I’ve seen a Elektron Machinedrum SPS-1 MKII new for £530. But I was only planning on picking up a Volca Beats or Nord Drum second hand for less than £100 And syncing them to my AK…I normally use Samplr on my iPad for percussive sounds. And I’ve downloaded and been programming kick drums on my AK. But I feel that I’ve not hit on kick drum nirvana yet with my AK. Even after some tasty EQ/compression. Not feeling it like an 808 etc… Whilst on the subject I could go the TR8 route for a bit less. Hmmm I must be gassing!
Mkll>SPS-1>TR8.
Mk|| way deeper & very easy goin machine
It’s all down to the money as well, of course… The tempting aspect is that most shops want £829, and one wants only £529. But I wish it was the Analog Rhythm! Anyhow, it would probably not be my main percussion tool. I’m mainly after a non IDM kick that reaches… So cost is on my mind. When I’ve still got the AK for groovy percussion sounds! Maybe I’ll nail the kick I’m after in the AK. Anyhow, kicks would be the only reason to touch the Roland. Maybe an R8M. Or similar kick(ing) machine…?
Might be worth locating some MD kick samples that are out there so you can hear the flavour… But… If you’re after non IDM style kicks I would probably look elsewhere.
Ive got MD MKII UW1 , Octatrack, A4 , MnM . MD - excellent box. Very versatile w incredible sound manipulation both live or when creating your own kits. is digital but very warm if needed. There are 8-ish and 9-ish sounds that can all be enhanced / tweaked. Proper tweaking of filters can yield massive kicks w long 8-ish decay . Sample bank ,already inside, has SP-1200 and LinnDrum-ish sounds for retro or chill wave.
(Note: Stop chasing 808 ! Friend- live gear performer, has TR8 -very good machine ,but says kik is not like original. )
( Note : the UW live sampling function is kinda not my thing- I tried and failed ) but that’s not what this is for.
Nord Drum2 seems interesting / unique for certain sounds , e.g. FM ; new integrated pad thingy looks great for LIVE-perf. but their VA may not always cut it. Nord is NOT a sequencer.
A4 is very diff. Taken me a long time to tame it ; most presets have “Acidy” or “transistor-radio” palette try new OS w FM parameters ; see Cukoo’s video on FM ; try HPF, FRQ at 15-20, w RES to enhance kik or bass “bump” .
Great MD price !
I have an OT. I can’t decide if to pair it with a Nord drum 2 or to buy a machinedrum. But I’d like to have the “IDM” sound/sequences 
. Just wondering if midi sequencing a ND via OT can be as powerful as the MD own sequencer.
You could look into dedicated kick machines like the vermona kick lancet or the jomox machines (airbase?)
I have MD & TR-8 ! Two very good pieces of gear, but if i had to choose one it would be the MD since its sound design capabilities are way better!! The tr-8 is nice but is more of a live tool imo