u/papadoc55

So I bought the Move so that I could sketch song ideas without a phone...on my couch or on a plane.. anywhere. I wanted an inspiration tool, not a full fledged DAW. For its purpose, I'd give the Move a 10 of 10. Quick and easy to use and navigate, great build quality - especially after trying the Yamaha Seqtrak.

Then I bought the Ableton Note app. For 7 USD. It essentially does everything the Move does but includes 4 additional tracks.

THEN I bought the M Wave FM-1 because it was only 50 USD and my favorite Austrian from Bad Gear convinced me it was worth it solely as a fun instrument that recreates the old Yamaha DX and frankly I loved it as is.

Then the firmware race began a week or two ago. I put Baud Girl on it and suddenly it felt like a much better instrument (certainly better to look at).

And finally Sloop came along, swept me off my feet and I've now got a 4 track groove ox for 50 that does 85% of what the Move did for a tenth of the price.

I hate Ableton Live... Anything I create on either device would eventually be replaced in studio by Native Instrument VSTs... and a 430 difference in price paid is just too much to argue for keeping the Move. So while I love it... And I do. I will likely by a second FM-1 to keep as a backup and just use this lil guy to sketch songs on. For the old heads out there... You WILL need reading glasses.

Also, for those nervous about Sloop.. you can quickly revert back to stock firmware directly from the Sloop Installer page.

I know there are many comparisons and discussions already out there regarding these two samplers and I've already done quite a bit of research on both. My question is relative to current price / value.

I'm looking for a simple, fun device that's highly portable and will allow me to make song sketches and put down song ideas from my couch, or while traveling for work. I bought a used Native Instruments Maschine mk3 a few months back, in the hopes of using that as my travel / couch device, but the weight/size of the unit, in addition to having to have my laptop with me at all times, makes it too much of a PITA to travel with and too large to use anywhere without a table. I since have added the S49 mk3 keyboard to my studio and rarely use the Maschine.

After everything I've seen and read thus far, the MPC Sample is the device that seems the most capable / closest in form/function to an MPC One / Maschine like device from which I'm coming, so I've been leaning towards the MPC, but the KO II is 30% off right now at $230 from Guitar Center (and TI's website), making it damn near HALF the price of the MPC.

So my question is one of usability and value - based on the prices currently ($400 for MPC Sample, and $230 for KO II), which should I go with?

Quick question for anyone who has had to send their Kobtrol S series keyboard in for warranty replacement/repair. How long does that process usually last?

I imagine their running very thin organizationally right now - especially in non revenue generating departments like Warranty repair... But the lack of communication is maddening.

I got a B stock unit from Reverb NI store as a gift from my work and had it for all of 2 days before noticing an issue (3 specific keys just did not work).

Reached out with issue April 22. Finally they Opened a ticket April 29, and i shipped the unit on April 30th and they received it May 4th.

I emailed them to see if they'd received it and they said yes, sending you a replacement tomorrow and you will receive an email with shipping details... That was May 11. I emailed on May 14 advising I hadn't seen anything. Today is May 18 and no response.... No keyboard.

I'm new to NI, and fell in love with the VST catalog, the Maschine mk3 and for the two days I had it... LOVE the S49 mk3. Just frustrated I guess and needed to vent/ask the group if this is par for the course.

Been playing for over a year but for the first 8 months only in small 20 to 30 minute intervals. Was terrible. Finally figured some things out and got the sword... got to the first boss and was quickly dispatched. Ever since, I feel like I cant get powered up enough to put up much of a fight against the boss... best gun I've found since was maybe a level 3? Should I just start over? Am I just terrible? I switched my jump to a shoulder trigger and that has helped, but it seems I just cant get strong enough to outcast the c--t at the end of the first biodome.

Housemarque is my favorite studio... Super Stardust to Resogun and now Returnal have all been my most played games and I will be getting Saros, but was hoping to finally see the second buodome at some point before moving on.