Me too, stunning looking piece of kit that happens to also sounds reeeeally nice.
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I bought and sold quite a bit this year, but only ended up with three pieces in the end, which I guess makes them hits? I really didn’t have any true misses, as most stuff coming out these days is pretty great in some way. I just don’t like to have too much stuff lying around. Especially these days, when gear is being iterated upon like iPhone.
Hits:
Push 3 Controller - Trying to find any faults with this, but so far it’s just been a very smooth experience. It’s super fun as a groove box and not having to record stuff into Live after a session is so chill.
Analog Heat +FX - I know I could probably achieve the same sound with VSTs, but this thing does sound really nice. I use it as my end of chain, as well as resample through it, but haven’t really gotten it to sound too weird yet. It also serves as my audio interface, which is handy.
Misses:
Microkorg 2: I really wanted to like this thing. It really does sound good and it is pretty fun to program, but the hardware felt so flimsy. I had two of them and they both had some knobs that were more wobbly and loose than others. The keyboard also felt sort of cramped. Also, the graphics on the screen were pretty cool, but I found they were a little confusing and unintuitive.
Minifreak - I really loved a lot about this synth, but couldn’t justify keeping it around, as I feel pretty satisfied with the VST. It sounds pretty good, although I felt like the machines all sounded a little too alike. Also, as good as the hardware felt, I really didn’t like the lil graphics or the labeling.
Would keep if I was rich:
Lyra 8 - This thing is actually a hit, but I haven’t been pulling it out too often as of late and have it posted for sale. If I was rich I’d keep it, cause it’s weird and wonderful. Also, I got the pink one and it looks so dope.
Syntakt: This thing sounds super good and it was hard not to want to keep it, but I found the Modifiers to be super not fun to use, which sort of made the machine feel unfinished to me.
Octatrack: Again, if I was rich, I would have kept this. but as it stands I am choosing Push over OT, as I am trying to focus more on sound design and song structure. Also, Octatrack is really the best if you have a ton of outboard gear to feed it, which I currently do not have.
SP404 MK2: The SX holds a special place in my heart and I wanted this iteration to get in there too, but I find this new one a little… I don’t think gimmicky is the right word, but something along those lines. I found the recording process to be a little too stop and go. The effects were a little boring and stale. The sequencer is a lil clunky. DJ Mode is awkward. The form factor is dope and the hardware feels great. The idea is there, but I wish Roland had gone more with a spiritual successor vibe, and developed a more streamlined and updated workflow.
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Well it’s 2025 here down under but yesterday I bought a korg drumlogue, so maybe that’s the last of the “2024 Gear Hits and Misses”.
I can’t report if it’s a hit or a miss yet I’m afraid.
Happy new year
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What a way to cap off the year! Hope you dig the Drumlogue, it was a definite surprise hit for me.
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I think i will, it will be used with other drum machines so I’m not too fused about muddy kicks or weak snares.
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Hit - monomachine for €1000. its my second one after selling it a few years ago for €2500 lol
Miss - DT2. I hate that I can’t still properly slice samples on this. Been in the box for the last few months and the OT still doing heavy slicing duties
Only bought these 2 in 2024. Hoping to unload some stuff like the AR2 or ST to perhaps fund for DN2 but I just couldn’t. Yesterday I was like ‘ok let’s give this syntakt one last chance, maybe i’ll hate it more” and i ended up spending the whole day doing acid jamz on it. How do you guys sell your stuff? It’s the new year and i’m already gassing for DN2 and a dedicated 303 ffs
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Now that I am sure I will buy no more gear in 2024, it is safe to post in this thread. Happy roughly same point in the orbit day!
All hits this year, and less acquired than in previous years, though definitely some major items. My ongoing back-channel conversation with @your_lamp, now in its fourth year, continues to inform and influence my relationship with my gear, even though we are now separated by eight time zones.
Two major standalone devices this year, after last year’s almost exclusive focus on modular.
Dirtywave M8 mk2:
I had noted its curious and attractive asymmetrical look on mk1 release, but it was a tracker, and I associated trackers with endless scrolling rows of hexadecimal digits, and game music I had no interest in. The mk2 device, announced more than a year ago, was even more attractive, with a bigger screen and battery. I appreciated the backward compatibility, and people seemed really excited.
But it was @your_lamp’s acquisition of a mk1 in a trade that caught my attention. As usual when he acquires something that we haven’t previously discussed, I went to look at some videos, so that I could chat intelligently with him about it. What? Information is cut into hierarchical chunks, so scrolling is optional and under user control? Chunks can be reused and transitions between them are independent per track? Hex not only saves space on a small screen but is musically advantageous? An FM Synth reminiscent of the Digitone? A Sampler reminiscent of the Digitakt, but with stereo, and zoom always available? Holy shit.
I had missed the first mk2 preorder, but on the basis of what I’d seen and what @your_lamp was reporting, I decided to try for the second batch. @your_lamp also quickly decided to upgrade. We had our orders in before the first new units made it into the hands of purchasers. Fortunately, they were mostly happy with them, as were we when they arrived.
Though the two devices have different feature sets, M8 gets into Micromonsta 2 territory for me: a miniature miracle that has evolved intelligently, with a UI that makes it seem larger than it is, created and sustained by one person. Yes, it is small, and it has only eight buttons and no knobs, but somehow it works. While there is much about the device that is intuitive, and there is some on-screen help available, the manual has lagged behind firmware releases, and community wisdom is obscured by Discord search or difficult-to-index videos. @your_lamp and I are writing a tutorial to help however we can.
Elektron Digitone II:
I am not an early adopter or automatic upgrader. By mid-year, my four Elektron devices were either out of production or superceded by newer models, but that didn’t bother me. Digitone Keys offers a number of advantages and is by no means obsolete, but it does have to stay put on its stand, and for quite a while, I’d been looking for a smaller Digitone at a good price to add to my collection. I thought DT2 was a good upgrade but I didn’t feel an urge to acquire it. DN2 was another matter. For me, it is the most compelling device Elektron has released in the four years since I’ve started paying attention to synths, and a worthy successor to DN1. It mostly doesn’t break anything (especially if promised firmware upgrades materialize) and offers many sonic and quality-of-life improvements that don’t feel plastered on or wedged in. Mature on arrival, but with so much possibility for the future thanks to the improved hardware architecture. It is going to bring me joy for many years to come.
Modular:
This year’s purchases shook my cases into configurations that I consider pretty stable and rich with possibilities. I know there’s no forever in modular-land, but new arrivals on the market are going to have to be pretty damn impressive to compete.
As a run-on from last year’s purchase of Frap Tools Cunsa, their characterful quad filter, I found myself needing a good source of triggers and random CV, including pitch, in my Frap Tools case. I had Usta for gates and more deliberate sequencing (some randomness possible). The solution was obvious: Sapèl, one of Frap Tools’ earliest modules, their modern take on the Buchla Source of Uncertainty. To deal with the two octave and two semitone outputs, I also got their 333 mult and precision adder. Finally, because I often wanted just a touch of reverb or delay and it’s onerous to hook up an external pedal plus something to listen to the result, I got a Happy Nerding FX Aid XL, which offers a customizable selection of effects, many of which are good enough.
After watching discussion on the ADDAC 112 microlooper for about a year and a half, I felt the firmware had finally gotten stable enough to commit to it. Plus I was now living in the same city as the developers! It is somewhat like Morphagene, but with a screen, a proper UI, and many knobs and CV inputs offering direct control over just about everything. This makes it large; it takes up almost half of one of my Tall Dog skiffs. So I needed to think carefully about utilities and support modules. I bought Bastl Neo Trinity to sit beside their Pizza and Ikarie, and Clank Chaos to replace my MI Marbles clone, which like Morphagene had always frustrated me with the opinionated nature of its macro controls. This case now needs more dedicated attention, and I’ve been too distracted by other toys.
My purchase of the Schlappi Engineering Three Body triple FM/PM digital oscillator provides yet another anecdote about how @your_lamp and I influence each other. I’d watched some demos on it, including a really impressive one by BRiES that clocked in at over two hours, but while I appreciated the quality of what it delivered under extreme cross-modulation, it still felt too noisy for me (albeit impressive noise). @your_lamp had acquired Frap Tools Fumana, their filter bank and spectral transfer module (as large and expensive as my Cunsa), after I’d raved repeatedly about my Frap Tools modules. He felt he needed more suitable sources of fodder for Fumana, and I suggested Three Body. This proved quite successful, and after reading his praise for it, I made sure to audition it while visiting Elevator Sound in Bristol. After spending nearly an hour with just this module alone (no external modulation, two inputs going through an X-Y oscilloscope into left and right speaker channels), I was convinced.
I won’t say it’s my favourite oscillator, because that is still the analog Frap Tools Brenso, but Three Body has a really impressive range (not just noise like the demos tend to head for), amazing fidelity thanks to its bespoke FPGA architecture, great knobs, loads of CV inputs and audio outputs, and I suspect I’ll still be discovering what it can do years from now. I recommend it to anyone who has the space and cash. It prompted a shakeup that gave it pride of place in my ADDAC 901F 6U case, along with a stellar collection of support modules.
While in Bristol, I picked up a Minirig 4 (it is manufactured there), because I didn’t have a decent portable speaker. It is pretty impressive in terms of sonic quality and volume, but I haven’t used it much so far. I put it in the kitchen to use while cooking, but I keep forgetting it is there. Also, in my new home where I don’t speak the language to any extent yet, I am a bit more shy about setting up outside. Will probably do something for Drone Day 2025, though.
Oh, there was one miss, in the sense that I gave it a miss. My name came up on the Cirklon v2 list, and I declined to purchase.
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to add to my list of hits - last purchase of 2024
Analog Heat +FX
it arrived yesterday, it sounds excellent. I’ve only played with it for the afternoon but I’m happy to call it a hit. the modulation possibilities make this a super creative device and whilst there aren’t tons of effects - there are a load of ways to use them. the envelope follower especially can make for some really wild/interesting movement.
it’s great as it is - it will be cool to see if Elektron add more fx or update the existing ones, I would imagine it will receive some updates as it’s only a year old.
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That’s a bargain price for a Monomachine, nowadays.
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When you figure this out please get in touch… currently acquiring more than I sell
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The same happened to me with the A4, now I want a second one
Clearly I have badly suffered from GAS in 2024:
Hits:
Yamaha FS1R! The ultimate FM Synth, not the easiest to program but it’s doable. 16 Operators (8 ‘Standard’ and 8 ‘Unvoiced’ for creating formants and vocal sounds). I’ve barely scratched the surface of programming as it comes with a ridiculous amount of presets (including a couple of ‘Best of DX’ Banks). Incredible Synth.
Behringer MS-1(01) - always wanted a SH-101 but not enough to pay silly money for. Picked up a Behringer MS-101 for cheap - does it sound the same? Close enough. A lot of fun though, especially with the built in Arp and Sequencer. Really fun to jam on, and sounds really rather good plugged into a Quadraverb.
Ensoniq EPS-16+ Rack - Just Wow! It’s massive but it’s fairly simple to sample into and sounds great, and is even more fun with the Waveboy Disks. Turning everything into Transwaves and modulating is endlessly inspiring.
Wavestation SR - Always wanted a Wavestation, finally picked up an SR. Not the easiest synth to work with but I’ve printed some Flowcharts and it’s helped immensely. If you like 90’s Ambient it’s perfect, and even if not you can get some fascinating sounds out of it if you push it.
Roland TR-8 (with TR-7x7 expansion) - Just wanted a X0X machine, nothing fancy. This has TR-808, 909, 707, 727 amnd 606 sounds and a great sequencer, so I’m sold. Tons of fun. Wish it had Trigger Outs, though.
Alesis MMT8 - Got it last week. So Simple, looks fanatastic. Plugged it in and got really into it straight away without needing the manual. Even in this short time it’s really helped unlock some of my other hardware gear such as the Wavestation. I’ve gone threw a fair few sequencers over the last couple of years but I’m really happy with this one.
On the fence:
Roland JV-1080 - Impulse purchase as to my ears it just screams ‘Playstation 1 Soundtrack’. Again, not the easiest to program although Software Editing helps, but in it’s defence I feel it’s designed to be THE Preset Machine to end all Preset Machines. Haven’t really spent enough time to make it worthwhile (nor have I made any PS1 soundtracks yet).
Yamaha TG77 - An absolute chonk of a synth, essentially the next-gen Yamaha FM Synth, combining short PCM samples with FM (and you can route one through another). Algorithms? Well you can make your own! Presets are very much of it’s time and even with the giant screen it’s a bit of a pain to program. I need to spend more time with it in 2025 but I’m sure it’ll end up in the Hit pile.
Behringer WASP - Sounds amazing, dropped it and broke it on day 1. Bought another, didn’t quote sound the same weirdly. Still good though.
Behringer K2 - Again. sounds pretty good, love the Patch Points. Absolutely no idea why I bought it.
Akai MPC1000 (w/ JJOS) - Something I’ve wanted for 20 years, could finally afford one. Problem is I don’t think I’ve ever thought about what I’d do with it! All I’ve done is loaded in some early 00s Oval-esque samples created on my iBook G3 and SoundMaker (best £30 I think I’ve spent on gear!) as my current sample collection is all 24/32-bit and/or doesn’t end in .WAV so the MPC doesn’t like it. One of them bits of gear where I need to sell everything else first! In terms of Sequencing I just haven’t gelled with it yet as something to control other Hardware, I’m sure I’ll get there.
Squarp Pyramid - Part 3 in my “Trying to find a not-modern Hardware Sequencer that I gel with”. Again, a really good sequencer with MIDI and CV/Trig Out, and lots of cool tricks up it’s sleeve, but for whatever reason I just haven’t clicked with it and it’s stuck in my cupboard for now.
Misses:
Nord G2 Engine - Amazing, limtless piece of gear, but I just haven’t clicked with it. If I sold everything else I’ve bought and stuck with this (and put a PC in my studio as my Mac M1 doesn’t play nice with it). I always wanted a G2 to channel my inner Autechre-fanboy, but I think in this case it’s a bit too much and bought it without thinking about what I’d actually use it for, so I’m afraid it’s on the Sell list.
Too Soon:
Monome Norns Shield - Literally just arrived, cute little thing. Tried as few community scripts, lots of fun. Can’t wait to dig in programming my own - I’ve got plenty of ideas but haven’t even looked into it just yet.
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Thought i only bought digitakt 2 (which is a hit) this year but saw now i got the OG digitone in january 2024… that one is a BIG hit, and the only thing i will ever replace it with is dn2 
A Pretty “Gassy” 2024
Here are my two cents:
Hits:
- Elektron Syntakt
I bought it a month before the DN2 was released. Honestly, if both had been available at the time, I probably would have picked the DN2, but I have no regrets. The only thing I miss is shared polyphony and, perhaps, a built-in compressor.
- Dreadbox Typhon
I bought it on sale, and it’s been a lot of fun. The effects are great, and the hands-on control for the most relevant parameters makes it very intuitive. However, I’m not a big fan of the sequencer—it works fine for quick jams, but it’s not ideal. Also, I hate the lack of an on/off switch.
- UAFX Delverb
While I really miss having MIDI compatibility, the sound quality is exceptional. It works beautifully with both guitar and synths.
Miss:
Arturia Minifreak
I ended up returning it. I do like the plugin and think its sonic capabilities are impressive, but I just didn’t connect with the hardware. Also, since I’ve started playing piano, I’ve grown to dislike mini keys.
Not Sure Yet:
- Behringer Poly D
It’s too soon to decide, but it’s most likely a keeper.
- Korg ARP2600M
It cost me more than two BARPs, but I prefer its form factor, overall build quality, and the built-in speakers, which are surprisingly useful. It’s a classic, so I’ll most likely keep it, though I occasionally consider selling it.
- TE KO2
I bought it for its portability and brought it on a couple of trips. However, I’m still undecided about keeping it—when I have spare time, I could just use Ableton Note instead.
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Hits:
-
Korg Multi/Poly
Watching the videos on this before it was available got me so hyped and I was not let down. Every time I turn it on I can easily get lost in just the presets. It really sounds great to me. Being four part multi timbral is one of the big pluses for me, weather I layer a patch, or just turn parts on or off depending on what I need, it just inspires me to write. I’ve barely dipped my toes in to sound design but I can already tell that I’ll be enjoying it for a while. -
Roland P-6
Roland really knocked it out of the park on this one. So far I mostly use it to create drum one shots and then sequence them. It might be my favorite sequencer that Roland has implemented so far. The lo-fi sequencing options are something I wish would end up on the 404 along with the probability and p lockesque options. -
Roland SP-303
It just sounds great! -
NI Maschine+
I’ve been messing with sequencers for years and so far this is the one that I continually use. I’m still tempted to try the Oxi One and Hapax, but those seem a bit spendy to try blind. I know there is more to the + than just sequencing, but my SP-404 MK2 is my main sampler. -
Tascam Model 2400
This thing does what I want it to do. I have been trying to get a variety of interfaces to work the way this one does since the Presonus Firepod days and none have come close. The fact that I don’t have to turn my computer on until it’s time to record the final mixes makes playing music just for a few minutes so much easier which leads to more time playing music. -
Roland SH-4D
I don’t treat this like a groove box. It’s a four part multitimbral synth with a rudimentary drum sequencer for me. It’s a great scratch pad/Idea starter. Having four synths with the same controls that can send to separate tracks via USB adds an ease of use I didn’t know I needed until I got it. I absolutely love the fx. Between the SH-4d, the Multi/Poly, and the Hydrasynth KB and Exp, I have so may layers at hand to be sequenced with the Maschine+ that I can write full arrangements in a live mentality that works extremely well with my brain. I feel like I’ve finally gotten my dream setup. -
Yamaha CK61
This one is in my living room and gets used almost daily. It’s nice to just sit down and play for the sake of play. Speakers aren’t the best, but the neighbors can’t hear it so I don’t have to worry about complaints. The key bed is’t the greatest, but being able to layer a Wurly and organs easily make it very playable for my style. I had a Korg SV-1 and really liked the key bed, but the shape and size and lack of tweak ability turned me off.
Misses:
-
Arturia MicroFreak
I just didn’t click with it. I really wanted to especially hearing some of the great music folks on here produced, but we just never became pals. -
Novation Circuit Rhythm
Again, I just didn’t click with it. -
Marshall Drive Master Reissue
Too redundant since I have a JHS Angry Charlie. -
A couple cheap Jag/Jazzmasters that I bought in collector brain
Moving into a much smaller studio space made me reevaluate how much gear I owned and these didn’t make the cut. -
Demedash T-120 V2
Watching demos I thought I was going use this constantly. I couldn’t find a place for it sound wise. I think i just wanted tape saturation and wobble overall, not just on the repeats of the delay. -
Fender Bluesbreaker
I traded up to a Fender '65 Princeton Reverb Reissue and couldn’t be happier.
Meh
-
TE EP-133 KO2
It’s really fun to play, but I haven’t found myself going to it often. It’s too cute to let go of though. Looks great on the shelf displayed. -
TE EP-1320 Medieval
Pretty sure I ended up buying this out of spite/my PDA due to all the hate when it came out. I have fun every time I turn it on, but haven’t found an actual use for it in my flow.
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Elektrons are not made for selling, only for collecting them all
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I know we’ve talked about this above, but, reading this, you’ve touched on why I’m seriously contemplating picking up a CK88 this year.
I would’ve never thought that a CK88 would be for me, but I love the CK61 and would really like to have it as a dedicated ‘home piano’; and the CK88 fits that bill.
I don’t think I’ve had an instrument as quick and as inspiring as the CK… the controls they give you are simple, but so powerful and playable.
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I thought about the CK88 but I decided against the weighted keys since I generally play organ or electric piano sounds, but I did fall in love with the S700 sound so that might change down the road.
I didn’t buy much this year, as my studio was packed away for most of the year due to a move. That’s a good thing, because it gave me a chance to really think about how I want my studio to come together in the new place.
Hits:
Expressive E Osmose. Possibly the best musical gear purchase I’ve ever made (and I’ve been buying and using different gear for 25 years).
Pittsburgh Modular Voltage Lab 2. Only had it for a couple of weeks, but so far seems to be exactly the right thing for introducing me to modular (for now). 
Book: Patch and Tweak A beautifully crafted and seemingly comprehensive introduction to modular in case I want to go there–not sure yet.
Edit: I liked the book Patch and Tweak so much, I ordered their book Push Turn Move (an exploration of the UX/UI of electronic musical instruments).
Misses:
Liquid Stands Dual Piano Keyboard stand with second tier. I don’t really understand the thinking on the ergonomics of this. I guess they assume you’d only want to reach one tier at a time–the lower one while sitting and the upper one while standing. The minimum distance between the tiers doesn’t allow you to reasonably reach both tiers while either sitting or standing. I wanted the lower tier for my Osmose and the upper tier for several MPE capable module synths, which kinda works, but only by “thrusting” the faces of the modules so they are practically facing straight out. It works, but kinda weird…
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Hits:
IK Uno Synth Pro-X, particularly as it can sound dirty and aggressive. Two filters, 3 VCOs - a very decent compact little analogue box.
Behringer Edge. For fun electronic percussive textures. I wish the sequencer had sixteen steps.
Miss:
Roland JX08. I realise that I’m over that signature chorused, smooth Roland poly sound.
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