COMPARING GROOVEBOXES: Circuit Tracks VS Model Cycles VS Roland MV-1 VerseLab // Summer of Synths

[@BoBeats]

GEAR USED (affiliate links support the channel) Novation Circuit Tracks // 4 track Sequencer & Synth EU: thmn.to/thoprod/512775?offid=1&affid=623 US: imp.i114863.net/0kgRJ US: bit.ly/circuittracksPC Elektron Model Cycles EU: thmn.to/thoprod/486110?offid=1&affid=623 US: imp.i114863.net/vXDbj Roland VerseLab MV1 EU: bit.ly/3i0RiDj US: imp.i114863.net/DVQb7j CHECK OUT TODAYS GUEST YT: kzbin.info IG: instagram.com/gabemillermusic/ This video was edited by Ian Rohan: ianrohanmedia.com

[@GabeMillerMusic]

Thanks so much for having me on, Bo! Hopefully y'all find this helpful.

[@johnchesters81]

Gabe ‘The Groovebox Guru’ Miller. Great video!

[@GabeMillerMusic]

@@johnchesters81 Thanks!

[@JAdeWii_]

"ya'll"? oh this boi from the south XD

[@JorbLovesGear]

Good stuff Gabe, a topic you certainly know very well. Great work!

[@GameBrou]

\o/ Gabe and Bo together! \o/

[@birdnofly8207]

I have the novation circuit and the model cycles and I haven't touched the circuit in a year. On the Model Cycles you have 6, yes 6 tracks that can output midi to separate devices. They are monophonic and I don't care. Polyphony has never been a big component of EDM. In the old days someone would just sample a chord and then pitch shift that sample around. That was the only polyphony you heard. The chord machine on the Cycles is infinitely more powerful than that. You can even use the LFO to dynamically change the chord inversions as it moves through a sequence. You can parameter lock the sequence steps to different sounds on every track. So realistically you can get a good drum groove going on only 2 or 3 of the six available tracks. It can store a ton of projects. Every track has its own sequence up to 64 steps long and steps can be conditionally triggered based on: probability, loop number, if a previous step triggered, if a previous step didn't trigger, if you are playing a fill, if a step triggered on a parallel track, or if a step did not trigger on a parallel track. So you can have an evolving melody that is infinitely more enjoyable. Elektron is killing it. I was looking at buying a better sequencer and I simply cannot find one. Now if Elektron makes something like the Cycles that is knob for function and performance centric (not Digitakt. That is a hardware DAW) and it has polyphony I will buy it. But until that time this is the best out there.

[@sean808080]

I couldn’t have said it better myself. The sequencer that elektron offers on this model cycles is exactly the same as on their much more expensive models. The reviewer kind of missed the mark not mentioning that. Polyphony is a minor limitation. The sequencer is a killer feature.

[@devastacion241]

Thanks

[@DavidDeLuge]

I really like my MV-1. The workflow really suits me. I never thought anything would give me a better experience than my Deluge but, for song creation, it is pretty immense.

[@samprock]

i concur

[@WyattLite-n-inn]

Glad you said that : I was trying to decide between the MV1 and the deluge but I’m leaning toward the MV1 also .

[@vincentdelmas2792]

do you use standalone or connect with a midi keyboard if that possible ?

[@DavidDeLuge]

@@vincentdelmas2792 I use it standalone.

[@vincentdelmas2792]

@@DavidDeLuge the vocal part is usable for you ? Seems interesting, but a lil complicated compare to recording on our Daw ( Reason in my case )

[@Sklang32]

Very articulate as Mr. Miller always is but, will we ever see him jam with Bo?

[@ndguardian]

I like to think the MV-1 is almost a reimagined version of the Circuit, where in place of making it designed for live jamming, it was made for composition. Actually just swapped out my Tracks for an MV-1 for that very reason. Been enjoying it so far! Agree there is a lot of menu diving, but hopefully the Zenbeats integration helps offset some of that.

[@magnuseriksson8081]

I don’t get why people mention the learning curve being so step with Mv1 and I am really a beginner. I am impressed by how easy it is to use if you just give it some time, you will be rewarded and think easy and quick to get going

[@ImplosiveCatt]

The problem with reviewers is their skills and/or focus to particular aspects in their setup if there is one for public. I personally dont care about explaining features of gear before you demonstrate how the gear sounds and what can you do with it. Most of reviewers fail in the "what can you do with it" part. I dont mind your style and doing that on your review but your style may be very limited and therefore not showing potential of the gear. I have to google for people not even reviewers who do that for you "living off youtube". The Steaming german guy is probably the best you can ever get from a hardware review. As soon as he touches controls, everything sits on its place in attractrive and standard way. Hes like Clint Eastwood. Everything he does not just makes sense. its exiting. It makes you wanna do that! You BoBeats is not that type of people. Gabe is a total disaster. I love him in a sense of helping him to not make music.

[@samprock]

After 3 months with Verselab - sticking with it. There are two problems with grooveboxes: 1. Never will be as powerful as DAW, even with driving/recording external, internal (powerful) synths, can drive Ableton, connect to Zenbeats... only 7 tracks though. 2. Too many features on a device can easily overwhelm you Roland MV-1 gives me best balance between these two contradicting goals. Great comparison Gabe. Cheers to you and Bo!

[@Soundwrecker]

The first reason is also a benefit to creativity for many.

[@CWVasques]

MV-1 is a totally different budget category. And people need to shut up about Deluge since its 3-4x the price of the Circuit and Cycles.

[@Jerewalch]

You can add the Roland MC101/707 which have become my favorite grooveboxes! MPC One, Maschine+, Deluge, Digitakt and of course the OP1 for the ones that are ok to pay (a lot) more ;)

[@nerfytheclown]

...I have really gotten some mileage from my Cycles, but then; I bought it because it leaned more toward being a "drum machine". I have found it to be fun to use only a couple or three tracks at a time, layering it into a multi-track or a DAW. Stand-alone, trying to build a whole song, it feels more like a toy...again, not a bad thing: I have children.

[@leewightman8619]

Nice u layer stuff through a multi track too that's my workflow I don't use a daw tho just random bits of gear into a multi track

[@patrickhowes5833]

I always love a good cross-over event. 2 of my favorite creators in 1 video! 🤯

[@maxims086]

Hmm model cycles and circuit rhythm?

[@rodrigolaporte274]

Pretty cool collab with Gabe! As for the gear, all are really good but for this I think I prefer the MV1, although the circuit tracks portability is really interesting

[@Thomasabraser]

Thanks for the quality content (as always). Hope this is a booster for your channel, Gabe. You deserve much more subscribers. Would love to see you two jam together (maybe while introducing gear or software that makes long distance working together possible. Just an idea.).

[@aCarefulBear]

This is the collab that the world needed 🤌

[@magnuseriksson8081]

Love Roland Mv1, never been as creative and productive before

[@rnedp760]

Great idea to cover your channel while you're off, Bo.

[@twiglet2214]

Great review which answered a lot of questions and informed my choice of taking the next step on my journey into the world of electronic music production and having fun doing it ! Definitely found it helpful Gabe and Bo,thanks for sharing your knowledge and experience.

[@coconutlust470]

So fun to see all my youtube synth fam coming together like a Voltron.

[@mr_floydst]

Great video! Didn't know the VerseLab yet.

[@GabeMillerMusic]

Thanks! Yeah the Verselab is a weird device. It's kinda niche, but more powerful than a lot of people realize.

[@bigcitymastering]

Really tempted but the model cycles thanks to you ! This guest format is great it look like watching a fancy news channel for music geek ^^

[@digitalhillbilly8863]

I enjoy Gabe's videos and have been a subscriber of his for a while. Good start.

[@cleonx]

X-Men: Days of Future Past comes to synths

[@kh485]

Good devices for this price range. I found the Elektron to be somewhat of a learning curve and counter intuitive for what I’m trying to get out of it. It has some complexity and is capable of happy accidents if you invest the time to quickly control it. I need to invest more time to appreciate the device.

[@TristanBaldi]

@22:20 Maybe I don't understand right, but I've assigned MIDI CC from the Zoia on the Cycles knobs with no problems, if this is what you're talking about!

[@MarianoPerez]

The verselab is a homerun. I usually get ideas down in Ableton that go nowhere. The verselab allowed me to complete a song in a long time. You're right, there are some weird workflows and annoying limitations, but overall it is a fantastic machine.

[@vznquest]

interesting point re: the Circuit about arranging a track = jamming a track = a feature, not a bug. will tryyy to record my impending Circuit Trax album that way.

[@SkyWolfZero]

Fantastic! Gabe really knows his stuff!

[@GabeMillerMusic]

Thanks!!

[@modularmountain3910]

Having a groovebox comparison video without a Deluge is like talking about the history of boxing without mentioning Muhammad Ali.

[@vincentdelmas2792]

Gabe, i didn't come for this in particular, but your sound is KILLER at 14:10 ish ! really impressed by the banger power of this.

[@corridor444]

Cycles is cool but true it does have that distinctive jazz radio station sound lol that’s difficult to escape

[@akissparaskevopoulos]

Well done gabe. To the point no hassle

[@eaman11]

Dho, if you want a more powerful Circuit get a used Push.

[@sean808080]

29:20 The model cycles has no menu diving. It’s a knob per function machine. When building a pattern there is literally no menu diving at all!

[@kostoglotow]

yeah the guy is a bit biased for sure, as he says, he has worked with the circuit so much that it's mapped on his brain by now. not rly objective. still good video, but I agree with you

[@zdravkodimitrov]

What's wrong with Roland and their 80s style tiny screens??? I don't get it.

[@jjlacey1970]

that menu diving on the verse lab is offensive

[@jammintoast]

I love to see these collabs!

[@Neon_Xtal]

Pls can you make a review of modal electronics new skulpt se

[@corican]

Great crossover. Love Gabe's videos. Hope you'll have him back!

[@BoBeats]

He just needs to change time zones!! That 9 hour difference is a pain 😂

[@Mikepepp2]

Roland MV 1. Is a garbage sampler , shouldn’t even have the MV. Name . Everything about it BUT the sampler is good Takes. 10 years to edit samples even holding SHIFT . Buy an MPC ONE

[@magnuseriksson8081]

It’s an amazing tool but for sampling it’s easy to just do it on my computer and load it to Mv1. But all the rest is amazing compared to any box and especially if you do vocals too

[@osrthejourney]

It has the capability, but I agree. If you are sample based, the MPC One is the way to go. If not, the MV-1 workflow and vocal features put it on top for me.

[@DoctorNemmo]

Most Roland samplers are like that: a royal pain. Except for the v-synth.

[@SuperEgido]

Verselab MV-1 + MC-101 kzbin.info/www/bejne/rYSxonaegrqShLs

[@peterknowles3198]

Fantastic video, very informative. Many Thanks Gabe

[@daneguitarist1]

I dont know if yall know this but BoBeats was an actor in the 3rd fast and furious movie

[@BoBeats]

Bo Diesel

[@daneguitarist1]

@@BoBeats Family

[@philippeedwards5813]

I used to have a roland 505 looper and the extreme amount of menu dive you have to do on that mini screen was umbearable for me. I feel most Roland products have that problem. I think they should either have bigger screens or more asignable knobs or buttons.

[@SwiftDreamer]

I can definitely see how the menu diving can put some ppl off, I fortunately took to rolands work flow with the mc101 (and now learning the tr6s) fairly quickly, and I see how powerful these devices can be (especially the mc101)

[@SwiftDreamer]

Ayye the Gabe Collab! Been watching him for a few months now

[@cresshead]

excellent overview of each product they all have pros n cons... just pick the one that fits the bill for you

[@GabeMillerMusic]

Thanks! Hopefully this video helps people make that decision on what will work for them.

[@picoterramusic7242]

Gabe is great! He inspired me to get the Novation Circuit and from there it was only downhill with full GAS! Thanks Gabe and enjoy your holiday Bo!

[@stiptreezy8481]

So cool to see more people using the microfreak, such an amazing piece of gear. I’ve had mine for a bit over half of a year now and still have just started tapping into the sounds.

[@LaurentDiscShowMan]

Muy bien very good Yo tengo la Verselab y el Circuit Track etc y van de maravilla...bien animo con todas las cosas y con alegrias...

[@ranchosolarix]

y cual prefieres de los 2, estoy decidiendo cual comprar, ayudame

[@ranchosolarix]

y cual prefieres? ando decidiendo cual comprar

[@BobbyLachapelle]

Thanks for this interesting video. I think that you would love the Deluge since it have most of these in one box. By the way, i'm already a subscriber of your great channel. Enjoy your summer Bo!

[@GabeMillerMusic]

It's on my list, I'll get to it eventually! Glad you dig the video.

[@User-wq9ri]

My favorite channels are BoBeats, AudioPilz, Gabe Miller Music, Loopop, Ricky Tinez, and Dawless Jammin'

[@austingandy2650]

You should definitely check out Tim Shoebridge and Red Means Recording as well!

[@GabeMillerMusic]

I'm honored to be included on that list!

[@Joel-re1jz]

How's your wallet?

[@User-wq9ri]

@@austingandy2650 oh yeah I forgot Red Means Recording. I will definitely check out Tim Shoebridge. Thanks.

[@User-wq9ri]

@@GabeMillerMusic Yeah I was going to say there aren't that many Americans that have a good gear channel but I guess there are a few. How long have you had your channel now?

[@NevilleHayfield]

Go Bo 👏👊👊👊👊👊👊👊💪🔥 You couldn't have picked a better guy for this. Come Gabe. Bring the smoke. We want the 🔥🔥🔥👊👊👊👊👊💪

[@Soundwrecker]

Circuit guys unite!

[@jukesasaurusrex]

What an adventure in sound . Thank you 😃

[@GabeMillerMusic]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@kh485]

I’ve been looking at the deluge to include many of these features in comprehensive and intuitive way. Any thoughts?

[@Crabdust1]

Gabe is great! Nice idea to host for a bit.

[@danielpirone8028]

Did I miss why Deluge was not part of the review?

[@jammintoast]

Probably just because it's hella expensive. It is a great piece of gear though

[@BoBeats]

Don’t think Gabe has one. We went with grooveboxes he had access too.

[@MarquisVonLion]

Push the button ! push the button...! I'm getting too old for that shit, hahaha!

[@kikebass3678]

Excelente la comparación 👏.... Yo voy por el Circuit Tracks!!!!!

[@blahblahblah118]

After watching this video and many others I ended up ordering the model cycles. I just like the sound the most based on jams posted on KZbin. The circuit tracks looks more logical from a UI standpoint but I've always preferred instruments that do one thing well than try to do a bunch of things well.

[@Turtles8179]

How is it three months on?

[@DeBanked]

I guessed correct from the hands only video:p love Gabe such an awesome guy

[@SonicVibe]

The best studio in a box to me is my blackbox also the smallest

[@prod4540]

great video! Thanks for your continuously helpful efforts.

[@ifiii-1723]

what are your thoughts on the mpc live 2 in comparison to those grooveboxes shown in the video? I think about buying one...

[@GabeMillerMusic]

I haven't tried the Live, but I do have an MPC One now, and I've done a few videos with it with more on the way. It's definitely less portable than any of these, but it's super powerful.

[@sd9777]

Nice video, I really like BoBeats and Gabe Miller! The Model: Samples is a great Groovebox, same layout as the Model:Cycles but plays samples rather than has an FM sound engine, so it’s more versatile.

[@rgrant]

The Samples is way better than Cycles and so much fun to Jam on. I ditched my Circuit for it, bought a Digitakt to upgrade from it but still spend most of my time on it on the Samples.

[@mtest322]

Polyend Tracker?

[@Doyourememberlove]

is that DELOREAN DREAM at 14:00??

[@janvanderwegen01]

you scrolling through a menu so fast (5:00-) we can not see the result is seriously meaningless so thumbs down!

[@magnuseriksson8081]

I common mistake many does that annoys me too

[@luminousbrilliance1711]

Gabe Miller abd Bo Beats team-up-so cool!

[@Isaacthompson]

Thanks for this!

[@Melodic623]

Gabe is a robot 😂

[@terraperrosabio2539]

love you guys

[@mcgwwide]

Do you offer private lessons online?

[@BoBeats]

No sorry

[@tommydogs4855]

GM is a great channel!

[@ToyKeeper]

Really dig the song at 1:49.

[@GabeMillerMusic]

Thanks!

[@neonpop80]

So I can't even save a midi sequence pattern on the Circuit?

[@djofortunato5799]

Just rewatching this & noticed nobody responded. Circuit tracks midi sequencing is brilliant. It’s like FruityLoops aka FL but in hardware form. So yes it is Very Excellent for sequencing, containing 8 channels for : - Sequencing 2 internal, customizable synths - 2 Outward bound Midi channels * ( channels 3 & 4 ) - 4 drum (or sample-sequencing) Channels. I use it as a sketch pad for bass, melody or chords on Synth 1 & 2, and copy or create accompanying / lead / bass parts on Midi 3 & 4, to be sent to outboard synths & come back in, as audio inputs 1& 2 where they’re then processed by Circuit Tracks internal EFX ( delay, reverb and sidechaining + master filters )

[@neonpop80]

@@djofortunato5799 Thank you Djo. Believe it or not I had already purchased and sold my Tracks. It was good but somehow didnt inspire me to create. As an Elektron use I ended up pairing my Digitakt with a Syntakt and am pretty happy. I wish theyd use batteries and memory slots like the Tracks but I guess you cant have everything. Thanks again

[@richardjames9976]

Sssssibilance

[@Jamslerr]

Now i can't focus

[@michaelkonomos]

Great video!!!

[@BoBeats]

Glad you liked it!! Gabe did a terrific job!!

[@traitortotheliving]

I could only make it a minute and a half into the video. No hate I just can’t watch that kid for some reason. Hope you enjoy your summer break Bo!

[@isweartofuckinggod]

Hmm, this video showed me that I'm not really into grooveboxes... The last one to peak my interest was the DSI Tempest because of how unique it was. Honestly, I'd much rather have something work like a workstation in a box, but with an analog synth built in. That doesn't really exist to the extent I'd hope for, though.

[@DrLaemmerbein]

Did you have a look at the Elektron Analog Four? It's not very cheap though...

[@isweartofuckinggod]

@@DrLaemmerbein I have! It's pretty awesome, but it's major difference is that it isn't a sampler. You could definitely get very close to the kind of setup I dream of by pairing it with an Octatrack (many people do). However, then you've got two machines to lug around and you can't really just pull that out on a whim. My dream, sadly, only exists in bits and pieces scattered across many pieces of gear. Stuff like the A4, Prophet X, Machine+, and Synthstrom Deluge all get tantilizingly close.

[@BoBeats]

analog rytm mk2! now thats a nice rival to the tempest

[@bananainass]

How about Roland mv-1 VS Deluge?

[@TheXxjmpxxx]

I don't understand why you need an audio interface with more than 2 inputs for Elektron M:C?

[@sean808080]

I have a model cycles and I love it! You don’t need an audio interface at all. It functions as an audio interface via USB itself.