OP-1 is my favorite in this category. M8 Tracker and Sonicware ELZ_1 both seem like they could be great for this as well.
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This makes the Model:Samples an interesting option for sure! 5V/1A is a lot more straightforward than 19V/3.4A which the MPC One requires, so I’m sure it will be straightforward to power it with just about any powerbank.
I did love the Elektron sequencer and it created many happy accidents, so having something like that with less clacky buttons, a much more reasonable price, and USB powerbank portable is a very compelling option.
What I’d miss compared to the MC-101 are
- Synthesis (the MC-101 has an excellent synth engine)
- Stereo sampling (not that important though given that samples can be panned and effects can be in stereo)
- Arpeggiator
- Ability to play chords
- Resampling (this is a bummer as it can lead to even happier accidents)
That said, the M:S is currently 2699 SEK compared to 4699 SEK for the MC-101, so it’s almost half price. Decisions decisions!
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Roland Verselab, Model Cycles and the 1010 Blackbox are the 3 I use most at different times.
Cycles would be even better if there was a working stand / battery pack for it in the same style as the recalled accessory.
G
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the battery powered part is a tough one for me, the only thing I’ve used like that is an iPad
edit: I love a groovebox for a sketch pad and if you upload your own home made sounds + drums, Groove Rider GR-16 is pretty great for iPad. Its basically the new Electribes minus all the issues.
M8, or an ipad for me.
op1 & mc101 are good ones too. 
love my elektrons but all that battery pack shenanigans turns me off, personally.
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I bought M:C for jamming in bed when tired of 101 sounds (and its sound capabilities and portability ofc), but I still keep on 101 in bed.
Why? when in bed I don’t wanna sound design. Scrolling through presets is another way of happy accidents and can bring new ideas, as I have Elektron sequencer with Digitakt and M:C.
And the major thing is I can internally sample my loops, or just save nice presets and resequence with Digitakt or Deluge.
Of course it depends on each person, tastes are differents, but for me 101 ftw 
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Yeah, I’m feeling more certain that it’s either the 101 or the M:S (not the Cycles). They’re very different so it’s hard to choose.
On the M:S, I’d really appreciate the p-locks (happy accidents), the immediacy, and the more than reasonable price tag.
On the MC-101, I’d really appreciate the smaller form factor, battery+USB power options, chords/scales, polyphony, the vast Roland sound palette, resampling, and the overall flexibility.
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Nothing beats the Deluge. I also have the MC-101 and while the sequencer is a pain compared to the Deluge’s piano roll, it’s incredibly portable and light. If you buy more gear it’s also a great soundbox to pair with another sequencer down the road.
Howerver, if I were only to buy one cheaper device though and didn’t plan to expand in the future, I’d consider one of the Novation Circuits. They seem to be the best combo of portability and completeness on a budget.
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I know the Op1 isn’t cheap but it is the ultimate sketch pad. I purchased my first years ago for around 550 when they were much cheaper and than sold it for 1200 when they stopped making them. I then spent about a year buying all sorts of “bedside sketchpads” (Tr6s, mc101, organelle m, blackbox, MPC live2, SP404a) looking for an OP1 replacement and ultimately realized that there is no replacing an OP1 for me when it comes to this. So eventually I swallowed my pride and purchased a new one. Highly recommend.
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Wow, you sure went through a lot of those devices I’m looking at! Would be super interesting to hear what you learned about each of them and, ultimately, what you like the most about the OP-1. That said, I simply don’t have that budget so it’s out of range for me regardless. 
Yeah, since the MPC One is my primary music making hardware coupled with my Korg Minilogue XD, the way I can sort of justify the high price tag of the MC-101 is that it also gives me a ton of new sounds, compared to the Model:Samples, which will mostly give me amazingly cool loops and song ideas from its Elektron sequencer workflow. The form factor of the MC-101 makes it more attractive for sure, just wish it was a tad cheaper…
Blackbox - the usb broke off in my unit because it’s such a tight fit. No built in battery. Need other gear to play with.
Organelle M - It’s a cool synth but I couldn’t get into making anything multitrack with Orca.
Mc101 - sound fantastic. Has so much power under the hood. Requires a lot of menu diving. Was more like a preset player for me. Liked it more as a sound module with other gear.
TR6s - really just a drum machine. Not simple to make melodies.
MPC live 2 - too much for me. I understand the appeal for someone who’s dawless, but for me I’d rather use Ableton. Too much setup and preparation. Every time I fired it up I always felt like I’d rather do it in Ableton.
SP404a - I love this thing and think it pairs perfectly with the Op1
Ultimately what I like about the Op1 is that when I turn it on it’s right where I left off. It has the 4 track tape that can be recorded to and exported over usb to sample or mix in the daw. Built in fm radio that can be sampled. Honestly, I never really feel compelled to use it amongst my main setup as it’s not the best sounding but it’s my favorite piece to use on its own.
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Yeah, since the MPC One is my primary music making hardware …
Makes a ton of sense. I have a similar setup (Minilogue + MC-101) but with the Deluge as the brain. the cool thing with the MC-101 is that on a single track you can set a different sound preset per clip. So within a single project, you can actually setup something like 4 * 16 sounds at your finger tips. Maybe more now that they added banks? This gets around the fact that you can’t change projects via MIDI Program Change messages.
Really appreciate the response! Sounds like you never had a chance to evaluate the Blackbox. What type of music do you make? I’m guessing you’re more samples based than me considering that you seem to gravitate towards samplers more than synths.
Indeed, the MC-101 seems to double as a very handy synth and drums sound module and I can see how the menu diving would slow down the workflow. And yes, I’m beginning to realize that the TR-6S is indeed just a drum machine so I’ve written than off my short list.
The Elektron boxes are similar to the OP-1 in that they start from exactly where you left off when turning them off. I loved that about the Digitone/Digitakt. That’s another pro for the M:S for me over the MC-101.
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Just to be sure, do you mean for Tone tracks? That makes it almost as powerful as p-locks on Elektron boxes if true, I had no idea! Or do you simply mean for drum (sample) tracks? The MC-101 manual really doesn’t do a good job of explaining what this machine is capable of.
Both Tone tracks and Drums. Basically you can have all of the clips and hence scenes on a track use a single preset or you can select a different one per clip (clips play mutually exclusively on the same track).
The setting in the manual:
Sound Src TRACK, CLIP
Specifies whether the track’s sound uses the settings of the track or of the clip.
* If this is TRACK, all sounds used in the same track will be in common.
* If this is CLIP, different sounds can be used for each clip
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Ah, I see what you mean. So not exactly per step within a clip, but rather on separate clips. I suppose you could leverage that through some sort of call and response type of arrangement using two separate sounds if you chain two clips together and set their lengths to be shorter than the full clip for the other tracks? So, sort of emulating a Tracker by chaining together very short clips. Though that sounds very cerebral even to my programmer ears. 
Drambo looks awesome! Need to try it.
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Yes, it looks great, but it is also great to use. I highly recommend it.
To stay on topic, for me Drambo is the perfect sketchbook. It’s perfect for this because it can be both simple and complex, so if I like a sketch I can always develop it into a complete piece in Drambo itself.
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OP-1. No cords, tiny built-in speaker, fits nicely on the lap, gravity functionality more suited to lap playing or held in one hand / played on by the other. I had a lot of fun slouching on the couch playing the OP-1. Great for improvising. My finished products, however, were crap. Not TE’s fault, just my lack of skill paired with the relative finality of committing stuff to tape.
The Digitone is my favorite, most well-used bit of gear. I tried sitting with it in my lap. Not a fun experience. I like the feel of the DN fixed on a desk. Making tracks takes, for me, a lot of concentration, and tend to get into a less-focused state of mind while slumping on the sofa.
My musical goals are modest: accompaniments for beginning band and strings students. The idea of a two-part creative process (1. Fart around on a “sketchpad” until something sounds vaguely cool, save the sketch, then 2. Move it to a DAW, combine it with other vaguely cool sounding “sketches” and add turd-polish) does not resonate with me. YMMV.
No offense to all those “lack of completion in bed” folks on the forum!
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