Ranking my Synths and Grooveboxes - Best to worst

In which I rank my synths, grooveboxes, and production stations from best to worst (although they're all pretty good).
The gear list:
3. Teenage Engineering OP-1
6. BOSS RC-202 Looper
7. Teenage Engineering PO-33 K.O.

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[GabeMillerMusic]

I made a new version of this idea fairly recently with a lot more gear if you're interested:

[goodboid]

I want a big boy version of the circuit, with a small LCD screen (so I know what the heck the knobs are doing!) and at least 8 tracks. Also a USB/sd card reader so I can plug and play samples straight from the USB/card, like my Octatrack. I have a bunch of drum machines and samplers (Octatrack, Digitakt, Akai Force, Toraiz SP16, Roland TR8s, Arturia Impact, Yamaha RS7000, etc) but the Circuit is the one I pick up if I'm heading to the sofa or bed.

[jordanray]

Awesome video but a quick note on the po 33.

I have been struggling to get into music production for a while, going straight to FL Studio and then giving up when overwhelmed with all the options. The PO was the device I needed to get into it, as I think it's a fantastic "beginner start here!" tool to understand sequencing, sampling, filtering etc. in a really tiny package. It broke it down to the minimum of what you need with only filters, some trimming and some volume and pitch adjustment, which, as you realise what you need to advance in music creation, you can then build on.
I'm now looking at the circuit because I took that step with the po 33 and that's why I wouldn't necessarily consider it a toy.

[idletimerap]

Oh man, I love my PO33 so much. It's more of a way of "discovering" a song than making one with an idea in mind but I love that about it. It always kinda breaks my heart when people call it a toy because on one hand it is but I think that it's so accessible between being easy to learn and inexpensive that it's unrivaled for a lofi hip hop starter device

[jumpontheroof]

My personal favorite Groovebox/synth/production machine is the Synthstrom Deluge. It's a lot of fun to work with, is surprisingly intuitive once you get past what looks to be a daunting interface (it isn't), is ridiculously portable, Synthstrom is very much into listening to user feedback, and has an amazing community behind it. It's the first thing I reach for to work on music anymore.
Second is Circuit, third is Digitakt...

[markmiller]

I have a soft spot for the Electribe since I’ve been with them since their initial release. The Circuit looks like a winner as a starter, especially looking at how Novation has supported it through the years. The Micro Freak is a monster. The others fill rolls that don’t apply to me so they would farther down the list. I would add the Yamaha DX200, but they haven’t been made for years. Nice work on your videos.

[sjpachica]

Circuit was my first Groovebox. Hit the limitations quick. Upgraded to Elektron Model Cycles. Corrected all the gripes I had with the Circuit. Now I'm getting the Roland MC-707 soon as an all-in-one machine (sequencing, drums, synths, acoustic sounds, and looper).

[shannongalvin]

I love my Electribe 2s, it's the first bit of standalone hardware I bought. I almost sold it until I realised I could use it to sequence my other gear. Now I have it sequencing the 2 synth parts of my circuit and my minilogue. It's not the best at anything specifically but for the price you get a pretty deep groove box with decent enough sampling that can sequence up to 16 other devices. It makes a great brain for my budget standalone hardware setup, I would highly recommend it despite the lack of ongoing support from Korg.

[doppelganger]

Elektron model:samples. Amazing sequencer with a fast intuitive workflow. If it gets stale, just load it up with new samples. It has a ton of hard drive space. Single cycle waveforms for synthesis. I added an external AA battery compartment to the side port and I attached it to the side with Velcro. Now it’s completely portable too. With sample locks the six tracks aren’t that limiting. Also it’s class compliant usb allows me to plug it into my phone with the USB adapter and record over usb.

[unseen]

The core two pieces of my setup are a Circuit and an Electribe and I gotta say I think I'd like the Electribe a lot more if I had gotten it before the Circuit instead of after. Despite the limit to two channels in the Circuit, the 8 bars of sequencing just blows the Electribe out of the water, and I end up using my Electribe more as a drum machine and sequencer for my external bass synths than a production stations in and of itself.
Its funny too, because when first got my Circuit I liked it for about two weeks, and then became frustrated with the limits of only having two synth channels so I bought an Electribe. But once I had the Electribe everything I now love about circuit suddenly came into focus and it has been my go to device for nearly a year while the Electribe is something I essentially only use to fill out a track I already mostly finished on Circuit.

[mdzic]

Well done. After searching for a good month your review was the kicker to get me into the Novation.
It’ll be here on Saturday.
This vinyl spinning DJ/analog junkie is excited and freaked out!

[UnfinishedIdeas]

Just going to add that the Deluge is the best single groovebox that I know. Your videos made me add a Circuit to my setup to jam with my brother

[josuearesav]

The circuit is by far the best piece of musical equipment I have ever bought. =]

[DioZambrano]

How great the way you explain stuff and you speak. Congratulations and thank you for your videos.

[sugaall]

That was a fun video, even though it is a bit in the apples vs. oranges department. And yes, the Circuit is the perfect entry level synth gear. It is so fully packed with basic stuff and still easy to access even by total beginners. It's simply already a modern classic!

[GraemeMarkNI]

Man I am not buying another groovebox for years, the circuit has so much depth. Some people are unsatisfied with the synth sounds being a little thin, but with the editor I’ve been able to EQ them to my taste (I boost the mids to 11 and turn those “pre-fx, post-fx” nobs to taste: it thickens up the sound quite well IMO). The reverb and delay are great quality, and I picked this up second hand for 170 EUR! I could pay that much for a reverb pedal alone that wouldn’t be nearly as satisfying.

What I would consider pairing with it is the Circuit Monostation: they’re designed to compliment one another, it just makes sense!

I do wish the circuit could play samples chromatically, and that it could receive pitch bend signals more easily, but again, you can map a macro directly to pitch and use it for bends.

As for the POs, I love the sounds off the Sub, and the lead synth on the Robot literally gives me goosebumps. The 33 gets too much attention ;)

Edit: I forgot to mention some cons of the circuit.

[highlanderes]

Interesting. I love my PO-33 for discovery, where for me it is not a toy, except for how quick and fun and immediate it is to use.

[honkytonkblues]

What is the best device for cinect a boss rc500 loop with a akai mini mk3 that can bring power and sounds (keys/synths and drums for the pads) to the akai (l without a computer, Im searching for the best portable solution that can connect both boss and akai)?

[m.garner]

Just wanted to thank you again bro. I've been working with software for a while but I was debating between the circuit and mc101 and u gave me an honest opinion. I got it, I love it and its fun to learn and make mistakes on even. Good first piece of hardware. I've been looking at the microfreak next.

[thegurkenkaiser]

over the last 4-5 years most of my main riffs, basslines an drums have been crafted on the circuit. i usually use the midi-tracks tu trigger synths with better sounds (but not always). Plus it is an incredibly useful tool for live performances, replacing ableton for me. snd it's still the cheapest thing i own.