Free Beat’s PO-33 Throwdown: The $99 Pocket Sampler That Still Slaps

Let’s be real—most gear under a hundred bucks is about as inspiring as a soggy slice of pizza. But Free Beat kicks things off by declaring the Teenage Engineering PO-33 the king of cheap thrills, and honestly, I’m not arguing. This little sampler has been around for six years and still holds its ground as the go-to for broke beatmakers and bedroom producers alike. Even its Street Fighter cousin gets a shoutout, but the PO-33 is the real star of the show here.

Free Beat’s approach is all about keeping it simple and practical. He starts with a blank slate, no sounds, no patterns—just pure creative potential. The PO-33’s always-on monitoring means you’re never guessing what’s coming through, and the workflow is so straightforward you could teach your cat to use it. This isn’t about flexing specs; it’s about getting straight to the groove without breaking the bank.

Don’t let the toy-like looks fool you—the PO-33 packs way more depth than you’d expect. Free Beat dives into sampling with the Cobalt 5S, showing how you can layer leads, basses, and chords straight into the melodic slots. The lo-fi flavor is baked in, but that’s part of the charm. You can even tweak the filter right on the device, giving your samples that extra bit of grime or shine.

But here’s where it gets spicy: the PO-33 lets you chop, copy, and paste sounds between melodic and drum slots, building custom kits out of whatever you sample. It’s a little confusing at first (Free Beat admits his explanation could use a redo), but once you get the hang of it, you’re slicing up sounds like a street food chef. There’s a whole world of tricks here, and if you want the nitty-gritty, the video’s got you covered.

So how does this pocket-sized beast fit into your setup? Free Beat shows the PO-33 sliding seamlessly between live jamming and home studio work. He samples his own drum kit, builds patterns from scratch, and even chains multiple patterns together for longer jams. The workflow is fast—no menu diving, no waiting for a DAW to load. Just hit record, play, and you’re off.

Whether you’re rocking a full studio or just a pair of headphones and a dream, the PO-33 holds its own. It’s got enough polyphony for most beatmaking situations, and the ability to sequence melodic and drum parts on the fly makes it a killer tool for live sets or quick ideas. Free Beat’s style is all about keeping it moving, and the PO-33 fits that hustle perfectly.

Let’s talk strengths: the PO-33’s punch-in effects are straight-up fire. Free Beat uses them to add stutters, filter sweeps, and all sorts of ear candy to his patterns. It’s instant gratification—no deep menu diving, just hold a button and twist. The device is dead simple to use, and you can go from blank slate to full beat in minutes.

But it’s not all sunshine and 808s. There are some quirks that’ll make you grit your teeth, like having to use one hand to trigger sampling (leaving your other hand out of the action), and the shared parameters for drum kits can be a headache if you want more control. Still, for the price, these are minor gripes. Free Beat keeps it honest, calling out both the fun and the frustrations, and that’s why his takes hit home for real-world producers.