Yeah that interface looks terrible to me unfortunately.
Why that dodgy digit display? Makes no sense to me. Even makes the Elektrons look good.
May as well stay ITB, as for me the only point buying expensive hardware these days is if it provides a really good interface
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Also just the pure craftsmanship and thoughtful features of the MD+MM was unheard of at the time. The groove boxes Roland and friends where spitting out where all made of plastic and aluminum, marketed to hobbyist. Elektron is pure pro, top notch and have proven this over and over again. I want the Deluge to be next level but I’m skeptical at the moment.
The display on Electron gear is more then sufficient when you consider all the other direct control you have over parameters. With the exception of the Octatrack you will never be menu diving.
I think the 2 digit display is part of the direction that also put a battery and speaker in it. It is a nobel attempt to max out the power of the grid by extracting it from a DAW. Something that would be compelling to watch somebody perform with in an intimate setting. A house party or, like, a DJ at legal pot coffee shop…
Seems like you’ll need some muscle memory to play it well, which is fine by me. I enjoy getting good at a UI which once I wrap my head around it, is minimal in appearance.
Not for me in the end. I did find the zooming and scrolling of the grid pretty cool, but I would only be interested if they trimmed it back, went MIDI out only and made it MIDI effect rich.
I’m not really a fan of my AK interface. Feels like programming/clicking sounds on a computer compared to any ‘knobby’ hardware… But yeah, screen at least gives decent amount of info.
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The basis of analog sequencers is to transmit a specific voltage for a specific length of time per step. Thats it. And recording CC or sysex data into a MIDI sequencer is not the same thing at all. Per step, multiple parameter automation via MIDI on a x0x-based UI was not implemented on anything before that. If you have proof it was, go ahead and provide a real example.
The only thing that comes close is tracker software - but they arent step sequencers, they are trackers. Pretty similar to each other, but also not really - like saying “its all music! gangster rap and italian opera is the same thing!” with the same kind of accuracy.
You have obviously never owned an MC909.
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Actually I have. 
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And yet you say that the MC909 was marketed to the hobbyist whereas the Elektron boxes are pure pro. 
Was it the lack of a MIDI thru connector?
I think it was the d beam to be honest. Lmao.
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I’ve bought and sold more gear thand i care to admit but the MnM MD and Sidstation will always be a part of my collection. The 909 is a solid piece or sure the best groovebox Roland ever produced but I had no problem give it up once I started working with MnM and MD.
Yeah it had two D-beams, just like the V-Synth.
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Been through a fair bit of gear myself (much to the annoyance of the missus), but wouldn’t say the Elektron stuff is any more pro than anything else I have owned.
I definitely would on build quality alone.
as a very long time user of an1x im pretty sure there was no parameter locking. they had freeeg which was a custom recorded envelope.
I guess I didn’t get enough into the free eg when I had it since it does seem to do something similar.
It has been some time since I used an AN1x, but as well as the free EGs (which I think recorded continuous modulation) I believe the step sequencer could also play CC events per step.