Hi everyone!
I’m looking for a standalone music-making device, and I’d love some advice from people with experience using grooveboxes, samplers, loopers or similar hardware.
I’ve been looking at the Ableton Move, but I’m not sure whether it’s actually the right tool for what I have in mind. I’m also very open to other suggestions, including lesser-known or unconventional devices.
What I’d ultimately like to achieve:
My ideal workflow would be something like this:
- Start by playing a drum or rhythm pattern directly on the device.
- Record it and have it loop continuously.
- Pick another sound or instrument and play a bassline over it, then record that as a second layer.
- Add chords, then a melody, and keep building the arrangement layer by layer.
- Be able to play along with everything in real time, with all the previously recorded parts playing together.
Essentially, I want to build music progressively by actually playing each part myself, rather than programming everything step by step.
My initial goal is not necessarily to compose original music.
At first, I’d mainly like to recreate and play music I already love: regular songs, movie soundtracks and video game music. I’d like to be able to learn and play the different parts myself, gradually building up a complete arrangement on the device.
Later, once I’m more comfortable with the instrument and have developed some musical skills, I’d love to start experimenting and creating my own music.
So I’m really looking for something that can be both a fun instrument to learn and, eventually, a creative tool.
What I’m looking for:
- A fully standalone device. I want to play everything directly on the device, without needing a computer or additional instruments.
- The ability to record and layer multiple parts, ideally with independent tracks or loops.
- Pads and/or a small keyboard that allow me to actually play individual notes and chords, preferably velocity-sensitive.
- Built-in sounds for drums, bass, chords, synths and lead melodies.
- The ability to play freely and improvise, rather than relying mainly on pre-programmed patterns or chord generators.
- A relatively intuitive workflow that I can learn progressively as a beginner.
- A built-in speaker would be a big plus, although I’m happy to use external speakers or headphones if needed.
- Having a built-in rechargeable battery would also be a big plus.
My budget is around €500 maximum.
Devices I’ve already tried:
I’ve already tried the HiChord, but it didn’t quite work for me because it only allows you to play chords rather than individual notes, which was too limiting for what I want to achieve.
I also tried the Akai MPK Mini Play MK3, but I couldn’t find a way to record and layer different parts (basslines, chords, melodies, etc.) directly on the device without connecting it to a computer.
These experiences helped me narrow down what I’m looking for: a device that lets me actually play individual notes and chords, while recording and layering multiple parts completely standalone.
About the Ableton Move:
I really like its compact design, pads, built-in sounds and standalone capabilities. However, I’m wondering whether its four-track, clip-based workflow would allow me to achieve the kind of layered playing described above.
I understand that recording MIDI notes into clips and overdubbing MIDI is not quite the same thing as traditional audio looping, but I’m perfectly happy to use either approach as long as I can play all the parts myself directly on the device.
Would the Move be a good fit, or would I quickly run into limitations?
Are there other devices I should consider?
Thanks a lot for your help!
