Terrence O'Brien

is the Verge’s weekend editor. He has over 18 years of experience, including 10 years as managing editor at Engadget.

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.…