This is probably the most underrated video on Novation Circuit on YT. Absolutely beautiful sounds, melodies and tips, I've been trying to get into production as of late, though I'm 28 and I don't have much music theory background. This video made me decide to get a Circuit and start making music, thanks for this!
Just got my circuit yesterday and I'm already loving it, if you have the computer for it, buying a Maschine mikro mk3 will hook you up with full version Maschine software, completely set to make full, good sounding tracks. Maschine makes excellent controllers for their software
Never thought of using the different banks of hi-hat sounds while recording. It adds so much texture to the song. There are some really good tips and tricks in this video that I will definitely be using when my circuit arrives!
Subscribed and gave you a thumbs up! This is by far THE BEST video I've seen on circuit. I can't believe you only have 1.48K subscribers. You certainly deserve more for your skills. What I really liked about this video is you played a track from scratch. Most videos out there on circuit is of someone just switching between patterns, which doesn't really help learn how this works. This was very educational and I certainly hope you come up with more such tutorials.
Thank you for telling me about how you just "do stuff" and come back to it at a later date and work it into something and post the ones you think are good hot off the press. This lets me know I'm doing it the right way because you are a "GOAT" weather you know it or not.
Just arriving here now, 4yrs late! But wanted to let you know I really appreciated this tutorial and look forward to looking through what as you have to offer on workflow for the OG Circuit.
As someone new to Circuit this is s great intro! Great to see your workflow and there are plenty of tips & tricks I'll be bringing to future sessions on mine
Thanks so much for making this! Your walkthrough was clear, concise, and entertaining, and I picked up several tips that I’ll apply to my aimless circuit workflow. Plus, I was really diggin’ the track.. 😅
always impressed by your work, i do understand the frustration with the macro assignments, but it can be solved by spending some time with the editor software and re-assigning the knobs to consistent parameters for every patch. Bit of a pain in the ass but worth it especially if you want to perform live with a circuit and dont want to do an oopsie on stage
Thank you! You're absolutely right, the consistent macro idea is great. I'm actually working on creating a bunch of patches with that exact concept. The first four macros are assigned to consistent parameters (filter freq, filter env amount, amp attack, and amp release), and the other four are assigned to variable parameters.
That was fantastic! Really nice tutorial. Like that it focused on the creative aspect more than the technical. Time to go fire up the Digitakt and star messing around. More please!
As others have said, beautifully produced tutorial and love the tip on using different banks of sounds at the same time, I hadn’t thought of that. The limitation of only two synth tracks is real though
Glad there was something useful for you! Almost makes me want to pick up another Circuit just to expand the number of tracks. Still haven't found another piece of equipment that's as immediate and fun to use as the Circuit.
@@PaytonCarterMusic it would be so easy for them to add a software update where you could double these channels...maybe less accesible but fine for things like kick and main bass
Nice to see your workflow, it is pretty much the same as mine although I like to add a lot more automation recording to the Synth and drum parts to add variety. The track sounds very much like Ulirch Schnauss to me if you play it at 1.5 speed!
Thinking about purchasing one of these machines. It was quite interesting watching and listening to your work process creating with the Novation Circuit, much appreciated. 💡🎹🐒🌟
I wish novation would do a small keyboard version of circuit with full chromatic scale (every note) and keeping the octave button so it doesn't get too big. I love circuit but it could be effing amazing with that small tweak.
NOICE!! Good tutorial lots of great tips . As for me I Loved End result music sounded real good just need a great female singer with words you got a awesome track to groove and decompress to
Hey Payton! Just stumbled upon your channel today as I just ordered my own Circuit! Any tips or videos you would recommend that cover actual tutorials in terms of learning how everything works like the buttons, how to do this and that, etc. This was awesome to watch! Definitely gained a sub from me🤙🏼
Also i have no experience with midi’s of any sort or grooveboxes such as this one. How much experience did you have before experimenting with the Circuit?
Hi Dan! I can't think of any tutorials off the top of my head, but Gabe Miller has a collection of videos where he goes over tons of different aspects of the Circuit. I would definitely check those out. This was actually also my very first hardware synthesizer, though I did have some experience with software synths in a DAW. I think it makes a great beginner groovebox, because it really is super easy to pick up!
Thank you very much for this, i just got a Circuit because of your works here on TH-cam and this Tutorial is really helping! Keep up the good work you have some great talent.
Hey there - so I'm in a Radiohead tribute band (duh) and was thinking of buying this for when we cover Idioteque. Was messing around with it at the store but couldn't get anywhere with it. If you're familiar with the song, you think this unit is a good way of doing that?
I'll admit that I've never actually taken the time to listen to very much Radiohead (shame on me, I know), but after a quick listen, you could probably cover that song pretty easily with the Circuit. If you could find similar drum samples, programming them would be a piece of cake. The synthesizer parts don't sound very difficult to recreate either. I hear a pad and a bass synth, which is perfect, because the Circuit only has two synth tracks. Honestly, if you told me Idioteque was written on a Circuit, I would believe it; the song would fit well within the Circuit's limitations.
Yes. The only thing the circuit won't respond to is pitchbend and mod wheel and i think aftertouch. The circuit doesn't have that yet but hopefully it will in a future update. Novation?
Yes, I often have it hooked up straight to my Clavinova digital piano. It has MIDI DIN outputs, which can go straight into the Circuit with the included MIDI breakout cables.
Very nice ! I saw that you use the while set of buttons when you use them as a keyboard, but on my Circuit, I can only use the 2 top rows. Is it a new firmware feature ? Or something we can activate ? Thanks !
I wish I had more experience recording to Android. I'm using my Android phone here just as a microphone for voice, but I've never recorded the output of a synth to Android. Not sure if some audio interfaces might work with Android. And as far as I'm aware, the headphone and 1/4" outputs of the Circuit are basically identical (the 1/4" outputs aren't balanced).
At last a great tutorial, not featuring some gurning egomaniac keen to show us how clever he is. A nice clear unhurried explanation, thank you very much indeed.
The piano layout is good with two octaves. The black keys are aligned with the white keys, so it can take a second to get used to that, but it's very playable. You can either do a piano layout with two octaves, or scales with four octaves. There are 16 different scales you can choose from. There are two octave buttons on the panel to change octaves.
Can someone tell me how to download sounds into the novation what is the process? Also when I watch these videos the finger movements seem too fast and every button press is not explained
I’d really love to pick your brain, I’m about to buy my first ever piece of gear, and I’ve come to decide on the circuit, so any absolutely any help is appreciated!?!?!
The Circuit was my first hardware too! You really can't go wrong for about $200 used. If you have any specific questions, I'd be happy to try and answer them. Honestly, the best advice I can give is to just spend as much time playing around as possible. Transition between ideas quickly, and don't be afraid of making something that totally sucks, because you'll still be learning and becoming a better musician. I maybe like 1 out of every 10 tracks I end up creating on the Circuit, but the awesome thing is that the Circuit makes such a great musical sketchpad for quickly creating ideas. It's immediate and incredibly simple to get a halfway decent 8-bar loop going, which can then be fleshed out into a full track. The packs that Novation provides (factory and Team Novation) are great, and I highly recommend checking out the Red Means Recording and Cuckoo packs. When your ideas start feeling stale, switching up the packs helps encourage new ideas.
How can I connect my novation circuit and the Launchkey mk3 mini ? I've been trying with midi cables and trs but I don't get any sound. someoe can help me please :)
I don't own a Launchkey, but I'm assuming the MIDI out of the Launchkey should work with the MIDI in of the Circuit as long as the Launchkey is being powered by USB. If that doesn't work, maybe check the Launchkey settings to make sure it's sending to channel 1 or 2?
You might have figured this out by now, but the trs midi coming in/out of the Circuit is wired differently than the trs midi coming out of the Launchkey Mini MK3. The midi trs 'standard' changed between the time the Circuit was made and the Launchkey was made. You'll need to use the blue type 'B' midi trs adapter that came with the Circuit, into a standard midi cable, then to a new type 'A' midi trs adapter that you need to purchase - Novation doesn't include them with the Launchkey Mini Mk3. Or you could wire up your own trs cable; you can search for trs midi A to trs midi B conversion. Pretty awful that Novation doesn't include an adapter with the Launchkey, especially since they made their own products to different standards. I know, I own both...
@@greliot hey ! thanks very much for the answer. I don't have idea which one is the " new type A midi trs adapter " could you send me a link to a photo ?
The Circuit was my first piece of hardware! If you're looking to learn synthesis, the Nova engine that powers the Circuit is great to learn and can be accessed when the Circuit is hooked up to the Components editor on a computer. If you're just looking for something to jam with and make music, you seriously can't beat the Circuit. It's one of the simpler (but still incredibly capable) grooveboxes out there. I'd definitely recommend it for someone just starting out!
Really great video. Learned so much just from watching you work. Thanks a ton! *edit: That song is f*#&ing great! I would advise you to revisit one day :)
Can't detect the drum programming weakness you are talking of! Also you are way to harsh with what you came up with, it is a beautiful melody worth elaborating on I think. Wish other people with one percent of your knowledge and taste were that modest and self-critical!
This is probably the most underrated video on Novation Circuit on YT.
Absolutely beautiful sounds, melodies and tips, I've been trying to get into production as of late, though I'm 28 and I don't have much music theory background. This video made me decide to get a Circuit and start making music, thanks for this!
Thank you! Glad this video could be an inspiration. Would love to hear what you make! :)
Just got my circuit yesterday and I'm already loving it, if you have the computer for it, buying a Maschine mikro mk3 will hook you up with full version Maschine software, completely set to make full, good sounding tracks. Maschine makes excellent controllers for their software
Did you start you music making journey? You say 28 as if it was old, go for it!
Never thought of using the different banks of hi-hat sounds while recording. It adds so much texture to the song. There are some really good tips and tricks in this video that I will definitely be using when my circuit arrives!
Thank you! Glad it could be useful! :)
You are the only TH-camr that has done justice for this box - better than any video out there!!!!
Thank you! I really appreciate it :)
Subscribed and gave you a thumbs up!
This is by far THE BEST video I've seen on circuit. I can't believe you only have 1.48K subscribers. You certainly deserve more for your skills.
What I really liked about this video is you played a track from scratch.
Most videos out there on circuit is of someone just switching between patterns, which doesn't really help learn how this works.
This was very educational and I certainly hope you come up with more such tutorials.
Thank you so much! That really means a lot to me! Glad the tutorial could be useful :)
Thank you for telling me about how you just "do stuff" and come back to it at a later date and work it into something and post the ones you think are good hot off the press. This lets me know I'm doing it the right way because you are a "GOAT" weather you know it or not.
That means a lot, thanks! It's always great to come back to something you made and find out it was better than you originally thought it was.
This is a very concise overview of the workflow of the OG Circuit. Thank you.
Seriously, this is very well made. Consider making a series of tutorials.
Thank you! I'm planning on more when I can find the time!
Just arriving here now, 4yrs late! But wanted to let you know I really appreciated this tutorial and look forward to looking through what as you have to offer on workflow for the OG Circuit.
One of the best Circuit tutorials on TH-cam, if not THE best. Thanks man.
Thank you! Glad you appreciated it! :)
Superb vid. Diving into my new-to-me Circuit and this was a revelation. Looking forward to the next one!
Glad it could be helpful!
As someone new to Circuit this is s great intro! Great to see your workflow and there are plenty of tips & tricks I'll be bringing to future sessions on mine
Thanks so much for making this! Your walkthrough was clear, concise, and entertaining, and I picked up several tips that I’ll apply to my aimless circuit workflow. Plus, I was really diggin’ the track.. 😅
I love this tutorial.Thank you for sharing!
A note to sessionswitch: if you switch with shift then the swap is instant and you are in the same pattern spot as before.
I didn't know this! Thanks for the tip, that will definitely come in handy in the future.
First time to your page. This make me want to explore my circuit in this manner. great tutorial & track reminded me of some old Boards of Canada.
Yes! Boards of Canada !!
Your voice is incredibly satisfying and I would love more tutorials!
Subbed!
Thank you! I'm incredibly self conscious about my voice and that is super kind of you to say. I have a couple more tutorials in the works!
Payton Carter Glad to hear it as right now I’m trying to get all the content in the novation circuit (potentially buying it in the future).
OG Circuit forever!
Thanks for sharing! Looking forward to more tutorials in the future
DUDE! I love your videos so much! Very helpful and inspiring. Thank you for showing your process.
Thank you! I appreciate it! :)
That music is so serene and beautiful! Keep up the great work! I'm thinking of getting a Circuit!
Thank you! It's a great little groovebox.
Thanks, super helpful! Love the use of the hats. You’re helping me see the potential of the sessions, where the circuit becomes really unleashed.
Great to see other people's approach to working the mighty little Circuit. Thanks!
always impressed by your work, i do understand the frustration with the macro assignments, but it can be solved by spending some time with the editor software and re-assigning the knobs to consistent parameters for every patch. Bit of a pain in the ass but worth it especially if you want to perform live with a circuit and dont want to do an oopsie on stage
Thank you! You're absolutely right, the consistent macro idea is great. I'm actually working on creating a bunch of patches with that exact concept. The first four macros are assigned to consistent parameters (filter freq, filter env amount, amp attack, and amp release), and the other four are assigned to variable parameters.
You wouldn't use this one?! This is a low-fi banger. That reminds me of Minecraft of years past at night
Looking back on this, I totally get Minecraft vibes as well!
That was fantastic! Really nice tutorial. Like that it focused on the creative aspect more than the technical. Time to go fire up the Digitakt and star messing around. More please!
Thank you! 95% of my creative output is just messing around, haha. Go enjoy that Digitakt!
this is a great look at building a song! lots to learn here!
I didn't expect to watch the whole video but did anyway. I've got one of these coming my way.
Glad to hear, I think you'll enjoy it!
Nicely done. Very informative and tuneful vid. Shame on those two people who disliked this video.
As others have said, beautifully produced tutorial and love the tip on using different banks of sounds at the same time, I hadn’t thought of that. The limitation of only two synth tracks is real though
Glad there was something useful for you! Almost makes me want to pick up another Circuit just to expand the number of tracks. Still haven't found another piece of equipment that's as immediate and fun to use as the Circuit.
@@PaytonCarterMusic it would be so easy for them to add a software update where you could double these channels...maybe less accesible but fine for things like kick and main bass
こういう静かな音楽もやりたいので、大変参考になりました。
ありがとうございます
Wonderful tutorial! Well done!
Nice to see your workflow, it is pretty much the same as mine although I like to add a lot more automation recording to the Synth and drum parts to add variety. The track sounds very much like Ulirch Schnauss to me if you play it at 1.5 speed!
Nicely done and easy to follow. Cool piece of music too.
The melody got really similar to minecraft soundtrack. That's nice.
thanks for this tutorial! so helpful :) where did you get the recording pack? I couldn't quite make out what you said. appreciate it!! :)
Thank you! I used the Red Means Recording Circuit pack. He has it available here for $5: gumroad.com/redmeansrecording
@@PaytonCarterMusic This is awesome! Are you just using the Circuit's default drums, or does the RMR pack include samples too?
Nice and smooth, looking forward for another tutorial. Btw. It's not a piece that should be forgotten :-)
Thank you! Maybe I'll come back to it later :)
Somehow I've associated it with Telefon Tel Aviv songs. Might be worth trying to apply some glitchy microsteps to it :)
Great work mate! Makes me really want to dive deeper into my new Circuit :)
It's a great little box that will give you as much as you put in! Hope you're enjoying the new Circuit! :)
Thinking about purchasing one of these machines. It was quite interesting watching and listening to your work process creating with the Novation Circuit, much appreciated. 💡🎹🐒🌟
For around $200 used, you can't go wrong :)
That is a sick beat
Thanks, appreciate it! :)
Great job! It is most appreciated.
nice job!
I wish novation would do a small keyboard version of circuit with full chromatic scale (every note) and keeping the octave button so it doesn't get too big. I love circuit but it could be effing amazing with that small tweak.
NOICE!! Good tutorial lots of great tips . As for me I Loved End result music sounded real good just need a great female singer with words you got a awesome track to groove and decompress to
Kept waiting for you to set the hihats length to 14 steps ;-)
Haha, yes! That's another favorite trick! :)
This is really helpful
Thanks
Great job!! very useful What pack are you using? Thank you
Thank you! I'm using the Red Means Recording pack here.
@@PaytonCarterMusic RMR Circuit Pack? is the same?
Yes, that's the same pack
Learned a lot, thank you!
You must be one of those hard on yourself types. I think this track is really good!
Haha, I definitely am. Thank you, glad you like it!
Hey Payton! Just stumbled upon your channel today as I just ordered my own Circuit! Any tips or videos you would recommend that cover actual tutorials in terms of learning how everything works like the buttons, how to do this and that, etc. This was awesome to watch! Definitely gained a sub from me🤙🏼
Also i have no experience with midi’s of any sort or grooveboxes such as this one. How much experience did you have before experimenting with the Circuit?
Hi Dan! I can't think of any tutorials off the top of my head, but Gabe Miller has a collection of videos where he goes over tons of different aspects of the Circuit. I would definitely check those out. This was actually also my very first hardware synthesizer, though I did have some experience with software synths in a DAW. I think it makes a great beginner groovebox, because it really is super easy to pick up!
Awesome tutorial 👍
muy bueno saludos
Thank you very much for this, i just got a Circuit because of your works here on TH-cam and this Tutorial is really helping! Keep up the good work you have some great talent.
Thank you! Glad I could be helpful!
sounds beautiful!!!!
this thing is worth it just to be able to record a hi-hat pattern like that
Very helpful! Can you make beats and loop on it without a computer? Like if you just run it through your speakers?
Thank you, Ian! Yes, you don't need a computer to write songs on the Circuit, though you do need one if you want to swap out synth patches or samples.
Hey, thanks for responding to my request! Watching now 8-)
Reminds me a little of Aphex Twin - On..
Which is no bad thing.
Always a fan of RDJ!
How do you know where the E and C are etc.
good work dude, informative and well put together. 100% do some more of these :D
Thanks! I'm planning on it!
Hey there - so I'm in a Radiohead tribute band (duh) and was thinking of buying this for when we cover Idioteque. Was messing around with it at the store but couldn't get anywhere with it. If you're familiar with the song, you think this unit is a good way of doing that?
I'll admit that I've never actually taken the time to listen to very much Radiohead (shame on me, I know), but after a quick listen, you could probably cover that song pretty easily with the Circuit. If you could find similar drum samples, programming them would be a piece of cake. The synthesizer parts don't sound very difficult to recreate either. I hear a pad and a bass synth, which is perfect, because the Circuit only has two synth tracks. Honestly, if you told me Idioteque was written on a Circuit, I would believe it; the song would fit well within the Circuit's limitations.
which is the link for the sound pack used here? Or is this default of the novation?
I'm using the first Red Means Recording pack in this video
gumroad.com/l/ifFWM
Is it possible to use a midi keyboard with the novation circuit?
Yes. The only thing the circuit won't respond to is pitchbend and mod wheel and i think aftertouch. The circuit doesn't have that yet but hopefully it will in a future update. Novation?
Yes, I often have it hooked up straight to my Clavinova digital piano. It has MIDI DIN outputs, which can go straight into the Circuit with the included MIDI breakout cables.
Payton Carter when I use my Keystep with my Circuit I can't record notes one step at the time without pressing play. Is it just me?
Very nice !
I saw that you use the while set of buttons when you use them as a keyboard, but on my Circuit, I can only use the 2 top rows. Is it a new firmware feature ? Or something we can activate ? Thanks !
Shift + Note will give you all four rows to use as a keyboard!
Thankyou
How do you make it sound like bells?
I need an explanation of everything you are pressing and what it does
Is it possible to speak into a microphone and use voice as a sample?
Not directly into the Circuit. The Circuit doesn't have any sampling capabilities, it just plays samples.
What would be the best way to record a quality sounding video coming straight from the headphone or output 1 to the android?
I wish I had more experience recording to Android. I'm using my Android phone here just as a microphone for voice, but I've never recorded the output of a synth to Android. Not sure if some audio interfaces might work with Android. And as far as I'm aware, the headphone and 1/4" outputs of the Circuit are basically identical (the 1/4" outputs aren't balanced).
At last a great tutorial, not featuring some gurning egomaniac keen to show us how clever he is. A nice clear unhurried explanation, thank you very much indeed.
Thank you Mr. Oldfart, much appreciated! :)
How is the piano layout? Is there only scales? Can you play more than 4 octve?
The piano layout is good with two octaves. The black keys are aligned with the white keys, so it can take a second to get used to that, but it's very playable. You can either do a piano layout with two octaves, or scales with four octaves. There are 16 different scales you can choose from. There are two octave buttons on the panel to change octaves.
Was good. Thank you
Can someone tell me how to download sounds into the novation what is the process?
Also when I watch these videos the finger movements seem too fast and every button press is not explained
you need to use Novation's software on a computer
I’d really love to pick your brain, I’m about to buy my first ever piece of gear, and I’ve come to decide on the circuit, so any absolutely any help is appreciated!?!?!
The Circuit was my first hardware too! You really can't go wrong for about $200 used. If you have any specific questions, I'd be happy to try and answer them.
Honestly, the best advice I can give is to just spend as much time playing around as possible. Transition between ideas quickly, and don't be afraid of making something that totally sucks, because you'll still be learning and becoming a better musician. I maybe like 1 out of every 10 tracks I end up creating on the Circuit, but the awesome thing is that the Circuit makes such a great musical sketchpad for quickly creating ideas. It's immediate and incredibly simple to get a halfway decent 8-bar loop going, which can then be fleshed out into a full track. The packs that Novation provides (factory and Team Novation) are great, and I highly recommend checking out the Red Means Recording and Cuckoo packs. When your ideas start feeling stale, switching up the packs helps encourage new ideas.
How can I connect my novation circuit and the Launchkey mk3 mini ?
I've been trying with midi cables and trs but I don't get any sound.
someoe can help me please :)
I don't own a Launchkey, but I'm assuming the MIDI out of the Launchkey should work with the MIDI in of the Circuit as long as the Launchkey is being powered by USB. If that doesn't work, maybe check the Launchkey settings to make sure it's sending to channel 1 or 2?
You might have figured this out by now, but the trs midi coming in/out of the Circuit is wired differently than the trs midi coming out of the Launchkey Mini MK3. The midi trs 'standard' changed between the time the Circuit was made and the Launchkey was made. You'll need to use the blue type 'B' midi trs adapter that came with the Circuit, into a standard midi cable, then to a new type 'A' midi trs adapter that you need to purchase - Novation doesn't include them with the Launchkey Mini Mk3. Or you could wire up your own trs cable; you can search for trs midi A to trs midi B conversion. Pretty awful that Novation doesn't include an adapter with the Launchkey, especially since they made their own products to different standards. I know, I own both...
@@greliot hey ! thanks very much for the answer. I don't have idea which one is the " new type A midi trs adapter " could you send me a link to a photo ?
This is going to be my first groove box. Lets see how this thing pan out. Im a beginner so we shall see...lol
It's was my first one too! Couldn't recommend it more!
I really cant keep up cuz I never owned anything like that but I want to try to start. Is this good enough for a beginner?
The Circuit was my first piece of hardware! If you're looking to learn synthesis, the Nova engine that powers the Circuit is great to learn and can be accessed when the Circuit is hooked up to the Components editor on a computer. If you're just looking for something to jam with and make music, you seriously can't beat the Circuit. It's one of the simpler (but still incredibly capable) grooveboxes out there. I'd definitely recommend it for someone just starting out!
soo pretty 😭
At 20:30 - 20:31, notice that macro-knob 4 automatically records itself 😂
👌👌👌👌👌
Really great video. Learned so much just from watching you work. Thanks a ton!
*edit: That song is f*#&ing great! I would advise you to revisit one day :)
very much like Minecraft tune but nevertheless, great tutorial!
Can't detect the drum programming weakness you are talking of! Also you are way to harsh with what you came up with, it is a beautiful melody worth elaborating on I think. Wish other people with one percent of your knowledge and taste were that modest and self-critical!
Thank you! I really appreciate the compliments :)
Using awfully unintuitive gear like this feels like cutting off both your legs and trying to walk on your elbows.
Fell asleep
What a great tutorial! Thank you so much!