Agree with this comment, but I gotta shout out how Gabe acknowledges how he is kind of overlooking the category. Honestly, cut him some slack, he is also still discovering the wonderful world of Grooveboxes, which is why we all watch this right?

polyend tracker is a better deal and covers just as much if not more ground

@@inf0tr8r polyend only has granular synthesis afaik. Kinda turned me off the polyend and onto the deluge. Deluge does Fm, subtractive, has a modulation matrix type keyboard and is getting wavetables and more. The polyend is probably the better sampler but as arranger synth and midi controller the deulge definitely has the upper hand. That said I own a deluge but a polyend is on my longer list. Chopping shit on the polyend is just insanely fast.

Agree. The Deluge may be the best groovebox. They only need to hire good graphic designers to make the brand and the design of the displays. The super ugly graphic design makes this great machine being overlooked while comparing with the beautiful hardware of Teenage Engineering, Native instruments, Novation, etc.

Agreed! It's very high on my list, although I've got a bit of a backlog of video topics I've gotta work through first.

Yep. Or the MPC Live 2 that I just got. Incredible bit of kit. New drum synth. 7” touch screen. 4 driver monitors. Battery power. Lots of connectivity. 32 MIDI device potential.

I think the mpc one has the most features for a studio brain in the cheaper range. If you want something that fills that midi sequencing role (+sampling) the most fully featured device at the least price are a used mpc 1000 or a mpc one.

Wait you didn't even mention the digitakt, which is the one I decided on. I absolutely love the way their interface is laid out. Edit: sorry shoulda been a top level comment

I am all a tither MPC One or Roland Verselab making a purchase next week so time to decide, may even go Circuit tracks but probably need more versatility.

Would recommend, it's ridiculous.

@@InfotoxIn I've been on the patreon hanging on every update for the link to order! Looks amazing

I appreciate that. To be fair to Novation, they did tell me about the launch a long time in advance, which allowed me to be one of the first to cover it. They express shipped me a unit as soon as they had it, I've got a video ready for tomorrow.

Snubbed how

What do u mean quiet inputs? I’m kinda newer sorry

@@jdssurf the sound coming through line in is quiet

I usually recommend a Novation Circuit to beginners looking for something budget, and yeah I'd recommend it for a kid to learn on. It's pretty straightforward to learn and has some room to grow into

@@GabeMillerMusic Thanks for the quick response. I'll check it out. Cheers.

I think it's great, the more options the better. I've thought about getting a Maschine Mikro mk3, the only thing stopping me is time to actually use it, given how much of a backlog of gear I already am trying to get through. And yeah, seeing iOS music production get to this point is great, the tools have gotten really powerful. It's something I'd like to explore in the future, time permitting.

I'd love to, it's on my very long list of gear to try. I'm very limited by time these days and I have a backlog of content to finish (including stuff with the Circuit Tracks once that arrives). I'll get there eventually!

I think the Deluge is a good step up from the Circuit. If you love grid based sequencing of the circuit, but crave more power and less limitations, the Deluge really takes it to a new level. It's a LOT more complex, but you've got full access to editing the synth engine on the device (supporting subtractive, FM and soon, wavetable). The sampling in Deluge is awesome. The waveform is displayed on the pads like a screen, and you can zoom right in to single cycle level - the device even supports single cycle waveforms assignment to either or both oscillators and has built in effects etc. It does auto pitch detection, and automatically sets the pitch so notes are correct. It's sequencer is probably one of the best available, comparable to dedicated sequencers - a recent update allows zooming and editing up to 6144th notes!!!! (That's not a typo...) So you can record "off the grid", and actually accurately edit it - when you see zoom editing on Deluge, it kind of blows your mind. It's also got full probability based step sequencing too (and the sequencer is only getting better - it's about to get Euclidean sequencing, and multidirectional play per track - which is truly insane). It integrates well with other gear - full DIN MIDI out/in, USB class compliant midi in/out, CV+ gate output + click out. It also runs on rechargable batteries, and is powered by USB or dedicated power supply. You can also configure tracks to work like a looper pedal (yes, you can plug a guitar and MIDI foot pedal, and layer recorded tracks in real time). Oh, and it has UNLIMITED TRACKS - the only limitation being the processor. I've had over 20 tracks of audio and synths, with effects playing without a hiccup. Even playback speeds can go to insane high and low extremes for sound design. It's sampling engine has time stretching per note (like Ableton Simpler), plus multi-sampling, and "drum kits" that offer sample and synth patches from the same "instrument". It's not perfect, but for me, a guy who just freaking loves grooveboxes - why I also love Gabe's channel! (I've had Circuit, Octatrack, Analog Four, Electribe 2, Roland MC-303, Maschine +, Roland JD-Xi and a bunch of other stuff...), the Deluge is honestly the most amazing device I've ever owned - It's expensive (but not super expensive for what it can do), but I think it punches well above its weight. I'm a fan of Maschine + as a super powerful (but overpriced - I'm NOT a fan of the NI tax!) production machine. But looking at the price and features, the Deluge smashes it IMO. Deluge feels nothing like using a computer (also what I love with Circuit) Watch some more Deluge videos (Red Means Recording, Cuckoo, Dolo Jones, Ollie Loops and of course Loopop for in depth review). If you are ok with the price, you are buying a super powerful groovebox work station, capable of full professional tracks, if you put in the time to learn it. I can't recommend this device enough - if you LOVE grooveboxes, Deluge is a dream machine! For me, it is everything I wished the Circuit was - and more.

@@mrclaytron thanks for your very welcome answer. It seems like an amazing machine, the looping function, wavetable, synthesis, sample to oscillator, have just sold it to me. I like to work 'outside the box' as much as possible. That's quite a statement that you say its the most amazing device you've ever owned. Thanks again, for a brilliant reply. Your getting a sub from me 👍😁🎶👌

@@adamshatwell thanks man - just be sure to watch some videos about the Deluge before you decide if you really want one - for me, it's brilliant - but not everyone loves the workflow, so just read and watch as much as you can on it to decide if it looks right for you (I'd hate for you to buy one and then find its not your cup of tea) - but if you do eventually get one, be sure to record some tracks to share with the other Delugers on KZfaq :-)

I've had a deluge since the first "public" sales. It is beyond a groovebox, though that's what category it could fit in. It is essentially a complete DAW in a diminutive, battery powered box. I do not use it for recording onto, though that is one of it's capabilities. Unlimited tracks, unlimited steps, sample editing/playback, fm/subtractive/(soon wavetable synthesis), (soon euclidean sequencing), this is the machine for you. I have never been disappointed with my purchase. It is a sophisticated instrument with ever-expanding capabilities.

I just got some cases from Analog Cases, I'm going to do a video on then soon and give a review.

Here’s the case I use for the original circuit: Gator Cases Mixer Case (G-MIXERBAG-0909). For me, it works great and will even fit cables and some small accessories in addition to the circuit without being bulky. The dimensions of the new circuit tracks appear to be similar, so my guess is this case should work fine with it.

It depends on the groovebox. The Roland MC-101, Korg Electribe 2, and a bunch of the more expensive ones have ways to export or record multiple tracks. For others, like the Circuit, you would need to mute and unmute stuff to record each track one at a time. It's totally doable, but kind of a pain, so I rarely do it myself.

@@GabeMillerMusic thank you!

That's fair, they're different devices for different use cases. The Circuit is much more performance oriented, the Maschine stuff is more beatmaking/composition oriented. I've definitely thought about getting a Mikro myself, I might pull the trigger on one when I have more time.

That's definitely true to a degree, although I would say don't underestimate the production capabilities of less expensive grooveboxes, and don't overestimate the difficulty of more expensive grooveboxes.

I'm hoping to give one a go very soon, but in my mind, a lot of the hip hop stuff will translate well to electronic stuff. It's definitely got the synth engine, layers, and DAWlike setup to accommodate that.

@@GabeMillerMusic yes. I'm really thinking about buying one but I'm waiting for more videos mainly focused on electronic music. Or I could just load the zencore engine into the new circuit :)

I will wait for your video though :)

Just posted a video about this today, at least for recording/exporting sound. To listen, all you need is a pair of headphones or speakers. The point of devices like this is that they're self contained, so you don't need to connect them to a computer (other than to load sounds onto them)

@@GabeMillerMusic awesome. Listening now

The Roland Verselab MV-1 might be exactly what you're looking for.

@@GabeMillerMusic thats exactly what someone else has just said. Have you tried it?

Not yet, hopefully soon!

The MC-707 has Song Mode so it's easily capable of full Song Production just like the MC-505 from 1998. Pattern movement is seamless on the 707 & 505.

You can write an entire song on any groovebox that has an 'arranger' or 'song' function. e.g. EM-1 for a couple hundred bucks. E-mu Command Station. Be aware that most of the newer units LACK this feature, though. Progress does not always mean _improvement._

Yeah it's just a bit more expensive than I arbitrarily made that category, but it looks really cool and isn't *that* much more

You should try one out if you haven’t yet. As a guitarist for me, the OP-Z is more of an musical instrument with musical mode recognition and improvisational aspects, plus no screens (unless you plug one in), no loads of buttons and dials, no menus.

I appreciate it, although I already have one and am slowly working on a review.

@@GabeMillerMusic cool. I'm not impressed with it and plan to sell mine

Interesting that you say that, I actually think it's really impressive on a technical level, but has a ways to go to be properly useful for everyday situations.

@@GabeMillerMusic I thought about keeping it for around campfire hang outside and running it through a portable speakers, letting someone play some drums on it while I played Cigar Box Guitar. But... ehh...

Nice to see The Polyend Tracker getting love, despite the latency issue, however this is getting addressed in an upgrade, Polyend does care about their customers unlike other companies (rhymes with Morg)

I don't know that he has the depth for that.

I think he remains unenlightened about "the Elekton workflow."

He's overlooking pretty much everything in the upper tier...to not mention or even acknowledge the RS7000 E-mu 2500 or spectralis/Quasimidi or even the wack-ish big old Roland'MC x0x' boxes really pegs this video to novice-level. This video has no working definition of the topic: MPCs have been MIDI+sampling throughout their existence and not tied to a grid. "Sorta" grooveboxes, at best. And people mentioning things like Deluge - that are evolutions of the monome and Live: a clip launch+MIDI paradigm. Again - at best, 'sorta' grooveboxes but not the goal there, either.

Yeah I'm still testing setups as I go, I've backed off the mic in subsequent filming sessions

@@GabeMillerMusic The rule I use personally in mic placement is stretch your thumb and your pinkie apart, that's about how far your mic should be from your mouth

Yeah I'd definitely like to give more Elektron stuff a go in the future. I'm more interested in the Digitone than the Digitakt, but I'm sure either would be dope.

​@@GabeMillerMusic just curious what dont you like about the digitakt? no shade or anything i have one and i have my opinions on it (some great and some annoyances). I want to get something else im considering getting digitone to finish off the combo or completely switching directions for a whole new work flow but im just curious your opinion if you have one specific reason it doesnt get mentioned much. im sure it would be redundant for you to own one with all the other boxes you do have. Thank you!

I don't have anything against it, but yeah it would be slightly redundant in my current setup, and I just don't find the feature set as appealing as some other samplers out there. Also, I just think the Digitone seems neat and would be an interesting change from the kind of stuff I normally use.

@@GabeMillerMusic hey thanks for you opinion man much appreciated. i find the sample organization or lack of to be very frustrating and just the fact that you cant really store "kits" to be a little bit of a miss. i love the sequencer paramater locks though and the control all function!

Yes.

Yup, beat all the other ones in the list. Song/arrengement mode, looper, portable, intuitive to use, updated all the time, etc. etc.

Agreed they deserve a mention, but I guess hes never really covered them aside from the Model Cycles so probably tricky for him to accurately classify them. They're kinda their own thing, both in workflow and capabilities. Like there is literally not one other device or even piece of software can can do what the Octatrack can do, so can understand some reluctancy to cover these without having full knowledge of them.

Cant speak for the digitakt but the digitone is more of a ultra-powerful digital synth that happens to do groovebox type workflow fairly well. Trying to program full drum loops on one track can be tedious given the sound management and locking required. On the spectrum of grooveboxes, its definitely on the less "fun" side and more on the "sound design / powerful" side.

Yeah that's a blind spot of mine that I've tried to remedy a bit, but I've not totally gotten there yet. Although note that I'm mainly using the lists of grooveboxes as examples to give the categories context, and it's not meant to be an exhaustive list.

@@GabeMillerMusic totally understand Gabe. It actually just highlights how big this category of products has become. You cover a whole bunch but yet the grooveboxes I primarily use barely get a mention, namely Akai MPC-X, Akai MPC Live, Akai Force, Polyend Tracker, Octatrack, Digitakt and Analog Rythm (strictly speaking a drum machine but still very much has groove box functionality). Its ok man nobody could possibly know and cover every product under the sun. What you do cover, you're doing a great job of.

Thanks! I'd definitely like to get more into Elektron stuff given more time. I'd really love to give the Polyend Tracker a go for a total switchup, that's very high on my list.

I record them separately (my camera and then I record the audio into my DAW with an audio interface). I sync then up after the fact... I'll hit a pad at the beginning of the video, then look for where that and the first audio hit of the recording line up.

I did a video when I hit 20k subscribers about what I learned over the course of growing a channel, all that stuff still applies. Usually, reaching out to a company hasn't worked for me, they have to like the content and the audience size first. That just takes time, consistency, and constant course correction to get to. Although I'd start a channel for the love of the KZfaq video as a medium FIRST... It was years before companies hit me up to send me gear. And having tried as many devices as I have isn't even close to necessary. If I was just making music and not running a gear focused channel, I'd probably own only two or three of the devices I click with the most.

The only piece of Elektron gear I've used is the Model:Cycles, which I do like a lot, I've made multiple videos with it.

@@GabeMillerMusic id be curious how you'd like the more traditional workflow of the digitakt or analog rytm. Start a Kickstarter to fund a synth binge! 😁

It's on my list of gear to try, I'd definitely like to give it a go when I have the time

Same

also i hope youll try the blipbox mytracks it looks really glod despite the >toy looks

Didn't he mention Model Samples?

I'd definitely like to give iPad music production a go, especially to use Andrew Huang's app and maybe try iMaschine and some classic synth emulations. I should probably just try to borrow an ipad for a week and try out a bunch of this stuff at some point.

@@GabeMillerMusic You’ll never regret. I have an Ipad pro and its a m a z i n g! It has that music concept I know you love and share. “Make music everywhere!”