Groovebox reviews from Reddit

Summary

We analyzed 752 Reddit reviews across 18 subreddits and 100 posts to rank the best Groovebox brands recommended by redditors, including communities like r/synthesizers, r/Grooveboxes, r/musicproduction, r/dawless, r/ipadmusic. Top-rated brands include Elektron (4.5/5), Roland (4.3/5), Novation (4.3/5).

Stats

Reviews752

Subreddits18

Posts100

Brands38

Products81

Top communities

r/synthesizers604 r/Grooveboxes29 r/musicproduction23 r/dawless20 r/ipadmusic17

752 reviews from

and

By Brand

By Product

Elektron

4.5

(152)

"The elektron digitone 2 is so, so good, and would be my choice for that."

"Drambo on iPad, Syntakt in hardware get my vote :)"

"Elektron Model:Samples is still my favorite 'casual' groovebox and my top recommendation for beginners."

"The DT is more complete, but the TR8 is much more hands on."

"I would go for the Digitakt 100%."

"If you are looking to program stuff in advance and do any sequencing then the Digitakt for sure."

"Digitakt 2+polysynth with keys of your liking"

"Digitakt II or nothing"

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

"Digitakt, model samples, model cycles."

Roland

4.3

(110)

"The 707 is more geared towards electronic music + beats in general, it's a certified Groovebox and has a ton of sound design capabilities for Live performance."

"I’ve got an MC101 and it’s brilliant. Has the phonograph effect to make cool lofi stuff."

"Roland mc-707, with a midi controller keyboard. It's really really functional."

"If you're looking for something portable, I'd suggest the MC-101 or Ableton Move."

"I love my 707, beast of an all in one unit!"

"In the end the offer for the TR8 was just too good."

"Roland mc-505."

"MC-101"

"Just save up for the 707, it's not that much on the used market."

"MC-101. Accept no substitute."

Novation

4.3

(97)

"Novation Circuit is a great affordable groovebox."

"Another vote for Circuiting Tracks"

"Circuit Tracks certainly is a worthy contender."

"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."

Akai

4.5

(91)

"The Force is great. The force is my Master. it controls all my synths and grooveboxes via midi usb"

"I went with a mpc key37. All in one, it's perfect for me and I finally can get ideas out"

"MPC One no contest. Especially for the type of music OP wants to make."

"MPC One+ is probably the best choice for lo-fi beats and rap."

"MPC One no contest. For the same or less money the the 404 mk2 you get soft synths, much deeper programming abilities."

"I have a few groovebox/sampler/controller: mpc live 2, akai force, sp404mk2, push 2, digitakt, maschine mk3."

"But overall MPC is the best value for money."

"I own the Akai Force, it does everything I want. They go really cheap on the used market."

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

"A modern MPC is also really good as it it will come with several synth engines and can easily be exp"

Korg

4.2

(53)

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

"Honestly, my KO II for sound. It’s got loads of character."

"Get a used Korg EMX1 .. and youre all set ⚡️"

"Get a Novation circuit track or an Electribe 2, they are both very nice gear to start with"

"The Drumlogue has 4 analog drum sounds/tracks and 6 sample-based tracks."

"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."

Polyend

4.2

(38)

"I’ve never finished songs faster in my 20+ years of making music."

"I am having a great time with the Polyend Play"

"Polyend Tracker."

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

"Tracker+ with a powerbank is the best portable groovebox."

"I really enjoyed my tracker mini during 2 trips already and also sometimes bringing to a coffee shop while I wait for the actitivies of my mids to finish."

"Tracker Plus with a power bank."

"I think the Polyend Play+ is seriously worth considering. Especially if you work with lots of samples for drums. It is just so full-featured while at the same time being super easy to use."

"I sold my SP404mk2 for a tracker and I love my tracker so much more, not only as a central brain but its workflow has really clicked with me."

"Circuit or Polyend Play for your budget."

Synthstrom

4.8

(30)

"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

4.4

(21)

"Sonicware LoFi 12 XT - No question. It’s a very impressive handheld groovebox."

"I’d hands down go for a LOFI 12XT. So many people are making great music and seem to be vibing hard on it."

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

"I love their stuff. I just keep buying it because it’s so fun. But the Lofi XT is amazing."

"Xt12 is my new baby!"

"I gotta say the Lofi is the most fun of the bunch."

"I think the lofi xt will be it."

"I have more fun with the Lofi-12 XT."

"One thing not mentioned here so far is the Sonicware Sampltrek. With the latest firmware update, it really became an excellent song making device."

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

Synthstrom Audible

4.4

(21)

"Oxi One is amazing at sequencing ipad apps, ive had one for the last 6 months, its amazing."

"Deluge."

"The Deluge has a built in battery that will last for a good 8-10 hours."

"For me the best travel groovebox was and is the Deluge. I’ve made so many tracks on planes with it, and even made a whole EP on one business trip. Battery powered, got everything you need to build up tracks and jam."

"I also wanted to add on to your comment to stress the power and depth of the modulation matrix/automation lanes on the Deluge."

"Deluge is really hot. It is fully featured, biggest pro is that it has gone open-source and the new features are really lifting it to another level."

"The Deluge is my desert island box."

"I love them both for being powerful (as far as portable grooveboxes go) and being well suited to composing complete songs."

"The arranger view on the Deluge is a must have for any groovebox."

"Synthstrom Deluge ticks all the boxes."

#10

Teenage Engineering

4.2

(20)

"I have the teenage engineering KO2 and PO-33. One for the desk and one for my pocket. Loving it."

"Teenage Engineering OP-1 👌"

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

"Totally agree! I feel the opz has all the parameter locks etc that electron has and much much more."

"OP-Z is the coolest sequencer I’ve ever used - very creative and powerful."

"OP-Z is just the best sequencer for performing ever."

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

"It has the most inspiring sequencer ever. However, if you want deeper sound design, the Woovebox or the M8 would be a better option."

"Opz."

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

#11

Native Instruments

4.4

(16)

"Maschine plus has it all. It's easier and has a better workflow."

"Maschine Plus owner here. Maschine is a Ferrari groovebox, extremely capable and powerful."

"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 was my first one. Now I have the S2400 sampler with the DSP card."

"The NI Maschine Mk3’s absolutely great for speed, instant access to a lot of sounds, best pads in the biz."

"Maschine plus refurb."

#12

Dirtywave

4.6

(15)

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

"Dirtywavem8."

"Dirtywave m8 or one of the elektron takt boxes with a power bank."

"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."

"One device that I haven't seen mentioned in the other comments that I think deserve to be is the Dirtywave M8, a tracker and synth handheld groovebox. It is simply amazing what can be done wit"

"I do exactly this with my Dirtywave M8."

#13

Yamaha

4.3

(11)

"Give the Yamaha SEQTRAK a look!"

"The RS7000 and RM1X are still some of the best sequencers ever made."

"I sold my RM1X but it's still one of the best sequencers i've used."

"The Yamaha SeqTrak is a lot of fun."

"Might be an unpopular opinion but I'm having a lot of fun with the Yamaha Seqtrak."

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

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

"Check out the new Yamaha Seqtrak. It's currently on pre-order, so you might have to wait a little bit."

"Yamaha rm1x. Very good sequencer for external gear as well."

"I’ve had a decent amount over the many, many years, but I think the RS7000 is somewhere near the top."

#14

Drum Computer

4.7

(6)

"It’s a legitimately good Drum synth compared against anything"

"I live the kicks you can make with it, those real deep wobbly kicks"

"The sound of drum computer is very deep/rich"

"Its a crazy powerful drum synth. And the sounds you can make, awesome."

"Drum Computer is pretty wild"

"Wow Drum Computer is crazy"

#15

Drambo

4.7

(6)

"Drambo is probably the best there is."

"The best groovebox Ive ever used isn’t hardware its an app called Drambo."

"Try Drambo first. It’s amazing."

"I actually sold off some other stuff, including a Deluge which has a great sequencer, replaced it all with an iPad, Drambo, a few Auv3 plugins, some good samples and a couple controllers. Drambo can do it all!"

"Build your own groovebox in drambo."

"I always recommend Drambo and koala if you have an iPad!"

#16

1010 Music

4.6

(5)

"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"

"If so maybe take a look at the 1010 Music Blackbox."

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

#17

Ableton

4.0

(5)

"The Push 3 standalone seems like it could be right for you."

"It’s pretty much what I wanted from Circuit Pro, very fast & very fun"

"If you into working with samples Ableton Move might be for you."

"Solid sequencer, synth/sample engines, more effects slots than most stuff in it’s price range."

"Push 3 is the way to go, but they're still fixing bugs in the standalone."

#18

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."

#19

MPC

4.5

(4)

"Used MPC Live."

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

"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."

#20

Blipblox

4.0

4.0

(2)

"Liven lofi-12 might be an option for you!"

"I just got a Liven Lo-Fi 12 and love it."

#38

MC101

4.0

(2)

"The MC101 is a great groovebox, but it is above 400€."

"Mc 101"

Discover your audience

GummySearch is an audience research toolkit for 130,000 unique communities on Reddit.

If you are looking for startup problems to solve, want to validate your idea or find your customers online, GummySearch is for you.

Tell me more

Get started