1 Page Guide to the Pocket Operator

The Pocket Operator documentation is really quite clear and concise, but I wanted something easy to print and within one page. Feel free to copy/paste the below and print it yourself. Any feedback would be appreciated for future updates!

PO-12 in 1 Page

Layout of the PO (the PO12 is the simplest, so everything here should apply to future models)

Making a beat

  1. Hold sound + press 1–16 to select a sound
  2. Press write (rec symbol lights up)
  3. Enter notes into the grid
  4. Press play to hear your pattern
  5. Hold pattern + press 1–16 to select a pattern (blinking LED = active pattern)

Shortcuts to Making a song
Copy pattern: Hold write + pattern, press 1–16 to paste active pattern to new slot.
Clear pattern: Press funct + pattern.
Chain patterns: Hold pattern, press keys 1–16 in sequence to chain up to 16 patterns. Same pattern can repeat (e.g., 1,1,1,4 = pattern 1 three times, then pattern 4). Sequence loops after the last pattern.

Tweak the sound
Effects: While playing, hold FX + press 1–16 to punch in an effect. Hold FX alone (no key) to clear effects.
Parameter locking: Hold write while turning knob A or B to record sound parameter changes over time.
Swing: Hold bpm + turn A.
Tempo: Press bpm to switch between presets (Hip Hop 80, Disco 120, Techno 140). Hold bpm + turn B to fine-tune (60–240 bpm).
Volume: Hold bpm + press any key 1–16. (Careful with headphones above setting 5.)
Live record: While playing, hold write + press 1–16 to punch in notes live (quantized to swing setting). Release write when done.
Step multiplier: Hold a step key 1–16 + press bpm to insert a re-trig on that step. Press bpm repeatedly to cycle 2/4/8/16 multiplier.