My thoughts on the Novation Circuit

[NickZoll]

I've seen Tarekiths review which is pretty cool, thank you for details. This was the first demo showing the editor in details. In my opinion Circuit has realy nice groove making features. But what about synth engine. Yes, it looks like more powerful than e2. But I think there is something wrong with the idea of using editor for making new patches. What I expect from standalone groovebox is to use the device without a laptop/pc. In the case when I have to use computer I would rather prefer some cool softsynths like NI massive which is much more powerful. This is the reason why I hate my R3 and the same reason makes Circuit unusable for me. I agree sound of e2 is raw and not as tasty but I just like the idea to use groovebox without computer.

[Tarekith]

I think its important to remember you don't HAVE to use the editor at all, in fact it wasn't even created with that in mind. Novation only added that option after people requested it. I've certainly messed about with it a good deal, but 95% of the time I'm using Circuit it's on it's own without the computer involved. It's still capable of really wild and unique (non-minimal techno) sounds this way, but it's nice to have the option of finetuning your sounds if that's your thing.

Again, the editor is NOT something you really need to use if you don't want to, I would still rate the Circuit equally good even if there was no editor.

[circuitghost]

Thanks

I have to agree, I'm inclined to go back and try the Circuit again after Tarekith's review and also this discussion on this thread.

To be fair to the Electribe, I don't think the voice stealing is that bad at all. It depends on how you use it, and even if you push it, the voices you do get out of it, are good quality.

Again, I think it comes down to communication. The Virus TI for example, the Snow in particular, states clearly in Access communication that it's capable of between 10-50 voices, depending on how you use it. They believe in their product and have the spine to say the performance varies depending on what you do with it.

So you'd say the same about the Electribe - "It's capable of of producing between 6 to 24 voices, depending on how you use it."

Now, if Korg said that, I have a hard time seeing anyone could make a valid complaint that the Electribe had issues with voice stealing. It'd be there, right on the box, in the folders, on the web site, wherever.

But Korg plays a spy game on this one. They don't say anything. They let the users find out.

You gonna like that or not, finding out for yourself that the 24-voice thing is a truth with some serious modification? Are you more or less up to the challenge of tweaking your songs when you found out that your perception of 24-voice polyphony, isn't the same as Korg's?

No wonder people are still upset. It has nothing to do with the Electribe, everything to do with shifty communication and the resulting emotional experience that follows.

[Tarekith]

To be fair to the Electribe, I don't think the voice stealing is that bad at all. It depends on how you use it, and even if you push it, the voices you do get out of it, are good quality.

Totally agree. It's a sore point for me personally I admit as the stealing always happens RIGHT when I'm about to get my Patterns sounding complete as I envision them. But like I said before, it's hard for me to not use effects and such on the electribe, given the limited editing is has. Definitely not something inherently wrong with the electribe, more to do with my needs from it.

[jbvdb493]

To be fair to the Electribe, I don't think the voice stealing is that bad at all. It depends on how you use it, and even if you push it, the voices you do get out of it, are good quality.

Totally agree. It's a sore point for me personally I admit as the stealing always happens RIGHT when I'm about to get my Patterns sounding complete as I envision them. But like I said before, it's hard for me to not use effects and such on the electribe, given the limited editing is has. Definitely not something inherently wrong with the electribe, more to do with my needs from it.

That's partly why I think it's not really stand alone, as much as korg probably wanted us to think so! It works well with say an iPad and the 2 electribes (sampler and synth) opens the complete sonic palette and nullifies the voice stealing problem! And add a small mixer and some guitar fx and you got a full live setup! My 2 cents

[Tarekith]

Really though, there's only one solution here

[gizmoismogwai]

Really though, there's only one solution here

I've been sporting this combo recently and it's amazing. Those two devices compliment each other very well. But maybe best of all the Circuit is particularly amazing for generating content to fill the E2S with.

I love the Circuit as it is to be honest. But I'm hoping that they at least give the drum parts on the circuit access to the synth sounds. Then it could be used to sequence extra melodies or with the synth editor you can build your own drum sounds to use.

[jbvdb493]

Really though, there's only one solution here

Very nice man!

[tim from texas]

@gizmo.. you saw there are preset synth sounds labeled as Bass drum builder, snare builder, and hat builder right? they are on that little card that came with the manual.

ahhh i reread and youre looking for the drum slots to hold synth sounds too.. more than i originally thought.. The circuit users page on facebook is pretty active and hints about updates and general circuit stuff are dropped from time to time if youre not on there already.

[rbrucemtl]

For anyone trying to decide what to get here is my take.

So after 7 days with the E2 I was left feeling let down. The E2 synths just sounded dull to me no matter how much I tweak the sound. Also, so what if the E2 had 16 tracks, it does not have the power for them all and voice stealing was happening all the time. The synths in the Circuit are great just like my old supernova and with the editor software, it's an excellent addition to my home studio and there are no misconceptions about it's power. Only two but they work as expected.

E2 was also way to heavy I wanted something portable to get ideas down ( walking, or sitting in a park )before I moved to the DAW. E2 is built well but too heavy. Circuit build is even better, smaller, lighter, and rubberized...it just feels great and innovative, happy, colorful and fun.

[circuitghost]

So I went back to the Circuit and have played with it some more (a few hours).

I've changed my opinion somewhat, going into this with the mindset of trying to find the Circuit's deeper aspects. Here's what came out:

I was wrong about the vanilla sound. It's capable of quite weird soundscapes, and very satisfyingly so. Once I stopped looking for what button was the Cutoff or Release or whatever, and just explored the sound on its own terms, cool stuff just happened. So just as a synth on its own, it's pretty good.

The interface is outstanding. I always did like it the first time around too, but it's only now I'm realizing how brilliant it is. Not just the technical experience, but the tactile as well - the quality of the thing makes it a joy to play.

The drum samples are good, but surprisingly bland. On the other hand, leaving out the mandatory stuff would've made the Circuit too experimental for many tastes. And with limited slots for samples, Novation had little choice but to go for the low hanging fruit. They sound good for what they are, though, and they're flexible enough to tweak.

The sequencer swings like a cracker on New Year's Eve, and combining a live jam with some step editing is super easy. The Tempest comes to mind. It feels like the Circuit is sort of a kindred spirit with that instrument, more than the Electribe.

The two-synth and 4-drum limit is painfully obvious, though. You're just aching for more. Not that you feel cheated or the Circuit is uncapable, but that you can really feel the potential of this, developed into a full-blown groove box.

At first, I thought: "It's great. But still not for me. Too pricey for its limitations." Because at least here in Sweden, it's basically priced in the same range as the Electribe (not much of a difference). And to me, the Electribe is just superior. Its limitations aside, it's a real production horse, capable of producing complete albums and shows on its own. The Circuit, not so much.

So feeling confident that I wouldn't get one, I left it behind, went home, put the kids to bed, made myself a cup of tea and sat down to write this.

And it occurs to me now, as I'm writing this -

- just how damn FUN the Circuit is to play. I don't remember when last I enjoyed just PLAYING an instrument so much. Perhaps the Tempest. And when I sit down by the piano, which is where it all began for me, many years ago.

But the Circuit is something else. It was as if it told me, "All right Andy, let's give'm a show they won't forget!" (which I did, in the store, to no one's amusement, though

My Octatrack is more polite and a bit obtuse. "All right, Andy, I hear what yu're saying. Let's get to work then. So if I do this, and you pull here ... no, not there, over here ... yes, that's it ... no, that button to the left, not the right one ... yes, that's the one right there. Ooops. Don't worry. That's what Undo is for."

Well, I could give personas to all instruments I've owned and played, but let's just stop there.

So yes. The Circuit left an impression on me, which I didn't expect. I made me long for the simple pleasure of just playing the piano, of just making music, where fingers just go with the flow and something beatiful comes out of it.

[Tarekith]

My Octatrack is more polite and a bit obtuse. "All right, Andy, I hear what yu're saying. Let's get to work then. So if I do this, and you pull here ... no, not there, over here ... yes, that's it ... no, that button to the left, not the right one ... yes, that's the one right there. Ooops. Don't worry. That's what Undo is for."

LOL, that's perhaps the best description of the OT I've ever read, well done.

[circuitghost]

It's like she's saying to me: "C'mon! We've been married for two years! And you still don't know what that button's for?"

And I'm like: "Well, not for lack of trying."

[Tarekith]

LOL, my OT was more like "hell no, you're not sticking that thing in me!".

(I was one of those who had the CF card reader pins break off randomly)

[apapdop]

You write a good post Circuitghost!!