12 thoughts on “Novation Circuit Tracks Review & Comparison With Original Circuit”

1. Good value for the money, a nice upgrade to the original but the sampling and storage still pretty limited. Guess that’s why they’re making the other one to pair with it! The ability to save states is cool but if you want to perform live with it and you have to jump between states there’s that wait for it to load.

2. Fantastic update. Would still like to see more patterns per part but otherwise, very impressed! Want.

3. wait tracks pro

4. Great for those who didn’t get one the first time around, but many of the limitations remain. Maybe a screen at $500 or so would sway people more easily. But it’s easy to see why they kept it at a lower price–it kills competition like Roland.

   1. > it kills competition like Roland.

      you mean mc-101 and mv-1? no, because the both have SCREENS

5. the encoders should be freely assignable to midi cc for external sequencing. not 8 templates for certain machines. i sold my circuit mk1 because it could not. I also want to know if all the 4 melodic tracks can send midi out on separate channels. and on the same midi channel when needed.
   ‘sample flip’ was / is an afterthought nightmare, and there is no envelope what so ever on the samples. I think there exists no worse sample player actually.
   The lack of control on the synth and the impossibility to save patches, like on the original is still there.

   Fun sequencers though. When midi cc’s would be freely assignable. but they are not. Maybe something for my little nephew.

   1. Yep. This so called “Update” really misses the mark for features wanted by anybody who has the Mk1 Circuit. I’m really disappointed.

      1. yes we got it you are dispointed. no need to say it multiple times on every post on synthtopia.

6. I appreciate that Novation did not choose to try and “pro” this device up too much. That’s not what the Circuit is about. It’s a sketch or idea pad. It’s not an Elektron box. Immediacy and intuitive operation matter. (That’s not to say that the Circuit is somehow more musical than a Digitakt.) I guess I’m saying there’s an ethos as much as a workflow here. Those who never got on board are unlikely to be converted by the Tracks. I would imagine Novation isn’t trying to convert them anyway… hence the Rhythm.

   1. I think this comment is spot on. If you ever liked the original then you will actually understand what a big deal the new one is. The sequencer was always good and always improving. it’s now amazing. Probability, mutation, scenes in the mixer screen plus seperate midi tracks. Some of the internet comments leave me wondering … people seem to expect a fully blown studio controlling beast. No, it’s a Novation Circuit. To borrow their original marketing phrase now I can ‘start something’ with a couple of external synth ‘friends’. For me they’ve taken this in the direction of everything they’ve ever put into their sequencer and then added a few clever extras. If you want a DAW replacement go buy an Akai MPC (or just use a DAW cos it’s more powerful but that’s a discussion for another day) .. and why would you want a screen? If so then this is not the machine for you. Learn it. Learn it like an Elektron instrument and play it. It absolutely does not need a display. Just use your ears. Wonderful machine.

7. Does it have a song mode?

   1. i’d imagine so, the original does.