u/ClassicHumanPerson

I travel a lot. With extremely limited bag space.

I'm on the constant lookout for a very portable synth/groovebox that I can actually use while in transit.

It's often tight and bumpy on buses and planes when people are shoulder to shoulder. So touchscreen type things are basically out unless VERY easy to use.

I would also really like a built in battery, but it's not a complete dealbreaker because I have a good power bank (that can power my DT2 at home if needed). In an ideal world I would have a mini DT2/DN2 or similarly capable device but obviously there needs to be a tradeoff as those don't exist, and full sized ones are too big.

things to note:

-DT2/SP404 is too big most of the time. It's POSSIBLE but for now I'm looking for smaller, like something to fit in a laptop bag without taking up all the space

-Yes, I bring my laptop and have things like Pigments and Vital. But, laptops have limited time of use in flight and are very difficult to use on a bus with no tray and someone seated next to you. Plus trying to control any knobs on a VST with a trackpad when in motion is just not worth it. (Its also why I don't even bother with iPad VSTs, since they'd be mostly used on the road)

-While Korg Volcas would be fun, I would only be able to bring one and after setting a single patch/simple groove they'd basically sit for the next few days until I'm home, kind of defeating the purpose

-I have an old PO-33. It's the MOST portable but it can be a bit of a pain to use/program. If I don't have melodic samples pre-loaded it's just an extra hassle that defeats workflow.

- briefly looked at the 1010 Fireball/Lemon Drop if I were to lean towards the synth side and away from the groovebox territory (requires my power bank)

-I used to have an OP-1 and didn't like the tape-style. Granted, I would be able to use it much better now, but I would lean more towards the OP-XY. It's just very steep price. It's money that I may rather spend on a desktop synth for home and not my "travel" synth.

- I haven't really looked at the MPC Sample or the EP-133 but there's been a lot of talk about them since the MPC Sample just came out, is there anything like those with a built in synth engine (or close enough) that's between them and the OP-XY level?

-I remember seeing things about 1010 Bento or a Dirtywave, although I don't think the tracker style of the M8 would be my best workflow as I'd have to learn everything all over again which has consistently been a creativity killer

Anyway, yes those are a lot of parameter but I'm looking for anything I may have missed or didn't know about. Perhaps anyones experience with some of those devices that may share their experiences of them actually being good for the purpose, or just any other ideas altogether.

TLDR Small travel synth or groovebox that fits in laptop bag ideally

Edit: These are some great suggestions. The more I look into some of these, I think the maxed out size would be roughly the Liven machines/Elektron Model, however ideally a smaller machine.

-I didn't love the Circuit Tracks, maybe it was too early in my journey (probably was) but I just didn't love it for some reason. I now prefer a different synth engine or a screen. I remember importing sample packs and forgetting which packs where which and having to go through a ton of sounds to just remember which pack it was. it wasted a ton of time. its probably my fault but it wasn't very friendly for "leave it alone for a week or two, then pick it back up" style of jamming.

-I think I would mostly making some lofi, ambient, and/or sample-based hiphop with tactical workflow. it doesn't need to do whole full songs, but getting a couple of core tracks down and maybe a sample loop to make a quick jam. and if its good I export and finish it in Cubase later

-The Sonicware Liven LOFI 12 and especially 12 XT peaks my interest, as does MPC Sample, and the Bentobox. For the size and price point (at least of the first two), and the synth engine of the second. I also forgot about het MC-101 for a while, I'll check that out again too.

also the woovebox looks very interesting. how does it do ALL of that? im only worried about the PO style menu diving which can be very off-putting but that amount of synthesis and whatnot is devil work. it should not be legal.

Any other suggestions along these lines greatly appreciated

I am looking for advice and personal experiences with a few analog/hybrid poly synths, BUT I need them described with arbitrary sounds.

I am currently eyeing the Novation Peak, Sequential Take-5, Oberheim TEO-5 (other suggestions welcome, however something like the Hydrasynth seems to be more of a deep dive into sound design and less immediate). I like analog warmth, lush pads, fat basses. I don't really like cold, metallic, and digital bloopy bleeps sounds.

I also really need to have a simple user interface which seems like these do.

I primarily want knob-per-function, etc. Of course, there are some menus but that's to be expected to a degree. I've read the specs, watched tons of videos, read the posts but still feel like I can't quite get the true feeling of these synths. No, I cannot go to my local music store. Almost none exist around me and none of them carry synths, but I can't throw a rock without hitting a Fender Squire.

One of the few things I am still having a little trouble locking down are the differences between the Oberheim and Sequential filters, as well as the Novation. To my understanding the Sequential Prophet-like filter can give a punchier but lush sound while Obi-Wan Heimerdinger can give a bit more growl and searing high-end? I primarily am looking to use it for things like hip-hop, Lofi, ambient, and backing rhythm for other "instrument" based music (piano, guitar).

So, as far is it goes (correct me if I'm wrong), it seems to me that:

Oberheim is like an A-10 that can give that BRRRRRTTTTTTTT when you need it, or like an F-16 doing a low pass like SCCHEEEEWWWWWWWWW squealing 50ft overhead if you wanna get into the high end, but also can have that constant background static (if you want) which is always on the radios whenever you're trying to talk

Sequential can get that punch bass like the thing 90's kids used to do when they flick their cheek and basically say "Owwww" but backwards like "Wwwohhhhh" and make it sounds like a drop of water falling into a silently still pond but in lower octaves, or have a lunch choral spread like when that random church group choir just flash mobbed your trip to Piggly Wiggly and decided its time to harmonize in the Gefilte Fish aisle

But what about the Peak? It seems like the consensus is that it has less "character" but has a great sweet spot? Like any local hipster brewpub that has an overpriced "gourmet burger" that's "farm to table" when in reality it's just got bacon jam on it...and that's the only unique thing. Like, I'm not above bacon jam, it's really good, but it's also not gonna get you a Michelin Star, Xyler. But I'm not looking for a Michelin star, I just want a good burg.

Anyway, im legitimately looking for any insight onto these or similar synths and people personal experiences even if the experience is "I LOVE THE BIG KNOB" on Take/TEO 5, or the Peak has really shiny wood, but it interfaces nicely with the computer.

In all reality I am currently leaning towards the peak for more bread-and-butter sounds (kerrygold butter, that is), and immediacy and playability. I use cubase as a DAW and would jam and tweak dawless sometimes, so if anyone has experience integrating them with a DAW too, please share.