ilovefuzz.com

And that doesn't cost 3K.

I want to simplify my setup to (if possible) 1 hardware unit with the following features:

• poly
  digital
  multitimbral (4 parts is fine)
  sequencer (8 steps at least])
  sampler
  storage for presets
  some sort of drums

Any suggestion?

Thank you!

ps. I don't like ipads.

I have no experience with it, but for awhile I was looking at getting a Studiologic Sledge 2.0, which I think checks a bunch off your list?

Not really sure about drums or the sequencer capabilities though.

Honestly, if you're looking to do everything in one piece of gear, I think you need to go with software

It's a boring answer, and it's nowhere near as cute as the op-1, but a laptop would cover all that and more.

I don't know if it really is possible in one unit with actual keys... closest I can kind of think of would be to grab a used Nord Lead and a Digitakt. A DT isn't going to take up too much more space, has an awesome internal sequencer that can be output via Midi, and is a sampler that is awesome for drums. Nord Leads do the digital multitimbral thing beautifully.
Can't think of one unit in particular that does everything requested. Maybe you should look into some workstation style keyboards or something but I'm super unfamiliar with that whole world.

Maybe a used Korg Triton w/ the sampler board. Not sure if they ever made a 49 key version. The MOSS expansion board is also pretty rad from what I remember. I would still rock a Triton extreme if one popped up cheap enough.

Find yourself a nord modular. Editing is still way easier via a computer though.

Also a motif will do most of that, it's fairly popular in the church, gospel, and R&B worlds.

Digitone gets close with a midi keyboard but no sampler and its all FM based. Still pretty versatile. Andrew Huangs demo/review was pretty rad.

vidret wrote:op-1 with a midi keyboard?

if you find what you're looking for, let me know.

That was my first answer to myself
At that point I'd do better with just going PC or iPad I believe


Thanks for the suggestions guys, I'll take a look at each of them.

I believe the Blofeld keyboard version checks off everything on your list except drums. It can do drum synthesis or playback drum samples on one of the multitimbral channels while you play others if you sequence it externally though

There are some good options in here, but it really seems like you want an OP-1 plus a 49-key MIDI keyboard. The OP-1 is tiny, so you could velcro or tape it to the MIDI keyboard and treat it as a single unit!

ts50b wrote:I believe the Blofeld keyboard version checks off everything on your list except drums. It can do drum synthesis or playback drum samples on one of the multitimbral channels while you play others if you sequence it externally though

That one is very close to what I'm looking for!

That plus something like a Machinedrum would do the job I believe

tremolo3 wrote:

ts50b wrote:I believe the Blofeld keyboard version checks off everything on your list except drums. It can do drum synthesis or playback drum samples on one of the multitimbral channels while you play others if you sequence it externally though

That one is very close to what I'm looking for!

That plus something like a Machinedrum would do the job I believe

Yeah, that would be perfect. When I had a Blofeld module I would use it with a midi sequencer so I could have control of each multitimbral layer. If you paired the keyboard version with something like a Digitakt or Octatrack (not sure if the Machinedrum had a midi sequencer because I've never used one) you could sequence drums and a few layers of the Blofeld, then play a few more on top of that

Sledge 2.0 (can layer parts, has onboard arpeggiator & MIDI with FS keys. also has sampling, so you should be able to do some drum work. it doesn't have onboard sequencing though.)

I have a friend who got a Blofeld, and he hates the programming (he likes using the Digitakt though). I'd personally prefer the Sledge, because the controls are on the surface.

The Digitakt & Digitone seem to check a lot of your boxes and should perform better than an OP-1, which seems somewhat thin, in terms of its actual sounds.

What about an Organelle or an Empress Zoia? Perhaps you can combine a couple of these for the best results. Good luck.

Yes, that Digitakt + Digitone combo looks yummy...

tremolo3 wrote:Yes, that Digitakt + Digitone combo looks yummy...

Only thing with the digitone is that it's capped at a total of 8 voices of polyphony, and seeing as your post emphasises poly and multitimbral it might not be enough. If you want to use it for multitimbral stuff you're limited to like 2 voices per track or like 4/2/1/1 or any other combination. Might be a tad limiting if you really want to get wild.
That said I think it sounds fantastic and would be a great choice if that's not a problem for you.