COMPARING GROOVEBOXES: Circuit Tracks VS Model Cycles VS Roland MV-1 VerseLab // Summer of Synths 

GEAR USED (affiliate links support the channel) Novation Circuit Tracks // 4 track Sequencer & Synth EU: thmn.to/thoprod/512775?offid=1&affid=623 US: imp.i114863.net/0kgRJ US: bit.ly/circuittracksPC Elektron Model Cycles EU: thmn.to/thoprod/486110?offid=1&affid=623 US: imp.i114863.net/vXDbj Roland VerseLab MV1 EU: bit.ly/3i0RiDj US: imp.i114863.net/DVQb7j CHECK OUT TODAYS GUEST YT: ru-vid.com IG: instagram.com/gabemillermusic/ This video was edited by Ian Rohan: ianrohanmedia.com

Thanks so much for having me on, Bo! Hopefully y'all find this helpful.

I have the novation circuit and the model cycles and I haven't touched the circuit in a year. On the Model Cycles you have 6, yes 6 tracks that can output midi to separate devices. They are monophonic and I don't care. Polyphony has never been a big component of EDM. In the old days someone would just sample a chord and then pitch shift that sample around. That was the only polyphony you heard. The chord machine on the Cycles is infinitely more powerful than that. You can even use the LFO to dynamically change the chord inversions as it moves through a sequence. You can parameter lock the sequence steps to different sounds on every track. So realistically you can get a good drum groove going on only 2 or 3 of the six available tracks. It can store a ton of projects. Every track has its own sequence up to 64 steps long and steps can be conditionally triggered based on: probability, loop number, if a previous step triggered, if a previous step didn't trigger, if you are playing a fill, if a step triggered on a parallel track, or if a step did not trigger on a parallel track. So you can have an evolving melody that is infinitely more enjoyable. Elektron is killing it. I was looking at buying a better sequencer and I simply cannot find one. Now if Elektron makes something like the Cycles that is knob for function and performance centric (not Digitakt. That is a hardware DAW) and it has polyphony I will buy it. But until that time this is the best out there.

I really like my MV-1. The workflow really suits me. I never thought anything would give me a better experience than my Deluge but, for song creation, it is pretty immense.

Great review which answered a lot of questions and informed my choice of taking the next step on my journey into the world of electronic music production and having fun doing it ! Definitely found it helpful Gabe and Bo,thanks for sharing your knowledge and experience.

Really tempted but the model cycles thanks to you ! This guest format is great it look like watching a fancy news channel for music geek ^^

After 3 months with Verselab - sticking with it. There are two problems with grooveboxes: 1. Never will be as powerful as DAW, even with driving/recording external, internal (powerful) synths, can drive Ableton, connect to Zenbeats... only 7 tracks though. 2. Too many features on a device can easily overwhelm you Roland MV-1 gives me best balance between these two contradicting goals. Great comparison Gabe. Cheers to you and Bo!

So cool to see more people using the microfreak, such an amazing piece of gear. I’ve had mine for a bit over half of a year now and still have just started tapping into the sounds.

I enjoy Gabe's videos and have been a subscriber of his for a while. Good start.

Fantastic video, very informative. Many Thanks Gabe

I like to think the MV-1 is almost a reimagined version of the Circuit, where in place of making it designed for live jamming, it was made for composition. Actually just swapped out my Tracks for an MV-1 for that very reason. Been enjoying it so far! Agree there is a lot of menu diving, but hopefully the Zenbeats integration helps offset some of that.

Thanks for the quality content (as always). Hope this is a booster for your channel, Gabe. You deserve much more subscribers. Would love to see you two jam together (maybe while introducing gear or software that makes long distance working together possible. Just an idea.).

I don’t get why people mention the learning curve being so step with Mv1 and I am really a beginner. I am impressed by how easy it is to use if you just give it some time, you will be rewarded and think easy and quick to get going

I love to see these collabs!

Pretty cool collab with Gabe! As for the gear, all are really good but for this I think I prefer the MV1, although the circuit tracks portability is really interesting

great video! Thanks for your continuously helpful efforts.

This is the collab that the world needed 🤌

Gabe, i didn't come for this in particular, but your sound is KILLER at 14:10 ish ! really impressed by the banger power of this.

I always love a good cross-over event. 2 of my favorite creators in 1 video! 🤯

Great crossover. Love Gabe's videos. Hope you'll have him back!

You can add the Roland MC101/707 which have become my favorite grooveboxes! MPC One, Maschine+, Deluge, Digitakt and of course the OP1 for the ones that are ok to pay (a lot) more ;)

Thanks for this interesting video. I think that you would love the Deluge since it have most of these in one box. By the way, i'm already a subscriber of your great channel. Enjoy your summer Bo!

Ayye the Gabe Collab! Been watching him for a few months now

So fun to see all my youtube synth fam coming together like a Voltron.

Very articulate as Mr. Miller always is but, will we ever see him jam with Bo?

@22:20 Maybe I don't understand right, but I've assigned MIDI CC from the Zoia on the Cycles knobs with no problems, if this is what you're talking about!

Great video! Didn't know the VerseLab yet.

Gabe is great! Nice idea to host for a bit.

What an adventure in sound . Thank you 😃

excellent overview of each product they all have pros n cons... just pick the one that fits the bill for you

Thanks for this!

Excelente la comparación 👏.... Yo voy por el Circuit Tracks!!!!!

Well done gabe. To the point no hassle

Great idea to cover your channel while you're off, Bo.

I guessed correct from the hands only video:p love Gabe such an awesome guy

I’ve been looking at the deluge to include many of these features in comprehensive and intuitive way. Any thoughts?

Love Roland Mv1, never been as creative and productive before

Gabe is great! He inspired me to get the Novation Circuit and from there it was only downhill with full GAS! Thanks Gabe and enjoy your holiday Bo!

interesting point re: the Circuit about arranging a track = jamming a track = a feature, not a bug. will tryyy to record my impending Circuit Trax album that way.

Great video!!!

...I have really gotten some mileage from my Cycles, but then; I bought it because it leaned more toward being a "drum machine". I have found it to be fun to use only a couple or three tracks at a time, layering it into a multi-track or a DAW. Stand-alone, trying to build a whole song, it feels more like a toy...again, not a bad thing: I have children.

what are your thoughts on the mpc live 2 in comparison to those grooveboxes shown in the video? I think about buying one...

love you guys

Pls can you make a review of modal electronics new skulpt se

The verselab is a homerun. I usually get ideas down in Ableton that go nowhere. The verselab allowed me to complete a song in a long time. You're right, there are some weird workflows and annoying limitations, but overall it is a fantastic machine.

Muy bien very good Yo tengo la Verselab y el Circuit Track etc y van de maravilla...bien animo con todas las cosas y con alegrias...

Go Bo 👏👊👊👊👊👊👊👊💪🔥 You couldn't have picked a better guy for this. Come Gabe. Bring the smoke. We want the 🔥🔥🔥👊👊👊👊👊💪

Fantastic! Gabe really knows his stuff!

How about Roland mv-1 VS Deluge?

Polyend Tracker?

Cycles is cool but true it does have that distinctive jazz radio station sound lol that’s difficult to escape

Good devices for this price range. I found the Elektron to be somewhat of a learning curve and counter intuitive for what I’m trying to get out of it. It has some complexity and is capable of happy accidents if you invest the time to quickly control it. I need to invest more time to appreciate the device.

Really dig the song at 1:49.

Gabe Miller abd Bo Beats team-up-so cool!

GM is a great channel!

Hmm, this video showed me that I'm not really into grooveboxes... The last one to peak my interest was the DSI Tempest because of how unique it was. Honestly, I'd much rather have something work like a workstation in a box, but with an analog synth built in. That doesn't really exist to the extent I'd hope for, though.

After watching this video and many others I ended up ordering the model cycles. I just like the sound the most based on jams posted on RU-vid. The circuit tracks looks more logical from a UI standpoint but I've always preferred instruments that do one thing well than try to do a bunch of things well.

The best studio in a box to me is my blackbox also the smallest

Hmm model cycles and circuit rhythm?

Circuit guys unite!

I dont know if yall know this but BoBeats was an actor in the 3rd fast and furious movie

is that DELOREAN DREAM at 14:00??

I don't understand why you need an audio interface with more than 2 inputs for Elektron M:C?

So I can't even save a midi sequence pattern on the Circuit?

Did I miss why Deluge was not part of the review?

29:20 The model cycles has no menu diving. It’s a knob per function machine. When building a pattern there is literally no menu diving at all!

Having a groovebox comparison video without a Deluge is like talking about the history of boxing without mentioning Muhammad Ali.

I used to have a roland 505 looper and the extreme amount of menu dive you have to do on that mini screen was umbearable for me. I feel most Roland products have that problem. I think they should either have bigger screens or more asignable knobs or buttons.

Nice video, I really like BoBeats and Gabe Miller! The Model: Samples is a great Groovebox, same layout as the Model:Cycles but plays samples rather than has an FM sound engine, so it’s more versatile.

Do you offer private lessons online?

X-Men: Days of Future Past comes to synths

Push the button ! push the button...! I'm getting too old for that shit, hahaha!

Verselab MV-1 + MC-101 ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-wSNqChMU_NY.html

MV-1 is a totally different budget category. And people need to shut up about Deluge since its 3-4x the price of the Circuit and Cycles.

Dho, if you want a more powerful Circuit get a used Push.

Gabe is a robot 😂

My favorite channels are BoBeats, AudioPilz, Gabe Miller Music, Loopop, Ricky Tinez, and Dawless Jammin'

that menu diving on the verse lab is offensive

What's wrong with Roland and their 80s style tiny screens??? I don't get it.

Sssssibilance

Roland MV 1. Is a garbage sampler , shouldn’t even have the MV. Name . Everything about it BUT the sampler is good Takes. 10 years to edit samples even holding SHIFT . Buy an MPC ONE

you scrolling through a menu so fast (5:00-) we can not see the result is seriously meaningless so thumbs down!

I could only make it a minute and a half into the video. No hate I just can’t watch that kid for some reason. Hope you enjoy your summer break Bo!