one thing but he is using 2 bars. Like most people for some reason. Weird
So, I watched the whole thing… I kept waiting for something that would be worthy of saying you “almost lost your mind” working on a song. That’s some clickbait for sure, and the facepalm preview pic? Running out of voices? Yeah always annoying but c’mon buddy, it’s obvious you never worked on an Ensoniq EPS and had it crash and lose everything from the last five hours… THAT is something to lose your mind over.
shut up
Thank you dude, this clickbait shit is so annoying.
this guy is well experienced in using other sequencer and samplers this particular sampler have steep learning curve specially if you compare T.E's pocket operators. usually expensive product's luxurious thing is Ease of Use right? well T.E. trying to convey exactly the opposite.
obviously you losing your mind is much bitchier than Ricky losing his 😂
@@MUHREECEclick bait isn't harmless. It's a bait and switch but for your attention which is worth more than gold these days
This thing might set a record for the piece of equipment that makes it onto the "Bad Gear" channel the fastest.
hahahahahahah right?!
hahha true "At the first glance this giant retro calculator is ticking all the boxes, including all the hate to be featured on this channel."
im so excited to watch that video
@AudioPilz here is one serious request for you looking at this box and it’s ticks 😂
@@raysubject hahaha
One ting certain, seems like yu can knock up a decent vibe in no time in thing ting! Every demo I’ve seen on this, the common factor seems to be the ability to make a nice groove in almost an instant. All that other shit they can sort with later updates 🤷🏾♂️
Love your videos, hate how quickly you learn new gear compared to me 😂
Same....crazy how quick he figures it out. Guess that's what years of making music on many devices gets you. Just wish I wouldn't have waited until 44 to get started.
@@JoshuaNeedham You'll get there, too! Music gear like this has a high learning curve which a grown and fully developed mind is perfect for. Give it a few years of daily practice and you'll be smooth with it, too:)
@@JoshuaNeedham I'm older than you. We've got plenty of time!
@@JoshuaNeedham I started at 49. Perhaps there's an old farts electronic music group we can all join.
haha! at this point all gear feels "similar" to another piece so maybe that's why there are remnants of muscle memory. At the same time, when a workflow changes I struggle to unlearn/not compare a device to another!
Nice video! The polyphony is 6 voices stereo/12 voices mono. They should add resampling, to be able to convert to mono and free up some voices.
Yeah, but there is not much memory to resample to.
@@velloklemm6121 Sure there is. The max recording time per sample is 20 seconds, but the total sample memory for the machine is 64MB, which is around 5-6 minutes of stereo samples, double that for mono. I don't remember the exact time, but someone did the calculations.
Yeah it desperately needs to be able to resample. 12 voice polyphony ain’t that bad if you can condense 7 different voices down to 1 (or 2 in stereo).
@@TheArtisticFlavor my unit has 32mb free from just the factory samples. So sure, you can do some 1-8 bar resamples but you will hit a wall sooner then expexted. This would not be a problem if loading and unloading the machine was a little simpler. Ie sd card
I think a resampling feature would fix a very big list of issues with the KO II
As much as this thing seems to be flawed, Ricky's KOII has a special feature called the talent button.
Labelled "hard work" on east coast synths.
haha! you're too kind, thank you
The holding the pad sucks. I can't even sample guitar in. I wish I knew that before I bought. Maybe that can be firmware updated not sure.
I hope so! Like someone else said, it almost makes the threshold option pointless haha.
Should be super easy with a firmware update! But I have a feeling TE doesn't really listen to users feedback. They are luck to have talented people work for them so they able to produce cool products. But when it comes to iterations based on users feedback they choose to go with their own way.
Just use something like a small jewellers weight to hold down the button. Use a small stack of coins to calculate the correct minimum pressure so you don't knacker the button.
Do you not have toes?😂
when your use to having a full commercial kitchen its hard to cook in the dorm room.
I’m so glad I made the new years resolution to stop buying new gear one after another. Awesome channel as always man. 🎹🎸🤟
Oooo that’s a good one to practice!
But there's soon a new year!
@@thomasfsan this is the first iteration of the piece, whats to come will olny advance the price lol
It looks like you’re taking a gamble on excellent updates if you buy this.
For sampling, you could have used your jaguar figure as a weight - potentially a new niche product :) I know there are weights for piano keys :)
haha! I thought about this after, like a heavy battery or something
Cool video but seeing this thing in action over the last few days completely relieved my GAS for this sampler. Even if it had an update that included resampling and not having to hold the pad key for recording, I might still be frustrated by its workflow. All their products have a frustration curve.
I haven't used the EP-133 but I know with the OP-1 at least it always felt like it was missing the last 20% of features (undo, quantization, etc.) to be perfect, which is a shame because the first 80% are awesome.
Is IT not possible to resample your Groupon through the Out of the device to the in of the device with a audiocable?
@@SachaGreif that’s exactly how I feel being an OP1-F user. I keep holding onto it hoping they’ll shadow drop an amazing update that makes the OP1 F indispensable but I think I might ditch it for a digitakt. It will go nicely with my other Elektron boxes and I won’t feel so precious about it
@EVILJAMARR I hear you. I really want to like the OP1, but it feels lacking. I've heard the pitch that the limitations are features for creativity, but I don't buy it. We're living in a golden age of music gear. Limitations are limitations, not positives when there are 5 other pieces that don't have those limits. I keep the thing, but it's rarely in rotation when I can pick up a Deluge, MPC Live, 404mkii or any number of tools that just let me play ball instead of working around their (intentional) hassles.
I mean, for $1300, how tf you not going to have midi support that doesn't require a computer?
@@Andi89699 Currently can't play and sample at the same time. Not a big deal for me, but seems maybe possible in the future. Or flatten a group to a sample would be nice.
It wouldn't be my first time using my nose to press a button while my two hands are occupied
Whether you dig its ins and outs, that’s a sexy beat you made
I canceled my order last week. Looks like a very fun product, but in the end I think I’m better off sticking to what I got (which is way too much gear already, lol).
hell yeah, i didnt cancel my order but i was ..just seeing photos on the fence of like.. do i need this? and im so glad i didnt order it
are you sticking with the sp404mk2 or what is your gear replacement for this?
@@daneguitarist1 I have a ton of gear, but rotate and use it all. So Elektron products, sp 404, Mpc live, several drum machines and groove boxes. When I buy something I try to make around 10 songs/jams with it right away. That way I learn the product and also get something from them. Sometimes these products aren’t so good until you gets hours into them. Stuff that doesn’t move me I sell. Funny as sometimes I like the songs I make more than the gear, lol. I always sell the value of what I buy. So if I’d buy this I’d sell something $300 or more. These little rules help me keep things in control, lol.
Focus on using the octotrack
Agree to disagree. It's way less menu diving than the octa, digi, tr8s, seqtrek brothers and it's portable. Of course you need time to get into it, but which gear doesn't?
@@mrmarplemusic have borrowed one since… I get it… but don’t regret my decision.
I don't see the hype with this thing. It's like OP just didn't charge £3k for it so people are losing their minds.
Came here for the KO II and stayed for the beat! Awesome groove 🔥 However, seeing this workflow, limitations and voice stealing issues, I believe it really is more like a toyish gadget. Guess, I'll stick with my Circuit Rhythm and Koala 😂
Why does everyone use 2 bars? Use way more to make a beat. 16 32 whatever
it's just another stylish piece of TE gear which ist fucking whey too expensive without any reason...
But all other gear youtubers say it is SOOOOO CHEEAAAP OMGGG ...
How come Ricky doesn't have a single video on the Korg Volca Sample? Or any Korg Volca ever? Some of the things people are doing on the Volca Sample are amazing. These devices are in the same price point (the Volca Sample is actually about half the price tho). So why nothing on the Volca Sample or any Volca ever? Actually I can't find a single upload about any Korg device (I did a very quick search so I may be wrong). Just wondering if it's to do with your day job?
Totally agree. @G1SUNPLANT rocks the sample and truecuckoo already rocks the KOII
They could have knocked it out of the park with this device if they had just added a few things. More effects, more memory, more polyphony. Just those things and it would be significantly better. They could have even charged 50 bucks more if needed. $350 would still be a great price.
Your command of this device and musical talent is impressive.
Everybody's been complaining about this, but you make it look so easy to use and sound fantastic!
Plenty of people love it and have made it look easy.
It’s the most fun I’ve had with an instrument/tool in a while. Is it perfect? No!
Is it $300 worth of endless joy and creativity?
HELL YES!
I use my JBL charge 4 speaker to amplify it and power it on my porch… talk about an easy on the go setup. All that is required is two cables and you’re having fun annoying the neighbors as they walk by!
Muhammed Ali’s image should not be associated with anything other than something impeccable. This is an embarrassment to his legacy. And the weird thing is nobody is talking about that.
Marketing gonna market.
the GAS i easily avoided no regrets
This groove is just like late 90s New York deep house. Very cool. Been to some good parties with this type of soundtrack.
I wouldn't put MPC in the list because its fairly easy as well. Now elektron is a o
Pain to learn. With the exception of the Digitakt
Teenage Engineering needs an OS update soon... take some pages out of the old Digitakt manual. Haha
pro tip by working with minimal voices
just mmute group everything that should not overlap
like the bass
the hihats with the snare
i come from the mpc 500 field
Despite all the nuisances of this EP-133, im really liking what im hearing people make from it. Creativity by limitations, or just quick workflow? Btw nice track, reminds me of Kerri Chandler in a way
yea it does have a vibe to it I'll say that. A sample I heard had some trippy distortion with the filter down and it being pitched down. I think little things like that start to stack up and create a pretty decent sound!
@@RickyTinez There’s something just cheerful about the machine. It feels good to play and is inviting
Good gawd man in the next year we'll all be going back to the DAW and talking about how good it feels to not be limited by hardware quirks lol.
Honestly I feel like a lot of the missing features might be coming later so that they could've made the holiday season release date
But it just sounds gorgeous. Guess the trick is: 2 EP-133 K.O. II (!) 😅
It’s so pretty, I really want to like it but it’s to cumbersome for me. I hope an update saves it
its a 300 dollar sampler not sure why everone making videos about it are losing the're mind about work flows and features you cant get for 300 dollars any other way i have a feeling itll end up ike the low end grove solutions from the 80s where those that cant dish out 1500 and up will buy these and learn the work flow and use its limits in a creative way that kills it
Thanks for this. Almost all other videos out there blindly shout praise for this machine, but the issues you've had are a deal breaker for me and I'll save my cash!
Honestly you should just give it a try if you can. I was down on it until I actually played one and was blown away by its workflow and creativity. There’s something just very cheerful about the machine that makes you want to play it
did u watch this video lol @@CharleyHale
Weird. You let one guys opinion away you that much? This thing is exactly as advertised... so if you know what it is you shouldn't be surprised
@@CharleyHaleExactly. Everyone here is falling over themselves to trash it here
@@ChillCollins616 the obstacles he faced in this video aren't opinions, they're limitations of the device. Seeing the device in action swayed me.
The sunday chill vibes on your 1 or 2 machine creations are on point every time. I have to start up my 404 Mk2 ->
this thing seems like a pain in the ass to work with.
Looks pretty tho.
not worth.
I remain amazed you have yet to check the Synthstrom Deluge on the channel, esp. now with it open source updates. Not a criticism, you prob have used it I'm sure, and tbf the polyend covers some of its bases. but it really is a fantastic bit of kit as a central sequencer, sketch pad etc.
Biggups for the vids as ever !
Agreed. The deluge is top tier gear. It's one of the most inspiring pieces I got and it's definitely on my permakeep list.
I wonder if you'd recorded the keys sample into the D bank, it might not have done the voice stealing so badly? Seems to me that they kinda expect the workflow to be A=Drums B=Bass C=melody D=samples and loops.
Mine of course shipped with broken fader so I've not spent too much time exploring it.
teenage engineering are tripping! what a fail of a product. its easier to create music on a phone
feel much better about cancelling my order
Great demonstration of this product. Not just done to sell the EP-133. A nice fair assessment.
No offense but did you record all your samples in stereo maybe? Thats a killer on most samplers, if they even have the abillity.
I own the OP-1 (OG), OP-Z, Digitakt, 404mk2 and now the KO2. Of these devices, the OP-Z still remains my absolute favorite based on workflow alone. My expectations were a little too high with this thing as I hoped it would basically be an expanded OP-Z.. it borrows some workflow elements but the things that make the OP-Z great were left out of this thing imo.
That title. 😂 I almost bought the small calculator one but decided to buy an MPC live 2 instead. Best decision ever.
For $299 I wasn't expecting it to be as flexible or powerful as an Elektron machine. It's like Teenage Engineering smashed an MPC60 and a Casio VL-TONE together. It seems to be coded to the limits of its processing power.
At this point, I would spend your money on 2 PO-33’s instead. Sure you don’t have the effects or stereo sampling and playback, but you won’t cap out your voice count with the combined 8 voices from the two PO’s. Plus you’ll save $100 in the process.
tl;dr we just stay with our sp404 :D :D :D
joking
thanks for video!
It seems that they've rushed firmware development, with all those workflow / feature issues. Kind of unusual for TE to release a product with such unpolished, alpha-level firmware. hope they release an update soon...
Can’t wait to make bangers on mine 🎉
I wanted a cheap and portable sampler that can get the work done. So far this little thing delivers. I was almost put off by the massive amounts of negative reviews, but I got it eventually after watching many videos and reading it's manual. I was torn between this and the MPC One, but KOII is half the price and more simple. If I want a DAW I have my pc.
TE will release a $150 weight to hold down the button for sampling something with both hands.
Very thankful for your honest look at the EP-133. I was seriously considering getting it but I'm someone that needs a simple workflow to get anything done, especially when it comes to applying effects and recording samples so I'm likely going to give this a pass even though I was hoping for it to be my first T.E. device. Might just look into the SP404 MK II instead.
Just get a PO-33 man
Yeah I've been thinking about it but I think for my wants the 404 gives a bit more functionality. Certainly wouldn't hurt to have a PO-33 as well though.@@GreatistheWorld
Thank you for not feeding us marketing hype. As a new user just getting into this genre, do you have an article or what to get/ how to get started?
one way to get around the limitation of voices.. you can compose outside of the KO2... use a project in the KO to get as many things done as you can. record audio tracks into your daw. use another project within the ko2 to build more up. not the best, but it is a way.
Would be cool to have a foot pedal trigger record via midi somehow
i think this is not a daw for song, this is device for make groove and ideas. Like Groovebox, or old samplers, this is not digitakt, or real groove box for song mode.
I definitely consider my KO2 as an instrument rather than a full production tool.
this thing has to be the least appealing piece of music hardware i came across in the last three decades. it also masterfully follows the increasingly popular "do less in more time" concept, which seems to be a plus for some consumers.
I really hope they fix some of these issues with a firmware update. I'm starting to regret my purchase.
wow SO happy i watched this!!!! teenage engineering fixed NONE of the essential problems with the PO-33 that would have made it an absolute powerhouse! they just made it bigger to sell shit!!! i hate them i REALLY really really really wanted this to answer all of my desires left unfufilled from the 33 and they have failed in literally all ways. Thanks.
This is the first product release that hasn't triggered my GAS. Maybe I'm just getting tired of learning new equipment and realizing I could have done it in Ableton all along.
6 stereo voices or 12 mono - could you use mono to avoid stealing?
Can you sample in while the metronome is playing somehow? This not being about to sample while the sequencer is playing is a real bummer
They should have stopped at op-z, shit was already a bit worse than ap-1
Backordered canceled . I’ll fuck wit what I got
Great clip, Monsieur Tinez! Afa I can see., the number of voices, no resampling, and the holding down the pad while sampling are kind of.. big cons. But at this price point? Still pretty much liking it.
The real problem is that you can't resample.. I kind off like the restricted environment. Maybe there should be some kind of 'freeze' function, next to 'commit'. That would potentially free up voices as well.
Groovy track though!
After watching 2 Vids on this, I wont be buying one.
We get it, you are the Elektron messenger.
I'm getting strong Yamaha SU700 vibes from this, right down to the 64MB memory (well, 64+4 on the Yamaha). I loved that thing, and it was janky as hell too.
tEENAGE eNGINEERING=Frustrated Musicians 🙂
I hate loops
It’s like my mpc 60, or mpc 3000. Use for grove, and sound
Waàay too many limitations on this device. Work flow be like troubleshooting. Ugh
If the shoe fits .. everyone knows what this can do , it’s a basic portable sampler..not a push 2or Mpc x.. its basic , with basic functionality
3:56 I guess, few weeks and we will find a small cute looking weight, to hold the buttons when you are sampling, for 150$ :D
I reckon it might boil down to how willing/able teenage engineering are to develop the firmware. If you look at the novation circuit, it started out with quite a few limitations but novation listened to the community and put years of development into it making it much more flexible. Fingers crossed TE can do the same?
This is a weird review. He's just using it like he thinks it's a daw.
The price and polyphony don’t go hand in hand. Not surprised. The lunches are never free.
to be fair the bass line should have been one single sample and you would have saved yourself 3 voices immediately.. This machine is sooo beautiful though, whether it's not perfect just doesn't bother me!
Great design but internally trash
You dont need to look at what it doesnt do, but what it does. It is not an entire recording studio stacked in a 1970's calculator! the fact that it has 64mb sampler tatooed on the front of it, should be enough to define both the limitations and the possibilities of this device. That is why your stereo samples are so limted! For a review, you need to explore the device, and not your brain programming.
Not gonna lie man. Losing a bit of respect for you for making these hit pieces against a product that directly competes against the company you work for.
Even if your feelings are true, it’s still a line that shouldn’t be crossed imo because there will always be questions. A little too slimy for me tbh.
The thing has LEGO holes. It's a toy. Toys are for fun. Y'all need to stop taking it so seriously.
I really like how you are positive thinking person and how some obstacle (lije voicec stealing, or other details) doesn’t stop you from creating cool groovy pattern.. respect !
Totally second this. Most devices have some annoying limitations, but creative people accept the challenge and adapt to create something while non-creatives just whine and give up.
why don’t you just use your nose to hit the sample pad while playing a chord with both hands ????? easy fix
Dude Same. I was trying to record op1 onto a pad and just treat it like a sequencer or an audio track and you can't (kinda makes the threshold parameter useless if you have to hold the pad to start recording, leaving you one handed on keys) :( and it's a shame they took away some features of what made the Pocket Operators so cool. Thought it would be the ultimate portable one shot drum machine to pair with ipad but forgot how small 64mb really is lol.
Would have 0 complaints if it had at least a 1gb of space on there and just treat it truly as a sample composer. but realistically you aren't sampling much with that limited amount of space . if you get 900 samples on there I have no idea how. Even with all the gripes its a great thing to have laying around and to pick up if you don't run into hardware issues. definitely sketch like though. more approachable than a lot of others in the price range. Hoping for a revamped OPZ with a screen.
they should add rechargable lithium battery like smartphones also hire you has their advisor for software updates
this is a good device to have if ur parents are totally against u making music. but ur cover will be over when ur dad borrows it to do his taxes.
these machines are just good in design, i sold my op1, gladly
can you hold the button down with a 9v battery or some weight? the threshold is very useful I think
It's not an instrument Ricky! It's a "lifestyle product" aimed at music hobbyists. You're only supposed to wave it around so other people know you have one, not actually make music with it. ;)
Ha yes, much like the film photography snobs. Waving around their $4K Lecia's and saying they are a street photographer, and they listen to 'Neo-Jazz'.
Is this going to be like their mixer and in 6 months everyone is going to be talking about how this thing is based as fuck?
The Yamaha QX3 does all of this and looks like an IBM keyboard.
I really believe TE created this thing to “justify” the absurd prices of their OP-1 Field, TX-6 etc. 😂
Yeah the low price of this is as weird as the high price of OP1, OP-1 Field and that mini mixer. This new thing would have been better if it was 500 dollars and the build quality was nicer and the features were ironed out (reverse sample, resampling, internal battery, tying scenes for song mode etc.) But for the price who can complain. In the same price range I love my Circuit Rhythm but it has no mic or polyphony. SplTrek has everything but that screen is minuscule.
They’ve always had a line of expensive products like the OP-1 over a line of super accessible ones like the pocket operators. Just ignore the ones you’re not interested in
@@GreatistheWorld Yeah but something in the middle between cheap toys and boutique toys would be nice. Like if this was solid quality, had resampling, and the muscle you actually need. I'd gladly pay 400 or 500