Why I'm Returning the Circuit Tracks

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Why I'm Returning the Circuit Tracks

Today I'm finally talking about why I'm returning the Circuit Tracks. As I state in the video (and have many times before), I think it's an excellent device, just not for me. Due to my approach to writing and playing drum parts, the "multiple patterns per track" workflow doesn't work for me at all, and that's okay! Enjoy the video :)

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Interesting feedback. You point out that Sample Flip can be used to assign a different sample to each step in the sequence so, you can indeed use one or two Patterns to create complex drum sequences. You don't have to adhere to a Kick, Snare, Hat, Aux, format which is why they aren't labelled. Did you also experiment with Scenes? Multiple drum Patterns can be assigned to a single pad, effectively summing parts together for easier management.

NovationTV
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I am not a drummer, and I understand your reason for moving on. There are tons of options out there. As for me, I think this device is incredible. All of these groove box things are alien to me, but this one is so immediate that it seems like it leads to endless creativity even with limited experience. It has saved me money by delaying the OP-1 purchase for now as well.

northwest
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This was probably posted already, but you can input all 4 drum tracks simultaneously by entering Expanded Drum View, which you enter by pressing note twice when on a drum track.

This may have been introduced in an updated made after your video but it is in the manual and I enjoy it more than playing one drum track at a time.

mihail-bogdanyanov
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You're not playing drums. It's a sequencer, and you're complaining about added flexibility - splitting things out on to multiple tracks allows performative mutes, different effects, the sidechain, sample manipulation etc. A feature fundamental to the structure of electronic music is what made you return a piece of electronic music production gear. Learn to fit your new environment. I didn't return my Circuit because it didn't feel like my piano. Bizarre.

Sypher
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Scenes are your friend. I like the separate drum tacks, being able to set different pattern lengths to each drum track, creating polyrhythms and using probability to add randomness into the mix.

emotionwave
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That's a very fair critique. I have one arriving tomorrow. As a beatmaker from way back, I kind of relate to a pattern being a whole kit playing for a bar or two. But as my style of music (hip-hop) has evolved, the thought process has somewhat disaggregated due to the increased complexity of the rhythms and tonality of each sound. So for example, modern hip-hop is heavy on tuning the 808 kick drum very melodically, and also inserting "ratchet" (1/32nd notes) high-hats. Each of these in isolation, and definitely the overall combination of the two, is unnatural for a drummer, but makes sense for the genre, and that could be why Novation was comfortable going this way. Just as guess. Anyway, very interesting take. I'm still excited about my impending purchase. Thanks for the info!

bert
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I just bought a tracks a week ago and my2 biggest issues are: 1-the fact that you HAVE to be connected a pc to do any sound design. At least give us an ipad app so we can have access to the synth engine on the go! I find that really annoying and 2- I don't know what it is but the drum tracks annoy me too. I kinda wish there were at least 6 tracks for drums. I find myself using my volca sample for drums and just using the circuit drum tracks for sound effects.
Actually there are 3 things: I have a keysteo pro and for some reason you can only use the first 2 tracks of the keystep to control synth 1 and 2. You CANT cotrol any midi devices connected to the circuit even if you assign the correct midi channels! Like, wtf novation?? What's up with that??
The circuit tracks is a great piece of gear especially for the price, but some of it's limitations are super annoying. Now I'm wondering if I should've just saved a bit more and went for an mc 707 instead.

Old_Man_Jay
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It's such a click-bait title for a video...I chose to watch this video because I wanted to see if there was a legit reason for returning CT before I purchased it. I think the video title should be something related to how drum sequencing works in CT. Then, in the video, you demonstrate how you like to sequence drums vs. the workflow in CT. Less click-bait, more informative, & more quality, especially since this is one of your most-viewed videos.

silvebackmgmt.
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I got rid of my OG circuit, I was not interested in any novation products after owning a mini nova and a circuit, the Roland MC101 is the next to go, I just can not get on with 128 steps, I like to play a really long piece of music warts and all and then mute and unmute tracks, the MPC one and the Maschine are perfect for that and that’s why I’m using them

valley_robot
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That totally makes sense. I really appreciate your in depth description of why you don’t dig it, I’m still a little mystified by all of these fun toys because I just started making electronic music and it’s hard for me to tell what I’m going to have a good time with and whatnot.

Your live show the other day was rad! I thoroughly enjoyed it and I’m jazzed I caught the morning show because I was too busy later for the second one.

repeatdefender
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Definitely a quirky complaint. My biggest issue is how they handicap both units and keep certain features exclusive to Tracks or Rhythm. IE polyphony, grid FX, scales, etc

vznquest
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I'm not a drummer, so I'm keeping my Tracks. Love that it's so portable! I carry it in a small briefcase along with two USB powered synths.

jeffryarchambeau
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I think you're not thinking this though about the 4 drum parts. It's nice that you wanna seperate away each sound on different parts like sheet music, but I do believe that you're overlooking something HUGE.
I've played drums when I was a kid for about 5 years and learned very quickly: I only got 2 hands and 2 feet. Simply use each part as a limb. That'll solve over-crowding tracks along the way too, instead of just spamming instruments, making tracks sound overly artificial. 😉🤘

powerupminion
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Gotta say, I love it when Youtubers give negative feedback on gear. I feel so much of the platform (inside and outside music gear) is "Hey look at this new thing, it is awesome!", but truth is, not everything is awesome, or for everyone at least. I treat gear reviews and commentary like I treat video game reviews, find the people who tend to look for what I look for, and weight their opinions a bit more. Anyway, really cool that you were able to return it after 45 days.

dickwang
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Thank you for sharing your experience with the Circuit Tracks. I think you point out something often overlooked, that we all view the world through a different lens, and what works well for one person doesn't mean it will work well for another. It is all a result of our perception, which is based on our experience. As a drummer, I'm sure you have a vision of what things should look like, and what makes sense for you, that I may not even be cognizant of what you see simply because I play a horn, and only "hear" drums, I don't create sounds with them like you do. But I know there are things I find bothersome to me in electronics which only bother me as a result of my playing the trombone. When it comes to drums, you notice the finer points that I simply am not capable of seeing. Sorry for rambling a bit, I found your video on this quite fascinating and insightful. Thanks as always! 🙏🙏🙏

charlesneuzilmusic
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You are not alone. Wish I could return mine. It may end up on Reverb. It just feels like I have to fight it to do anything. The Roland MC707 and 101 comes easy. The Elektron boxes are harder, but still usable and fun. But when I start to use my Circuit Tracks I feel a bit of dread. A music instrument should be inviting, not an obstacle. For some people I am sure it feels natural, but not me.

digitalhillbilly
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This is exactly the main issue I have with the Circuit Tracks as well. I watched this video before I bought the Circuit Tracks, but didn't really understand why it would be so weird. Then I got it, and over the last week or so, I totally agree with your sentiments here. It really does put me into a weird mental space that I can't really wrap my head around in needing to separate my drum patterns out into multiple tracks. I think what really kills me is that the kick and snare have to be on different patterns.

When making "four to the floor" dance tracks, the kick and snare are almost always layered on top of one another, so there's two of your drum tracks used up right away. But then you think, "wait, i can just put some other instruments on those tracks to save space". Great, so I put the hats on Drum 1 with the Kick, but then if, later on, I want to have the hats overlap with the kick, I then have to separate them out again, but might conflict with another pattern in another drum track.

And, if making more experimental beats, I like to be able to just record new patterns live without worrying about switching to new tracks. Even worse is accidentally erasing steps by overdubbing them with different instruments.

Anyways, it's something I didn't think would bother me but really ended up not working out in the end. And I'm not even a drummer! Just someone that's been using drum machines for the last 20+ years! LOL It's too bad, because I love what they've done with the device otherwise (except for some minor gripes with the sound of the synth engine itself).

techsture
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Why I don't have a Circuit: Because the Akai Force exists. It has the workflow I've been wanting for decades, and it lets me produce full songs start to finish entirely without a computer, and it runs Linux so it's really convenient to, like, mount it as a drive over wifi and sync the contents. Also, I'm a drummer, and the Force does drums way better.

ToyKeeper
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I was so close to returning mine, for some strange reason I doubled down and kept it. I've also learned a lot since my 45 - 90 days of return time. If anything it's the best drum machine I have. the best thing about tracks is making something start to finish is faster with tracks than any daw or my other hardware. I don't blame you, I'm just disappointed, lol.

jordanWAH
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I commented and explained on your last tracks video on how to extend the length of each pad by going into program settings. The tracks has micro stepping and you can utilize that to great effect. Sorry that the tracks didn't work out for you. It does take time to learn all its little hidden tricks.

stevenhoule