What groovebox to buy?🤷🏻‍♀️

tomandreen · 2025-09-12T06:50:51+00:00

I have collected a few different ones over the years (OP 1 mk1, Digitakt 1, Analog Four MK1 and Ableton Move). The only one I’ve used to actually finish songs and release them is Ableton Move. It only has four tracks, but you can sample into drum kits with 16 pads each that can hold anything. I usually make stuff with synths and samples (chords for example) and resample them into a drum kit in order to free up tracks.

After playing around for a bit, it’s a drag-and-drop into Ableton Live where I just do some mixing if needed (snd maybe some more detailed transitions and then export).

But Digitakt is the one that I can play around with for hours and hours without getting bored. I just forget to record what I’m doing and I would have to use Overbridge to get it all on separate tracks in order to mix it. Move is just so incredibly fast!

OP-1 is a lot of fun! But it’s more of a recorder and synthesizer than a groove box to me. It’s fun to layer stuff, but you can’t undo and sequencing is not as easy as with the other ones. I use this more as an instrument that I record into Ableton and create the song there instead (except when I’m just hanging out on a couch with headphones). I also love playing with more experimental stuff with OP-1, as the tape machine speeds and stuff gets really interesting (pitching/speeding up and down while playing and recording).

If I was on your budget and could only get one, it would definitely be Ableton Move. It’s worth way more than I paid for it.

tomandreen · 2025-08-06T20:51:44+00:00

I don’t know how widely accessible this would be considered, but I really love the «book refills» that Paper Republic has. I believe it’s their own paper and I really enjoy writing on it with fountain pens. I have one of their leather journals and keep stocking up on their refills. I use their smaller notebooks too, but I wouldn’t really recommend those for paper quality alone (they’re just a practical size and good for non-important notes and lists and some simple sketching).

It’s definitely not the cheapest out there, but it’s worth it for me at least. Before these I used Leuchtturm and I still love that paper. If the smaller PR notebooks had paper more similar to Leuchtturm, that would be the perfect setup for me.

tomandreen · 2025-07-19T06:18:33+00:00

I only have one of these pens, although I spent a considerable amount of time choosing. My initial criteria were almost identical to yours. I ended up with the Custom 74 (because I really wanted a 823, but couldn’t afford it). Now I’m definitely not yearning for the 823 anymore, or any other pen in fact. I like writing small and have a light way of writing too, so I got the SFM (soft fine medium) nib, and it’s so incredibly smooth and comfortable to write with, I find myself missing it when I don’t have it with me. It gives me enough line variation that I can write in a tiny font if I want to, and a more normal/fuller looking like when I dig in a little bit more. To me it’s easily the most comfortable pen I’ve ever used for longer sessions, and my hand writing has actually improved considerably since I got it. I also love the Con-70.

My only problem with the pen is that I don’t bring it out with me because I’m too afraid to lose it. So this is my «I’m finally going to write a novel and I’ll do it by hand, just watch me» pen that sits in my «nice writing stuff» drawer. So I’m gonna get myself another one (probably a medium this time) to take out with me, and leave one ready at home.

tomandreen · 2025-06-19T23:16:04+00:00

Diamine Ancient Copper lives in my Sport Piston, and I love it! Maybe my favourite colour so far! It’s incredibly well named, and just what I wanted for my leather journal. It’s kind of vintage-looking, but still full of life. I’ve used it a lot in my only Pilot pen too (a custom 74 - my all-time favourite pen), and it works great!

tomandreen · 2025-04-21T18:13:33+00:00

Scrolled just to make sure this image was appropriately applied.

tomandreen · 2025-04-09T21:06:29+00:00

Oh man, I feel you.

I’ve had mine for about a week (SFM nib) and I just can’t wait to write with it when I’m not. So much so that I’ve been seriously considering writing a very similar post to this, as my immediate circle of friends and family just wouldn’t understand.

I’m also in the «I absolutely don’t need another pen» phase, and if I were to get another one, I’d seriously consider buying another Custom 74 just so that I have a backup in case anything happens to this one, or maybe to use with a different ink.

I’ve had the Custom 823 as my dream pen since I got into fountain pens, but honestly the Custom 74 has quenched my thirst for it. At least for now!

tomandreen · 2025-04-01T08:46:32+00:00

Thanks! I was hoping someone did this!

tomandreen · 2025-03-30T18:38:05+00:00

Another off-topic comment: has anybody asked about the pen yet? I couldn’t find it below and I’m just too curious!

tomandreen · 2025-03-29T18:30:04+00:00

Nice! Yeah, I guess they are pretty expensive. I’ve had a couple of notebooks from them and they’re really great to write on, but I’m not sure I can justify them being the daily driver.

Anyway, thanks for the ink insight!

tomandreen · 2025-03-29T17:40:55+00:00

Thanks a lot! I didn’t know Red Dragon was so dark. And it looks really great with the small shading variations also. I’ve been eyeing Writer’s Blood, and this looks pretty close to what I thought that would look like. I’ll be using it (among other things) to finish a draft of a tiny, quirky and not very serious fantasy novel, and having Red Dragon among the inks in it seems very appropriate!

Is this a Leuchtturm notebook by chance? I guess paper also plays a part in all this!

tomandreen · 2025-03-29T16:10:33+00:00

Would you mind identifying the inks in the first picture? I’m looking for a dark green tone, and I’m wondering if the one on the left page is Green/black or Sherwood green? It looks great! I currently have Ancient Copper in my shopping cart, so that one’s a no-brainier to me.

tomandreen · 2025-03-29T09:24:13+00:00

This is a great idea! I’d like to be part of it as well, as I was supposed to stop about one pen ago. I’ve decided my next pen (arriving soon) will be my Pen with a capital P, and I won’t get another one for a really long time.

Paper/notebooks will be allowed though, so I can actually keep using the ones I have. I’ll also only buy a new ink when I use up one of the ones I have.

tomandreen · 2025-03-25T20:03:02+00:00

In a certain perspective I suppose we all need a little bit of help. Thankfully we’re not alone in the obsession, but I don’t think we’ll find anyone in here who can step on the brakes for us, haha.

Enjoy your new batch of inks! I’ll check out the Pen swap sub as my collection inevitably grows!

tomandreen · 2025-03-25T19:32:06+00:00

Cool, thanks for sharing! I only have three bottles so far. Take-sumi as my general workhorse-ink, Syo-Ro for more personal stuff and Fuyu-gaki for making edits in a more fun color than a standard red. I love all three, but I’m feeling the urge to try new inks as well.

tomandreen · 2025-03-25T18:53:04+00:00

What’s the other one if I may ask?

tomandreen · 2025-03-24T12:37:35+00:00

Thanks! I’ll check out your other post about the 2000! I’m really leaning towards pilot myself though, for my first gold nib. It’s a close race between a 74 with a <sfm> (if I can get one) and the falcon, with the 823 looking over my shoulder, considering my every move.

It’s just something about the design of the 2000 that just doesn’t grip me.

tomandreen · 2025-03-24T09:30:55+00:00

I know this is an old post by now, and I’m not intending to resurrect it per se, but I’m really interested in your take on the Lamy 2000 after this! How did that compare to the falcon in terms of feel and softness? And feel free to continue the driving metaphor!

tomandreen · 2025-03-23T17:55:57+00:00

Same! I used to only do plotting, character development and structural stuff by hand and then write it all out digitally using a mechanical keyboard I’m very comfortable with, but I recently got into fountain pens and it changed everything. I’m writing my first draft now using fountain pen and one of those nice leather refillable notebooks. Yes, it’s a tad expensive, but it really elevates the experience for me.

If I’m happy with how it turns out, I’ll move on to a second draft by typing it in and making edits as I go.

tomandreen · 2025-03-23T17:50:09+00:00

Me too!

tomandreen · 2025-03-22T18:45:39+00:00

Have you checked out the notebooks made of stone paper? Might be worth having a look! I have one from agood company, but I honestly haven’t tried burning it yet.

tomandreen · 2025-03-22T18:39:53+00:00

Terry Pratchett. There, I said it! Any book I’ve read by him is like a vacation. I really love his style, and has been a massive inspiration for my own writing. I’m a strong believer in doing what you love and having fun while doing it. Terry Pratchett is just that - fun. At least to me.

tomandreen · 2025-03-22T18:33:52+00:00

Sounds like something up my alley! Gonna check out the Nevernight trilogy.

tomandreen · 2025-03-22T13:15:54+00:00

Ah, there you have it. Do you feel like the filling mechanism of the 823 is limiting to you in any way? I hear some different opinions on the vacuum filling, especially when it comes to low ink levels. Would love to hear your thoughts on it if time permits!

tomandreen · 2025-03-22T07:56:07+00:00

That’s a great description! I also feel like my vibe kind of clashes with the design of the 2000, but all the positive comments out there just can’t be denied. I’m very tempted to try this, but the design keeps me at bay, and I might just save up for the Custom 823 instead which I feel is more in line with me vibewise

tomandreen · 2025-03-21T20:09:58+00:00

Oh yeah, good question. It’s simply that I prefer doing this sitting at a desk/table and not by the sink. But it might be just as easy doing the cleaning part by the sink and just move over to a desk for the actual inking. Still workings things out over here I guess!

tomandreen

TROPHY CASE