The term originally presented by Roland corporation on their MC-303 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