Teenage Engineering’s new $300 groovebox doesn’t have to be so cute. That’s the whole point.
He EP-133 REQUIRED (we’ll just call it Knock Out II) is a combination of drum machine, synthesizer and sampler. It’s a super-sized, pint-sized update to Teenage Engineer. PO-33 KOIt offers many of the same features for a fraction of the price.
The atmosphere of Knock Out II is decidedly more 80s Rhythm Computer That modern Roland drum machine. Its buttons, knobs, and single dimmer seem almost oversized on this slim device. I’m not sure exactly how it works, but that doesn’t make me any less tempted to shell out the money.
Whether you consider Teenage Engineering’s audio equipment to be over-engineered, over-priced, or just plain perfect, I’m just glad that VC-backed startup does things that provoke an illicit emotional response. It’s refreshing to see a hardware company get weird about this; most seem too concerned with chasing Apple down its minimalist rabbit hole.
Getting weird with this is The whole Teenage Engineering thing. The Swedish firm creates hypebeasty wireless speakers, grooveboxes and accessories for listeners and musicians alike. Its devices often feature Lego-like touch buttons and knobs, with a design language that blurs the distinctive aesthetic; think: cassette futurism meets brutalism meets kb toys.
Teenage Engineering built a following through its super affordable (and, in my experience, frustratingly fragile) Pocket Operator. sequencers, but in recent years the company has devoted more attention to high-end equipment. That left some of his fans out of the fun. The Knock Out II’s price tantalizingly occupies a middle ground. It’s not a stocking stuffer, but it’s not a stocking filler either. two bigs.
Mastering a drum machine and sequencer takes time, and Teenage Engineering products are often so feature-packed and different that they come with a learning curve. Still, Knock Out II’s design makes it look accessible. It seems to claim (perhaps misleadingly, if you’re not willing to put in the hours) that “you could totally learn this!” For now, I will do my best to resist the siren call of the reducers.
