Groovebox - Definition and Overview

Groovebox was originally used by Roland corporation to refer their MC-303, but now more generically refers to a standalone instrument that includes a combination of any of a drum machine, a synthesizer or a sampler along with a music sequencer and a combination of knobs (potentiometer or rotary encoder), sliders and buttons that allow a musician to control and construct a pattern-based sequence or a song consisting of the more than one such sequence chained together in a live or immediate way.

A groovebox is similar to a music workstation except that it doesn't have a keyboard and generally includes more user controls.

"Groovebox" type instruments include:

• E-mu XL-7 Command Station
• E-mu MP-7 Command Station
• Ensoniq ASR-X
• Korg ER-1 Electribe
• Quasimidi Raveolution 309
• Roland corporation MC-505
• Roland corporation MC-909
• Roland corporation SP-808
• Yamaha RS7000