Novation Circuit

[Faldoe]

I saw someone here use it for a pedal demo, and it seems like a cool, self contained piece of equipment. I'm always back and forth between the endless possibilities of software - Ableton - and wanting a hardware piece that is more "limited" in a way, cause I usually tend to explore that more, and don't feel overwhelmed by the endless amount of possibilities.

What are you thoughts on the Circuit? I like a lot of minimal electronic stuff, Berlin School. Big fan of pads.

[D.o.S.]

Never used one, but why wouldn't you pair it with Ableton?

[gnomethrone]

was it that digdugdiy demo? cuz i've been looking at them since then too. haven't tried one yet.

[Faldoe]

Never used one, but why wouldn't you pair it with Ableton?

It's a possibility but I tend to enjoy myself more and a i'm a little more creative when not using my laptop and just using hardware. I can get more into the mood or something, and the limits of the hardware kind of makes me find interesting stuff.

Same goes for looping. Ableton is great for looping but I tend to enjoy it more when using a DL-4 or two.

[Ev_O)))]

I'm always back and forth between the endless possibilities of software - Ableton - and wanting a hardware piece that is more "limited" in a way

Fuckin story of my life. I love Ableton and flog it to death, but if there was a way to go into a live environment with a single piece of hardware that did everything I want without me needing a laptop then I would be into it so hard. The only thing that comes close is an Octatrack, and even then I'd probably need a pair of the fuckers so that's just miles out of the question.

The circuit seems like a lot of fun in a self contained unit, without needing any proficiency as a keyboard player.

Or, you could kind of combine the limitation mindset with the advantages of Ableton and buy a PUSH 2 and run everything kind of "out of the box" if it's the separation from the laptop that is the key to creativity for ya.

[spacelordmother]

I've been thinking about the Circuit a lot lately -- seems really immediate and fun. They've also added a bunch of new features in the firmware recently. Still, I wonder if I would get bored of it? I mean, does it even drone bros?

[psychic vampire.]

The new features took it from interesting but not amazing, to really incredible budget piece. I like the Novation shit i've fucked with. I haven't used the Circuit itself, but would definitely give it a try if i was in the market for what it does.

[BoatRich]

Has anyone used this for heavier stuff/as primarily a sampler? It seems like it could be a really rad contained set up for someone who doesn't play keys but wants synths in their band.

[D.o.S.]

Seems like overkill for a sampler to me?

[psychic vampire.]

I wouldn't say overkill so much as, it really depends what you wanted to do with a sampler and it has a lot of capabilities that you wouldn't be getting the full use out of, which may or may not be a shame, as you see it.

If you're just looking for a sampler to spit back pre-recorded little snippets more or less exactly as you sampled them, such as TV dialogue or little musical lines or whatnot, you could probably be better served by a Boss/Roland SP deal. But there are a lot of kinds of samplers out there that do a lot of things.

[spacelordmother]

I wouldn't say overkill so much as, it really depends what you wanted to do with a sampler and it has a lot of capabilities that you wouldn't be getting the full use out of, which may or may not be a shame, as you see it.

If you're just looking for a sampler to spit back pre-recorded little snippets more or less exactly as you sampled them, such as TV dialogue or little musical lines or whatnot, you could probably be better served by a Boss/Roland SP deal. But there are a lot of kinds of samplers out there that do a lot of things.

Agreed, especially if you want to use longer samples. It only has 60 secs of space available, and triggering via sequencer (maybe it has live/audition mode?) means that once the pattern comes back around it's going to cut off the sample and start again.

I am probably going to keep my eye open for a good deal to see how it works for me and then I can unload it and break even if it doesn't. So hard to tell from all the demos of insipid beats.

I know it will Underworld, but will it Oneotrix Point Never?

[psychic vampire.]

I mean, i think the Circuit is designed to be an all in one solution for things a little bit closer to Underworld than OPN, but if you were really tryna OPN i'd probably just recommend a computer or an Octatrack or a bunch of rack samplers and pedals, or some other absurd solution.

[spacelordmother]

I mean, i think the Circuit is designed to be an all in one solution for things a little bit closer to Underworld than OPN, but if you were really tryna OPN i'd probably just recommend a computer or an Octatrack or a bunch of rack samplers and pedals, or some other absurd solution.

Probably, just really attracted to the simplicity and that it's standalone, but I suppose that is also its shortcoming. Not really trying to be OPN, but really wondering if you can bend the Circuit (har) to be more a looser drifting smeary mess. I know it's not quite the same, but I just sold my Volca Sample because the linear (restrictive) nature of the sequencer made it get boring really fast.

[BoatRich]

I wouldn't say overkill so much as, it really depends what you wanted to do with a sampler and it has a lot of capabilities that you wouldn't be getting the full use out of, which may or may not be a shame, as you see it.

If you're just looking for a sampler to spit back pre-recorded little snippets more or less exactly as you sampled them, such as TV dialogue or little musical lines or whatnot, you could probably be better served by a Boss/Roland SP deal. But there are a lot of kinds of samplers out there that do a lot of things.

I'm more looking for something to replace my Volca beats, microbrute, and mpx 8 along with a second pedalboard in a live setting. The ability to do chord based synth and still have samples playing sounds really convenient to me.

[psychic vampire.]

Yeah, to cover those three things, the Circuit seems ideal! It's new firmware kind of gives it more functionality than the Electribes in my opinion (although they fucking finally added song mode to the new Electribes, god damn).