I mean, a laptop fits your definition of groovebox but I’m probably not going to subscribe to the notion that fruity loops makes a laptop a groovebox.
nothing wrong with software though, it’s just not a groovebox. at least according to wikipedias definition as was kindly provided.
ok, Command Stations are cool, but they’re history.
let’s talk about grooveboxes in production, or at least recent.
my top 3 in no particular order:
Circuit Tracks has the best UI – very quick & convenient. super cool for sketching and a perfect pair for anything (including iPad). also, portable. Tracks + iPad + Launchpad Mini is my smallest setup to play live – fits any backpack, and all important things are at the tips of my fingers.
MC-101. i treat it as an excellent portable & tweakable sound module with groovebox functions.
certainly not a great fun to make tracks/patterns on itself – but i prefer using iPad for that, and once i’m happy with the result, i export patterns as MIDI, import them on my 101 and save the project.
but when it comes to live performance – 101 is really nice. clip-based sequencer (unlike pattern-based) allows squeezing maximum from four tracks, and we get four parameters to tweak, so if we think something like cutoff, reso, decay, and env depth – that pretty much nails it.
Syntakt. it’s a great machine and a joy to perform live. however, it has downsides. first, Elektron sequencer limitations – four bars and pattern-based paradigm (which is not so flexible as clip-based). second, lack of aux outputs – having only one stereo out is fine for 4 tracks, but not so fine for 12.
the bottom line: i would not use any of these machines solely, and i’m happy that i don’t have to. combining the advantages is the way to have fun, complaining about downsides is the way to have no fun 
that’s it.
PS. sampling?! what is sampling??
PPS. if anyone wonders how i do MIDI export from Drambo: MIDI Tape Recorder is my best friend.
I mean, I should have said “any HARDWARE” but, I dunno you can kinda turn a computer into a groovebox if you’re really determined 
hmmmm 
Sometimes it’s not all about the features.
I owned almost every major groovebox that is (except the Elektron Analogs), and even though now I have an MPC One, because of features, M+, Push… were much more fun to use.
Think like… you have a garage full of tools, crazy awesome tools, but it’s freaking messy. You’ll never use all the tools because of that. And your neighbour, with a hammer, some nails, and some wood blocks… builds a nice tree house.
It’s like that with the MPC. It’s very awesome, powerful, but you can do stuff in several ways… UI is not consistent in places, some features are super hidden.
Well, I think we can agree on the fact that what is fun (or not) is a highly personal opinion.
Maybe we should change the title thread then?
Most fun groovebox ever made? 
If we’re talking about what’s the best groovebox, at some point we also have to talk about features. And as you say, the last gen MPCs are hard to beat on that front.
they pack a lot of punch, for sure.
The thread’s probably closest to ‘What’s your favourite groovebox?’
I’m curious about how your setup is put together btw
I’m getting the feeling we all love the groovebox. 
I have a favorite that is definitely not the best groovebox ever made, I just didn’t mention it here 
@Roger is correct: The pitch settings got amended in the unofficial X firmware. And you are correct in that the original pitch settings and intervals were just wild, ha! Just tried the default pitch settings on the MD last week and I guess one can say they invite other kinds of exploration when one can’t rely on the pitches aligning like we’re accustomed to (12-TET) but boy am I super glad to have the Tonal option on the Machinedrum now.
So yeah, for me, the MD is the absolute best groovebox ever made.
From my personal collection(s) now and in the past, and taking into account what i consider a workstation to be, which is something that provides sampling, Drums, Synth engines and performance abilities, it’s going to be the
MC-707.
It’s probably one of the most powerful and overall easy to use actual fully fledged grooveboxs ever made. Sure it has its limitations and brain dead design choices here and there, but it could legitimately be the only song making device one would need, and I include cpus into that statement. It’s like Ableton’s distant step cousin. It is an amazingly capable machine, even if it does take some tweaking to make your songs not sound like a “Roland’s Greatest Hits” compilation.
Now take away one of the features from my list you get a whole lot of other things.
My favorites include of course all the Elektron boxes, but also TR8s, and the 1010 Black Box.
What are we all looking for/prioritising in a ‘groovebox’??
Personally I think of them as devices to get ideas going and get inspiration from, that then expands to a wider project.
Or something that’s just fun and inspiring to sit down with.
Having a finished track is not really something a Groovebox has to do IMO.
So, for me, best GB’s:
i rotate gear quite a lot and use various combinations, but typically it’s Circuit Tracks + some other groovebox + a mono synth or two and some effect unit(s) for that synth(s) – e.g. MAM MB-33 Retro for proper acid lines.
audio-wise, everything goes to Zoom LiveTrak L-8 mixer unless it’s ultra minimal travel setup.
MIDI-wise, everything works via RK-006, since it supports USB hubs.
the most interesting part of it all is MIDI processor – that’s my secret weapon.
back in the days i used to use Axoloti (site is dead at the moment), but switched to iPad/iPhone running Mozaic, because Mozaic scripts are easier to write & maintain than C code, and in case of hardware fail replacing iPad/iPhone is trivial.
MIDI processor handles pattern or clip launching (that’s what i use dedicated Launchpad Mini for), sophisticated scale-based arpeggiator (no, i’m not willing to share it, because it’s my secret weapon 
), and various sophisticated modulations with stacked LFOs. MIDI tracks of Circuit Tracks are used to control that stuff.
for multitimbral machines like Ambika or DSI Tetra i use Drambo as a sequencer.
no audio processing with iOS devices, since i want to keep latency solid and predictable.
that’s it.
M8 and Deluge.
mpc live
I wonder if the groovebox has reached its mature high point, e.g. is the Digitakt the Fender Stratocaster or are we still waiting for that to happen? Most musical instruments reach a certain point where they only get “better” in very subtle ways.
