Make sure that the Circuit has the correct settings, refer to The Launchkey only has a MIDI Out connector for hardware setups, but it appears to also support MIDI In when using it through USB. There are two ways to connect the devices: (i) using MIDI cables for a hardware-only setup, or (ii) using an intermediary computer as an USB MIDI host. I'm running the most recent firmware on both devices: That means I don't need to map each and every control of the Circuit into the Launchkey, since I'm using the Launchkey mostly to have a "regular" keyboard to play on (as well as using the arpeggiator functionality), while using the Circuit to control the sound of each patch, the session and the mixer. My goal was to use both devices side by side, using the Circuit's controls to arrange and manipulate the sound, while using the Launchkey to play the actual notes. The Launchkey Mini Mk3 is reasonably priced, it's from the same maker as the Circuit, and they look very good together: both of them are exactly the same height and are made of the same materials. Wow.Novation has recently launched an updated version of their Launchkey Mini (Mk3) MIDI keyboard controller and it seemed like an excellent companion to the Novation Circuit groovebox I already owned.
The latest editor software is a £25.00 purchase - meaning for the price of a power adapter for another box, you can turn your Circuit into almost an entirely new instrument. It works in VST (macOS/Windows), Audio Unit (Mac – these days mainly for Logic), and standalone (macOS, Windows).Īdding still more depth to Circuit, Isotonik have set up a store for patches for the instrument: A bundled Liine Lemur template for that excellent iOS/Android app.X/Y parameter control (of any two parameters you pick).Apart from loading, saving, and editing patches, synth sounds, and sessions, you get extras like: It’s a reward for simplicity - without being simplistic, since you can go as deep as you want with the editor.Īnd wow, can you do a lot. That box is cheap, it’s small, it’s perfect for those who can’t afford a lot of gear (or, like, carry-on luggage fees even). And what I love most about this is that the poor boy’s / poor girl’s groovebox is now a real powerhouse.
That’s an awesome tool for loading your own samples, making backups, and sharing settings, now both offline and online.īut think of this as the advanced companion – now with editor features that go far beyond what the related editor distributed officially by Novation provides. Now, for Novation’s part, we saw yesterday the launch of Circuit Components offline. That’s essential of course when it’s time to actually make a track in Ableton, Bitwig, Logic, FL Studio, or whatever. So, when it’s time to actually finish tracks, you can store all your hardware settings inside your production environment for easy access.
Two, it integrates all of this with your DAW. Spend your time in the editor tweaking, then leave that behind and focus on playing when it comes time to play (in the studio or onstage). The upshot of that: you can use the editor to set up your box for jam sessions and improvisation, or to take onstage. One, it lets you get inside all the hidden powers of the synths and drum machine locked into the Circuit hardware, not only as an editor but with extras like randomization and morphing. There’s one piece of software that really lets you maximize all these capabilities: the Circuit Editor plug-in from Isotonik. But also hidden inside are two synths based on the Novation Nova. As a drum machine alone, it’s a steal – particularly with the ability to load your own samples.