Synchronizing your electronic instruments with live music can be hard. Pocket Integrator makes it easy! It’s an add-on board for Teenage Engineering’s Pocket Operator series of hand-held drum machines, that lets you play them like a drum.

Just tap or shake to set the tempo and downbeat of your drum pattern. Keep tapping as long as you like. When you stop, it’ll hold the beat wherever you set it. It’s as easy as clapping your hands! (Really it’s like using your hands to clap another pair of hands that magically keep clapping after you stop clapping them …)

Send MIDI to any device

Pocket Integrator sends MIDI Clock signals over MIDI TRS cables or the built-in USB connection. And it sends the same analog sync signal used by Pocket Operators and many other analog synths and rhythm boxes. So you can play not just your Pocket Operator this way, but any other connected synths and drum machines that can follow a digital or analog sync signal. Control all your gear in a new, expressive way! Even if your music is clock-based electronica, the Pocket Integrator makes it easier to set and tweak your tempo during a performance.

Pocket Integrator also contains a fun digital maraca, with nice action and good dynamic range. There are a lot of digital shakers and smartphone percussion apps, but often the time lag between your movement and the sound is too high, which makes these instruments feel awkward. Pocket Integrator connects your movement to sound with a super-tight latency of less than one microsecond. The difference is profound: it just feels and sounds more real, and is way more fun to shake!

USB Powered

Pocket Integrator shares power from its USB port. So once you’ve attached the Pocket Integrator and plugged into USB, your Pocket Operator doesn’t need AAA batteries. If you like to plug a lot of battery-powered instruments together, you’ll appreciate having fewer batteries to change.

Finally, Pocket Integrator implements a USB-based SerialWire interface for programming and debugging the EFM32 Leopard Gecko microcontrollers of Pocket Operators. If you’re an advanced hobbyist with no fear of bare-metal MCU programming, this feature will empower you to explore alternate firmwares for these affordable, great-sounding little drum machines.

The Pocket Integrator presses right onto the back of any Pocket Operator, held on with two industrial-strength elastic bands. It takes just a few seconds to attach, and comes off just as easily. It doesn’t require soldering, or any tools at all. And you can still use the kickstand!

Features & Specifications

• Attaches to any Pocket Operator model. (Pocket Operator not included.)
• Microcontroller: RP2040 Dual-core ARM Cortex M0+ @ 133Mhz with 264kb SRAM
• Inertial Measurement Unit: LSM6DSO32X iNEMO 6-axis gyro/accelerometer
• No tools required, no modifications to your PO required. Compatible with the PO hanger-tab and kickstand
• Connects to PO input with standard 3.5 mm cable (included).
• Two 3.5 mm analog ports for audio/sync/MIDI clock
• USB-C port for MIDI clock and power.
• Powers the Pocket Operator when plugged into USB, eliminating the need for batteries.
• SUBTLE mode let you make small adjustments to time & tempo.
• TOTAL mode gives you complete control of every beat.
• NONSTOP mode continues sending MIDI & sync as you stop/start the PO - handy for live performance!
• Built-in digital maraca!

Support & Documentation

• Printed instruction manual included in the package
• Pocket Integrator portal at MSL website coming soon, and will include:
  • Online Instruction Manual
  • Demo videos of basic operation, tips & tricks
  • Public support forum

Manufacturing Plan

• PCB boards to be produced in China.
• Mouser will supply board components.
• Mouser & PCB board manufacturer will ship parts to the board assembly house.
• Assembled boards will ship to Portland for final inspection, QA & packaging.
• Packaged orders sent to Mouser for worldwide distribution to backers.

Fulfillment and Logistics

After testing and packaging the production batch of Pocket Integrator products, we will send them on to Crowd Supply’s fulfillment partner, Mouser Electronics, who will distribute them to backers worldwide. You can learn more about Crowd Supply’s fulfillment service under Ordering, Paying, and Shipping in their guide.

Risks & Challenges

Supply Chains

The Great Chip Shortage of 2021 continues into 2022. We have already redesigned the PI around components that appear to be more available this year, and there are both domestic and international providers for all our manufacturing and assembly needs. If parts that are currently available go out of stock during the campaign, there may be delays, which we will keep everyone informed about any changes that may occur.

Commitment to Clarity

I pledge to communicate regularly and transparently with our funding community about the entire process. I am fortunate to be mentored by a great community of hardware hackers and musicians here in Portland, Oregon, and supported by the great folks at Crowd Supply. With their support and yours I know we can succeed.