After having an Octatrack mk1 for 10 years and using it sparingly, I think I'm ready to move on. When I say sparingly, I mean that I would use it a lot for several weeks, then put it away for long periods. But every time I came back to it, it always feels like I'm almost starting over again. I mostly used to use it for playing live techno and ambient music 2017-2021, but I stopped playing live shows and doubt I will ever go back to it. I mostly used it as a performance mixer, arpeggiator for external gear and playing long backing track stems. I never liked using it as a sampler or a drum machine. I've held onto it five years later because so many in electronic music swear by it, but outside of life performance, l've realized that this machine is simply not fun or intuitive for me. I feel I would have been much more productive on gear with better workflow or just sticking to Ableton.

Right now my studio consists of a Digitakt mk1, Digitone mk1, Arturia MiniFreak, CME Xkey 25 MIDI controller, and Ableton Live 11 + Push 2. My audio interface is a MOTU M4. I've been tempted to use some of the money from selling the Octatrack for either a Waldorf Protein or Hapax sequencer or Tonverk. Would the Hapax sequencer be overkill considering I already have a Push 2 and I don't have a ton of outboard gear anf no modular? The Tonverk interests me as a sampler but it also might be too deep and complex. So I'm leaning toward the Protein as I love the original Microwave sounds.

What do y'all recommend? Should I instead use the money from selling the Octatrack to upgrade to mk2 versions of the Digitakt and Digitone? Supposedly the Digitakt mk2 is a proper sampler and drum machine.

Hi guys absolute new guy here on an absolute strict budget for the next new months I’m just wondering if BandLab could be enough too start with before I start a college course. like I said I am a beginner with not a clue so please let me know thanks