Well the Korg M3M comes with two big manuals.
None of the Elektron boxes I own/owned (OT, MM and A4) match the depth of the M3. Karma alone is pretty deep.
1 Like
Spectralis is pretty deep.
2 Likes
I think in terms of possibilities the Octatrack’s open endedness is very deep, probably unparalleled in hardware ‘grooveboxes’ at least, and for many somewhat of a double edged sword, all that flexibility comes at the cost of immediacy, but as most know once you make the effort the rewards are there.
1 Like
Before going for “the deepest machine”, I feel like it would be (even more) interessant to discuss about everyone’s definition of depth.
For me it is first about creating / transforming sounds further and further. Think numerous automations / modulations, but also resampling for instance.
It’s also about being offered to do so relatively easily, to be able to tame the complexity.
Depth is a thing only if you manage to use the different parts altogether on a daily basis. It has to be reachable.
Last thing is about to be able both to replay what you manage to craft the day before, but also leaving the opportunity to take it further with some clever interaction.
For me, Octatrack is the obvious deepest machine I own. The own I play with at gigs, that keeps surprising me.
But a duo with Novation SL mk3, a powerful synth such as Peak or Rev 2 and a decent sampler could go pretty far as well.
1 Like
I don’t understand, what do you mean by “open endedness”?
The way it can be configured, the way that it can be played, and the combinations of this.
deepmind 12 ??
I’d say the deepest synth for the money is the Kurz K2000, then maybe the Casio VZ-1, E-Mu Morpheus/UltraProteus and Yamaha FS1R.
You can also do pretty crazy things in an E-Mu Ultra series sampler with layering, Z-plane filters, modulation matrix etc.
2 Likes
well.
iff we disregard modular environments that run on dedicated hardware, like Nord Modular / Kyma / Axoloti (poor man’s Kyma 
), and FM machines, which are „deep“ by design due to the synthesis method complexity…
… then the machine that surprised me most is E-Mu Command Station (from E-Mu Proteus 2000/2500 family, repeatedly mentioned above & below).
even despite its sequencer is not the most sophisticated one of that era, and it uses ROM stored waveforms instead of proper oscillators.
2nd prize: Blofeld.
3rd prize: Novation Nova Laptop / Supernova.
Currently in production? The aforementioned Kyma. I’ve been using it for 16 years and have barely scratched the surface of what it can do.
For a standalone instrument no longer in production, it’s hard to overlook the Kawai K5000, an additive monster with hundreds of envelope generators per voice.
1 Like
btw, it’s mostly true.
i always study manuals carefully before buying the gear, so i know.
VZ-1/10m is crazy. I had one, ditched it, missed its untapped potential and have no arranged to get another.
And yeah, the E-mu samplers! I owned a couple of ESI-32 units in the past, upgraded with all mod cons. They were insanely capable. I often use them as an example of how stripped down and minimal some modern gear is by comparison. You can grab an ESI-32 for a couple hundred bucks these days and it’ll give you new ideas for years to come. Z-Plane filters are the bee’s knees.
3 Likes
everyone loves Z-Plane filters.
i’m not the exception.
1 Like
My emu xl 1 has z plane filters…never stopped tattoo getting through…
3 Likes
Little Deformer 3. It’s the deepest I got anyway. The OT has the timestrech that I like but i’m recording more loops directly to the sampler anyway so hopefully I won’t miss it too much. I’ve also been experimenting with bitbox as a kind of octatrack replacement. I know… no modular:) but i quite like it. It does nice sampling. Long loops and slicing too. It does get a little expencive quickly but if you allready have a midisequencer that works (i did) you can do a lot with a filter and some effects. Also what this solution offers is to not buy it all at once.
2 Likes
the little deformer looks quite interesting looking, thank you.
i wish there was a Deluge that was as fun and immediate and deep sequencing wise as the OPZ and sounded as good as the Digitone. I find the fact that we still have drum and synth specific boxes annoying. It seems if you get an all in one box you have to compromise in flexibility or sound in some way.
2 Likes
That said, Octatrack. Lol.
1 Like
Yep, it is always a compromise “one box to rule them all” is a myth, IMHO.
6 Likes
What on earth is a z-plane filter?
Also this topic has mentioned tons of gear I haven’t even heard of…E-mu stuff gets brought up a lot so maybe I should check it out.