Usine Teenage Engineering PO-16

Teenage Engineering PO-16 factory – ultra-portable melody synthesizer from the Swedish Pocket Operator series, featuring 15 FM-based synth sounds, a micro drum machine, 16 chord/arpeggio styles, and 16 punch-in effects. This compact device is designed for instant melodic creativity and on-the-go music production.

Built on a high-quality single-layer PCB, the PO-16 uses components such as a Cirrus Logic DAC, a powerful Knowles speaker, and the Silabs EFM 32 gecko microcontroller. The 15 synthesized lead sounds are paired with a simple drum kit consisting of 16 samples. A built-in 16-step sequencer lets you arrange patterns and link them together for extended playback. The 16 built-in effects—including bit crush, low/high-pass filters, stutters, delay, feedback, and vibrato—add expressive sonic shaping in real time.

In addition to two 3.5 mm mini-jack ports for audio output and sync, the PO-16 features a fold-out stand, a crisp display, and 16 buttons for selecting sounds, patterns, styles, and effects. Two rotary knobs control pitch, tempo, and modulation parameters. The open-board design minimizes production costs while maximizing sound quality and energy efficiency. Powered by 2x AAA batteries, the PO-16 delivers both fun and functional performance in a minimal form.

KEY FEATURES

• Portable melody synthesizer with FM synthesis engine
• 15 high-quality lead sounds and micro drum machine with 16 samples
• 16 punch-in effects including bit crush, filters, delay, stutter, feedback, vibrato
• 16-step sequencer with 16 chainable patterns
• 16 chord and arpeggio play styles
• Parameter lock for per-step automation
• Cirrus Logic DAC and Knowles speaker for clean audio
• Silabs EFM 32 gecko microcontroller
• LCD screen with animation feedback
• Fold-out wire stand
• 2x 3.5 mm mini-jack ports: audio out and sync in/out
• Runs on 2x AAA batteries

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

• Construction / Number of Keys: Desktop, no keyboard
• Sound Generation: Digital (FM synthesis)
• Display: Yes (LCD)
• USB MIDI Interface: No
• USB AUDIO Interface: No
• Speakers: Yes (Knowles)
• MIDI Interface: No
• LINE IN: Yes (3.5 mm sync input)
• LINE OUT: Yes (3.5 mm audio output)
• Integrated Effects Processor: Yes
• Power Supply: 2x AAA batteries
• Weight: ~100 g
• Dimensions: ~60 x 105 x 10 mm