Grooveboxes: EXPLAINED

[@GabeMillerMusic]

Quick (anticipated) FAQ: - *Why the purple hair?* I had some purple hairspray left over from the cyberpunk video last year, and just wanted to feel fancy. - No, this video was not sponsored by Novation, I just usually use the Circuits as examples to explain grooveboxes to people I know in real life, so it just made sense to use them as examples here too. - *What groovebox should I get as a beginner?* Check out this recent video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/d6KWqqmbg72hh9U

[@yellowchristian3858]

Hi Gabe - just wanted to thank you for this explanatory video. I've just bought a Polyend Play and am having difficulty getting my head round it coming from a DAW (Cubase) composition background. Though there are plenty of Play tutorials on KZbin, none really take it from a complete beginners stance. So having someone explain what a Groovebox actually is has been really helpful to me and I can begin my Groovebox exploration with a little more confidence and maybe not be too harsh on myself for not fully understanding it's capabilities as yet. Here's to the journey...

[@A_Force_Truly_Evil]

I had from the late 90's to the early 2000's some Roland and Korg grooveboxes, without a doubt the most fun gears to use without complications. Circuit Tracks and early electribes were my favourites.

[@dkmu6]

I have esx1. I really love it. Really flexible to crafting sound. Only samples management is terrible compare to modern hardware.

[@A_Force_Truly_Evil]

@@dkmu6 Yes, I had it, it's great. I still have the EMX-1!

[@damelos4039]

Very educational and informative. Do more videos like this, Gabe.

[@GabeMillerMusic]

Glad it was helpful!

[@nikolassehman]

For those wondering, Skrillex does not use ableton anymore in his live shows. He uses 4x Roland CDJs, and all tracks are bounced to stereo. This makes his shows feel more like a traditional DJ, and less like an EDM Producer.

[@GabeMillerMusic]

Yup, I probably should have mentioned that that's what he USED to do but doesn't anymore. Thanks for bringing it up

[@geraldclark5812]

I realized (old guy here) that in the synth world the term "Mono" is really used in 2 contexts: Monophonic vs Polyphonic for synths, and the old audio term Monaural vs. Stereophonic. It wasn't until the mid-60's that records were most commonly released in Stereo, as audio equipment prices dropped into the "college dorm" range. Nice video, thanks!

[@GabeMillerMusic]

Yup. There's a lot of synth terminology that bleeds into grooveboxes since there's a lot of crossover of manufacturers and users

[@goosegaskins]

Thank you for this! I’ve been struggling with the final piece of my music creation, and I’ve been trying analog synths so far. I’m now thinking groovebox might be the best option.

[@Pheonix0114]

Thanks for making this, would have been very helpful when I was starting out

[@BROKEN-G0VT]

Right now I'm exploring the Dawless setup with a Korg Valca Beats, a Td 30 Mo and a Behringer analog 12 input mix hooked to an amp. It's pretty fun a challenging TBH, I love how I'm not distracted and all, getting pretty good at it.

[@feronous8207]

My first groovebox was a Korg Monotribe!!! still have still love it haha

[@jackphoton]

If people still know what a player piano is, they make good analogies. The paper scroll is akin to a sequencer program; except you can program live and instead of playing a piano, the groovebox will play any sound its given or can generate onboard. If kids don't know what player pianos are, then the analogy works well trying to explain this tech to older folk. lolz.

[@le-hu]

dude great informative video! thanks!!!

[@mattcero1]

Great videos Gabe. I'd like to get a stand-alone groovebox to get some background sound in my talking head videos. New and used, what would you say your 1st and 2nd placed boxes be? Thank you Gabe or anyone else.

[@GabeMillerMusic]

Thanks! My first and second would probably be the Circuit and Roland MC-101. I think the Circuit is more user friendly but the 101 sounds better. I literally did use the Circuit to make like a 10 minute background track that slowly evolves for videos, so that might be perfect

[@batphink2655]

Hi Gabe being an 'Old School' songwriter/musician this would help explain why I can barely find an actual Drum Machine these days lol! I just bought a brand new Yamaha FGDP (Finger drumpad) only to find it has no 'Quantize' or sequencing function .What would you suggest primarily for drums? Thanks great video btw it helps lol!

[@greghoskins9237]

Thanks dude I am super new used to mess around with do studio but I couldn’t figure out why I didn’t want to get on it sometimes I think it’s because I didn’t want to look at a screen. Looking at the teenage engineering ko ll for my first groove box, is this a bad choice ?

[@jaydeepalmer]

Hi Gabe! I have a question, or maybe a video request: You often mention Splice, which brings the topic of sample management: is there a quick way to download the samples and audition them? I love Splice but when I download samples it quickly gets messy, since i never know exactly what I got! That gets in the way of creativity big time, because i'll have to spend hours in front of a screen to manage samples 😅 Btw, kudos to you and your 5$ sample pack, everything is very well laid out and i quickly get what i need without having to search too much 😊 Wish every sample pack was laid out like that!

[@blastofo]

Can you do complex and nuanced percussion, like fast tempo snare triplets, and jazzy stuff? How would you fit them into a row of only 8 buttons? Currently I have to use pre-recorded beats or buy an electric drum set.

[@namdinh1540]

Do you know what is the smallest groovebox right now in the marketplace?

[@darklinaleelee]

Hey Gabe, I love your videos. Do you know or any music box, chimey, xylophone sound packs or patches exclusively for Circuit Tracks? Think Melanie Martinez, Jazmin Bean, Ashinkko, Creepy Halloween esque stuff? If not could you make one? :3

[@ThatBonsaipanda]

Good stuff as always Gabe. Don't mind me, just adding random engagement. :D

[@sofiejensen3804]

Thanks for this video. I want something with buttons which can do all at the same time... for a beginner. I also work with computers so it is nice to be able to leave the computer behind.

[@Justin-ty2ld]

I'm surprised you've (seemingly) never messed around with the Synthstrom Deluge. Have you ever considered it? If not, why not?

[@GabeMillerMusic]

I've taken a few steps in that direction, but it might be a while. I've got other projects/tangents I'm more excited about at the moment, and tbh I find the Deluge's interface intimidating. I'm sure it won't be too bad once I really dig into it, but I'd need be sure I have the time and focus to devote to it.

[@Justin-ty2ld]

RSKT has an excellent multi part youtube video manual for the Deluge if you ever get it. I've found that the interface isn't as intimidating as it seems, though I still have a lot more to learn. But it looks sooo pretty and is really fun to play with!

[@gravityhammer25]

I love my Electribe 2

[@guilhermematta]

Hi! Can you Help me? Do you know if I can put a whole song to release live? I ask this because I would like to use it sometimes as a V.S. player I asked this on Roland MC101 video. But i was looking in this vídeo and i wanna know if novation circuit rhythm can do this. Exemple, i wanna relesh a 6min song in live, i can do this?

[@GabeMillerMusic]

The Novation Circuit can't do that, it has a pretty limited amount of sample time per pack (the Rhythm has 222 seconds if I recall correctly, the Tracks has even less). The MC-101 is probably not ideal for that either. You might have better luck with an MPC One or something similar.

[@guilhermematta]

@@GabeMillerMusic Thanks A LOT !!!

[@SwiftDreamer]

FL Cameo ❤❤

[@elihugarret3424]

Love your hair!

[@SonicVibe]

O man I loved the tracks I just want a synth that’s not a decade old why I ultimately sold it

[@GabeMillerMusic]

Fair enough!

[@fr4ctl]

Maybe get the Novation Circuit Rhythm? :D

[@SonicVibe]

@@fr4ctl actually rebought the tracks and enjoying it after editing some synth sounds it’s a old synth but still very useable it was user error

[@SonicVibe]

@@fr4ctl if the rhythm was polyphonic instead of chromatic I just might but I need the polyphony so the tracks suits me better and works better in a larger setup

[@edtuckerartist]

Within two minutes you just confused people that don't know the difference between the Circuit Tracks and Circuit Rhythm. So for those people: The Rhythm has eight sample based tracks and no synth tracks (also the samples are mono). 😉

[@GabeMillerMusic]

Yeah this wasn't meant to be highlighting any specific gear for its own sake, but you're correct... The Circuit Tracks has polyphonic synth tracks and monophonic/mono drum tracks, the Circuit Rhythm has all monophonic/mono sample tracks. I just showed b-roll of the Circuit Rhythm where I did because I thought it was a good example of flexible, on the fly live performance to use to demonstrate what I was saying at that moment.