Novation Circuit Groove Box: Create Groovy Beats with 2-Part Synth, 4-Part Drum Machine and Sequencer, Plus Sample Import Feature

Ludovic Perick: The media could not be loaded.  Supre produit, le petit enceinte intégrée permet d'être autonome,

France on Dec 12, 2022

Alessandro Drago: E' la mia prima esperienza con uno strumento per creare musica elettronica. Eri indeciso se acquistare una tastiera con drume integrata, una drum machine o appunto una groove Box. Quest'ultima si è rivelata la scelta azzeccata perchè fa tutto e lo fa con una relativa semplicità una volta seguito qualche tutorial on-line su Youtube. Dopo un anno di utilizzo delle funzioni base posso dire che oltre ad essere di livello professionale è anche divertente ed intuitiva. La marca è una garanzia e finora non ha dato alcun problema. Devo capire come installare gli aggiornamenti ma non credo sia difficile. E' consigliato a chiunque voglia cimentarsi con la musica elettronica. La dotazione di suoni, effetti, etc. è di tutto rispetto.

Italy on Sep 26, 2021

VermisIIDX: So, prior to receiving this, I already owned an Elektron Model:Samples, KORG Volca FM, and 4 Pocket Operators by Teenage Engineering. The Novation Circuit is the most fun I've had out of all these devices. It has a very solid and premium feeling, the build quality is great. The pads made me nervous at first because they seemed a bit stiff (I imagined they'd be squishier or softer) but once I turned it on and started playing with it, I realized these pads are super sensitive so it isn't even necessary to smash the pads at all, you can comfortably and naturally tap on them with no issues. The workflow so far seems very user-friendly and easy to grasp and the included synth and drum patches have nice variety to help you create a nice range of music. The only thing I'm not too keen on is the sound volume. I have yet to actually update my Novation Circuit so maybe one of the updates will solve this but...out of the package, you can barely hear ANYTHING coming from the built-in speaker until you turn the master volume dial past 50%. Very strange. What's odd is that this issue remains even if you use headphones or plug the Circuit into speakers / studio monitors. I'm not sure why the...

United States on Nov 02, 2020

Matt: Let’s get one thing out of the way. The speaker, as others say, is pretty poor. You’ll probably want to use headphones.

The most helpful review says that this thing is way too complicated for novices. I couldn’t disagree more. There’s a 7-lesson, less than 1 hour tutorial by XpressPads on YouTube. I watched them today and feel like I know how to do everything I want to do in very little time. If you’re not sure, I suggest just watching the lessons and make up your own mind whether it seems too complicated. I think it’s insanely intuitive.

So impressed with this thing. I bought it to create some ambient soundscapes. I bought Limbic Beats’ Elements pack and loaded the samples and patches on the Circuit via USB. I’ve been toying around for hours, and I feel like the possibilities are endless. Novation continues to release firmware updates that add new functionality, some of which have added some serious power and versatility to this box (micro steps, tied notes, complex pattern chaining, sample flipping, etc.)

With all the creative potential along with the fact that I can load in different samples and patches if I get bored with the ones I have...

United States on Oct 29, 2020

gripper: Pro:
- extrem übersichtlich und einfach zu bedienen
- sehr gut ausgedachtes minimales Pattern-Konzept mit dem sich sofort jammen lässt
- Synth-Engine mit erstaunlicher Tiefe für eigene Experimente bei gleichzeitiger sehr einfacher Bedienbarkeit dank "Makro-Drehreglern".
- Samplebasierte Drums (Ingses. 64 sample slots) die samples können über einen Computer selbst ausgetauscht und durch eigene ersetzt werden.
- gute kostenlose Software Updates/Upgrades (EDIT: Leider hat Novation das Gerät nach dem Erscheinen des Nachfolgemodels "Circuit Tracks" komplett links liegen lassen... sehr ärgerlich!)
- genau die richtige Größe mit außreichendem Platz, passt in den Rucksack, Batteriebetrieb, eingebauter Lautsprecher für Notfälle usw - wirklich sehr durchdacht!

Con:
- Leider nur 2 Synth-Sounds/Spuren (jeweils 6-Stimmig polyphon), was für viele Elektronik-Arrangements nicht ausreicht. Die Anzahl der Instrumente lässt sich auch über MIDI nicht erweitern - es bleibt bei 2 Spuren, egal ob der interne Synth oder ein angeschlossener Klangerzeuger verwendet wird. Schlechte Nachrichten also für Leute die gerne Synth-Orgien aufeinanderschichten wollen.
-...

Germany on Jun 20, 2019

John R. Rambo: First Off: I returned mine. I guess I was expecting an easy-to-use drum machine, with some additional synthesizer capabilities. This thing is WAY TOO complicated to learn for a novice, even though it appears to have an intuitive user interface. Nothing about it is intuitive.

I gave it 4 Stars; I wanted to give it only 3, but as I really didn't use it, productively, I couldn't judge it thoroughly.

It doesn't include a manual. You have to have the foresight to go to their website and search for the manual PDF.
The manual seems to be written for someone well-versed in drum machines. I am not.
I am a guitarist, and I just wanted something to accompany my practicing.
I did not want to put in what would have been hours just to figure out how to use its basic functionality.

Another complaint: they make a point of noting that it has an external speaker. This was a selling point for me, because I was not looking to run this through a mixer, amplifier or DAW software.
You can barely hear the speaker, at its max volume.
If you're going to include an external speaker, make damned sure it is at least as loud as a cellphone.
I could barely hear it, alone....

United States on Jun 18, 2019

INTELBLUE: Soy aficionada a la música electrónica y techno así como a producir mi propia música. Había hecho mis pinitos con software como FL y una mesa de mezclas, pero quería más. Quería componer mi propia música sin renunciar a la autonomía y que fuera completito. El Circuit me ofrece todo esto. Es un dispositivo tan ƒácil de manejar a la vez que complejo que es un deleite. Hay que reconocer que he tenido que echar unas horitas para hacerme con él y verme unos cuantos vídeos. Pero una vez que se va aprendiendo es una gozada todo lo que nos ofrece un cacharrito del tamaño de un controlador DJ pero con gran funcionalidad desde novatos como yo a profesionales. Por si fuera poco, también podemos cargar nuestros propios samples y conectar el aparato al ordenador para usarlo como controlador MIDI a sintes, software de producción musical como Ableton o FL o a otros controladores MIDI y cajas de ritmos . Reconozco que aún no lo he probado de esa manera porque de momento no lo he necesitado. Lleva altavoz incorporado con potencia suficiente.Como inconvenientes destacables de momento son que va a pilas o con alimentación. Lo suyo sería una batería recargable y además con cable...

Spain on Jan 25, 2017

Isaac Alexander Smith: I've been obsessing over Novation products since I deployed overseas and found myself with a lot of spare time and very few activities to partake in. I recently saw this product "Circuit" and knew that I wanted it immediately, it was at a discounted price than what the price is at currently which was pretty neat.

The product itself feels a lot more professional than other Novation products in the "Launch Series" the buttons feel like it was made to be used as a serious tool instead of what feels like a flimsy overprice toy. (don't get me wrong, other Novation products are great but this had in a sense REAL feel to it) There are no labels on the rotary encoders (top knobs) which make it difficult to understand what kind of changes you're making but it does give you a more intimate relationship with the product. There are however some limitations in that you only get 2 synths and 4 drums. and different

Overall: Sound is fantastic with it's built in speaker, the AAA batteries last quite a long time if you don't stay plugged in, and you don't need software to use. The best way to describe this product is that it's a is very intuitive tool for creative...

United States on Apr 17, 2016

Ein RezensentEin Rezensent: In den späten 90ern belebte Roland mit seiner MC303 die neue Gattung der Grooveboxen. Hardwaresequencer mit eingebautem Rompler (sprich Sample-Player ohne richtige Synthese), Drumcomputer und Filtern. Die bekannteste Groovebox war wohl die MC303, benannt nach der legendären TB303 aus den 80ern. Mit 800 DM damals sehr bezahlbar und vergleichbar. Mit dieser Kiste fing für viele Menschen in den goldenen Zeiten der elektronischen Musik die Liebe zur Produktion an. Zwischendurch waren Korgs Electribes die einzigen wirklichen Vertreter dieser Gattung, von anderen Herstellern kam wenig die letzten Jahre.

Jetzt hat Novation, bekannt durch sowohl Synthesizer wie die Bassstation und die verschiedenen Novas als auch die genialen Launchpad-Midi-Controller, eine Groovebox namens Circuit auf den Markt gebracht. Kurz die technischen Details:

- 2 Synth-Parts aus der Nova-Reihe, jeweils (!) 6fache Polyphonie (64 Sounds zur Auswahl)
- 4 Drumparts mit Drumsounds (64 Sounds zur Auswahl)
- Pro Part 8 Patterns pro Session, insgesamt 32 Sessions (do the math)
- 8 Endlos-Drehregler für Modulationen
- 32 RGB-beleuchtete Triggerpads in bewährter Launchpad-Qualität
- 1...

Germany on Mar 08, 2016