{"id":655856,"date":"2026-05-08T11:24:21","date_gmt":"2026-05-08T11:24:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/655856\/"},"modified":"2026-05-08T11:24:21","modified_gmt":"2026-05-08T11:24:21","slug":"teenage-engineerings-ep-136-ko-sidekick-is-part-dj-mixer-part-interface-part-effects-unit-and-surprisingly-affordable","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/655856\/","title":{"rendered":"Teenage Engineering\u2019s EP-136 KO Sidekick is part DJ mixer, part interface, part effects unit \u2013 and surprisingly affordable"},"content":{"rendered":"<p id=\"elk-4680d119-0f10-49ed-b5a2-a0b99b3fab8c\">Teenage Engineering has launched a new hardware mixer to join its EP family of portable samplers.<\/p>\n<p>The EP-136 KO Sidekick is a two-channel mixer with integrated audio interface, making it ideal for connecting portable gear \u2013 such as the EP samplers \u2013 to a DAW setup. The EP-136 is more than a functional utility though, boasting a variety of creative effects and performance tools more commonly seen on DJ mixers.<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"elk-seasonal\"\/><\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-4680d119-0f10-49ed-b5a2-a0b99b3fab8c-2\">As Teenage Engineering says: \u201cThe plan was to build a mixer for the KO II but it became more of an effect-box with a built-in sequencer. Quite cool actually.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>            You may like<\/p>\n<p>    Latest Videos From<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musicradar.com\/media\/img\/musicradar_logo.svg\" alt=\"\" class=\"block h-[18px] w-auto shrink-0 brightness-0 invert\" aria-hidden=\"true\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musicradar.com\/media\/img\/musicradar_logo.svg\" alt=\"\" class=\"max-h-12 w-auto\" aria-hidden=\"true\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Each of the mixer\u2019s two channels has a three-band EQ with three modes \u2013 DJ, parametric and studio. There\u2019s also a gain control for each channel along with a three-mode compressor.<\/p>\n<p>Each channel has a dedicated volume fader as well as a cue button, allowing users to preview either channel via the front panel headphone port.<\/p>\n<p>At the bottom of each channel strip is an FX button, used to send either channel to the unit\u2019s effects module. The mixer has six effect types \u2013 filter, loop, delay, tape, tremolo and siren.<\/p>\n<p>Image 1 of 2<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/CZ3YRthWahVxxD4FSQnbBL.jpg\" alt=\"Teenage Engineering EP-136 KO Sidekick\"   class=\"image-wrapped__image image__image\" loading=\"lazy\" data-normal=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/CZ3YRthWahVxxD4FSQnbBL.jpg\" data-original-mos=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/CZ3YRthWahVxxD4FSQnbBL.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/CZ3YRthWahVxxD4FSQnbBL.jpg\" data-pin-nopin=\"true\" data-slice-image=\"true\"\/>(Image credit: Teenage Engineering)<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/M3SoxxqpEkARAJ7Xv722xK.jpg\" alt=\"Teenage Engineering EP-136 KO Sidekick\"   class=\"image-wrapped__image image__image\" loading=\"lazy\" data-normal=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/M3SoxxqpEkARAJ7Xv722xK.jpg\" data-original-mos=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/M3SoxxqpEkARAJ7Xv722xK.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/M3SoxxqpEkARAJ7Xv722xK.jpg\" data-pin-nopin=\"true\" data-slice-image=\"true\"\/>(Image credit: Teenage Engineering)<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-77f9eece-5377-490e-8bce-411e6aa2a058\">The effects themselves can be controlled by a bi-directional mod stick and force-sensitive pad along the mixer\u2019s righthand edge. These allow the user to do things like create filter sweeps, apply bursts of resonance or play with loop and tape length\/direction. The EP-136 can record inputs from these controls, allowing it to capture automated effect sequences.<\/p>\n<p class=\"newsletter-form__strapline\">Want all the hottest music and gear news, reviews, deals, features and more, direct to your inbox? Sign up here. <\/p>\n<p>In terms of I\/O, the EP-136 has two 3.5mm stereo channel inputs, plus a third aux input without a dedicated channel strip. It can transmit eight input channels and four output channels over USB-C, as well as send and receive MIDI.<\/p>\n<p>The EP-136 can run on two AAA batteries or be powered via its USB-C input. It can also be physically connected to other devices in the EP range using small plastic pegs that slot into the sides of each unit (sold separately).<\/p>\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\" style=\"padding-top:56.25%;\">\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/j4tnCTsRDQfxW7s5c7enVF.jpg\" alt=\"Teenage Engineering EP range\"   loading=\"lazy\" data-new-v2-image=\"true\" data-original-mos=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/j4tnCTsRDQfxW7s5c7enVF.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/j4tnCTsRDQfxW7s5c7enVF.jpg\" class=\"rounded-[var(--image--border-radius,0)] inline\"\/>\n<\/p>\n<p>(Image credit: Teenage Engineering)<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-3d1cd7a7-2f89-49d5-849c-a8515f3ac8b3\">Teenage Engineering\u2019s EP range kicked off in late 2023 with the arrival of the <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.musicradar.com\/reviews\/teenage-engineering-ep-133-ko-ii-review\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.musicradar.com\/reviews\/teenage-engineering-ep-133-ko-ii-review\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.musicradar.com\/reviews\/teenage-engineering-ep-133-ko-ii-review\">EP-133 KO II<\/a> \u2013 an evolution of the company\u2019s tiny PO-33 K.O!, which was part of the company\u2019s Pocket Operator range. Despite a few limitations, the EP-133 was very easy to love, thanks in part to being far more affordable than many of Teenage Engineering\u2019s other recent releases.<\/p>\n<p>The EP-133 was followed by a run of sequels that have all been more niche and eccentric, including the <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.musicradar.com\/music-tech\/samplers\/teenage-engineering-ep-1320-medieval-review\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.musicradar.com\/music-tech\/samplers\/teenage-engineering-ep-1320-medieval-review\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.musicradar.com\/music-tech\/samplers\/teenage-engineering-ep-1320-medieval-review\">medieval-themed EP-1320<\/a> and <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.musicradar.com\/music-tech\/samplers\/teenage-engineering-ep-40-riddim-and-ep-2350-ting-review\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.musicradar.com\/music-tech\/samplers\/teenage-engineering-ep-40-riddim-and-ep-2350-ting-review\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.musicradar.com\/music-tech\/samplers\/teenage-engineering-ep-40-riddim-and-ep-2350-ting-review\">reggae-orientated EP-40<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The EP-136 looks like a release with more mass market appeal than those latter entries, and thankfully lands at a temptingly-accessible price point of \u20ac\/\u00a3189. (It\u2019s worth remembering that <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.musicradar.com\/news\/teenage-engineering-tx-6-mixer-audio-interface\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.musicradar.com\/news\/teenage-engineering-tx-6-mixer-audio-interface\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.musicradar.com\/news\/teenage-engineering-tx-6-mixer-audio-interface\">Teenage Engineering\u2019s last portable mixer<\/a> landed at an eye-watering price of \u00a31199.)<\/p>\n<p>The EP-136 is available now. Head to the <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/teenage.engineering\/products\/ep-136\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" data-url=\"https:\/\/teenage.engineering\/products\/ep-136\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\">Teenage Engineering site<\/a> for more.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Teenage Engineering has launched a new hardware mixer to join its EP family of portable samplers. The EP-136&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":655857,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[49,48,61],"class_list":["post-655856","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-technology","tag-ca","tag-canada","tag-technology"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/655856","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=655856"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/655856\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/655857"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=655856"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=655856"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=655856"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}