Thanks!! I love the SP, but it definitely has a learning curve... but once it clicks it's an incredible addition to any workflow given how flexible it is. I have an SP tutorial playlist if you want to get more of a taste of how I use it/what it can do ru-vid.com/group/PLl2wltiAbqRgALf0n2PEhaCDNFppnKoIv
Glad it was helpful! It took me a minute to figure out how I wanted to transition the songs from a DAW to such a limited setup, but a sampler definitely helps to make it work
Hey I know I'm nitpicking but please invest in a camera desk mount... The camera is jiggling throughout the videos, then I know you are uploading at 1080p but it seems you have the fps less than 60, which makes your hand gestures laggy. This is more on the overhead shot. I am subbed and I like your content anyway! Keep the videos up! 👊
Hey Roven, thanks for your comment and feedback! This video is from a couple of years ago when I was still getting started and working with the equipment I had. The desk mount I was using caused the camera jiggle, but earlier this year I upgraded to an overhead tripod, which has helped a lot. As for the resolution and frame rate, I typically film in 4K now, but I prefer the look of 24 or 30fps over 60fps. My gear upgrades are fan-funded, so if you’d like to help support future improvements, consider joining the channel membership or donating to the gear fund on PayPal 😄
always tempted by the circuit tracks since the demos are cool but something in me tells me I wouldn't get along with the no screen workflow. I also have that same video light cube, its a good purchase.
I thought the same as you until I tried the Circuit. It’s super intuitive and the lack of screen typically proves to be a benefit more than a hindrance (for me at least). That little light cube is awesome haha
Came across this video looking to do the same setup. I would def be running MIDI tho cause then you can utilize the Tracks really nice sequencer and also sync it. I'd love to see just a walkthru of your 9 min jam outro song to get a better idea how you utilize the Tracks. I have been messing with the Roland Aira J-6 and Modal Craftsynth 2.0 for small, battery-powered synth options. So far just having the Craftsynth for arps or a bass line has been really fun. It's pretty incredible how versatile that little box is.
It’s a fun setup. I have synced the two before, but I prefer that more human element and it gives a little more performative presentation in my opinion. The 9 minute generative track uses the circuit in a similar manner as this video where I go over my generative process on the tracks: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Pgy4mGlcMXo.html The craftsynth looks sick, sounds like a great setup 😊
Came here from one of your 404 videos (and ended up subbing) - I actually have both these tiny boxes, but haven't had time to fully learn them (am a DJ first and budding artist second) - this was very helpful and inspiring 😊
Appreciate the sub Tore, welcome! They pair quite well together (and I don’t even sync them with midi!) let me know if you have any questions about the pair 😄
Hello, I really appreciate this video. The way the Circuit Tracks and the SP 404 combine is great, but I have a very important question. I'm getting into live performances, and I'm looking for the perfect sampler to trigger backing tracks and improvise with a keyboard. Is it possible to use the MIDI channels 1 and 2 of the Circuit Tracks to trigger samples that are already saved in the SP 404 and jam along with the sounds coming from these two machines? Does it have polyphony if I use it this way? I haven't seen any videos where they do this function yet. Thank you very much!
Cheers, glad the video helped! The Circuit has MIDI out and the SP can receive MIDI so it should definitely work. I do exactly what you're describing using the Digitakt to control the SP. I have a setup video that would be quite similar to how to do it with the Circuit, only difference would be in the UI/menu setups. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-w_z6lOL8INU.html To answer your polyphony question, the Circuit midi channels do have polyphony, and it's definitely more than the 4 voice polyphony of each Digitakt midi channel. The nice thing about the SP when MIDI synced is (depending on which MIDI mode you use) you can utilize multiple MIDI channels on the sequencer to control the SP allowing more polyphony since the SP is 32 voice polyphonic.
@@sunwarper Thank you very much for your response, I assumed it could be done due to the settings of both devices. How would the setup be if one wanted to connect the Circuit Tracks and the SP 404? Also, I wanted to ask you: Is it possible to connect a USB type B MIDI keyboard to the SP and control the sounds in Chromatic Mode? about your response regarding polyphony. I will definitely explore more on this topic when I acquire the SP. Another machine that also catches my attention is the Black Box from 1010music, but I feel that for live performances, the SP is better.
@@sunwarper haven't tried it but I like the sp 404 a lot, I like dawless setups for sure and also like ways to sort of play live with DAWless. I hadn't considered the novation to trigger sp404 before but it seems more interesting than just using it with a laptop. Interested in the korg grooveboxes, some old yamaha boxes like rm1x and rs7000, electribes, even mc303. Also a fan of a few pedals or something like kaossilator with a dawless live setup. I listen carefully to how a groovebox can color the overall sound and sp404s are best for lofi imo, but if you can get good house and trance tracks with it then that's good too.
All good gear! Dawless is a lot of fun for live performance for sure. The 404 just got an awesome new update that drastically improves its midi capabilities as well. Old 404s definitely color the sound a lot, though with the high fidelity on these newest mkii’s there’s not a lot of tone color unless you add some of the internal fx. Have you checked out any of the elektron gear? The syntakt and digitakt seem like really cool dawless boxes
Nice setup. I use koala in place of the SP. But… it means I have the faff of an audio interface and associated wires required for the iPad. An SP404mk2 would be ideal. My hardware sequencers are em1x and/or rm1x
Ah that's a great setup too! I've used Koala a lot since this video, it's so much fun, I've got a lot of beats and live sets incorporating Koala on the channel as well. Are you sequencing Koala with those sequencers? My latest setup is using the Digitakt to sequence the SP and all of my dawless gear, it works really well... so much so that the Circuit is now more of a live looper in the setup to control my synths.
really cool video and setup g, I recently got the SP404 Mk2 to add to my setup. I actually have the NTS-1, Circuit and a Microfreak so once I have the space i'm going to hook them all together. I love the circuit, it's great fun but I've been having some difficulty deciding what to do with the SP so this has given me a bit of direction, thanks. I usually work on Ableton so it's been kind of a challenge getting used to dawless stuff but it has been fun. Will follow on IG I really enjoyed this video, I'll drop you a message on there would love to hear more about your stuff.
That's a fantastic setup! The SP could even work as an fx box for all the hardware, maybe resample some loops for interludes as well. Keep me posted how your setup develops. I came from working exclusively in Logic, the transition to Dawless is rough at the start, but once you learn your gear's limitations it starts to click. I've found it helps me create sounds and styles I'd never think of in my DAW
For the SP, there is a headphone output as well as the stereo and usb outs. I've not tried using both simultaneously but as there's the dj mode and cue I would think it should work. Hope that helps :)
Great Video. Thank you. How do you set them up with midi. I want them to be synced. Can I trigger the samples on the sp by the circuit? How? Or can the patterns on the sp be synced and controlled by the circuit or vice versa. I can get a tb-03 to play with the circuit. That’s heeps of fun, but I want my own beats made on the sp to sync with beats on the circuit. I find simply adjusting the same bpms and making sure you tap them in time method unsuccessful. Any help?
You can connect them via midi in/out. You can do it either way with sp controlling circuit or circuit controlling SP. Personally, I prefer using a sequencer to control the SP as the SP's MIDI sequencing isn't my favorite. I use the Digitakt and send midi to the SP. While I don't have a video tutorial on the Circuit MIDI with SP, this one on how to connect the Digitakt and SP is very similar and should give you some ideas: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-w_z6lOL8INU.html
@@sunwarper hey hey hey! Turns out the circuit uses type B Trs midi converter and the Sp 404 mk 2 uses Type A Trs Midi! Once I get the right one, ill let you know how it goes.
idk if the Roland sp 404 can do scenes im thinking about using the akai apc 40 for the volume controls I want it to feel as live as possible instead of like a dj set im using guitar too I do wan be as dawless as possible
It would depend on what you mean by scenes I suppose. The SP can do patterns which operate like scenes on the Circuit Tracks. With the newest update it can even have motion recording for effects and mutes within a pattern. There's a ton of versatility with the SP in terms of how you perform on it, and it even has an amp simulator for guitar. I've played some sets using patterns on the SP to trigger samples/loops from tracks, then I play guitar on top of it while controlling effects. Are you looking at any other grooveboxes or samplers for your setup?
I do something like this, although I'm just starting to experiment with it. I like the SP because it's easy to hit when you're playing guitar and if you want to throw some effects on, it's quick to do it and get back to playing. Also, although it's limited, I love my Electribe 2 for synth and drum parts to round it out. Feels easy to perform live on that piece of gear.
