We had Discussions about the best portable devices I know but I think it‘s time to reconsider. It‘s 2025 and I am searching for something portable, small that can almost do everything. Battery powered is a must. Sampling, synth, creative sequencing. Now we have things like the OP-xy, but I think the synths are lacking and its way too expensive.
I am thinking if the perfect setup might actually still be an Ipad but combined with an battery powered sequencer like the OXI one Mk2. I don‘t know how close it can get to the likes of step components of the OP-xy?
What are your thoughts? Setups?
1 Like
Digitakt II seems to cover lots of bases. Use a powerbank and you’re off.
6 Likes
iPad running Groove Rider 2 + Circuit Tracks + Launchpad Mini.
nothing latest & greatest, just working & stable.
sort of downside – requires stacking two powered USB hubs, otherwise Tracks doesn’t start. anyway, no big deal.
3 Likes
I have a Syntakt and I am always a little bit hesitant to use a Powerbank. Somehow I think it‘s unreliable. Maybe I should give it a try.
If you are going to look at a screen anyway, just use a laptop, it checks all the boxes you mentionned and much more. Plus, it’s a lot cheaper.
5 Likes
Why would you sully and stymie the immense power of iPad sequencers with some limited physical sequencer?
But they are quaint in their limits I guess.
I would also suggest that the language of ‘ultimate’ or ‘best’ is completely personal and subjective.
Now having said all that, the correct answer is Groove Rider 2 & a Launchpad mk3 neatly nestled into a Pelican laptop case.
2 Likes
This is a valid point, but somehow I am not able to find cool sequencers that match something like the elektrons or the op-xy one. …not true the fors ones are great thou
1 Like
There are always one or two functions that I think I don‘t find somewhere else. The groove function combined with the velocity ratchets on the OXI one are cool. Not that complex but together.
1 Like
Oh definitely. And those sequencers are very cool. And I’m sure you could squeeze one in my Pelican case and be good to go.
And gear that lights up and blink are always awesome.
Edit - the Roland P6 & ipad/phone combo is pretty good.
1 Like
laptop and iPad are VERY different beasts – despite the fact that both have screens.
i’ve happily made iPad the centerpiece of my portable setup at some point – but would not do that with a laptop even if my same sized laptop had enough computing power.
somehow laptops running any DAWs make me feel like it’s early 2000s and i’m stuck there.
4 Likes
If anything, a battery is more reliable and safer than the power network which can produce sudden spikes in voltage and, depending on the cabling in your house, may also introduce noise.
3 Likes
Yeah the fors ones and a lot of others also made with max for live. Stepic is also very cool. You can also make one with bitwig or max.
Though, my ultimate choice for a portable hardware setup would be the M8.
1 Like
Cool calculator
8 Likes
The Deluge is the answer, for me anyways. I’ve tried so many other pieces of gear for this task and everything always fell short in some way. Mind you I just got the Deluge but it’s checking ALL the boxes.
2 Likes
any pics of that setup? sounds cool
No I never got the case because I don’t do that ‘portable’ thing. If I’m going out somewhere it’s to do something - hike with my dog, ride my mountain bike, go fishing, run errands, do stuff with friends… far too busy to make music while I’m enjoying life.
The moments I’m waiting in line or chilling somewhere grabbing a bagel and need to make music I just use koala on phone.
That whole chilling in the park thing or climbing to the top of the mountain to make an impromptu dawless techno jam is probably cool if you are stuck inside all the time (work at home or an office, then at home more for life).
But I don’t suffer from a life lived mostly indoors so I’m more than happy to finally get home to some computers and DAW’s and touchscreens on my groove boxes.
But the idea is simple - Velcro the iPad and launchpad in there, hide the battery bank and hub/wires underneath, hide my Bluebox under there in case a mini synth or sampler wants to come along.
1 Like
On the purely digital machines (Digitakt/Digitone/Octatrack) using an external battery has been flawless for me. The Analog Rytm doesn’t work well, it pulls more wattage than my adapter cable can provide, and last time I tried the A4 with a previous cable it also had glitches probably due to not being provided enough power.
Not sure how the Syntakt would fare in all of this, it has parts of the AR circuitry but it probably pulls less power.
Cool, I tried to enjoy SP-404 mk2 outdoors sometimes but it was pretty shite. I’m going to get that chinese anbernic console to run headless M8 so I can use it in bed though. Plenty portable and cheap for my taste.
2 Likes
give it a year and there will be something better to spend your money on, I’m sure.
5 Likes