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Hello to all,

I know some names from the ableton forum inside here. Anyway, just wanted to say it is 8 bars. Thats why I already ordered one

Looks like a pretty nice little device! 8 bars is great as well. When he says it's for "happy accidents," I take that to at least partially mean that the interface is a challenge to learn. To me, the pad displays were pretty tough to follow in some cases, and the lack of labelling and consistency for the knobs drives this home IMO. Who knows, it might be really immediate once you master it.

The split filter and cryptic synth variables make it seem a little shallow for synth nerds, even by most groovebox standards there doesn't look to be much delving you can do. Sure there's probably enough variables there to work with, but seems more like a tweakbox for DJs than an engine that you can follow through with intent. Again, happy accidents seem to be the name of the game. This might not be a bad thing, since the sequencer jumping (for example) looks like a killer feature, it sounded excellent in the demo!

Motion sequencing looks great, but it's strange that this isn't transmitted out those dinky 3.5mm MIDI ports, just the USB one as far as I can tell from the video, claiming there were bandwidth issues. I know it won't affect too many DJs, but I personally really wouldn't want to have something else--in this case a flimsy MIDI converter dongle--outside of the box waiting to disappear or fray interally and let you down one day. This is no better or worse than the new Electribes, and it might be the new standard in smaller, semi-pro devices...but that doesn't mean I have to like it

All in all, we can't complain about a new groovebox, esepcially one as cool and cheap as this. It even seems like it could do solo duty for a set, but mainly spec'd towards the laptop DJ. Grooveboxes are largely about workflow, and depending on how you work, "happy accident" could either mean mounting frustration or spontaneous creativity, though I suspect the latter will be consensus here. Good on Novation...it's nice to see more manufacturers making gear like this that isn't just another empty controller!

I dont think it is that hard to master this device if you already own a push and ableton. For me it seems that it is like the baby of both

What I really like is the possibility to hold a note in sequencer and change the gate value on the fly. Also the possibilty to change the scale when the melodic part is already set is quite nice (like on the electribe 2, but easier to do)

Also having a reverb and delay as send is really nice.

Hopefully they will add a possibility to change the synths (maybe like a plugout light version) and to change the drum samples. That would be awesome for this price.

I am actually stoked for this thing.. i kind of like how it is dumbed down compared to the electribes.. i honestly used maybe 25% of the functionality of my esx and the circuit seems simple but fiddley enough to fit my needs/wants. seems easy to just start flowing.. the limitations are right up my alley for how i would want to use it away from the computer and the fact that it comes with abelton light might help with the missing sample functions.. MIGHT help anyway.. i dont know a whole lot about abelton.. or even if i am spelling it correctly.

I also scored a copy of reason so i might try it in there also..

I sold my esx to buy an esx 2 and korg has me shook on buying it.. I know a lot of people in here like and dislike the new tribes but it seems like the stuff i miss about my tribe will work so well with the circuit.. i wont buy it at the drop.. but will probably pick it up.. people on various forums were thinking along the lines of "when there is one, there will be two" as in novation might be dropping a sample version also down the road.. (shoulder shrug)

The Elecribe has 64 steps (4 bars of 1/16 notes or 2 bars of 1/32 notes).
The Circuit has 128 steps (8 bars of 1/16 notes or 4 bars of 1/32 notes).
The Circuit has a reasonable pattern length and the Electribe does not, for some reason I can't figure out (it's honestly baffling to me that anyone would put out an advanced groovebox with only a 64-step sequencer in 2015).

On the other hand, what the Electribe does have over the Circuit is more tracks. The circuit only has two synth tracks and four drum tracks, which is very limiting, especially if your minimum is one track for bass, one for chords and one for lead melody, in which case you'll basically need two of these things.

So, essentially, both of these grooveboxes each have one major glaring flaw that renders them basically useless for making complete songs unless you're a minimalist or hate variety. Which is unfortunate, since both of these devices appear to be just those flaws short of must-haves for me. If the Electribe had 128 steps, I'd buy it as soon as I could pick between the sampler and the synth (I suspect I'd land on the sampler), and if the Circuit had just one more synth track, I'd have pre-ordered one already. Sometimes I wonder if the people making these things have ever written a song.

4 drum parts and 64 drum sounds it too way too limited for me. I'm sure its fun to play with though. Not impressed with any of the demos I've seen so far. As soon as I read these limitations, I ordered an ES2 and very happy with it so far(got it 4 days ago).

Well-- I've committed myself to learning and fully utilizing my current rig (to include a gray when that ebay dude decides to send it) for a year before I ad a new piece of equipment. Though I must say I do like the pretty colors and portability, it has NO SCREEN or inputs -- so I guess it cannot sample or run effects in-line.
Either way I'll be waiting.

gizmoismogwai wrote:I think the real appeal of the Circuit is the workflow. It's all about putting things together quickly with a limited set of tools. If your primary concern is writing music over production like mine is then it's kind of perfect. I think the only way you can really compare this with the electribe is based on the sounds. And even then it looks like a great sequencer so you can hook it to whatever awesome synth you've got anyway. Based on what I've seen this would make an excellent electribe companion so I've got my eye on it.

I fully agree gizmoismogwai

I watched all the youtube NC videos (10+), Went trough the manual... here is my take... partially comparing NC with E2.

Pros:
1. 8 bars (128 steps)
2. dedicated/better delay with individual bus and global filter
3. chaining patterns
4. better note editing
5. better transposition capabilities
6. True poly with 6 voices (I can do some 9/11 chords now)
7. Can play four octaves on 32 pads in non-chromatic scale mode
8. Much more usable distortion (based on the YT videos)
9. Instant pattern/patch changes (this should be #2)

Cons:
1. only 4 tracks and 16 voices 6+6+4 (6 tracks would be sufficient)
2. only 128 sound presets 64 synth + 64 drum
3. only 32 session slots
4. no direct MOD/LFO section especially no RND gen (random)
5. no grooves
6. demos on YT are flat.. without life
7. Silly sidechain function
8. Only four knobs/macros per drum ... really ...wtf

I’m ordering one... it will be a lot of fun as I have with E2
I own both novation and korg products. ..

Got one last Friday, and also have the E2. I love the Circuit. E2 Is more predictable from a synthesis perspective, but the nova engine sounds better, as do the effects. The sequencer is hands down more fun and more useful on the Circuit. And no, the note tails and FX are not cut off when you change patterns or sessions.

The E2 drum sounds are somewhat better, only because there's more of them. But I'd rather program the Circuit any day, it's quite fast and fun. I'm probably going to sell the E2 and use the cash to get a Nord Drum to sequence with the Circuit.

If Novation puts out an editor the Circuit will turn out to be the bargain of the century. As is, it's a great way to sketch tracks without obsessing so much over sound design.

I recorded a couple things with it, nothing pants-shittingly awesome, but a few more sounds to help make the decision I suppose.

https://soundcloud.com/suboscillator/sets/circuit-jams

Very cool. I want to try one very bad right now, but can't find any shops in the EU that have them in stock yet

Nice one. Can each pattern have different synth/drum sounds assigned to each part? (Eg pattern 1 has sound A for synth 1, then pattern 2 has sound B for synth 1). if so, do things get chopped short on pattern change?

apapdop wrote:Nice one. Can each pattern have different synth/drum sounds assigned to each part? (Eg pattern 1 has sound A for synth 1, then pattern 2 has sound B for synth 1). if so, do things get chopped short on pattern change?

The Synth/Drum parts use the same preset for all patterns within a session. However you can use automation to change the sound considerably per-pattern.

natrixgli wrote:

apapdop wrote:Nice one. Can each pattern have different synth/drum sounds assigned to each part? (Eg pattern 1 has sound A for synth 1, then pattern 2 has sound B for synth 1). if so, do things get chopped short on pattern change?

The Synth/Drum parts use the same preset for all patterns within a session. However you can use automation to change the sound considerably per-pattern.

Thankyou. Merely curious...

You can switch sessions on the fly too though, right?