Move changed the game, and I think even a Circuit Pro would struggle to compete unless Novation were to address the biggest selling point of Move: Integration.
While integration is obviously harder given that Novation doesn’t also make an industry-leading DAW, there is a way…
Build a Circuit VST that just includes the Nova and sampler engines
Add DAW project export that lets you seamlessly load up instances of the VST
The cool thing is that Novation could be the Android to Ableton’s iPhone, so to speak: they could export to not just Live Set, but also Studio One, FL Studio, Reaper, and more. Obviously some will map more closely than others (Live export could have full clips and scenes, while Reaper would probably just be all the scenes and clips in a single timeline), but they could cover the groovebox-to-DAW workflow in a way that only Ableton has done so far, for the rest of the market.
They just need more tracks and to get rid of the stupid deliberately hobbled features like no scale mode on Rhythm, onboard sound design and the ability to export stems and we are golden.
No need for me to speculate as Move has changed the game as far as Ableton integration goes. Looks like Novation know this as the Ableton link has been dialed back a touch in the promo for the Launchkey mk4. But as an interested observer, it would be interesting to see what they do. No idea if the last pair of circuits had technical limitations, but newer devices and alternatives certainly made claim for being the Circuit Pro Novation could have made. As simple DJ style controllers and music noodling boxes though they were so much fun and my gateway drug without question.
If they could wrangle something that allowed a reasonable amount of on device editing (maybe via a screen and whatnot), that would put it back in the game as a groovebox. Like Polyend Tracker runs 8 sample tracks and 3 MIDI, if Novation could swing 3-4 synths with polypohony shared, the drum track setup from the Tracks, and the sample shaping of the Rhythm (plus Grid FX) that would be fun. And then all it would really need is stem export. It’s just whether they see it mainly as a DJ controller type box with no studio destiny, or whether they think that’s a market they can get into.
Out of curiosity. As a person who owned these pieces of kit, and still owns a Move, what “untapped potential” do you see in the Tracks/Rhytm that the Move doesn’t “tap”?
Oh, ok. So, if you’re open to that, Move makes — at least in my opinion — both of these devices pretty redundant. It’s two in one for cheaper, with the promise of long support (and the whole Live backend if you ever change your mind). I mean, if you think the Circuit format is interesting the Move does exactly what you want and already exists. TBH, Novation will have to seriously step up to match it.
I’m on the same boat.
Rhythm had those nice performance effects I loved. Fixed length loop recording, awesome slicing.
What I wish is at least stereo samples, polyphony (so I can play chords), Better sample management. I wasn’t a fan of samples in packs. Or at least separate projects from packs.
I don’t need screens & such. It was great the way it was. Just a little more customizability in the sampler engine.
Definitely - The Circuit:Tracks is good DAWless mini brain, with the external MIDI and audio inputs + effects.
I don’t see any of that possible with the Move
The 1.5 update of Move (currently in beta) introduces a more sensible midi implementation. You can sequence 4 tracks separately now. Midi CCs are next. Plus, I have a strong feeling this will be expanded to 4 internal tracks and 4 external midi tracks in the future. So that’s there. It doesn’t have an exposed 5DIN in/our/thru, yes, but you can dongle in/out via USB-A and use something like the CME bud / WIDI Host. Audio inputs are there, just via a 3.5mm jack or USB-C. Punch in effects are there, too. I never cried for the Circuits’ delay/reverb.
On the flip side, to get Move’s capability, we’d need to buy two different Circuits (which are essentially a dead platform now). As for being a minibrain, a used Digitakt is kind of in the price range and beats it at that.
Saying all this because not longer than a week ago I asked myself what would Novation have to do to 1up the Move so I kinda had these thoughts prior.
Anyways, that’s enough of me rambling. Just wanted to maybe make you curious about the platform because they share a lot in common with the Circuits.
I’ve been a Novation Circuit owner since the og but Move is pretty close to what I wanted out of the circuits, but was ultimately left frustrated. I use plural as I do currently have the Tracks and Rhythm sat on my desk and have had great fun using them for the past few years. But their limitations ultimately meant when the Move came out, I jumped on it, and with the 1.5 update of Move it’s a really strong proposition.
The Circuits though, still have the Move beaten for one thing. They are just so much fun for jamming on.
I get that ;). It doesn’t work for me, but it’s because how my brain is wired – there’s too much for me to remember on the Circuits and everything is more surfaced on the Move. Plus the screen helps, too. The really big frustration I had with Tracks was that the knobs were random. Novation tried to match what was on the device, but they were still pretty random. Move has the same problem BUT it has the screen, so I can see the labels. But objectlively it’s more of a me thing than the device’s fault. Jammability-wise, I’d rate the three devices pretty much the same.
I appreciate the rambling. I was waiting for the Move to get midi support and I’ll be buying one soon. It seems like the exact next step from the Tracks.
If there is ever another Circuit I’ll buy that too. I think they struck gold with a genius design, but the Move is currently a better choice as a standalone groovebox.
I am probably the last person to buy the Tracks, I only got it a few months ago, post-launch of the Move. But it’s a keeper. Along with the Deluge it’s the only consistently fun bit of synth gear I’ve owned so far*
*along with the Circuit Mono Station, which is so awesome it inspired me to buy the Tracks. Move still can’t do what it does!
a minute of blasphemy:
Ableton integration is overrated, it’s not the whole point of Circuits existence (unlike Move), and not everyone on earth is using Ableton.
It’s not blasphemy — you’re factually correct :).
I guess the point I was trying to make is that Move — overall, as the sum of its parts and promise — is still better as a standalone groovebox without Ableton Live than both Circuits combined.