The Perfect Groovebox (and why it can't exist)

The perfect groovebox or standalone music production device probably can't exist, but it won't stop me from dreaming about it.
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[sinepilot]

I'm amazed at how more prolific I've become since adding a Deluge to my desktop. Getting ideas out of the head and into reality has never been more efficient. For sketching ideas and arranging them into songs without a DAW, it really is a one-box solution. Just not for recording. Because the big limitation for me is the lack of expressiveness in the pads. The Deluge sequencer can record expressiveness, the pads simply don't support it. So yeah, the fact that I always use it with two different MIDI controllers when I'm actually recording performance sequences (one for melodies, one for percussion) means it is not the "perfect" one box solution but it sure is dang close. When we're on road trips, I can't bring the whole studio with me but I can bring the Deluge and a good pair of headphones and still be very creative and productive.

[JeffHendricks]

An MPC One with the Roland Zencore synth engine would be pretty much everything I could want. Sort of like an MV-1 with better/more audio recording tracks.

[stone]

I'm studying civil engineering and also into music. How awesome that I found you. :D

[DeleswaProductions]

If you want super fun lightning workflow on a box that is centered on sample production, then you may want to try out the Pioneer Toraiz SP-16.

It has the Elektron type per step trigger programming, the Roland TR style step sequencing, auto sample chopping with great sample editing, analog filtering, touch strip manipulation, beautiful mixer, easy song mode with a powerful sequencer, master and stem track out, large straight forward touch screen with hands-on rotary pots for quick project adjustment, 16 tracks, 2 effects per track, LFO per track…and more.

However, it is tethered to plug in power operation and only has multi-note polyphony in midi mode. Workaround is resampling multiple tracks with note runs to a single track.

Overall…I think you would absolutely love this machine as I do for standalone.

[MaksimLin]

Great point Gabe! This is actually the blessing (and curse!) of being a software engineer - I can build my own perfect groovebox, so that's what I ended up doing: I'm currently working on a open source project to build my "perfect groovebox" which is designed just me :-)
My initial prototype is an Akai Fire connected to a headless Rpi4, with the eventual plan to cram the Rpi and a usb battery into the Fire's case to make it nicely portable.

[semyonboyk]

After years of messing around in DAWs limitations of Polyend Tracker made me realize who I am as a producer. And combined with Microfreak, it became my main rig.

[ToyKeeper]

I pretty much want the ability to record a bunch of clips into a scratch area, then jam with them and arrange them on a timeline. So... basically the same concept as Ableton, but scaled down and in hardware form.
Ideally also a way to record and edit midi, and then convert the midi clips to audio clips... so I can use parts which are too difficult for me to play real-time. Bonus points if there's a convenient function to record midi while playing the audio tracks at a reduced speed, then automatically convert it back to the correct tempo.

[mrclaytron]

Yeah I’d buy a Gabe Groovebox!

Track export is important to me too. For me it’s the biggest flaw of the Deluge. Such a pain when I want to get the tracks off the damn thing as individual stems!

Nice video man. I wish Novation and Roland would do the impossible and build this damn dream machine!!!

[fleximarvellous]

In my point of view, the MC707 is the best bang for the buck groovebox. This is base on my own experience as I also own the Maschine mk3+Jam, MPC Live2, Deluge, Elektron Analog 4. Used to have the MC101 and OP-1, but sold them.

[wickeddubz]

Electribe emx/esx with modern approach to sampling and resampling on the fly, sequencing per part, better screen, full MIDI and USB-C implementation.

[Tobes]

We’ll for me it would be the Circuit Tracks with a slimmed version of Peak/Summit synth engine; 8 stereo sample channels with full editing capability; fully tweakable fx section; physical outs for each part and usb connectivity multi tracking oh and maybe squeeze in a 4 part acb type drum machine. Yep that’ll do.

[K.KILLORAN]

Learning the MPC ONE has been really challenging for me. I’m in the first 100 or so hours of actually sitting down and learning it, and I have a ways to go. That MPC bible book was well worth the money. I like it, but like any good relationship, there is an adversarial dynamic that erupts between us at least twice a week. Usually it centers on me not understanding wtf happened and now something that was working, isn’t, like midi or clock or something. When that happens and the project grinds to a halt so I can (trigger warning) TROUBLESHOOT! I don’t want to troubleshoot. Lol. Nothing is worse than the creative concepts draining out of you along with a stream of four letter words while you trace cables and examine settings. So I guess what I’m saying is, the perfect box is the one you know how to use. Really use. Like learn all the things. That, imho, will be of greater value than almost anything. How efficiently can you go from your mind to your box with your idea? Your greatest resource is your time. Use it wisely.

[XInbellionX]

Perfect groovebox for myself would have the following:

1. The ability to have modular internals.

When I had my mpc500 I could either use the stock ram or add ram if my workflow required it. I would love to see a product that came with the internals (cpu, ram, I/O ports) that fit your needs with easy user accessibility.

2. Ability to be powered by an internal battery/power bank.

3. Knobs.

Eliminates the need for excessive menu diving.

4. Good pads…no bad pads

No experimenting with new pad systems, just use the ones that people like.

5. Different firmware flavors

Like the circuit rhythm/tracks or Electribe 2 synth/sampler. Give users the ability to use device software that fits their needs. Also, if a device hasn’t seen a firmware update in a year, make the code available for those that know how to use it so they can keep the device alive with custom firmware.

[ShaighJosephson]

Sacrifices and extra expense just for portability, IMO... I now run my guitar rig, sythesizer, and mic into the RC-505 mkII and then manipulate the loop samples in Abelton...or just record straight into Abelton using Push 2 as a controller so I'm not tied to my computer... Must say that in the groovebox realm, the MC-707 looks mighty tempting for the synth engine alone...but have to get that 3rd party vst editor to get the most out of it so you arent strapped to menu diving to edit on the unit...

[plumcharlie]

I used the push 2 exclusively for years and then I started up with modular synths and hardware. The rhythm has been been perfect for that for me. The 24 PPQN sync out is enough to start/stop a rig. (I’ve been making little videos with it lately if curious). I totally agree with you on export out because mixing in the rhythm is never going to be as good as in a DAW. I want more hands on the mix of a finished product. That said, the workflow of it for “creation” is super dope but most parts would end up getting replaced later which is unfortunate due to lack of separation. My second request would be the ability to edit two samples individually to gel together better in a single track. Pitch, etc. That would make the sample flip feature amazing. The final request would be a few more cv controls. Maybe a couple of UX upgrades on novation components but other than that I wouldn’t want the complexity of mpc one because my DAW of choice is ableton. I love the simplicity of the rhythm. I’m hoping some of the things mentioned are possible with firmware but if not i’d gladly get the rhythm pro

[middaymeds]

My perfect groovebox would be: OP-Z sequencer, Elektron build quality and mechanical buttons, Electribe 2 knob layout, and Microfreak synth engines with an analog Moog ladder filter. Plus maybe a simple SP-404 style sampler and effects. Then add some basic modular connectivity and sell it with optional expansions for additional IO like the OP-Z modules.

[chaocrator]

THIS! Roland/Novation collaborate would rock. (at least if Novation completely designed UI)
PS. using the same 101 + Tracks combo as my default portable setup.

[RonCavagnaro]

Deluge, can use very long samples, song length "unlimited". Try it. It doesn't have per track export. But I think tracker does

[JacobAndJamal]

My perfect groove box would be a Yamaha RS7000 (early 00s device) updated with the aesthetics of the Maschine plus . 16 pads laid out like a keyboard, 16 tracks, scenes, able to sample, built in synth, USB interface ; call it a day .

[Nik.leonard]

For me, the perfect groovebox should be a MC-101 with full sound engine edit functionality without the computer (or at least, with a device or direct plugin), so please Roland, make the zen-core parameters addressable via MIDI (CC, NRPN or even SysEX).