How to make better DAWless jams with Circuit Tracks

[@anthonysherwood9863]

Thanks, I have a similar setup with circuit tracks as the centre piece. Still figuring out how to approach a whole song or performance, rather than just endless loops. I found this very useful.

[@lectronin]

I’m glad I can help. Development of the music is something that can be a challenge to most composers/producers. We’re not alone.

[@80sRetroVibes]

Your channel is awesome. Subscribed! I love the combination of your technical knowledge AND musicianship. It's really refreshing to see such a focus on the actual music, and not just the tech. I came on here to write that I can't believe Novation doesn't make it super-clear that you can route internal Synth Tracks 1 and 2 to external synths via MIDI. I've been on the fence about picking up a Circuit Tracks and the #1 reason I haven't done so yet is because I thought you could only sequence two external synths, and that wouldn't have been enough for me. I didn't realize you could do it with internal tracks 1 and 2 until I came across your videos today. Thanks so much for all the great info. Right now I'm using Roland's Aira J-6 and T-8 for sequencing of chords and basslines to my synths (it actually works amazingly well and the J-6 is incredible), but I like the idea of the extra flexbility of additional tracks and all the other features of the Circuit Tracks. Thanks!

[@leolansbergen7013]

Thanks for this inspring tutorial! Just thinking how to make my dawless setup complete (having a Circuit Tracks and Volca FM2). It seems the SH4D might be the one. Your explanation how you composed is extreme valuable. An arpeggiated THANK YOU!

[@lectronin]

You're very welcome. I think the SH-4d could be quite complementary to your setup.

[@Martin-yc1nq]

Liked and subbed. Your logical and enthusiastic approach is unique, keep it up!

[@azrombazsaid1911]

Great demo. Thank you very much!

[@lectronin]

Glad you liked it!

[@billpayer3745]

I really appreciate the detail you've gone to in this video to explain your workflow and writing and performing process. I too use the Circuit combo, but I've suggested to Novation that the scenes, like the projects, need to be able to be switched from one central place, using midi for example. Because with the way they are currently, you need 3 hands! But with the Tracks as the central brain, like you have it, the Circuit workflow is just an absolute dream to use. So effortlessly fun and enjoyable.

[@lectronin]

Thank you for watching. I agree. If you’re treating Projects like complete songs, then it would be much more efficient to be able to synchronize switching scenes during a performance, since you’ll only select projects once before you start, but you’ll switch scenes several times on the fly. Not to mention you can keep another view other than the mixer up on the Circuit Rhythm while you switch scenes from the Circuit Tracks.

[@Bartolucci711]

Excellent lesson and video production!

[@lectronin]

Arigatou gozaimashita!

[@LucasShmucas]

I love this. Thank you. It is super helpful. 😊

[@lectronin]

You're so welcome!

[@rayderrich]

This seems like an awful lot of work compared to a DAW but it was sure fun to listen to how you connected and sequenced it all. Very cool video and a very nice resulting song.

[@tomfoolery4077]

Great video. Im in a similar gear boat, so it was very useful to see and have you explain the why.

[@lectronin]

Glad it was helpful!

[@teckyify]

Really loved the video!!!

[@lectronin]

Thank you!!

[@85ringostar]

Are you not annoyed that circuit rhythm adds a delay to external audio coming from the tracks? Did you notice that?

[@lectronin]

The first thing I noticed about the Circuit Rhythm was its 9 dB degradation of the signal chain. I’m aware of the delay, but I only had the one track coming from the Rhythm itself. As far as the effects of the delay on playing live on the Tracks, I’m used to compensating for latency in DAWs and even variation in attacks on different synth voices. I guess, in short, I’ve learned to adapt to the idiosyncrasies of the instruments I play.

[@IAmKAZMO]

Had to pull out the Yamaha MD8 for old times sakes....

[@lectronin]

Whoa! I forgot that they made those.

[@IAmKAZMO]

@lectronin Hell Yeah! Minidisc is huge! I just got my TASCAM 350-MD, too! Huge market

[@alexandrosstogiannis9589]

Great job, amazing tutorial -just in time when I build my dawless setup. What I don't understand yet is how program change works. I control my roland s-1 through the circuit and when I change a scene the program changes. I haven't managed to understand how to utilize this yet, not that I have invested a lot of time on it, but I haven't found yet any clear tutorial about it for newbies. The programmers manual is still a mystery to me :/

[@lectronin]

Thank you. I’m glad it helped. That program change issue was something I forgot to mention in the video. I was having a similar issue between the Circuit Track and the SH-4d. The solution is to go to the Setup View in the Circuit Tracks (press [Shift] + [Save]) and turn off Transmit MIDI Program Change Data. It will be 6th button from the left on the bottom row (the right most of the two magenta buttons on the bottom). Once its illumination dims, it will stop transmitting program change. That program change data is used to coordinate Project selection between the Circuit Tracks and the Circuit Rhythm. If you want to retain that ability, then you’ll have to block reception of program change data in your external synth.

[@gossamyr]

The depth you put into this must have taken a bit, I really appreciated it though. This is exactly the content I want, if you doubted on this being too long winded or not, it's not. I loved it. Q on your setup choices, would a sync cable(tracks to rhythm) have the essential same functionality(specific to this case), I can't remember if start/stop was a part of that or not.

[@lectronin]

Thank you for watching and commenting, and for your encouragement. It truly means a lot to me. As far as I understand, the single sync jack on the units is sync out only. So, I don’t think it would be possible to control the Rhythm from the Tracks using a sync cable.

[@Mc13adGe12]

Very interesting, thanks for sharing 🤙 with a little Change in you’re Audio Route (Behringer->Tracks->Sh->Rhytm) you can Fx the little guy too. :)

[@lectronin]

Thank you for watching, and thanks for the tip!

[@manachildmanachild6425]

Good job

[@lectronin]

Thank you.

[@M1kst3r1]

I enjoy your informative hands-on videos. I've had Circuit Tracks along with Volca Bass and Roland S1 Tweak synth a few years. It's been a blast especially because CT is so intuitive and fun to perform live with. I find Volca Bass a bit limited and have been thinking on replacing it with something more versatile. I've been looking at e.g. Waldorf Blofeld, bunch of samplers (Elektron, 1010music Blackbox, ...) and synths with keyboards (minifreak, Hydrasynth Explorer), but it's been difficult to settle on something that could do heavy lifting (bass, pads and leads). I also want to keep my setup simple. Do you have any suggestions?

[@lectronin]

Thank you for watching and commenting. I don't know if it will fit your particular needs, but I personally like the Roland SH-4d. It allows for 4 tracks of synths (with a variety of synthesizer oscillator models) and includes a track for drums as well. I find the combo of the Circuit Tracks plus the SH-4d to be pretty dynamic. I use it in the video, and you can find a link in the description.

[@jimbo121]

Of all the questions I could have, what 1/4 colored cables are those? Haha! Edit: Found them seems like they are the HOSA Colored TRS cables.

[@lectronin]

I’d have to look that up, but that sounds about right.

[@truthbw1]

Having similar gear to you, this ... tracks.. with me. haha

[@lectronin]

Nice! Thank you for commenting.

[@jedmarsillo]

Cool Jam. Your explanation of your midi and audio routing was great. I was wondering about parts 2 and 4 on the SH-4D. They are not being controlled by the Circuit Tracks so did you program those parts in right on the SH-4D, then mute and unmute them live on the fly? Could you maybe have used the SH-4D Control Channel to send program messages to the SH-4d to control those tracks or really all 4 tracks of the SH-4d. I'm not sure if the Circuit Tracks could send those program changes. But that might be something to look into for more control. I also like using the control channel on the SH-4d because it allows you to controll the arppegiator for the part you are recording in from an external source like the pads on the Circuit Tracks which are easier to play than the little buttons on the SH-4d. Thoughts? Great channel keep up the good work.

[@lectronin]

Thank you. Parts 2 and 4 were sequences (patterns) running on the SH-4d that I either faded in/out or muted/unmuted. Please forgive me, but I’m not quite sure what you mean by program messages or control channel. You can send program changes from the Circuit Tracks, and receive them on the SH-4d, but the program changes on the Circuit Tracks come from the selection of projects, so it tends not to be terribly useful for the purpose. You can also dedicate all 4 non-drum tracks on the Circuit Tracks to control all 4 parts on the SH-4d. I show an example of that here: Ambient improv using the Circuit Tracks to sequence all 4 SH-4d Parts kzbin.info/www/bejne/hJ6cZaCOaLhmZ7s

[@jedmarsillo]

Sorry I meant program changes not program messages. As for the Control Channel. The SH-4D has a 5th midi channel you can set to any channel. And it allows for remote changing of patterns and remote control of the arppegiator. At least that's what I get from the manual. I'm working on a set up with an MPC one where I hope to use the SH-4d with the control channel to change parts on the fly remotely. I was just wondering if you had ever used or thought of using the control channel. It is In the system settings inside the SH-4D it's called Ctrl channel and it is located just before the midi channels for the 4 parts.