I have been looking at the Dirtywave M8 specs and it’s impressive how much you can get out of that tiny device.
Now, the programmable tracker approach is something that I don’t dig that much and I was wondering if anyone is making a groovebox (with physical pads and encoders) that has the same sound design features as the M8, a sequencer and the same sampling capabilities.
I saw that there is an M8 headless project that kind of could make that viable. Has anyone ventured in that direction?
Such a device doesn‘t exist.
OP-Z and OP-XY come closest, but not really near.
I asked the dev once if he would be interested in making such a thing because whomever does would make alot of money and make alot of people happy, the response was not as enthusiastic as I’d hoped because out of all people he would be the perfect one to do it… maybe putting in a request with him might help him to see other folks interest in the same thing… He’s a great dev and it couldn’t hurt to ask.
yeah, good point. I just sent him an email. But if he already told you that he’s not interested in building such a device, we are probably better off looking for alternatives.
The Polyend stuff looks somewhat similar but their only portable device is the Mini, which really looks like a clone of the M8. All their products that have pads and encoders are not really portable.
The TE stuff is quite weird. Yeah they somehow fit into that category… but I can’t find a reason to justify the cost of their devices.
Personally I think it’s a bit rude to be asking T80 to make something different before putting a decent effort into learning M8. Part of the reason it’s so good is because he is focused on it exclusively rather than spreading himself thin. There’s nothing quite like it, grab a teensy and give headless a shot, it’s not as hard as it looks!
Mclovin has a great point, also I was quite scared of learning that but it’s quite easy. IMO the best menu system for a groovebox
I have been using trackers since the early 90s, I know very well how that works. And I am pretty sure I no longer want to program my music that way. But having a tracker as the engine and a good physical interface on top of it would be ace. If you think about it, some Elektron products are pretty much close to that philosophy.
Polyend Tracker is the closest I’ve seen. I found it much easier to digest and get going, but it lacks some of the depth. The pads aren’t exactly ‘pads’ but work great for their intended use, and there’s not a lot of encoder action going on.
Perhaps the M8 plus a good knobby controller and keyboard? Not a single-box solution but you get more say in some of the design and configuration choices.
that’s not how being rude works…
I have Polyend tracker mini and it’s absolutely amazing. I’ve discovered the macro synth part that opens a whole new sonic world and you can do full records with it, I’m pretty sure.
And the best, the workflow. I miss a little bit the jogwheel but it’s fast to program. Polyend makes a very intuitive machines. For me, is a joy to make music in it. I use it at work, at home, in the studio, it has a very decent battery… fantastic.
tracker mini is nowhere as good as m8 in any way imo. apart from the reverb is nicer.
I find m8 much easier to use too, tho that’s a personal thing I reckon. ymmvvvv 
Another tiny groovebox, its EOL now I still see in in some shops
You didn’t mention this in the original post, but it sounds like you want the encoders and pads but still have it as portable as the M8? Such a device definitely doesn’t exist. It’s a choice between size/portability and playability/knobs/pads.
How portable does it need to be? Will you mostly be using it at home, or do need it to be pocketable?
If they made a version with pads I’d be right back in with another purchase.
I don’t think that’s the direction T80 is going in though. I also think the M8 community has really benefited from the singular focus on the one device (and its revised versions). The software updates over the years have and continued to be amazing.
the opXY is close to what you’re asking for in some ways, not in all tho.
The current crop of MPC’s probably offer the most features on the market, with different synth plugins, excellent sampling features, etc., and it is definitely not the tracker workflow. If you want it more portable, you can get an MPC Live which has a built in rechargeable battery, or the smaller MPC One, and power it with a power bank.
I’d be all in as well, yeah if T80 isn’t into it he’s not but if he should ever wish upon a hair of his chinny chin chin to make another beatmachine or anything for that matter that is not a M8 I hope the community would be supportive and allow him to create anything 
I can just see his DM’s now… “you better not be creating nothing else overthere buddy” haha… … anyways anytime anyone talented like that is on the scene people are bound to appreciate it and wonder what else they might be capable of… no offense is intended
Yeah I did not mention it but portability is what I am looking for. It should be something that I can put into a bag and carry around. So it can’t be too big or weigh too much. I guess the size of a Digitakt or even the form factor of the EP-133 would do. Something that size and not too heavy