ULTIMATE $2000+ Groovebox SHOOTOUT! OP-XY Vs Push 3 Vs MPC X SE

Comparing three $2000 dollar + machines, the top of the lines @AkaiProVideo MPC, @teenageengineering OP-XY and @Ableton Push 3!
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[trco]

The best thing I ever did was just settle in with my Circuit and Circuit Rhythm, stop buying new gear, stop producing actual tracks, and just enjoy making beats for myself. It feels to me like the difference between going on walks in nature vs. competing in races, or reflecting in a journal vs. trying to get a book published.

[MatsueMusic]

I went through a whole journey going Dawless with the Deluge, then Electron, then hybrid with the Push 3. I have landed on the Push 3 with one hardware Synth. It provides the right amount of performance and simplicity with the visual feedback and workflow I have grown up with it. It's a gem of a system.

[Drrolfski]

On paper, this would be an easy win for the Push 3 Standalone if it weren't for the fact that, at present, it's still a Gen 1 product. Meaning the raw power is there, and the potential is amazing, but shoehorning a fully fledged software DAW into a single standalone box brings its own unique challenges, compared to designing the capabilities around the hardware like the MPC and Op-XY.
As a result, the Push 3 Standalone still needs a lot of work and plenty of firmware updates to deliver its full potential.

[elarielo]

Didn't the MPC Standalone ecosystem have an Ableton Live export option somewhere?

EDIT: 12:55 found it, it's that bottom right button, is it any good?

[louismaiden]

Fantastic video, love the coverage of each. One important difference I don’t think was mentioned, esp relevant for playing live: Push 3 is the only one that is itself a fully fledged chromatic instrument. Of course you can plug in midi keys to all… but worth mentioning.

[Khordmaster]

Incredible video. I feel like I NEED ME A PUSH 3!!!

[chatolars]

Most detailed and comprehensive comparison video there is.
Thank you

[benoitpiret]

I agree it depends on the mood/flow. They all provide different kind of flow. If I had one to pick Id get the MPC X SE or MPC K61.

[alexanderlane]

I've never really looked into Push 3 as I have the Push 2 and don't use it enough to want to upgrade it, so this video was the first time I realized that the Push 3 doesn't have Arrangement view. That's.. kinda crazy? Can it at least chain patterns the way you can in session view on the computer? "Launch conditions" or something I think they're called? like, play this clip 2x then play the one below it?
If not that seems like a ridiculous limitation!

[quimbas]

You didn’t add my trip to urgent care in the options 😂

[LillySchwartz]

Of these three I think the XY is the only one that doesn't make me feel like it's a laptop with worse ergonomics. And yet, the XY's export options make it a no go for me. The Push is closest to my workflow but I'm pretty comfortable with my laptop setup. I'm feeling much more tempted by the Move these days for sofa use. Doesn't try to be a DAW in a box and the Ableton integration is equally seemless as with Ableton Note on the iPad. I'm currently testing Ableton Note to see how well I would get on with a Move.

Oh, and I almost forgot to ask: How's your shoulder?

[andrewgobel]

I have the OP XY & Push 3. Both are great standalone or as the brain of a hybrid or DAWless studio. I love Push’s pads, but I use & enjoy my XY more due to its portability

[DJGrumpyUK]

Would love to hear your views on Deluge now it’s had a couple of open source updates !

[substance]

Unpopular hot take: $1000 groove boxes routinely outperform $2000 groove boxes.

[enochroot]

I believe a new software update 3.0 for the MPC range just dropped which might add some extra functionality?

[krazywabbit]

Punching above my pay grade. Just down here punching for the algorithms

[if_dots]

i feel like these grooveboxes aren't really competing among themselves, they're competing with just taking out a laptop. I'm still good with my digitone 2 whenever I don't want to fully look at a screen ... the xy would probably be the closest but the synths haven't convinced me at all.

[static-san]

Great comparison!

I love the portability of the OP-XY and that's why it's highest on my wishlist, but the exporting options are definitely giving me pause. At least with the OP-1, I can put the track audio files into Ableton Live and polish things there. The ease of starting on the Push and seamlessly continuing on the PC is attractive, but it's not so portable. The Move could address the portability but then we run into no song mode and a four track limit. Why must everything be a compromise.

[SamCooler]

Thanks for the video! I bought a Push 3 SA and Live Suite recently and I'm in love with it. I'm new to production and I wanted something that could prevent GAS, given how I am with hobbies. There's really nothing the Push 3 SA can't do... it's got excellent synths, sampled devices, effects, midi and audio, a great input device, decent portability, etc. So I can't really want anything more, so I can get to music making rather than wanting and shopping, which ultimately costs less!
I feel optimistic that they will at least add follow actions or some sort of song creation capability this year, and that they will support it with new features for a decade (given how they still support Push 2 now) and compatibility for longer. In the meantime, I can hit an artistic flow state and make music I enjoy in any genre I care about with a device on my lap and that's my goal!

[beatfarmdigital]

I agree 💯! My list is exactly the same. Jura is pure magic!