Pocket Operators / A Review of Various Cases

Hi friends,
In this video I will overview 3 different case options for Teenage Engineering's Pocket Operators line of music making products. I'll give you my opinions, highlight some pluses and minuses and then we'll have a little jam at the end (like always).
Here are links to the 3 types of cases I discuss:
Official Teenage Engineering Case:
teenage.engineering/store/ca-x/
The Spiller Photo Case (3D Printed One):
www.spillerphoto.com/product-...
Dich Studios Case:
dichstudios.com/products/po-c...
I hope you enjoy the content.
And if you are enjoying what I do and feel like supporting me in any way, feel free to check out one of my albums. Available on Bandcamp and other popular streaming services. Cheers.
robotsagainstchildren.bandcam...
Also if you want to connect on socials I'm at:
/ robots_agai. .
&
/ robotsagains. .
Thanks for watching. Happy music making.
- Matty G

[@paulcollins6961]

How funny is that I just emailed dich studio about the see through case I thing im sold..

[@tislota_f]

the outro jam was sweet man!, thanks for all the reviews!

[@LeslieJones_RSTRCTD]

Hey Matt, just wanted to let you know I just ordered my own Spillerphoto case through this review. Thanks for supplying me the nudge needed. 😉

[@arkaholicn1456]

Right on for this review! I didn't think there would be any out there.

[@EmceeEmphasis]

Great video! Wish you had an affiliate link. Just ordered the Spiller case because of your review!

[@stephanmaier5634]

Thanks a lot fot the overview!

[@MattGreerMusic]

My pleasure. Thanks for watching.

[@djnodj]

Just a huge thanks for putting this out!! I know your review is 2 years old, but still VERY MUCH helping folks like me! PO cases are an interesting beast (as are POs). The cost and usability seem to be only learned by trying, buying or reviewing reviews like yours!! Beat Maker Boutique seems to own the premium space, at a price. From there, Dich, Stiller, Pavel and others offer some amazing products, better than the Etsy jank 3D print stuff (and don't get me wrong, I appreciate all of those, and many offering 3D files for free, amazing). I just ordered several cases and have some TE stock cases, will only know once I try them!!! Your video helped me a lot.

[@MattGreerMusic]

I'm very glad you found it useful.

[@valley_robot]

jam at the end was epic man

[@MattGreerMusic]

Thanks a lot.

[@gbrinkert]

I grabbed the Dich double case (holds two) and apart from getting a little corrosive adhesive on the acrylic (and thus clouding it) I absolutely love it. LIke it way more than the PO official cases, personally. Nice video!

[@MattGreerMusic]

Thanks. Yeah the official cases just don't feel very good. I love the buttons on the Dich cases.

[@paskaalisaapaskaa5354]

@@MattGreerMusic What kind of annoys me, is the fact that i havent seen a single case with external cover for the knobs, they are always exposed. Some sort of lid with hinges wouldnt be a bad idea imo. I feel like it somewhat totally discards the advantages of how compact these devices are. I mean ffs, its called POCKET operator, yet its slightly risky to carry it in pocket, even if you have some sort of case installed because the knobs are always exposed. It just baffles me how i havent seen a single case with external protective layers to protect the knobs from twisting/bending if some external force would be to affect them. How in the world has this thing managed to be overlooked by so many people? It's not like the concept isnt there, nearly every deck saver that exists has that protection for external knobs. If you look up OP-1 decksaver you should get the idea what i mean. That sort of lid on hinges attached to a case would be great. I dont want to sound repeative, but it just is mind boggling how no one has managed to implement this in their cases, especially on the manufacturers part since they definately figured it out on OP-1. I guess some could argue that its not such a big deal since these things are quite cheap, but i dont feel like paying another 100 euros or going through some DIY fixing because i managed bumb into a door or something while holding in a pocket. Sorry, had to vent.

[@LikelyLoops]

Nice review!

[@outsidedog8205]

“Feels like... a finished product” yeaaa could we possibly buy the other half to these in the future? 😂

[@chipfilmstv]

The 303 one looks cool but the Dich Studios is the best. Its a series piece of well engineered gear.

[@MattGreerMusic]

Dich made a very fine piece of hardware. I recommend it all the time.

[@Grei_Undyne]

I have to agree. I took a long long time looking up all the cases and I’m so very satisfied with the Dich studios case

[@SpaceJamOnBluRay]

Spiller Photo has since updated his designs and they now include an opening in the back for easier access to the batteries. And he now gives the option of hard plastic or rubber buttons and includes 3D printed knobs and rubber feet. I ordered his MPC60 one a few days ago and I'm waiting for it to arrive. For 24 bucks I couldn't not buy it for my PO-32 hahaha

[@MattGreerMusic]

Good to know. Thanks.

[@fdhal87wn]

Tank you very for a very useful info, just place an order with plexi one, and also i really like your tune at the end!

[@MattGreerMusic]

Thank you for watching.

[@arcanusluvalus1388]

You should have talked about the effect each case has on the ability to record using the built in mics, other than that great video

[@MattGreerMusic]

I can discern no difference when recording with a case on. FWIW

[@arcanusluvalus1388]

The only case that I own are the cases produced by TE and for some odd reason the mic input is really bad so in order for me to record using the KO mic I usually just take the case off but now I just leave it off

[@ea5e95]

Yo, that outro beat though! Daang

[@MattGreerMusic]

Thanks for watching to the end. 😉

[@ea5e95]

Oh man, I'm here for the long haul now. Dope beats and super informative. Just got mine so all the tips are much appreciated. Big up!

[@MattGreerMusic]

Word.

[@ciaranmulhall6123]

@@MattGreerMusic quality outro beat !! :)

[@MattGreerMusic]

Thanks!

[@TheInterGalacticFederation]

i was wondering about your cases in your recent videos....

[@nuggalyn]

What color options did u choose for the 3D printed one? Great video!

[@MattGreerMusic]

At the time, I just picked the one that I liked the best of some pre-made options. I didn't have the choice of picking my own colors.

[@nuggalyn]

@@MattGreerMusic thanks!

[@MISSCHAMPAGNE]

Does anyone have the updated Dich case? I love the idea of clicky buttons on my POs, but I don't want to get anything on the display. Also, that jam was really nice!

[@MattGreerMusic]

Not sure which version I have here but the Dich case does cover the screen.

[@Quoyota]

I also own the dich case. It's the first case I bought. I feel the knobs clicking a little bit too loud. What about the 3d printed? Are the knobs more silent on them?

[@MattGreerMusic]

Yeah it's quieter.

[@haroldpalmer3245]

Is there a way to save patterns created ? I want to be able to call them up again later. If so, could you explain the process. Thanks for the over view of the cases

[@MattGreerMusic]

For the newest models you can export a data file that can be recorded like audio and then played back into the device later for recall. It sounds kind of like an old dial up modem. You have to play that audio into a recorder of some type and save it as a wav file. There are instructions in the PO-33 guide on the teenage engineering website.

[@samray3461]

Dope beat. How many unique patterns is that?

[@MattGreerMusic]

Trying to job my memory on this but maybe 8-12 or so patterns? I'm not totally sure because it's been a minute. Thanks for checking it out!

[@MrStevem121]

Hi Matt..Did you select soft or hard buttons for your Spiller case?

[@MattGreerMusic]

They are hard buttons. I don't think there was an option to choose soft buttons at the time but I probably would have picked that if I could.

[@MrStevem121]

@@MattGreerMusic Cheers for confirming

[@chowdermonsterr]

I ordered myself a 3D printed one from spillerphoto (POC60 model) and was wondering how long did it take to get to you? I think he is based out of Indonesia I think,...hope I don’t have to wait too long!

[@MattGreerMusic]

Not sure where you are located but it may vary depending. I can say he's sent me two things. The first took several weeks, maybe a month. The second arrived in half that time. I think shipping around the world is all messed up this year and the holidays are probably making it worse right now. I will say it's worth the wait and he's a good vendor.

[@chowdermonsterr]

@@MattGreerMusic I’m in Washington, yeah i figured that would be the case, with holidays and etc effecting shipping everywhere + international shipping alone. I will just have to patiently wait, and definitely no doubt in my mind that it’ll be worth the wait. Thanks for the fast response!

[@imakestuff1994]

For the mpc case

[@hubertmuller6157]

I like the one on the mpc style, but removing the screws for battery changes would be super anoying

[@TheFreshPeddler]

Cut the back out.

[@SpaceJamOnBluRay]

The guy that makes them updated the cases and there is now a hole in the back for changing batteries.

[@leewightman8619]

Iv just got a standard black case for mine I like the 3d printed ones until I zoom in and they look pretty bad

[@vooveks]

Hi. I’ve got two Dich cases, and after a little while, some of the buttons started to stick a bit, in a weird way. Have you experienced this? Cheers.

[@MattGreerMusic]

No I can't say that I have. Sorry to hear that.

[@vooveks]

@@MattGreerMusic Ok, thanks for the reply. Yeah, it's weird - I put them together properly and was very careful. I've never spilled anything on them or anything like that, and they haven't been used that much really. You'll just get one or two buttons that randomly don't pop back up properly or they don't seem to hit the actual PO button properly, but it's intermittent. Might try some Deoxit spray on them or something. Otherwise I really like them. The fact that you can still see the PO and it's printing through the perspex is one of the major pluses, I think! Cheers.

[@OCEANSINSPACE]

No case, I had the official and just liked for the look. So far the cases are cosmetic but the buttons are harder to use.

[@Jackk104]

How long did it take for the 33 case to ship?

[@1gman858]

as a Jaybird ;)

[@rsw987654321]

As of right now (April 5, 2021) DichStudios is sold out :( Anybody know if they'll be making more in the future?

[@MattGreerMusic]

I'm not sure but Dich is on Facebook. You can probably message them there and ask.

[@rsw987654321]

@@MattGreerMusic Thanks Matt I’ll look on FB!

[@lgr6124]

I purchased the clear case lol and I super glued the buttons to the actual buttons SMH 😂. Had to buy a new one don't do what I did

[@MattGreerMusic]

Haha. Well that's a shame. Definitely a fiddly bit of DIY.

[@hitmixhyepock9405]

I like mine without a case.... I just handle it with care. I mean it's less than a hundred dollars so if I break it I'll just by another one lol. But the real question is....how does it sound in these cases?

[@SonicVibe]

I got the ko is that a good first one?

[@MattGreerMusic]

Hell yes. That's the best one IMO.

[@SonicVibe]

@@MattGreerMusic nice cant wait to mess around with it

[@SonicVibe]

I got 2 really wanted the arcade one but for hiphop i got the ko and Rhythm I hope that's a good pairing

[@MattGreerMusic]

Definitely. You can program drums on the Rhythm and sample them into the KO or just run it in parallel and that will leave you four voices of polyphony on the KO for melodic stuff.

[@SonicVibe]

@@MattGreerMusic perfect!! Thank you

[@imakestuff1994]

Where did you get the knobs?

[@MattGreerMusic]

They are spares from a Novation Xiosynth.

[@NaeMuckle]

Why didn't they sell them in a case

[@MattGreerMusic]

As I recall, the original design goal for the first PO's was to make a synth for $50 or less. Not having a housing on them was to lower cost and get closer to that goal.

[@Kumodot]

Love those reviews. All great designs. Would be nice to update those trials with my case design. The imPOstor from @kumodotdesign (instagram).

[@MattGreerMusic]

They look cool.

[@hughman8597]

Nice and helpful Video! But cut your nails !!! (even if they very clean)