Best groovebox on Reddit

485 reviews from r/synthesizers, r/Grooveboxes, r/TechnoProduction and 9 more subreddits

485 reviews from

and

By Brand

By Product

Elektron

4.6

(106)

"A digitakt 2 is pretty close to your ideal setup, in my opinion."

"Digitakt, model samples, model cycles."

"Look at used elektron digitakt, used mpc one, even used octatrack mk1."

"They can sound like anything you want, and the sequencers are powerful enough to cover nearly any genre."

"Digitakt (1 is fine to get going!) and some sample packs. Have fun!"

"I would vote Digitakt also."

"Used digitakt, MC101, Roland MV1, yamaha seqtrak."

"One of those two would be my picks."

"Get an octatrack. You'll use it for this project/idea and then when you have a new idea you'll find the octatrack will serve you well for that one too and the next one and next forever."

"Just buy *any* second hand groovebox and commit to making a track with it."

Roland

4.2

(66)

"Roland mc-505."

"MC-101. Accept no substitute."

"I love my MC707. Couldn't recommend it enough."

"TR8s is a great idea, he’ll have loads of fun jamming and catching vibes using just that alone."

"MC-707"

"I'd say get either the Roland MC707 or MV-1 for the 3k plus presets and the ability to sample."

"Roland MC-707... ?"

"It’s amazing and I was navigating it easily right out of the box."

"I’ve had a lot of success with my MC-707."

"Sp404mk2. My fav groovebox."

Novation

4.3

(63)

"Look for a used Novation Circuit Tracks to start out with."

"I got on pretty easily with the Novation Circuit Rhythm."

"For a beginner making house music a Novation circuit is surely the best."

"Novation circuit tracks."

"Circuit tracks is perfect for live performance, great workflow and very hands on, its fun to use and sounds great!"

"Novation Circuit Tracks or Elektron Model:Samples, paired with a Korg Modwave and possibly (yet another) Bass Station 2."

"I have a Circuit Tracks and Circuit Mono Station (same synth engine more/less as BSII) and find them to be endless inspiration."

"Circuit Tracks. Best purchase I made so far."

"Circuit Rhythm."

"Circuit Rhythm? It is a sampler with the same interface."

Akai

4.6

(54)

"I use MPC for desktop and Dirtywave M8 for SFF."

"Mpc one is DOPE, just my opinion."

"I *love* my MPC. Especially for arranging, sampling, all that shit. It is a powerhouse."

"If you want hardware buy an mpc one."

"For sample based music it does damn near everything."

"I love it for this purpose and never found another device that comes close to this same use case."

"I use my mpc live 2 and am always using my 90s sample cds as a source for samples!"

"If u want to compose without a hassle go for mpc"

"Used MPC One, especially with the new firmware update."

"The only one I truly love is the mpc live 2."

Korg

4.2

(40)

"The most fun I’ve ever had playing a groove box."

"Korg electribe sampler 2 is great for beginer."

"My 8 year old has made some killer loops on my Kaossilator Pro."

"If I could only keep one of my 4 groove boxes it would be the EMX-1."

"I am a big fan of the electribes."

"I must say the Korg Volca bass and FM are absolutely stunning."

"I gave my niece (12) my volca sample and she really, really likes it."

"They’re easy to navigate and tons of fun."

"Korg electribe (new and old)"

"Maybe just get a used OG Electribe like the one you already had."

Polyend

4.0

(22)

"Polyend Tracker."

"I have it and it’s an absolute joy of a groovebox to use."

"Circuit or Polyend Play for your budget."

"Polyend Play"

"The Polyend Tracker mini will probably give you one of the biggest bangs for your buck."

"The polyend tracker can do probalistic, FX and can generate."

"$600 Max I’d recommend a Polyend Tracker or an SP-404 both are great options."

"Polyendplay will be good. Lots to do on it."

"I love my Polyend tracker."

"Polyend Tracker Mini."

Synthstrom

4.8

(18)

"It's the one piece of synth gear I will never sell."

"The Deluge is the best sequencer you will find."

"Deluge. Had one since 2018."

"Synthstrom Deluge sounds like what you might be looking for."

"Synthstrom Deluge."

"My answer to every question like this: Synthstrom Deluge."

"Synthstrom Deluge"

"Get a synthstrom deluge. you won’t be disappointed."

"I recommend the Deluge by Synthstrom Audible"

"Synthstrom Deluge"

Sonicware

4.1

(13)

"I recently picked up a Sonicware Lofi 12 xt and feel like I finally found the perfect one for me."

"I’m really loving my Lofi 12 by Sonicware. It has all the bells and whistles."

"Not very menu divey, easy to extend and jam out."

"It looks like an interesting device. Battery powered too."

"You should check out the Sonicware SmplTrek!"

"Since no one mentioned it, smpltrek is a very good alternative by Sonicware."

"Sonicware lofi-12 : 4 tracks 10 voices polyphony Elektron style sequencing groovebox with sampling and resampling capacity."

"The Sonicware Liven XFM or 8bit Warps are interesting options."

"Any of the three Sonicware Liven but especially the XFM."

"Should be on the list."

Dirtywave

4.7

(10)

"I use MPC for desktop and Dirtywave M8 for SFF."

"Dirtywavem8."

"The Dirtywave M8 is above and beyond any other groovebox."

"Dirtywave M8 changed my life."

"Dirtywave M8 but you might as well finish all your tracks in there."

"Dirtywave M8 not mentioned so far, best allround groovebox IMO, and has great reverb and fx"

"Dirtywave M8 Tracker."

"I do exactly this with my Dirtywave M8."

"Thanks for all the answers. I ordered a Dirtywave M8 and a used Circuit OG ☺️"

"Super portable, very good interface if you click with/like LSDJ-style trackers, very powerful"

#10

Native Instruments

4.5

(10)

"Maschine excels at everything you asked for."

"It's so easy to make professional sounding backing tracks"

"Maschine is a godsend."

"Maschine has served me well for over a decade."

"Maschine MK3/Plus has the capabilities and inputs for live looping."

"Pretty comprehensive groovebox/workstation."

"If you want something cheap that retains a display for editing and arranging look for a maschine."

"A maschine MK3 will do all that and more."

"Maybe a maschine MK3. Hell still be tethered to a laptop/PC but you can do pretty much everything on the device itself."

#11

Teenage Engineering

3.8

(10)

"Throwing in a suggestion for a used original OP1. Great for just having fun and not being too serious."

"Or to keep it extra portable and battery operated a Sonicware lofi 12 xt."

"OP-Z is great standalone, very easy to use."

"OP-Z easy to start with, but complex and can stick with you."

"PO-33 KO if you're on a budget."

"Teenage engineering PO-33 KO! great groovebox on a budget."

"I personally prefer the beat based ones, they are more intuitive than melody stuff."

"It has a poor sound engines, but it shines at controlling external gear"

"Teenage engineering Pocket operators."

"Do consider a set of pocket operators."

#12

MPC

4.3

(6)

"Used MPC Live."

"MPC for sure, you can use it even for modular."

"Mpc1000."

"I’d go MPC2500/5000."

"Also worth checking out MPC as (IME) the most comprehensive do-it-all box."

"It really is more like a DAW in a box than a groovebox."

#13

1010 Music

4.8

(4)

"I would recommend the 1010 Music Blackbox."

"1010 black box might be perfect imo."

"Blackbox is a sampler/looper, with synth capabilities, effects, mixer and 16 poly sequencers per preset"

"The 1010 Music Blackbox is a very versatile piece of kit."

#14

Circuit

4.5

(4)

"Simplest, nicest, and most engaging groovebox I've owned."

"The most intuitive device ever and has helped pave my way towards more advanced machines."

"Cheap and cheerful, nice battery life."

"It will take you an afternoon to learn how the hardware works."

#15

Yamaha

4.3

(4)

"Give the Yamaha SEQTRAK a look!"

"The Yamaha SeqTrak is a lot of fun."

"My kids enjoy it and it's easy to use."

"Yamaha djx-IIB, my kids enjoy it and it's easy to use."

#16

Blipblox

4.0

4.0

4.0

(1)

"Dont forget to check out the MPC One."

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