Can you explain better the things of looping and sequencing?
Also, can you export full songs or just series of patterns chained together?
My friend loves his sp404, I’m getting interested ngl
You can make anything just using the stock plugins.
No need to buy anything else if you don’t want to.
You get plenty of choice for sample processing, resampling/mangling, mixing and mastering, all within the MPC, in standalone mode.
I’d say the MPC One or One+, bang for the buck, has no competition, really.
1010 Blackbox or Tangerine + Bluebox will get you there. Bluebox is not strictly needed but will help for the finishing mile or if you run out of pads on BB or Tangerine.
Okay, I own a Roland SP-404 mk2, a Digitakt, a Sonicware Lofi 12 XT, and a Novation Circuit Rhythm. I think that all of them can be used to make the kind of music that you want to make.
Personally, the 404 isn’t really for me. At least not as a standalone device. If I use it as a sampler, I’ll sequence it from another machine. But mostly I’ve just been using the fx. Obviously, I’m not representative as there are plenty of people who use this as their only machine. It’s also got Koala sampler integration. And it’s the only sampler of the bunch that I mentioned that samples in stereo.
I’m still pretty new to the Lofi 12 XT. But it’s pretty great. It has non destructive sample slicing. You can play samples polyphonically. You’ve got a filter, 2 LFOs, and an insert effect per track. It can also do parameter locking and motion recording. I would say that my biggest issue with it is the filing system, which is kind of a mess. Also, the whole point of the machine is that it’s lofi. So you can sample in 24 or 12 kHz. I think that it sounds great but you’re locked into that sound. Also, and this is a weird oversight that hopefully will be addressed in a software update, there is no reverse.
The Circuit Rhythm has the least soundshaping options but probably the fastest workflow. Everything’s very streamlined. So while you can do parameter locking and motion recording, you’ve got no LFOs, no filter envelope, and just an attack or decay amp envelope. You’ve also got non destructive sample slicing. In some ways it’s better than the Lofi 12. You get 16 slices instead of 15. You have start and end points so slices can overlap. But the Lofi 12 lets you save your slice points to your sample to use later, which is great.
One thing I would say about both the Circuit Rhythm and the Lofi 12 is that they both can use something at the end of the chain. Both of them do side chain compression really well. Better than the Digitakt or the SP. But in my option they still need something to glue everything together like the compressor on the Digitakt or the vinyl effect on the SP.
Finally, the Digitakt. This is my favorite of the bunch. And it’s the one that I know the best. But it’s the one that I would probably recommend the least. It doesn’t have proper sample slicing like the others. So you would need to use parameter locks in the sequencer. And that means that you’ll find yourself copying and pasting notes around and programming rather than playing pads. Personally, it works really well for me though. I really like the dedicated MIDI tracks. Also, it doesn’t have as many fx as the others. But I think that the ones it does have sound the best.
But yeah, I would also recommend taking a look at the MPCs. They’re not my cup of tea personally, but they’re very very capable. And there are plenty of deals to be had on used MPC Ones and the original Live. While we’re talking prices, it’s not hard to find a used Circuit Rhythm for less than 300.
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Yes, correct guess … but … the new generation of MPCs just have more features and functions. The old style of workflow is preserved. We don’t need all the additional bells and whistles to make a beat, but IMO, there are some new features, which I would miss on one of the vintage machines.
At the end software is software and the sound is defined by algorithms, the digitial resolution, and the quality of the D/A converters.
Many think this and it’s not wrong, but IMO the new generation of MPCs is much more of a groovebox at the end. IMO it’s a groovebox, which can do also well as a DAW. We aren’t forced to use it like this. We can use it just as the vintage machines and enjoying a larger display with much higher resolution … and in color 
Just to have it recommended as others: The SP404 is a great sampler with great hands-on sound mangling and re-sampling capabilites, which I miss on the MPC. That said … guess what … I use both
MPC One+
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MPC One (+)
It can do everything you want. Workflow is fairly simple and straightforward. This workflow has been used in hip hop for decades now, including by Nujabes. Check out some videos, though, because there are people who think it’s a bit complicated.
SP404 is less straight forward, but very much like Koala Sampler in some ways, so if you like Koala you might like it.
I personally think that if you’re going to make hip hop beats and you want to use one machine and one machine only MPC One (+) is much more versatile and direct.
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MPC (One/One+/Live/Live 2)
Maschine Mk3/Maschine+
MPC 1000
MPC 2500
I began my quest for the Nujabes sound with an MPC 1000 and it was my gateway drug into electronic production.
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Agreed. The SP404 MK2 is a great fit.
The repitch on that is fantastic. A weakness in the 404 OG, 404A/SX and 303 in that range. The onboard resampling options on the other ones I mentioned are noticeweak. Yet in that scene a lot of people work around this by pairing two other SP models that can be had cheap.
EG, I’ve had a 404 MK2, but liked the 202->404OG workflow better.
Main deficiency you’ll notice with any of these is that the sequencer is terrible and makes the SP-1200’s look good in comparison. Fortunately, MIDI addressable pads mean that is easy to sequence from a DT or another Elektron box.
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Yeah I owned the smpltrek and lofi 12 (original) but sold them both. The workflow on both was really weird and the buttons felt bad.
The smpltrek is less of a sampler and more for recording audio parts and its limited overall. It would be kinda good to record guitar playing and vocals but it’s just a really crappy version of a DAW at that point.
For beat making the Lofi 12 XT looks a lot better but I’m not a big fan of the constant 12 bit sound. I like Lofi stuff and use bit crushers and sample rate reducers all the time but I like using them on my terms. But it does look like a better overall device than the SmplTrk, and what most people thought the SmplTrk was going to be.
But I’d still recommend the SP-404 MK2. It’s much more fun, sounds better, and I found it to be quicker to work with. Plus it works really well with Koala.
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Can’t go wrong with either MPC or 404MKII!
The MPC is better at finishing full tracks in my opinion though. If you do go MPC, pick up the MPC Bible. It helped me when starting out with workflow and terminology.
Also, a big update is coming soon for the MPC!
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it does have that pseudo slice machine now though… a head such as yourself or giraffe could work it out 
sht is gonna blow your mind then*… I kid you not… in addition to being an exquisite instrument itself no matter what else you get it won’t become useless, it will combine with any other instrument you get wonderfully and they will enhance one another.
that said the mpc one is definitely not an iPad, it has the core mpc workflow and a bunch of other stuff on top that doesn’t get in the way in the least because of the compartmentalized way the mpc works… no need to get into anything you don’t want to get into and you can go directly to the parts that you want to go to/work with…
simply put it’s a stunning amount of value and quality … unmatched.
and you don’t even have to use the akai plugins… use the auto sampler feature and make your own from any software plugins or hardware you like easy… and for free.
before you get a DT1 make sure you understand the differences…
Yeah get a 2500 or 1000 with jjosxl…super fast to work with, everything you need nothing you don’t.
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Ok guys,
So to update you all,
I’ve dug deeper:
Over Digitakt and Sp404 I prefer the Akai, don’t know about the One or One+ or Live 2
But I’d go with that, seems to keep a lot of things together and for 9.99 (if I understood correctly) I can buy the stem splitter thing which I like.
Still, the compact form factor and the fact that they go used for less than Akais or Digitakt keeps me attracted to the Sonicware products.
BUT I don’t understand the differences, there is no sheet with the comparison on their website. Couldn’t they just make a Smpltrek XT?
I like the pianoroll of the Smpltrek but also the background recorder of the Lofi 12 XT.
Also, probably it’s easier to use an Akai with the touchscreen than them, but I don’t know, I’m always kind of attracted to portable gear. Seems fun to take things with you and enjoy on train rides to do sketches.
So yeah, now I’m stuck between them, will try to understand better the sonicware ones.
Will keep you updated, you are always nice and friendly, thanks so much
Thought about this but also have read that who went from the 1000 jjos to the One would not go back
Thank you so much captain for the answer, really want to get my mind fucked by some gear, however I think that I’ll go with the Akai over the Digitakt, as you say, I can just skip the parts I’m not interested in and work with the ones I actually need while keeping the other for later, maybe
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A big update means like a new hardware or new software?
If you are mainly attracted to akai and portable, only live and live 2 have the rechargeable battery so you can scratch one and one + off the list.
In my experience, if you are picky about specifics of the samples, sampling and the overall sound palette like I usually am, there is no one box that will get you all the way there.
I think it’s like everyone has said, there are devices which get you close in one package and if you like the flavor of the MPC plug ins it’s a good device.
I cannot say I like my live 2 better than my digitakt, it’s just different. Either way, there’s usually a second sampler involved with a lower bit resolution and it’s always a headache.
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I don’t care much about the sample rate, it’s more about the ease of use.
As I said in another answer I don’t understand the differences, they aren’t well explained…
So, no global tracks and less tracks but what about everything else, man I don’t know honestly, maybe via email they can tell me more