Sorry, there's no device to cure horror vacui. You'll have to kick your own ass and no, you don't need a kickdrum for that.
this post was submitted on 19 Oct 2025
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Synthesizers
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I have also been looking for a synth/groove box recently. I’ve been doing deep dives in tutorials/reviews on YouTube, sweetwater, and reverb. The price point is all over the place with some sub $300 US machines that have cool features but steep learning curves to the multi $K machines that can do it all. I’m a total noob to sampling and beat making so I’m probably going to go the cheaper route and also snag a used Korg monologue synth. Here’s the few that I’ve been looking into:
There’s also the legendary Akai MPC (praise to J Dilla) for chopping samples and beat making.
If you’re into tinkering and into open source software look up Bespoke Synth. It’s digital modular synth that you can use external hardware and link to a DAW
And don’t forget you can always get a midi keyboard and use your DAW of choice.
I know bespoke synth. It's very nice, but at least I need some controller. Moreover, I don't like programming for doing music. I'm looking for something faster. Also, I found it a little buggy, with random crashes here and there. I think that for those kind of stuffs it's better staying on reliable software like puredata and derivatives
That looks super fun. Wish I had the money for one.
I studied 12 years, I don't want that someone's else algorithm writes the voicing for me 🤣
Find an old Kurzweil K2000S or K2500S. Very powerful workstation for its time. Lay down tracks immediately with presets or dive deep into sampling with wildly creative modulation and effects with high degree of mapping and control.
Everything that you describe is provided by Synthstrom Deluge. As a bonus, the software of the device is FOSS and there is a community that provides firmware updates with additional features. Have a look at it, if it is not too expensive for your budget. The only device that has similar features (but a more DAW-live experience) is the Akai MPC and Force line of products.
Was in somewhat similar position. The synth I liked most in the past was my Yamaha qy70. It was small & portable and I could use it everywhere. Few years ago started DAW'ing. Don't like being behind a computer.
Enter Teenage Engineering. I do everything with the OPxy and the OP1field. These are the size of half a laptop you can use them everywhere. Just power it on and continue on your project. I hate starting up, being bound to fixed working space, cables, ... You don't need both machines. The field is a 4 track recorder. They wanted to emulate that workflow. Everything you record on a track is as is. It's not parsmetric where you can still make adjustments to what's recorded. It has good synths. The xy is midi based sequencer. The synths are a bit less but I still get the sounds I want. My workflow is OPxy, then record to OP1f. There I add some extra sounds or beats but mainly vocals (also great vocoder).
Considere it the Apple of synths : expensive, very good at what it should do in an esthetic, minimalistic aluminum design.
Plenty of youtube vids out there. Found the ones by Cuckoo insightful. You can listen to some of my tracks here on soundcloud.