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Want ONE hardware Groovebox for reducing screen time at night
I have never played any hardware except iPad itself and guitar/bass. I have no problem with iPad music production but I want to cut all screen time before going to sleep.
With my initial research I intended to pick up a second hand Elektron Model:cycles for the following requirement
- portable and USB-powered
- synth-based
- enough storage for life time, 96 projects x 96 patterns
- least menu diving as my primary goal is to cut screen time before bed
- with USB audio support
- below $300/$200 2nd hand
I'm not asking for opinion/suggestion. If there is other groovebox that check all my requirement please let me know.
Comments
I really like the Novation Circuit. I can get a groove going really fast and have lots of fun playing it like an instrument.
The blinking pads of Circuit is very much a "screen" to my eyes. So no
Good luck finding an electronic groovebox without display and without LEDs
Have you checked out Organelle? Minimal screen. Sometimes found used for $350. Orac is pretty neat.
You are asking for a lot for very little! Haha
The digitone 1 isn’t battery powered but i run it off a power bank on the go. But seems to meet the rest of your desires
Model cycles is a great thing
Thanks. I started my research from cost as this device has only one single purpose to cut screen time.
But your suggestion of a used Digitone is a great choice for $300-ish budget.
You could build a eurorack synth that has all the features you want. Sequencer modules like Intellijel Steppy, Mimetic Digitalis, ALM ASQ-1 can get you into groovebox territory. Or go semi modular with moog DFAM, subharmonicon, or labyrinth.
Maybe Roland MC101 ?
Hey, I actually looked into Behringer EDGE. I will check out what u suggested. This is exactly why I started this thread I know so little about hardware.
It's okay there is a screen/LED but the point is how often u need to look at it. To me the tiny screen of M:C isn't really catching my attention
If youre looking at behringer edge, check out subharmonicon/behringer spice too. Although with both synths you’re pretty far off the topic of grooveboxes
$300 is too low price level.. believe me.. you will try lot of low budget stuff, you loose lot money (because of buy/sell price difference) and at the end nothing will satisfy you, you will always feel too much limitations in this price range..
just save money, take some time.. believe i was there, i went this path - it is not worth to make compromises here, result are just wasted money and time, and general disappointment …
One thing and one thing only fits that bill
The unmatchable Teenage Engineering OP-Z
I downsized all of my gear , as I’m a minimalist and only want what I use , my Op1 and my ko2, but if i had GAS and wanted to get something cool and new as you describe it would be the op-z
It was hard not to suggest a budget increase and to grab a m8. Yes it has a screen but that workflow is so streamlined, isolated, and mobile. Menu diving is not bad and the keypresses become second nature.
Actually, if you acquire a teensy 4.1 ($35) you could check it out on your computer and figure out if you enjoy the workflow. You could expand it into a stand alone but the factory model make and keys are high quality.
@dendy
Hey I am really not going hardware I simply want a device that reduce my screen time at night. And I consider $300 a lot for that single purpose.
You know why I picked M:C? I have way too many tracks/polyphony/choices on iPad and I was looking at that mono 6 track(with a chord machine...) and telling muself let's have some limtation. So many amazing works out there with just one M:C
@yellow_eyez
Your suggestions are great. All as cheap and as fun as M:C! Will check both out.
@rezidue
M8 really have a screen I will not consider it but thanks
Oooh! I have noted this fantastic rationalization for getting a new piece of hardware. This is going to help a lot next time I'm tempted. 😎
Not to derail, but what ya got ???
(And anything from TE?)
@jklovemusic
Cool man, I’ll tell you , hit up CL or FB or Reverb and you’ll find a op-z for under $300 most likely
I’ll even take a look for you and send you a link or two to check out if your so inclined d
Also the ko2 might interest you and it’s even cheaper, maybe like $200 or so . Lmk I’d be glad to help.
Otherwise your iPad and GR2 would be awesome with a BT midi controller
I had one and they are really good. No display and a brilliant workflow. I’m considering picking another one up.
Sorry to be so boring, but I got nothin'.
I bought a used KORG ER-1 a long time ago. Sold it.
I'm not seriously tempted these days. But if I was, doing it to reduce screen time, will be a sweet way to help talk myself into it.
I have its big brother the MC707 and the sound engine is exceptional. Lots of lovely Roland sounds dripping from that box. The effects are also top notch.
If you decide to go down the full eurorack route and want to do it on a tight budget, i encourage you to DIY your modules! I probably spend almost as much time building modules as I do actually playing with them. Late night soldering is easy and meditative and it's fun to hone a new skill and make something tangible. Put on some good background music, heat up your iron, and after a couple hours you'll have a new piece of gear you made yourself! It makes it all the more satisfying to jam with it afterwards.
You can find DIY kits with all the components included at a bunch of retailers: modularaddict.com (USA), synthcube.com (USA), thonk.co.uk (UK), pushermanproductions.com (UK), exploding-shed.com (DE), etc.. These are distributors that sell modules from a bunch of different brands/designers. Or you can skip the kits and make handwired circuits on breadboard/stripboard -- eddybergman.com has good guides for this. Moritz Klein's youtube tutorials are a great entry point too. It can be a little overwhelming at first. And a groovebox is no simple machine, so it might take you a couple months to put together a couple VCO modules, a couple envelope modules, a gate/trigger sequencer, a CV sequencer, a filter or two, some VCAs and other utilities, maybe even drum modules and FXs. If you take the DIY route, you're in it for the journey, not the finished product. You might not ever finish building your "perfect" music easel, but you i can guarantee that you'll be spending a lot of time away from screens. DIY really forces you to slow down and put plenty of thought and care into the modules you're using.
Yeah, inderstand, that was exactly my reason why i nought my first HW groovebox years ago - to reduce screen time .. iťs addictive route.. wish you M:C will work for you 👍
Buy a pencil and a nice notebook.
Take up drawing.
(Or sketch out ideas for music)
Yamaha Seqtrak is worth considering. Fantastic sounds, and can be used to a reasonable extent without the accompanying app.
Or just go to bed and have a nice sleep. LOL
I know... you said you didn't want opinions/suggestions.
Buy a guitar
ROFL
This is exactly why I said so but It's your freedom of speech. You make members offering gear choices that checked all my boxes shine
@wim hehe that's why I'm being cheap on this purchase. $319 can buy Pianoteq Standard
I haven't prepared to do so yet but really thanks for your detailed instruction for limiting the budget. DIY modular synth is a very cool idea but I need much more studying first.