circuit rhythm is coming later this year, I think Novation will have some info about it... So Circuit Tracks? For you? Yay? Nay? And yes it is in stores now: (US) imp.i114863.net/0kgRJ and (EU) redir.love/4kIaa6oq (affiliate links)
Can you send the click track out of a separate out with the new feature? E.g. if I was working with a live drummer could I send that click to their head phones without sending it out with the rest of my signal? If so is it easy to change the tempo or is it a guessing game?
Sorry Bo, but again I'm a little nonplused. When I read that it still needs to be paired with a computer to load certain things (inc samples), I started to glaze over. It's also quite pricey -seeing that an extra 100 bucks gets a Polyend Tracker, and a 150 less gets one of those mind blowing Sonicware 8-bit grooveboxes, both of which have a unique sound, but Novation is again just a bit too clean and 'digital' as you rightly state. Happy to be proved wrong of course, but so far it's not sending me. So, nay here for me.
Ya, it is for me. The upgrades fix my workflow issues with the other one. Simple synth engine controls, separate midi. If I get more comfortable with my MC-101 I still won't be getting it, so time will tell whether I need it or not.
You have so much participated in sells for Novation, thanks to yours great vids. You should have one for free and send with a thanking letter from Novation.
I'm a bit surprised too. Your channel is so focused on circuit. If I were novation and I had only three units for review to spare, then I would give you, bobeats and trinez a unit. (maybe one has to pass for cuckoo when he decides making a new pack for it) 🤣
@@DanielC__ I appreciate your concerns But fear not, I understand your point, especially for musicians/artists in these times, when noone is aloud to perform, And money aside, it damn hurts not to be able to play for an audience while Corona. I m playing piano, keyboard and organ, guitar, bass and the drums. And I'm practicing the cello for a year. And yes I m singing too. For 26 years now. Still eager to learn more than rock/ pop/funk. Looking into jazz and classical music. And oh my, I love winds, but I can't play the sax or trumpet. So I thought a more experimental sound for the keys would be interesting. The beauty of it is that there is always something new to learn. appreciation to those who love to make handmade music, even if it's electronical. STI All the best, Alex
Great video Bo. The comments alone are an amazing insight into how impossible it is to please all the people all of the time. Novation seem to be on a cool track (pun intended) - relatively low cost, high feature set, easy to use and if they continue to develop their own volca-esque device ecosystem...I reckon they’re on to a winner. Keep making this content!
When I first saw the specs I kind of thought “that doesn’t really seem like they changed anything” and I was kind of disappointed, watching your review I’m understanding that maybe they added exactly enough, enhancing and filling out the best features of the circuit to really make it close to perfect for its users. I feel like they did the exact same thing with the launchpad line last year, and I’m really happy to see them reaching a point that these neato tools for electronic music control can really be refined and feel like high quality instruments all by themselves. Great review as always, thanks, Bo!
the leaks were real! awesome stuff! really like how much more of a live performance tool this version can be. the sd card slot, sidechaining and battery would come in really handy for gigs.
I've been stuck in Arturias world so long I had no idea a new Circuit came out. Nice sounds. OMG it's basically a whole new instrument. Tight rhythms Bo.
Well done! Love the added Midi tracks and the audio processing. Now I have to choose between a stand-alone sequencer, with a drum track that I wouldn't use, or a Circuit Tracks with a synth track I may not use....
I was thinking about pulling the trigger on the original circuit not long ago, but I’m glad I waited because this unit seems way easier to integrate into a hardware/eurorack system due to the individual midi tracks. Definitely going to be grabbing one of these now.
thank god they added labels, one of the main reasons for selling my circuit a few months ago was that I could never get into a workflow because I never remembered what I was changing with what knob
@@williamshaneblyth I mean that wasn’t the only reason I got rid of it, and also I have a thing with writing/putting labels on gear where I just don’t like the look of it. My main reason for getting rid of it though is that the grid/pad workspace and workflow just wasn’t for me, and I’d rather have someone else own it than let it collect dust on a shelf.
@@williamshaneblyth I originally got it to sequence my few hardware synths at the time, but it was swiftly replaced with a keystep pro which is exactly what I wanted in the first place, it just happened to come out after I bought the circuit 😭
@@wflinner keystep pro would be good to play the internal synths I have a 4 zone controller board I use 1 zone for internal sounds 1 in my controller board 1 for microfreak and other 2 can control the wavestate and or the other circuit synth. Not forgetting my daw sounds
I love the sleak new design. Looks great. Built in battery is very cool. Don't think I'd miss the built in speaker. The Rhythm is the one that I'm waiting on.
Fantastic review. One of the best done youtuber reviewers I’ve seen. So many explain half the time and demo the other half - bad style. This explains a bit 1 then demos bit 1, very logical. No waste. Circuit Tracks on way now. I’ve had Roland, mc, several groovy boxes but this one seems to accomplish a lot without the more complicated workflow multi level menus. Quick workflow. Combine with other gear, fx, semi modular, etc
Hey Bo. I've been looking at a lot of channels covering a lot of equipment I've been interested in. Amazon UK had a limited time deal on the Circuit Tracks (a third off retail!). Your's was the first review I clicked on. I just like the way you do your videos and I have come to trust your opinions on other equipment I was thinking about. I went ahead and ordered it, reassured by your enthusiasm for the Circuit Track, so thanks!
@@All_Together_Now can't return mine as its second hand. I think regardless I'm going to keep it to see how I feel about it, but that comment from Bo about how the tracks is better if you want to use the circuit as your main sequencer really hurt. Ouch.
@@mungewell ah I saw the labels and assumed they were fixed vs default suggestions. I'd prefer them to be fixed. But good that they are still assignable. Unless the creator has been sensible like light finger so that there's consistency across the patches then there's still a risk of accidental carnage 😂
Bo I saw you on the Simply Synth page acting all surprised about Novation launching a new Circuit and it made me doubt if it was launching. Now I see this. 😂
I like the new dedicated midi tracks functionality the most. Also, the sequencer and workflow improvements looks great. I've really enjoyed the sound of the Minilogue and the Pulsar and I love the fact they were sequenced from the Circuit.
I just saw proper MIDI ports and labels on the knobs and that was enough of an improvement for me. I hardly use my Circuit anymore but I'm not selling it. It was my introduction back to hardware. This new Circuit Tracks is slimmer than the OG so it can fit in my travel bag even easier. 4 hours of battery time while I'm traveling. This could be an addition then. Great video Bo
When i heard the rumors from that polish Synthpage about these Releases, my first thought was: I hope Novation has its No.1 Circuit Guy in mind :D Mr. Bobeats! I am glad you did the review! I got my Circuit in November as a Birthday Gift from my Girlfriend. Yeah a little late to the game here :D But it was and still is brilliant (And your Tutorials helped a lot ;-) ) The update is pretty awesome! How about a Video using the old and new one together? :)
Thats a nice upgrade, looks ace to sit on the couch with the battery and I love how it has the labels on the knobs now. That was the reason I never got the old one. Guess I don't have a lot of reasons not to get one of these.
Ohhh I kind of need to have it after hearing everything you've done with it haha. You had some really awesome jams here, hope you put some more on spotify for us soon ^_^
Essentially it’s worth getting if you don’t have a Circuit already. I love my Circuit but I do have an issue with the fact that I moved it around in a satchel at university and the unit got dusty so when i noticed it freaks out unless I hit the side of the unit and it stops 🤷♂️ Fantastic piece of hardware though and this has some great improvements
Haha with this and the Rythm they have next it's clearly going after the Elektron Model series. And Novation was actually able to make it fully portable without batteries which Elektron kinda failed on. This just crossed my mind. Wow!
Great review and I love the product. Really enjoying probability, although I had it on the beatstep before, its much easier to use on the Tracks and the workflow very fast. I think they have done well here, I would just argue for a bigger range of inputs, two more midi tracks and internal recording of summed songs that you play live. I think I am asking for too much, however maybe a "Circuit Pro" in the future.
Hey Bo, thanks for the comprehensive review, as always! 👍👍 Quick question - is pattern chaining still implemented in the same way as OG Circuit, now that the Scenes are involved? The old format of going back and forth, chaining pattern 1 three times in a row followed by pattern 5 twice and pattern 8 once? That was very good, does pattern chaining still function in this way in the new unit? Can you chain the Scenes out of numerical order as well? 🤷♂️🤔
Looks like a lot of possibilities for live sequencing especially with the Packs that could be used as separate sets. Keep the external groove going while loading the next pack.
@@SHINdanny it's possible just with the circuit by itsself, if it thats what you mean. it got a tempo button where you can change the tempo i think with arrow buttons. you can see your bpm on the lid pads :-) its like the numbers are drawn by the individual lights. magic! ^^
Man, right as I was about to snag an MC-101. Now I’m not really sure which groovebox I want again. Idk lol, nice to have options. This thing looks so dope.
Man if novation had put this out a year earlier I’d have saved a lot of money by buying this and 2 external synths instead of diving into the world of Elektron gear
Yay for me! I'm not sure yet whether i will keep my legacy Circuit or sell it, but i think i don't need two Circuits around. At first i thought that its bad to have the headphone out on the backside, BUT it gives one major advantage: You can now sit on the sofa with the Circuit on the lap without having to fear breaking the plug =) So in total it's a plus for me. I also LOVE the Midi outs, so i dont have to sacrifice a Synth voice to use external gear along with it.
Thanks Bo! Looks great :) Do you happen to know if old Circuit packs can be added to the Circuit Tracks? I have bought and created a bunch of packs on my current Circuit and it'd be a pain to have to recreate them all...
I really like the new look of the Circuit and that it has an internal battery, I wonder if the Components software will be able to run on an Ipad at some point. Also can the synth tracks still be used to sequence outboard gear along with the two dedicated midi tracks?
I loved the first Circuit for sequencing external gear but ultimately sold it ( I’ve actually owned two!) because of its limitations. When I heard they were updating it I felt sure mk2 would have sampling capability. Such a shame that it doesn’t! The Circuit sequencer is still my favourite I’ve tried, but Circuit Tracks doesn’t make it onto my gear wish list. Thanks for the review Bo! Long time watcher, first time commenter.
Hey Bo, great vid man! Will definitely look into this. Out of curiousity, would the launchkey suffice if only working with 1 midi keyboard to control ableton + plug in software or would the SL mk3 offer more if purely used to make productions with software? Cheers
