If you know how to get the most out of something, you can get fine result’s. It doesn’t matter how rudimentary the equipment is. The argument about snapshot cameras vs pro cameras is a good example. Some of the biggest advertising campaigns have been shot on cheap throwaway cameras. It’s not about the gear. That’s why you’ve got people making chart music on mobile phones now.
Great video. Nice clear explanation of the newest features. I especially liked the on-screen instructions on which buttons to press! I'm trying to get the money together to buy one myself. Love the portability with battery option and built-in speaker. So impressed by the continued development by Novation as well, especially for such a relatively cheap device. With the ability to import your own samples and create your own patches with the editor, drum micro steps...it seems really powerful and amazing value for money.
I appreciate your very honest and realistic approach to reviewing this device. I have a Korg Electribe 2 Sampler (the later red version) but I can see from your thoughts that this device also has some significant advantages. Many thanks and please keep up the good work.
The push and pull of strings / pads to it’s sidechain is my fav. I just got 1.8. I’ve also got some party balloons and nitro crackers! Thanks for the posts!
Just got hold of one of these as a replacement to for a drum machine and a week on I know I made the right choice. Will put up a video explaining why soon I reckon. I have just found it so intuitive and a perfect live jam type tool.
Nice video - been stuck with what to add to my rig and have not purchased this in the past for very similar reasons - might have to get on board now - kudos to Novation for the firmware updates and forward thinking strategy.
My circuit lives in a UDG case in my rucksack and comes out on my lunchbreak nearly every day. Not touched it at home for nearly a month as I got the Digitone to get my head round but I love it. I’m using one on the Cuckoo packs at the minute - once I fill up the session bank with dope grooves then I’ll back up and switch packs... Kinda means you get a new instrument every month or so.
I just bought one today actually based on the "fun" and "portable" factors. I've got stuff in the house for longer sessions but that's all tied to the desk. Mobile apps on ipad are nice (love Auxy!) but something physical with buttons that I can toss in a backpack? Yes please! Plus another youtuber did a "5 great packs for circuit" type video, bought all five. Love it.
Great information, when I first saw circuit dismissed right away, but then wanted to get beatsteppro, but have a problem buying stuff that don't make sounds!!...I was thinking about it all and came across circuit AND THE UPDATES!!!!, its such a powerful FUN midi sequencer!!! Now own two, one to take out one for studio sequencer, also hook them together dj style..great!
Love your reviews, Sir. Mine is waiting for me under the Christmas tree. It will rapidly be partying with me korg electribe 2 sampler. Grand Merci de ta passion !
Very well review of 1.6, and love your review and details on it. I've had the Circuit for quite sometime, and love it. I haven't updated to 1.6, but will when time permits. You are correct on so many levels. Too much gear, not much usage, and the list goes on and on. Sometimes there is also a level of frustration trying to get gear to work with each other. Not the Circuit. It is my go to groove box that is too easy to use. If I want other synth sounds I just use the Belkin headphone splitter and the midi out dongles to two different synths and I've got mind blowing layers. I prefer the MeeBlip for some extra raspy sounds. Kudos on the excellent video.
I have been in the same situation as you described and got myself one for Christmas because of the added features mentioned. I hope Novation will add the possibility to record scale changes into patterns soon . By the way there is a app from isotonik which let you access the synth parameter similar to the maxforlive editor.
It looks like a pretty cool synth and sounds very good. For portable use without a computer I think that the interface is just not intuitive enough to be of real value for creating music on the fly. I don't like guessing at what a knob controls or if I need a key parameter changed not having that available. It probably is great when you have the Isotonik software though!
Yes but who wants to buy hardware that really becomes controllable only through software? Just doesn't make sense to me, especially when we're discussing digital gear. I totally agree on this "happy accidents approach". I don't mean to sound disrespectful but you can either say: "Wow, they even integrated panning now and it's for free!", or you can ask yourself why this wasn't even available from the very start. Nobody in the late 90s would have dared to release digital gear leaving this feature out, and I am talking about panning that can actually be automated! It seems like many companies keep taking huge steps backwards, Novation is not the only one. They do make great sounding instruments no doubt, the Nova series sounds good to me, the Peak seems really amazing, also Bass Station ll but I just cannot understand all the hype about this thing when it just seems so very limited and... Idk... WEIRD...
Did weird somehow become the millennial mantra? I mean who is buying this thing? I agree completely with your reasoning here. The happy accidents - maybe that is at the root of it's appeal. It seems like there are better standalone options available - I looked at the circuit but ended up getting an electribe 2 instead to use as a portable idea scratch pad. It has it's own set of limitations but I like the interface of the Korg, it is easy to use and it also sounds very good. You are also right about the manufacturers - it is almost as if they don't make these products for actual professional use - Korg Volca toy like plastic things, Roland repackaging of numerous units with ultra tiny controls and what was Yamaha thinking with the gimmicky Montage as a replacement for the XF? I am sure they all sound fine - Hell, I even bought a D05, the rest just seem like flawed execution in user interface, features, and or build quality. Cheers!
go away Thanks for responding, much appreciated! :) I am a huge fan of the Korg EMX-1, made plenty of videos on it. I find all the Electribes really awesome but it also seems to me as if these boxes somehow started this trend of reducing concepts, which was ok back then but seems to go way too far nowadays. So here we are now in (more or less) happy toyland... ;) There are still exceptions I guess, the new MPCs look very cool to me. Anyways, for now I am back on a Roland MC-505. I had one for years, didn't really get it, sold it and at some point later got an EMX which was (and still is) a lot of fun and much easier to learn. Sounds a bit funny maybe but the EMX taught me how to use the 505, it's like the next logical step in a natural learning progression and I'm absolutely amazed by what it can do, knowing how to use it now. The thing is a monster, one of the most underrated machines out there in my opinion and guess what - it's got a REAL sequencer..!
Thanks for the update info, but I am glad I went with the Korg Electibe2 instead. The Electribe is much more straight forward with dedicated controls, in a very short time you are up and running. I have just added an Akai MPx16 for adding samples to my beats, very happy with this EXCEPT: effects are not good and the stereo outputs make professional sound impossible. Does not seem to be one answer for beats....maybe the Akai MPX standalone...only $2000.00...ugggg.
Wilderness Music I got circuit and mpc live, both cool, although circuit is my go to take out unit definitely, and also sequences hardware synths in a way that is possible with mpc, but not as fast
Camgocrvzy ahh i didn't say circuit was better lol, just if i want in a live set up to polyrhythmic a 16 step sequence into 3 fast to control hard ware synthetic, circuit is fast and intuitive, no means would i give up mpc live lol, that's just awesome...but, they can work together, as said circuit is good for shorten or length hard synths on fly rather than on mpc😉
I bought this little gem one wek after 1.8 upgrade and I still learned more from this 1.6 vid than from the novation vids and PDFs xD they really need to fix that. 4-5 PDFs to learn this ?? their videos are not available? every youtuber can do better. but their upgrades are great, can't complain about that part. thanks for your uploads, especially this one telling me about "quick view" for example
Please help me, can the novation circuit be hooked up to a midi keyboard and the notes on the drum pads be assigned to keys on the keyboard to be played?i cannot find this info anywhere.
Have you tried midisynth circuit app I pad? It's great especially if you want to start from an init patch. Also if you have something like the novation sl series controllers you can build your own templates and control it standalone. Unfortunately the visual feedback for things like wave shape, mod destination, lfo shape etc.. are only numerical values so you have to print off some reference sheets as a reminder of what each number represents. and it takes ages to set up. But there are a few templates to get you started on the circuit user group page on Facebook.
Hmm. Looks cool but when you talk about sound creation and the software to edit it, I wonder if it's a bad idea for me as a noob. Would you say this is too scary for a synth noob?
It might be too late a reply but I’m a noob too and just bought a Circuit Mono Station. I’d ordered a load of other gear, which I’ve just cancelled because I love the circuit concept so much and have now ordered the original Circuit to go with the Mono Station. They are super easy for a novice to pick up and use. Highly, highly recommend
As one can import 32x 60sec long samples , here are also 2 FM-synths on the device which sounds/patches (64 of them) can be created. It has 3-6 tracks depending how you use them. I am thinking creating rock/jazz sound banks for novation circuit that I would like to share. For far I haven’t find any for this, there are many out there but not rock/jazz bank sounds focused. Also country sounds are missing.
Lol. you must be loving the latest updates.. they have everything you asked for... Its is a crazy mad lil toy.. yep it is fun powerful and easy for any level..
Robert Lee , it’s a totally different beast. 2 virtual analog synths + 4 sampled drum. I personally love it. The drum section is not as powerful as a tr-08 or tr-09 but it can load your own samples. It’s a full all in one box for building a song. Maybe not the final version but it can be a pretty powerful mobile creation device. There is no Roland Boutique that aims the same target: 2 synths and a drum + patterns and song mode. In my case, because I already have hardware synths and drum machine this is more useful than buying another synth.
"Too much of a toy for me to go with" said the guy with the Star Wars toys on the shelf :D Just kidding. Thanks for the helpful review.
Not to forget the Speak'n'Spell :D
If you know how to get the most out of something, you can get fine result’s.
It doesn’t matter how rudimentary the equipment is. The argument about snapshot cameras vs pro cameras is a good example. Some of the biggest advertising campaigns have been shot on cheap throwaway cameras. It’s not about the gear. That’s why you’ve got people making chart music on mobile phones now.
Great review thank you! I have a Novation SL Mark III. I Just ordered a circuit to help my workflow and creativity
Circuit is THAT instrument I still love using after a year and three quarters.
Great video. Nice clear explanation of the newest features. I especially liked the on-screen instructions on which buttons to press! I'm trying to get the money together to buy one myself. Love the portability with battery option and built-in speaker. So impressed by the continued development by Novation as well, especially for such a relatively cheap device. With the ability to import your own samples and create your own patches with the editor, drum micro steps...it seems really powerful and amazing value for money.
I appreciate your very honest and realistic approach to reviewing this device. I have a Korg Electribe 2 Sampler (the later red version) but I can see from your thoughts that this device also has some significant advantages. Many thanks and please keep up the good work.
Can u chain between them 2c
Novation is so good. I have the SL Mk3 - amazing. Want this now!
The push and pull of strings / pads to it’s sidechain is my fav. I just got 1.8.
I’ve also got some party balloons and nitro crackers!
Thanks for the posts!
MINIMAL SOUNDZ , nitro crackers?!!?? Sounds weirdly interesting!
Yeah. I got larger balloons too. Did you try and edit Circuit online yet?
I did using the component from novation and it’s pretty efficient.
That’s cool. I’m thinking of creating some new drum samples for mine.
Have a good weekend mate!
Just got hold of one of these as a replacement to for a drum machine and a week on I know I made the right choice. Will put up a video explaining why soon I reckon. I have just found it so intuitive and a perfect live jam type tool.
Good choice. I sometime use the Circuit really just as a drum
machine. The 2 synths being percussive sounds also.
Nice video - been stuck with what to add to my rig and have not purchased this in the past for very similar reasons - might have to get on board now - kudos to Novation for the firmware updates and forward thinking strategy.
My circuit lives in a UDG case in my rucksack and comes out on my lunchbreak nearly every day.
Not touched it at home for nearly a month as I got the Digitone to get my head round but I love it.
I’m using one on the Cuckoo packs at the minute - once I fill up the session bank with dope grooves then I’ll back up and switch packs... Kinda means you get a new instrument every month or so.
Ordered a used one TODAY. I'll let you know how it goes! Thanks for all the advice and tutorials!
News?
Thank you very much, this video really helped me out. You got a new subscriber !
I just bought one today actually based on the "fun" and "portable" factors. I've got stuff in the house for longer sessions but that's all tied to the desk. Mobile apps on ipad are nice (love Auxy!) but something physical with buttons that I can toss in a backpack? Yes please!
Plus another youtuber did a "5 great packs for circuit" type video, bought all five. Love it.
My first synth was a Novation Bass Station, when they first came out, loved it, but it died, looking at this Circuit, looks like a lot of fun!
Great information, when I first saw circuit dismissed right away, but then wanted to get beatsteppro, but have a problem buying stuff that don't make sounds!!...I was thinking about it all and came across circuit AND THE UPDATES!!!!, its such a powerful FUN midi sequencer!!! Now own two, one to take out one for studio sequencer, also hook them together dj style..great!
I wanted to sell it.. but you just convinced me to keep it lol thank you dude!
Love your reviews, Sir. Mine is waiting for me under the Christmas tree. It will rapidly be partying with me korg electribe 2 sampler. Grand Merci de ta passion !
Really thorough review and helpful. Fun is key, or in this case without keys :)
Very well review of 1.6, and love your review and details on it. I've had the Circuit for quite sometime, and love it. I haven't updated to 1.6, but will when time permits. You are correct on so many levels. Too much gear, not much usage, and the list goes on and on. Sometimes there is also a level of frustration trying to get gear to work with each other. Not the Circuit. It is my go to groove box that is too easy to use. If I want other synth sounds I just use the Belkin headphone splitter and the midi out dongles to two different synths and I've got mind blowing layers. I prefer the MeeBlip for some extra raspy sounds. Kudos on the excellent video.
I have been in the same situation as you described and got myself one for Christmas because of the added features mentioned.
I hope Novation will add the possibility to record scale changes into patterns soon .
By the way there is a app from isotonik which let you access the synth parameter similar to the maxforlive editor.
I found this Lightfinger stuff on isotonik very cool with the launchcontrol xxl combined
You can duplicate the Session, change the key, then switch manually between them.
It looks like a pretty cool synth and sounds very good. For portable use without a computer I think that the interface is just not intuitive enough to be of real value for creating music on the fly. I don't like guessing at what a knob controls or if I need a key parameter changed not having that available. It probably is great when you have the Isotonik software though!
Yes but who wants to buy hardware that really becomes controllable only through software? Just doesn't make sense to me, especially when we're discussing digital gear. I totally agree on this "happy accidents approach". I don't mean to sound disrespectful but you can either say: "Wow, they even integrated panning now and it's for free!", or you can ask yourself why this wasn't even available from the very start. Nobody in the late 90s would have dared to release digital gear leaving this feature out, and I am talking about panning that can actually be automated! It seems like many companies keep taking huge steps backwards, Novation is not the only one. They do make great sounding instruments no doubt, the Nova series sounds good to me, the Peak seems really amazing, also Bass Station ll but I just cannot understand all the hype about this thing when it just seems so very limited and... Idk... WEIRD...
Did weird somehow become the millennial mantra? I mean who is buying this thing? I agree completely with your reasoning here. The happy accidents - maybe that is at the root of it's appeal. It seems like there are better standalone options available - I looked at the circuit but ended up getting an electribe 2 instead to use as a portable idea scratch pad. It has it's own set of limitations but I like the interface of the Korg, it is easy to use and it also sounds very good.
You are also right about the manufacturers - it is almost as if they don't make these products for actual professional use - Korg Volca toy like plastic things, Roland repackaging of numerous units with ultra tiny controls and what was Yamaha thinking with the gimmicky Montage as a replacement for the XF? I am sure they all sound fine - Hell, I even bought a D05, the rest just seem like flawed execution in user interface, features, and or build quality. Cheers!
go away Thanks for responding, much appreciated! :) I am a huge fan of the Korg EMX-1, made plenty of videos on it. I find all the Electribes really awesome but it also seems to me as if these boxes somehow started this trend of reducing concepts, which was ok back then but seems to go way too far nowadays. So here we are now in (more or less) happy toyland... ;) There are still exceptions I guess, the new MPCs look very cool to me. Anyways, for now I am back on a Roland MC-505. I had one for years, didn't really get it, sold it and at some point later got an EMX which was (and still is) a lot of fun and much easier to learn. Sounds a bit funny maybe but the EMX taught me how to use the 505, it's like the next logical step in a natural learning progression and I'm absolutely amazed by what it can do, knowing how to use it now. The thing is a monster, one of the most underrated machines out there in my opinion and guess what - it's got a REAL sequencer..!
Nice review. Well explained. I've had my Circuit since last March. I've got a couple of Circuit videos on my channel.
Thanks for the update info, but I am glad I went with the Korg Electibe2 instead. The Electribe is much more straight forward with dedicated controls, in a very short time you are up and running. I have just added an Akai MPx16 for adding samples to my beats, very happy with this EXCEPT: effects are not good and the stereo outputs make professional sound impossible. Does not seem to be one answer for beats....maybe the Akai MPX standalone...only $2000.00...ugggg.
Wilderness Music I got circuit and mpc live, both cool, although circuit is my go to take out unit definitely, and also sequences hardware synths in a way that is possible with mpc, but not as fast
Camgocrvzy ahh i didn't say circuit was better lol, just if i want in a live set up to polyrhythmic a 16 step sequence into 3 fast to control hard ware synthetic, circuit is fast and intuitive, no means would i give up mpc live lol, that's just awesome...but, they can work together, as said circuit is good for shorten or length hard synths on fly rather than on mpc😉
I bought this little gem one wek after 1.8 upgrade and I still learned more from this 1.6 vid than from the novation vids and PDFs xD they really need to fix that. 4-5 PDFs to learn this ?? their videos are not available? every youtuber can do better. but their upgrades are great, can't complain about that part. thanks for your uploads, especially this one telling me about "quick view" for example
I’m very happy to know it was helpful..
where can I find some music that you created?
Try these:
open.spotify.com/artist/7LXHQRKP0RhvxBKDeerlQe
itunes.apple.com/ca/album/super-jednostka/1189296933
itunes.apple.com/ca/album/the-mobile-sessions-ep/1212359279
www.feedbackmusic.live/en/music_store/artist/805/Nu-Trix+from+Musitechnic/Ant+O%27Knee
www.feedbackmusic.live/en/music_store/artist/807/Nu-Trix+from+Musitechnic/Bo+Risk
Welcome to the club ! I love my circuit ;)
Very good review! Thank you for sharing this!
Try the Dreadbox Erebus with it, maybe that's what your looking for.
Hitnrun69ify like Erebus, but going for neutron😕
Very informative video. I like what you do. Top review!
Please help me, can the novation circuit be hooked up to a midi keyboard and the notes on the drum pads be assigned to keys on the keyboard to be played?i cannot find this info anywhere.
Yes it can
Yes but the circuit midi channels are fixed.
@@gorkemgulan no theyre assignable now
@@pyratellamarecordingstudio1062 sweet after which update??
@@gorkemgulan I'm not sure, I just saw it in a youtube vid. I recently got one and have been watching tons of video on it.
Very good work, thx!
This all the Roland TR8S? Both seem to be very cool but in many ways the circuit seems like more fun. How do they compare sonically?
I should have a TR-8s by the end of the month. I'll do a Circuit VS TR-8S video.
Nu-Trix The Synth Guy that sounds awesome-looking forward to it👍
Good explenation I will get one ! thanks
Now I want one too
Have you tried the CircuitToy-One Windows app or the MIDISynth Circuit IOS apps? These give you access to the syth engines.
No, thanks I'll check them out.
isotonikstudios.com/product/novation-circuit-editor/
Thanks. I am am looking at getting one as a fun first step to get into music making. Anything else come better since this video was made? Thanks.
Great Circuit. Best Groovebox!
Great video!
Don't forget to watch the video about the new features added by the firmware update 1.7: th-cam.com/video/Ob00Xp-dETY/w-d-xo.html
Great Video ! :) thanx. i have one too and love it.
Nice job
Have you tried midisynth circuit app I pad? It's great especially if you want to start from an init patch. Also if you have something like the novation sl series controllers you can build your own templates and control it standalone. Unfortunately the visual feedback for things like wave shape, mod destination, lfo shape etc.. are only numerical values so you have to print off some reference sheets as a reminder of what each number represents. and it takes ages to set up. But there are a few templates to get you started on the circuit user group page on Facebook.
Thanks, i'll check it out.
have you heard of the Circuit mono station, it's a poly synth. shares the circuit name, but isn't the same.
I this a couple of video about it. I recently bought one. It is paraphonic not polyphonic.
Hmm. Looks cool but when you talk about sound creation and the software to edit it, I wonder if it's a bad idea for me as a noob. Would you say this is too scary for a synth noob?
It might be too late a reply but I’m a noob too and just bought a Circuit Mono Station. I’d ordered a load of other gear, which I’ve just cancelled because I love the circuit concept so much and have now ordered the original Circuit to go with the Mono Station. They are super easy for a novice to pick up and use. Highly, highly recommend
the deal breaker for me is the fact it only has two synth parts. four would have been o.k. does it now have sample pad hold?
I haven’t check that. I’ll come back to you on that.
Would you know any sound pack for rock/jazz/country music? Would need close to clean instruments guitar, bass, keys, drum, horns
As one can import 32x 60sec long samples , here are also 2 FM-synths on the device which sounds/patches (64 of them) can be created. It has 3-6 tracks depending how you use them. I am thinking creating rock/jazz sound banks for novation circuit that I would like to share. For far I haven’t find any for this, there are many out there but not rock/jazz bank sounds focused. Also country sounds are missing.
♠️
Would an Arturia Keystep be a useful or worthwhile addition to this? If not what would you pair it with if anything?
Any keyboard is welcome and will be able to control this device.
WHEN AND WHERE I CAN IS MAJOR
Lol. you must be loving the latest updates.. they have everything you asked for... Its is a crazy mad lil toy.. yep it is fun powerful and easy for any level..
Real good videos keep up
So packs are only for drums ? The synth engine does not profit from it right?
Packs can include sessions, patterns, samples or synth patches.
Nu-Trix The Synth Guy Ok thanks i understand now. Thanks. Will get one soon it seems an interesting gear. Overlooked it way too long!
Waaaant!
I just bought this cause of you hehe
You will have a blast !
no doubt!!! thanks for sharing all this info
thinking of using at as a drum machine. Being a slave to my loopstation (rc505). Is this a good idea? or better electribe 2?
It’s a good ideas. You will get 4 separate tracks of samples + 2 synths. Keep in mind the 2 synths can be also drum sounds!
Would you rate it with the latest firmware above a Roland boutique?
Robert Lee , it’s a totally different beast. 2 virtual analog synths + 4 sampled drum. I personally love it. The drum section is not as powerful as a tr-08 or tr-09 but it can load your own samples. It’s a full all in one box for building a song. Maybe not the final version but it can be a pretty powerful mobile creation device. There is no Roland Boutique that aims the same target: 2 synths and a drum + patterns and song mode. In my case, because I already have hardware synths and drum machine this is more useful than buying another synth.
Robert Lee , in short, for my studio yes. But it’s because of what I already own.
Thanks Nu-Trix.
1.7 coming soon ....... being able to change midi channel is a major one for me . don't know why this has not been addressed yet.
anyone looking for a LIKE NEW CIRCUIT for great price mines on Ebay I just don't use it so I'm movin it out
Ohhh No Yaa Only Roland Mc 707 rest of kids, 707 is future of live Artists
they on 1.8 now
this thing is £150 2nd hand right now too damn, i think i have to
Hmm on the fence btw this and mpc live
They really are not the same type of beast. If you are into sampling the mpc is probably a better choice.
Can you automate the panning?
Julian Cole, I never tried before you asked. I have test it now and no it does not record Pan automation. .. for now!
Ah shoot. Well I'm still sold! Thanks for getting back to me so quickly!
cute polish accent ?
Very boring and monotonous speaking! Just get to the point!
Crap demo of possibilities.
Less than mediocre.