Imagine a bass synth so tiny it fits in your pocket, yet it pumps out deep, rumbling lines that could anchor an entire track—Teenage Engineering dreamed this up back when portable music making was just getting wild.
This digital monophonic beast packs multiple synthesis engines like FM, subtractive, wavetable, and even physically modeled strings, all dialed in with 16 bass sounds, each tweakable via two knobs for parameters that shift depending on the mode. A 16-step sequencer holds 16 patterns you can chain endlessly, with parameter locks to morph sounds per step, punch-in effects like bit crusher, delay, filters, stutter, and LFO, plus 16 bass-oriented play styles that auto-vary your notes for instant grooves. It includes a micro drum machine with 16 sampled kits, auto compressor, hardware limiter to keep things clean, built-in speaker, animated submarine LCD, folding stand, and 3.5mm audio in/out jacks for jam sync—runs on two AAA batteries in a rugged 5x3x0.5-inch slab easy enough for thumbs to command.
Even though it's discontinued now, folks still hunt these down for their unbeatable portability and fun factor in beat sketching—players love the parameter locks and sync chaining with other Pocket Operators, though some wish for backlighting on that quirky display.
