2020’s best production stations head-to-head
It’s been a great year for breaking away from a traditional DAW setup. But which of our standalone highlights is best for your workflow?
Like fashion and the tides, trends in music technology seem to ebb and flow. Ten years ago standalone production tools like Akai’s iconic MPC range were falling out of fashion, replaced by hybrid software/ controller setups like Native Instruments Maschine and, later, Ableton Live and Push.
For a variety of reasons, including nostalgia, the resurgence of hardware instruments and an over-saturation of screens in our lives, increasing numbers of electronic musicians are moving back to computer-free music making setups that allow them to sample, sequence and compose without being tied to a screen.
It’s a close run thing between this year’s trio of standalone highlights, and each is likely to win its own distinct user base. So which fits your workflow best? Let’s take a look…
Akai MPC Live II Who’s it for?
MPCs have long been a favourite of hip-hop beatmakers, and this latest generation remains excellent for slicing samples and layering beats. The pads here are the best of the bunch (although Maschine’s are solid too) meaning the MPC Live is really nice for finger drumming and pad performance. It also has the best range of I/O of any device on this page, meaning its the easiest to slot into a wider hardware setup, particularly since it can output CV and MIDI simultaneously.
Other highlights…
With its built-in rechargeable battery, this is the most go-anywhere standalone on the market. Seeing as it’s second generation, it’s also the most established. While we generally prefer Maschine’s software overall, the hardware firmware is newer, as is Tracker, meaning both are more likely to have the odd residual bug or feature that needs fleshing out. If stability is a primary concern then the more mature MPC line is a good bet.
As a quick side note, we’ve picked the MPC Live II here as our Gear Of The Year winner, but Akai also released the smaller, more affordable MPC One in 2020. We prefer the Live for its expanded I/O and battery, but the One is still impressive.
Pair it with...
The new CV outputs would work great with a compact modular rig. Use the MPC to sequence beats and patterns, and send clocks and modulation out for some external Eurorack madness – then sample it back into the MPC!
Native Instruments Maschine+
Who’s it for?
Maschine+ is great for existing Maschine users. That might sound like damning with faint praise, but what we mean is that this is the pinnacle of the decade-long Maschine development cycle, meaning that those who already use other versions, or have found themselves tempted by existing Maschine or Komplete tools in the past, will love going further down the rabbit-hole with this self-contained, fully-rounded Maschine experience. If you weren’t sold on Maschine before though, this is unlikely to win you over.
Other highlights…
Maschine+ has the best onboard synths (Massive, Monark, FM8, etc.) and can make use of your existing library of presets. The Maschine software, both in standalone and desktop mode, is sleeker and easier to navigate than Akai’s counterpart.
Pair it with...
The audio I/O is a little lacking, but a Komplete interface offers plug-andplay expansion. We enjoy using Maschine+ to sequence and sample from hardware synths too.
Polyend Tracker Who’s it for?
Tracker is slightly different to the other two, both in being a little closer in design to a regular hardware sampler than a full standalone production station, and also its ties to the niche software tracker format. It does have built-in synths though, albeit slightly rudimentary wavetable and granular ones.
Trackers have long proved popular with breakbeat, jungle and ambient producers, and Tracker has won a lot of fans within these genres. It can do chopped beats, retro glitchiness and IDM-style experimentation brilliantly – although it’s worth exploring for other electronic genres too.
The vertical tracker sequencing format isn’t as daunting as it seems, and even users raised on traditional DAWs will get a lot out of this.
Other highlights…
While it doesn’t have a battery of its own, Tracker will run from most USB power packs for on-the-go portability. It’s the smallest, lightest instrument here too. Oh, and there’s an inbuilt FM radio you can sample from.
Pair it with…
A good pack of sampled breaks ready for slicing! There’s a MIDI output too, and the sequencer can be a good alternative for driving external synths.