Is the Novation Circuit Tracks the best beginner groove box? Lets take a look at what it offers someone starting out in DAWless music production.
Novation Circuit Tracks: A Comprehensive Review
The Novation Circuit Tracks is a versatile and powerful groovebox that has captured the attention of electronic music producers. Building on the success of the original Circuit, this updated version has bags of functionality and a low price point to entice new comers to part with their cash. Is it the best beginner groove box available and how does it compare to the competition.
Design and Build Quality
One of the first things you’ll notice about the Circuit Tracks is its sleek and portable design. The unit is lightweight and compact, making it easy to carry around for on-the-go music creation. The build quality is robust, with a solid feel that ensures durability. Although if you going to transport it, it would make sense to put it in a suitable case. Its powered off USB-C and has a built in recharchable battery, so thats great for portability. When devices are only powered by USB, that can lead to noise issues, which have to be mittigated. On my setup the tracks generates noise on the signal path if I leave it connected to AUDIO and USB, but dont turn the unit on. Once it is powered up the line noise goes away.
Features and Functionality
The Circuit Tracks retains the core features that made the original Circuit popular, including two polyphonic synth tracks and four drum tracks. However, it also introduces several new elements that enhance its functionality:
- MIDI Tracks: The inclusion of two dedicated MIDI tracks allows for integration with external gear
- MicroSD Slot: This addition could make it easier to swap out samples. However I basically never touch it and make all the file transfers over USB. Still it could help in some scenarios or as a way of making backup.
- Enhanced Sequencer: The 32-step sequencer includes features like probability and micro-timing, giving you more control over your patterns, but be warned that since there is no display, many a button combo needs to be memorised to access these advanced functions.
if you want to control 4 external devices, just mute the volumes on tracks 1 and 2, and they can also manage external gear
Sound Quality
The sound quality of the Circuit Tracks is impressive, thanks to its Nova synth engines. The synths offer a wide range of sounds, from lush pads to punchy basses, and the drum samples are crisp and dynamic. There is build in Reverb and Delay affects. With fixed presets for chosing their settings, but then the amount of each effect can be applied to different channels. Also my favourite feature is the ability to make SideChain pumping effect (usually based off a kick but it can be anything) and again the level of this effect can be applied to any channel. There is just 10 different level settings here, you can’t tweak the parameters, but it is still very effective.
User Experience
One of the standout aspects of the Circuit Tracks is its intuitive interface. The 4×8 velocity-sensitive pad matrix is responsive and easy to use, making it simple to create and manipulate patterns. And if you got into DAWless to avoid looking at computer screens then you will be right at home here since there is no display. Everything is managed with the pads. This does lead to a fairly steep learning curve but I find that most of the combinations make sense after some time. This is a unit that takes months, rather than days to master. For sequencing I find the lack of display ok, but for tweaking and selecting the sounds I find it very annoying, since you have to just press randomly on all the patch buttons until you find something you like and then twiddle the modulation encoders to shape the sound with very limited visual feedback. There is also accompanying softare for delving deeper into the sound parameters. And to be fair if there was a display for tweaking sounds, you would know doubt end up in menu diving hell similar to something like Rolands MC101. Its just not something that any budget device handles very well.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Portable and lightweight design
- Built-in rechargeable battery
- Two dedicated MIDI tracks (but can use 4)
- Budget price
- Intuitive and responsive interface
Cons:
- 4-hour battery life could be longer
- No display, so hard to chose sounds
- slow learning curve for advanced functions
Conclusion
Overall, the Novation Circuit Tracks is a versatile machine to get started in DAWless. you have a great little sequencer, drum machine and a couple of synths all in one package for jamming on. With a few midi and audio cables you can hook up 1 or 2 external synths and a controller keyboard for a nice little setup, that will soon lead to a serious case of Gear Acquisition Syndrome.