Since the introduction of its massively popular OP-1 at NAMM in 2010, Stockholm-based electronics company Teenage Engineering have excelled at delivering synths that bridge the gap between toy and instrument.
Their smartphone-sized, battery-powered Pocket Operator (PO) series opened an on-the-go gateway into the accessible world of music tech, with products ranging from arpeggiators to drum machines able to be connected with one another. And all these standard POs go for about $50 to $100.
However, this week's Find of the Week is one of the rare 200 prototype models that were made exclusively for the 2014 Moogfest: the tactile EFM32 Rocks drum machine and sequencer. The Teenage Engineering team traveled to the fest to introduce this direct predecessor to the PO line—and now, this prototype is set to fetch a far higher price than any regular PO.
As Hawaii-based Reverb seller Aloha Synths notes on the $1,000+ listing, you had to be a performer or a paid attendee of the festival for the chance to get one. Complete with the original knobs and box, the unit also includes some BPM controls and three rhythm styles (disco, hip-hop, and techno) to toggle through.
If that sounds like your kind of device but your cash is more "limited" than "limited-edition," the PO-12 Operator Rhythm turned out to be pretty close to this Moogfest model, and is available for one-tenth or less than the prototype's price.
Check out the full listing here to learn more or grab this prototype for yourself.