TL;DR: Lost motivation to make music lately, want a fun, portable, sample-based groovebox under 400€ (used is fine) with a step sequencer for drums and real-time sample playing. Considering the Novation Circuit Rhythm but have no hands-on experience with it. Curious what grooveboxes others found genuinely fun to use.

A quick rehearsal before I send it to Live for arrangement and polish.

https://github.com/MicheleDataBeat/lumon-os-xl

LUMON OS XL is a new alternate firmware for Volca Sample, comes with a companion software and plenty of new features.

In this tutorial, we explore Graphic Motion Rec in Doom OS for the SP404 mk2: a powerful feature for recording and automating effect parameters in a visual, precise, and much more comprehensive way than the original firmware.

You’ll see how to create movement, transitions, and FX variations, perfect for live sets, resampling, techno, house, and sound design.

How would you use this feature in your SP-404 workflow?

Enjoy!

with love .noir. ❤️

Hi! I wanted some advice related to my first groove box purchase decision.

I recently got from thomann a Model Cycles (im still on the 30 day return policy), and while i find its sequencer and layout really fun and inspiring, the type of sounds that it has, and the limitation of having only 6 tracks is throwing me off, since the style i like doing the most is mental/hardtek/acid.

My choices are: try the mods and see if that is enough for me, change it for an electribe 2s, splurge on a second hand digitakt I, or maybe pair it with the electribe 2s to have a 2 machine setup.

What do you propose? thx

I feel that in 2026 we’re seeing more live “dj” sets than ever before. In a time when everyone can become a dj, mixing has become table stakes.

I’m talking about people bringing music making hardware on stage and playing live drum loops, synthesizers and creating electronic music on the fly. Some artists that come to mind are Jeff Mills, DC Salas, Avis Vox.

I wanna know if you have any favorites you’ve seen recently and if you think we’ll see this continue?

Links to live sets on YouTube of your favorites would be appreciated!!

Hi everyone!

I’ve run into a problem that I think is common for those of us who started our musical journey with grooveboxes: I’m struggling to figure out how to manage them all together effectively.

I have an OP-Z, an MC-101, and a Riddim/EP-40 here (plus a T-8 and an S-1, though the T-8 likely sees less use in a full setup).

I’ve been having fun sequencing the S-1 and MC-101 using the OP-Z, but I feel I need to move past the "just having fun" stage and really settle down to start making actual music.

I’d love to hear from others who work with multiple devices about how you handle them. Should I assign a specific role to each one? I'm feeling stuck trying to decide who does what.

Edit: forgot to mention one important thing: main goal is to jam/play/produce goa/psytrance, anything over 140bpm =)