Teenage Engineering debuts EP-136 K.O. Sidekick

Teenage Engineering has added another device to its EP portable music line, this time with a focus on routing and performance rather than sampling alone. The company’s EP-136 K.O. Sidekick is a two-channel mixer, audio interface and effects processor designed to work alongside EP-series gear and other compact instruments, according to the product page. Teenage Engineering says the unit can run on two AAA batteries or USB-C power, and it lists a 240 mm by 88 mm footprint and a 300-gram weight. The launch appeared on the company’s site this week, with an online guide and store listing going live alongside the product pages. ### What exactly did Teenage Engineering release? The EP-136 K.O. Sidekick is described by Teenage Engineering as a “two channel mixer, audio interface and fx processor” built in the same general form factor as its EP devices. The company says it includes two stereo channel strips and one stereo aux input, which it describes as a third “session” input. The official specifications page says the unit also includes dedicated controls for parameters, a cue output for previews and sends, dual effects engines and what Teenage Engineering calls a dual-channel beat-match tap-fx sequencer. (teenage.engineering) The guide says users can plug in external gear, monitor through the cue output and route effects back through the auxiliary input. ### How does it fit into the EP lineup? (teenage.engineering) Teenage Engineering lists the K.O. Sidekick inside its EP series pages rather than as a separate family, signaling that it is meant to sit beside products such as the EP samplers already in that range. The company’s EP series page links directly to a dedicated K.O. Sidekick guide, placing it within the same workflow ecosystem. Engadget reported that the device ships with pegs that let it physically connect to EP-series samplers, including earlier K.O. units. (teenage.engineering) That detail was also reflected in outside coverage framing the Sidekick as a companion product rather than a standalone mixer aimed first at traditional studio racks. (teenage.engineering) ### What are the most important hardware specs? Teenage Engineering says the EP-136 processes audio at 48kHz and 24-bit resolution and functions as a USB Audio 2.0 interface with 8 channels in and 4 channels out. The specifications page also lists a high-resolution custom LCD color screen, a pressure-sensitive force pad and a mod stick. B&H’s product listing matches those core claims and adds that the unit has two 3.5 mm stereo inputs, one 3.5 mm stereo aux input, a 3.5 mm main output and a 3.5 mm cue output. (engadget.com) B&H also says the Sidekick includes six performance effects, three EQ styles and MIDI control capabilities. ### What does the Sidekick add for live use or portable setups? (teenage.engineering) Teenage Engineering says the device can be used standalone, in the studio, on stage or linked with multiple units to expand channel count. That matters because the EP line has centered on compact, battery-friendly instruments, and the Sidekick extends that setup with mixing, cueing and effects in a similarly portable format. The company itself makes the portability case through the battery option and slim dimensions listed on the product page. (bhphotovideo.com) The Verge described the product as a two-channel mixer that brings some of Teenage Engineering’s performance effects to any audio input, while MusicRadar said the feature set resembles tools more commonly found on DJ mixers. Those descriptions come from outside reviewers, but they align with the company’s own emphasis on beat matching, effects and direct hands-on control. (teenage.engineering) ### Where can buyers and users find it now? Teenage Engineering has published both a store page and a user guide for the EP-136 K.O. Sidekick, indicating the product has moved beyond teaser status into active retail and support channels. The store listing says the device is available to buy, and the guide walks through hardware overview, controls and firmware-related functions. (theverge.com) Retail listings from B&H, Thomann and Reverb also appeared this week, repeating the same core specifications and showing the unit entering broader distribution. Teenage Engineering’s next visible step is likely to be shipping through those channels and updating the online guide as firmware revisions are released through the USB connection described in its documentation. (bhphotovideo.com) (teenage.engineering)