So circuit rhythm is essentially 8 sample tracks that can be sequenced chromatically with some basic parameters and reverb/delay sends?
I’m only like half way joking. There are seriously like 10 little things that are pretty basic that I genuinely wish I could just demand Novation add to it tomorrow.
There’s a lot that I love about the Rhythm. But there are a lot of things that I find frustrating that seem really easy to fix.
That and sample slicing and the grid fx. So things like sample rate reduction and beat repeats. Plus you can do parameter locking of most parameters.
I’d say that the way to think about it is that it feels in some ways like a stripped down Digitakt or maybe a beefed up PO-33. But it’s also got a unique pattern system that I wouldn’t compare to either one. I prefer the Digitakt as far as that goes. But the Circuit style is a nice change of pace.
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The pattern style is the same as the original circuit? With 8 bars freely selectable per track per pattern? Or is it 4 because the grid is 32?
8, you use the down arrow for another 4 slots.
Same here. I feel like an EQ would be an easy thing to implement which just makes it all the more frustrating, but anyway, what is it you was most wanting that is frustrating you?
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Like I was saying. It’s a few things.
One, you can’t import samples from the micro SD card. So if I’m working on a beat and I would like to add a particular drum break that’s not already in my pack, I can’t just import it from my SD card. I would need to record it directly or I would need to hook the Rhythm up to a computer.
Two, there are some problems with the slice mode. Like I was talking about earlier, I generally like to run 3 tracks together with the same sample chops. But because of this, I generally don’t use the slice mode. That’s because you can’t copy your tracks, which means you can’t copy your slices. It’s very dumb.
Even if you could copy your slices, the slice mode isn’t particularly good at dealing with slices from multiple samples. And even if you’ve just got one sample that you want to chop up, you can only have 16 total slices.
One way around all of this could be to set up the slices as individual samples since you can play each sample from the sample page. I really like that the Rhythm can do this and it should be a perfect solution. The problem is that you can’t duplicate samples. So you would have to resample into each slot. And the problem with that is the fact that samples are auto normalized after they’re recorded. So unless I resample the whole thing into each slot and then truncate each sample from there, the levels are probably going to be way off for each slice.
So what I’m stuck with a lot of the time is using parameter locks on the sample start point. Parameter locks are part of your patterns and patterns can just be copied across tracks. You can also play the steps from the velocity and gate pages, which is really nice for playing around with samples.
The point is, every step of the way I’m not able to do some very simple things that I feel like I should be able to do. I can’t copy a track. I can’t copy a sample, and I can’t turn off auto normalization.
As cool as the features that were added last update were, I was pretty annoyed that none of this was included.
Also, like I mentioned earlier not having the option to have resonance on the high pass makes getting my drums sounding the way that I want them to kind of a chore. And not being able to have tracks bypass the filter means that I can’t bypass my drums and have only my melodic tracks run through it.
There are also a handful of things that the Rhythm can almost do that would be amazing.
For example, you can do direct jumps between patterns and projects. This works perfectly with patterns. But there’s a little gap when you jump between projects. You can also get little artifacts. If they worked out the kinks on this it would be a pretty damn amazing performance tool. As is, it’s pretty fun but not very useable. And it’s a shame that you can’t do direct jumps with scenes.
Also, the projects are the only thing you can control over MIDI. You can’t change patterns or scenes over MIDI. If that were possible, I think it would open up the Rhythm in a huge way.
Then there are a bunch of little quality of life things that would just be cool. Like being able to mark samples by ear when you’re trimming them the way that you can on samplers like the 404s or my old Zoom Sampletrak.
So yeah…
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I’ve no need for slicing personally and like that it Auto-Normalizes, but I can see why not being able to switch it off would be a problem for those who slice!
When you say you can’t import samples from the SD card, I assume you are just referring to manually dragged-and-dropped stuff, at least I hope that’s what you mean. I know the Rhythm saves samples to the SD card and that they even improved the speed in an update.
So assuming it must be able to import at least those samples back in again, surely you must have a way to copy samples? Although there’s no ‘Copy Sample’ function as such, couldn’t you just save the sample to SD card, then load the same sample back into the slot you wanted to copy it to?
Wouldn’t that do the same thing as ‘Copy Sample’ would?
Regards the HPF not having Resonance, thereby killing your ability to get the tonal edits you want, sure, and I feel your pain but you probably know how I’m going to reply to that one …
We need an EQ to fix that (or a Roland-style Isolator that has Boost as well as Cut ability). No more jumping through hoops to do something that anyone working with audio should naturally expect to do by tweaking a simple EQ knob!
You can set up packs on the computer. So you can send up to 128 samples from your computer to the Rhythm in one go. That definitely takes a lot less time now than it did when I first bought the Rhythm. They have indeed improved transfer and save times. But that’s not really the issue.
This system works fine for a lot of folks but it’s not working for me anymore. I don’t really know every sample I’m going to want to use until I’m actually working. And as a practical matter, I can’t load all of my favorite samples into one pack. There’s 128 slots. There’s like two minutes of sample time.
I don’t think that this would really bother me if it weren’t for the fact that this is a portable sampler. And I want to use it like one. I dislike that it’s supposed to be a standalone device but it’s completely tethered to the computer in this way.
My Digitakt, on the other hand, has a plus drive where I can keep thousands of samples. And I can bring them into my project as needed. Even my old Zoom Sampletrak can import samples from its ancient smart media cards.
As far as the EQ, I think I’d rather just have resonance on the high pass if I could only choose one thing. I wouldn’t say no to adding Roland’s isolator effect. But I don’t know, I genuinely hated the original SP-404 when I had it. So I might not be remembering that effect as fondly as I should.
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I hear you on the whole stand alone thing. It’s something that really pisses me off as well.
Most manufacturers nowadays, it’s like they can’t get it into their heads that many of us who choose the hardware route, do so because we refuse to be shackled to a computer for any functionality.
I think you’re nuts for preferring resonance on your HPF over having a proper EQ for sound shaping though. A parametric EQ for example can do what you want, and every other related sound sculpting duty besides.
But yeah, absolutely, the Isolator effect on those SP machines is fantastic, really nice and like I said I think it’s the main reason the SP gear sounds so fat and beefy while the Digitakt and Rhythm sound like weedy little rattle-boxes in comparison (sorry, but they just do). It’s no surpsie at all that the two most weedy-sounding boxes on the market both lack an EQ.
I sold my SX a few years back for a similar reason you’re not happy with the sample handling on the Rhythm. I still have the Roland Isolator though. I’ve got an SP-555 up in the attic which I believe has the same Isolator. Only reason it’s in the attic is because I can’t find a card that actually works with the damn thing.
But yeah, those Isolators on the Roland SP gear are really nice because they boost as well as cut. They seem to be some sort of three-band ‘Baxandall’ design but with super-powers, powers that give them extra cut and boost, and they sound abslutely fucking brilliant!
You’d probably be tempted to give-up your nuts to have one on the Rhythm if you realised the difference it would make to the quality of sound coming out of your box. Night and day brother, no comparison. The difference in clarity would be like having wax removed from your ears, and the increase in bass will rattle windows.
But I digress. Both the Digitakt and Rhythm sound very flat compared to what they would sound like if they had an SP-type Isolator to hand. They don’t sound flat in isolation, but in comparison they sound very weedy and lifeless.
I don’t know, man. I like the way that my beats sound. I don’t think they sound thin or weedy or on some little rattle box shit compared to SP beats. I just don’t hear it.
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I like the way your beats sound as well, in fact I was impressed by the general overall tone of them. You’d be in heaven if you had an SP-style Isolator though!
Well, thanks. And maybe. I eventually want to give the 404 mk2 a try since they seem to have addressed most of what I disliked about the original. So maybe I’ll be a convert.
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Ironic thing is I’m wanting to use the Rhythm because I don’t like the new 404. Tried a friend’s and I’m not a fan to be honest. Too many shortcuts to remember and they just made the situation even worse in the latest update.
Sounds awesome as usual, but again, this is why I want to see stuff like an EQ or Boostable Isolator on the Rhythm as well. It’s literally the only thing stopping me from buying one. Anyway, I hope they fix those things you’re after, but personally, after two major updates now and still no EQ, it doesn’t look as if they realise the importance of one. And since only a few on here have shown support of an EQ (or Boostable Isolator), I doubt we’ll ever get one.
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My main reason for not being enthusiastic is that it would probably have to be added as a grid effect, which would probably mean resampling to take full advantage of it. And that’s just not how I want to work. Whereas I see resonance on the high pass as something that could just be a shift function of the resonance right now.
Maybe it could be added to the sample set up page with other goodies like an adsr or filter envelope? Although, that would mean it wouldn’t be automatable. I don’t know.
To be honest, after you exlained how the system is arranged internally, I think an EQ (or Boostable Isolator) would be better off on the master output anyway. That way you can either use it live or resample it. I didn’t realise the limitations until you gave me the lowdown.
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Not sure if this is possible but if anyone knows, please confirm!
Imagine the Circuit Rhythm was your only piece of hardware, but because Novation in their infinite wisdom decided that their wonderbox doesn’t need an EQ, you decide to really push the boat out and buy an outboard EQ especially to use with your Rhythm.
So the Rhythm has inputs and outputs on 3.5 jacks, and by sheer coincidence, so does the EQ you just bought as well. You plug your headphones into the Rhythm for monitoring, connect the stereo out of the Rhythm to the stereo in of the EQ, and you connect the stereo out of the EQ to the stereo in of the Rhythm. So basically it’s rigged up a bit like a send.
So you’ve got it all connected up and you have a brand new project started with a simple bass on one of the pads. You hit the pad and you hear it through the headphones while the signal being sent to stereo out is being simultaneously being fed to the external EQ. The EQ in turn is sending the EQ effected audio back into your Rhythm being received at the stereo in.
What will I hear?
You see where I’m going with it? I’m wondering how it would work or even if it is workable at all. Kinda hard to get my head around without actually having one in front of me. But the idea is that as I hit the pad with my bass on it, I can tweak the external EQ and hear the result coming back into the Rhythm, and of course be able to sample the result onto a blank pad.
If any of you can say with 100% certainty that this would work without issue, please let me know. Likewise, if you see a problem with it, again, please let me know.
I almost bought a brand new Circuit Rhythm the other day but ultimately had to stop myself again due to the EQ thing. I’m sorry to bang-on about EQ, sincerely, but it’s ridiculous not having one and there’s no way I’m working on any musical project without one - it just isn’t happening.
But if using an external EQ would work in the manner demonstrated, then I’d do it, I’d buy a Circuit Rhythm and integrate an outboard EQ into the workflow. It absolutely has to work and integrate in the manner pointed out though.
You gonna have a feedback loop
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Yeah, that’s the dreaded one I was hoping not to hear 
Nah, I was curious about this. I was able to hook up my Rhythm to my Sampletrak and sample through the Sampletrak’s fx. I didn’t get a feedback loop.
But you also can’t really monitor from the Rhythm since you can’t route different things to the main outs and the headphone outs.
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I don’t try but many sampler does that when you connect the out to the in but maybe if you disable the monitoring
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