There’s no distinction for me … but whatever.
Well you probably own a Deluge and good for you…
dude the sp1200 isn’t even a groovebox
5 Likes
I dunno. Workstation is a term that’s usually used for those huge music production keyboards.
2 Likes
But when i think of the definition - its known for groove and in a box?!
Your definition (and a popular one) if you have a sampler and a synth it instantly becomes a groovebox. For me - no. Its a workstation.
It’s definitely in a box
6 Likes
Lol…
I just dont think of the Deluge as ‘groove’ in the same way i think of the MPC60 or SP1200 - they are the 'king of groove"…Nobody ever buys a Deluge for the groove/swing aspect, they buy it to nerd out on the possibilities but the majority then settle for the ‘Boards of Deluge’ sample pack and call it a day. Danny who did the House sample packs on this did an amazing job infairness. I find little enjoyment with FM synthesis but it does show the power of the box by a relative few. Anyhow for me its not a groovebox and thats fine, agree or not, just a bit misleading. The title is some
Self fulfilling prophecy. There also seems an upturn in posts and videos suddenly bigging up the Deluge this past couple of months…units to shift?
2 Likes
That must be the advances in firmware due to open source.
1 Like
…same here…as @jones79 says… when it comes to groove, there’d be no deluge on my list…
it has a standalone workstation approach, an open firmware and lot’s and lot’s of multicoloured knobs…so far, so good…
king of sampling grooveboxes must offer decent fingerdrumming pads alongside with a sturdy superflexible hw sequencer, mpc like OR an klak klak zak zak workflow with a sturdy, superflexible stepsequencer concept like elektrons…anything else is nice to have, but don’t sit anywhere near to a throne…so, there is no “still”, never was…
it’s just another “nice to have” item…no real music instrument essential…
while sure, some people love the oxi lab like sequencing concepts and heaps of blinking lights…to each their own…never was my cup of tea…
and yes, if somebody says, the rytm is the queen of groove boxes and tempest is king, i’ll sign it…
meanwhile, my old mpc running jjos is all it needs to really groove…
2 Likes
The original Roland grooveboxes didn’t have big pads. They were step sequencers weren’t they?
2 Likes
Let’s just replace the words Sampling Groovebox with “electronic music equipment that can record and sequence samples”.
3 Likes
or ‘workstation’ for short.
1 Like
Except that for a lot of people ‘work station’ implies 49+ keys, a screen and trillions of encoders, pots and buttons …
… and (also for a lot of people) ‘groove box’ includes devices like Deluge, MC-101, model:cycles, digitakt, etc, in fact anything that facilitates setting up a repeating rhythm, pretty much.
EDIT: I think Roland might have invented the term ? They certainly set the template.
1 Like
Someone has expended quite a few words to let us know they don’t groove with the Deluge!
6 Likes
I agree with that, I got the Deluge after saving up for a bit and felt down. As a synth it’s pretty unspectuclar, you really need to fork out for the boards of deluge sounds and while worth it, it’s an additional cost you’re going to pay. Unless you’re just good at synthesis, but then I get a better synth really. As a sampler, its OK, it’s again usable but not something I buy again for that aspect. The best part is the sequencer, and this is where it shines. Like many grooveboxes, its a jack of all trades and master of none, but its one of the better ones out there. However, is it worth the cost?, I say probably no for me if I had to buy it again.
2 Likes
Yes, exactly. Some of y’all pontificating pedants need to be reminded of the history. 
As you can see in this video, the MC-303 had the word “Groovebox” printed right on it in a luxurious 90’s psychedelia-revival font. Roland also registered the website rolandgroove.com to promote it. And said the word “groove” numpty-seven times in the promo video.
So you can get semantic about the true meaning of “groove” all you like, but it won’t change the fact that Roland set the archetype for a whole category of products, and they (rightly or wrongly) called it groovebox.
So just like an egg cream has neither egg nor cream in it, but will forever be known by that name nonetheless, a groovebox doesn’t necessarily have to have “groove” in it.
OK, back on topic:
I don’t think this is a category that has just one king. It’s like a feudal kingdom with multiple regional lords.
Deluge and Play+ are rulers of the big grid sequencer format.
MPCs lord over the land of 4x4 pads and 16-level velocity
Tracker and M8 are the twin baronies of precision tracker sequencing
MC-707 and SH-4d are the inheritors of the x0x birthright from the noble House of Roland
The Digitakt lands are in a happy, and very productive, valley between the tracker domain and the x0x motherland
Blackbox is the tiny splinter nation where you get 80% of what you wanted an MPC for, but without any pads
OP-1 is the viceroy to people who find abstraction inspiring
etc. etc. etc.
I think it’s awesome and magical that within the family tree of this one Roland device we now have such a variety of amazing and inspiring tools. They all have their strengths and weaknesses. I think the question of which one is the best is academic. If you know what you want to do and accomplish, and the features that will support you in that, then that knowledge will guide you to the proper barony for you. It’s like asking “what is the best synth?” vs “what is the best synth if I want to create slowly-evolving pads with lots of movement that isn’t coming from filter-sweeps?”
Know thyself, and choose a kingdom accordingly.
13 Likes
Not to mention it’s highly subjective … there’s a hidden, undiscussed, set of criteria for measuring “bestness” … which of course will vary person to person.
1 Like
you guys are hilarious
1 Like
I was watching that promo video. My eyes are done for the week. Im reborn. What a trip.
1 Like