Teenage Engineering’s KO Sidekick is a mixer with fun performance effects

The EP-136 KO Sidekick is Teenage Engineering’s stylish new two-channel mixer, clearly designed to connect two of its KO-II samplers for live performances and DJ sets. Though, it can connect any two audio sources, not just TE gear. The mixer leaked a couple of times, but what those leaks didn’t show was that it’s also a robust effects processor that brings some of TE’s beloved punch-in effects to any instrument in your arsenal.

The EP-136 by default supports two stereo ins, but can also be switched to four mono inputs using split audio adapters. In addition, it supports two stereo channels over USB-C, so you can actually use it to control DJ apps on a phone or tablet if you want. Each channel has a simple three-band EQ and a built-in compressor with three different modes. While the Sidekick uses the same design language as the KO-II and even connects directly to it using pegs, it thankfully eschews the EP-133’s cryptic icon UI for a small, but high-res color LCD screen.

The most interesting part of the KO Sidekick is its channel effects. There are six in total: a DJ filter, tremolo, delay, tape, loop, and siren. You can dial in the amount with the mod stick or, just like on the KO-II, use the pressure-sensitive pad. The harder you press, the more dramatic the effect. You can even automate an effect so it changes over time, without you having to keep your hand on the pad.

The Sidekick automatically detects the BPM of incoming audio to make sure rhythmic effects like the tremolo stay in sync. And, effects can be run in series or parallel. So channel one can have delay, while channel two has tremolo, or you can stack them so both effects are on the master output.

The Teenage Engineering EP-136 KO Sidekick is available now for $179.