How to Use the Circuit Tracks & MC-101 TOGETHER

An in-depth tutorial on how to use the Novation Circuit Tracks and Roland MC-101 together for production and live jams.
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Chapters:
00:00 Intro and background
00:55 Layers
02:27 Audio routing
04:57 Midi routing
08:23 Building up an arrangement
09:14 Switching MC-101 sounds with clips
10:33 The octave trick
11:27 Keeping track of everything
12:27 The setup in action
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My current favorite music production gear:
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Circuit Tracks: www.zzounds.com/a--3972602/it...
Circuit Rhythm: www.zzounds.com/a--3972602/it...
Roland MC-101: www.zzounds.com/a--3972602/it...
Arturia MicroFreak: www.zzounds.com/a--3972602/it...
ATH M40 headphones: www.zzounds.com/a--3972602/it...
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[@TheInternetIsDeadToMe]

I swear this channel is psychic. I have been considering the MC101 as something to pair up with my circuits, and been thinking all week about how I can set them up. And here comes Gab with the exact video I needed.

[@summerlaverdure]

I've been thinking about getting a tract to supplement my mc-101 XD psychic Gabe!!

[@exhumus]

Something else to note about doubling tracks is you can do it with the Circuit Tracks synth tracks as well because they also send MIDI. The only constraint of course being you still need to assign them to the audio input of MIDI 1 or MIDI 2, but you can bring them in and out on the MC-101 faders.

[@johnnylucid]

I don't own either one of these devices but still enjoy the content. Thanks and keep up the good work.

[@Jocoseman]

Perfect content, just what I was looking for

[@sinewaymusic]

That's a smart way to keep things clean in a live jam situation. Personally, I live jam with the gear plugged into the DAW so for me, the audio cables become unnecessary since the MC-101 can stem out four separate stereo audio tracks *and* the mains all together. This way I retain all the juicy stereo information that's typically included in those lush Juno synth sounds. 😊

[@DocBolus]

Personally I prefer to just use a MIDI clock signal and the onboard sequencers for both machines. They encourage you to think about your programming in different ways and I like that kind of experimental slightly chaotic approach of mashing 2 different mindsets together. I did the Test Space album on my Bandcamp with this pair for the February challenge last year.

[@GabeMillerMusic]

I can dig it

[@johncross1341]

My Circuit Tracks just arrived today so I've not even scratched the surface yet but I'm immediately thinking I could pair it with my Electribe 2 Sampler. Thatll let me pitch samples like the Circuit Rhythm, which is cool. But I've just also realised I could swap scene on the Circuit to drop the output to the Electribe without muting and then use the Electribe touchpad to play instead.

[@suga4all]

Beautiful approach 👍 The 101 is so much more useful as a sound module since they granted full access to the ZenCore engine 🔥

[@TheLexikitty]

Another fun thing, if you’re controlling the MC-101 with a key tar or something, is setting up sounds to match clips, then changing clips via Program Change commands sent over the track channel, e.g. change Track 2’s sound by sendxcing a PC on channel 2.

[@TrickmanTerry]

The timing of this video couldn't have been more perfect. I just picked up a used MC-101. After I do a firmware update, I plan on pairing it up with my Circuit Tracks and maybe the Rhythm as well. It would be great if I could get all three playing together nicely.

[@revnazaright]

AWESOME THANKS

[@nick.raptis]

Thank you for the video Gabe. One thing that's missing from both these devices is the ability to record external sources. I play guitar and bass and would like a couple of audio tracks in which to loop stuff. I'd be very interested in a video that pairs either of these devices with a looper (eg RC-202), and what the workflow and shortcomings would be.

[@ColonelForkEyes]

I have a RC202 and Circuit tracks and struggle slightly to make them gel together quite as I want. My aim was to make the RC202 the master device so I could lay down the fundamentals of a track on guitar or bass then once the loop is made, have it work as the clock source so the beats just drop in round it. Generally speaking it's easier working with Tracks as the master. Then it's also quite hard to know how to route audio in a way that allows you to sample from Tracks into the RC202 but still have Tracks as the main source of beats etc. Tracks also lacks a couple of obvious things that I consider necessary, such as a pre-count before recording starts etc.

[@nick.raptis]

@@ColonelForkEyes thank you. I should take a look at the MIDI implementations of both devices me thinks. For example, the RC uses MIDI start/stop messages to control it, and it really makes me worry that most other devices emitting just CCs won't be able to control it. But, if you say that at least they can get synced via MIDI, then maybe that's all the compatibility I need 😍

[@isaac.anthony]

Great vid! EZ add-on would be to connect an iPad to your MC101, the audio can be routed to a track or master out!

[@isaac.anthony]

I use this with MiRack and FM/wavetable auv3 synths bring into my 707!

[@SergeyCoder]

Wow. You’re reading my thoughts! Already has mc 101 & waiting CT delivery. Also thinking how make these 2 babies work together 👍

[@The_artist_called_The_Engineer]

Great video. Particularly as I’ve just gotten an mc101 off eBay for €300 :) So more mc101 content please :)

[@lou19]

that was a good deal! how do you like it?

[@The_artist_called_The_Engineer]

It’s a wonderful little box. I’m finding my it’s taking me a little bit of time to get my head around clips and scenes and I’m a little bit overawed by it’s array of features and sounds. But overall I’m loving it.

[@leobdub]

Wicked! I have both, partially due to your influence, Gabe! Was also thinking, could one also then map the 8 macros whilst in MIDI mode to what is coming out from the 101? This would make up for some of the the lack of physical controls on that l'il fella, especially when we consider the partial editor update...

[@GabeMillerMusic]

The Circuit Tracks can output midi CC's, so as long as you could get which CC's control which parameters on the 101, you should be able to make that work. I'm not sure if that's a thing for the partial editor or not though.

[@defbones5597]

I've bought the MC101 thanks to you Gabe ^^. I'm learning to use it, but the first thing that I find annoying is the difference of volume between the sounds of the tracks and those from the MC101 which are usually lower, even if I put the level at max... Do you have any recommandation ?

[@timshady7099]

Love you videos. They've helped me tremendously with the Circuit Tracks. I'm wondering if you ever use a separate drum machine with the Circuit Tracks. I have a drum machine, and I'm thinking I can use it for my drum tracks, and then use the on board drum tracks for samples. Thoughts?

[@GabeMillerMusic]

Glad you're digging the videos! The closest to that that I've come is using the Model:Cycles with the Tracks, although the Cycles played more of a synth role. kzbin.info/www/bejne/mJjZn6yfm9aLm9U

[@andyw5527]

i think about this combination, but i would like ask if it works in this way: i will use bot midi track on circuit for another synths. can i use mc-101 with internal sequencer just synced with clock ? when i change pattern in circuit, it will send program change on channel 16 - can i map this program change on mc-101 to change sequencer pattern as well? can be stored with patterns in mc-101 also sounds for all 4 tracks ? It is possible use all 4 tracks just for synths on mc-101 (drums will be produced by circutit, i dont need it from 101)? so basically, i would add some other synths track to circuit. 4 synth track is good enough for me but without have 101 i cant check if it will work as i need.. thank for answers

[@stevemountford3707]

Great video. I’ve had the mc101 for a few weeks now and have made more music with it already than any other piece of kit I’ve owned. I’ve just ordered the circuit too to try and was interested where you’d go with this video. I’m interested in what benefit you think this setup has say over just using the mc101 as you’re not necessarily gaining in track count? (Mc 101 could do all the drums on one track for example). Not a criticism, just interested in your thoughts. Also would just clocking them be an option (Also allowing stereo from the mc101)

[@FredF78]

What would be even cooler is if the mc101 had keyboard splits so that two mc101 tracks received on the same midi channel but responded on their own range of the midi notes so you could have two separate patches on the key range, like arp on the lower and melody on upper side. And then from the circuit have four different patches thru two midi channels.

[@ColonelForkEyes]

I love my circuit tracks but I don't love its inability to send MIDI patch to external synths so you can't associate a particular sound with a pattern or track with any degree of ease. In fact it's getting to the point now where I might have to consider moving to another similar device that will allow patch changes on external gear. I wonder if Novation has a plan to address this in a firmware update.

[@marmite9020]

Can you do one using the circuit tracks with sp404mk2?

[@SvenFx-22]

I’m trying to use my 101 with oxi1 and sometimes my squarp pyramid doing to sequencing. Getting the 101 dum pads to the proper pads on the sequencer is horrible and time consuming. Any tips for making this easier. I noticed this video just had drums on Midi 1 and it worked all pads in proper place for the drums. I must be missing something and doing it all wrong

[@DewsySipos]

I would love to see this with the tracks and the sp404 mk2

[@GabeMillerMusic]

That could be interesting! I can't promise I'll get around to it but I'll put it on the list

[@DewsySipos]

@@GabeMillerMusic Yay!

[@memorytheater]

I never knew Jerma made such great music

[@GabeMillerMusic]

🎶Ohhh the misery🎶

[@GeorgeLocke]

Roland xv/jv rack units from the 90s have much the same synth architecture as the MC101 (zen core). Lower fidelity, but the architecture is nearly identical. If you like the sound of the mc 101 but want more polyphony and analog outs, check it out, they're reasonably priced. Programming them using the LCD display is.... well, the xv 5080 actually had a pretty big screen. There are also software editors. But they have zillions of presets and they sound good.

[@GabeMillerMusic]

Nice, I'll add em to the list!

[@GeorgeLocke]

@@GabeMillerMusic I'd be very interested to see how you respond to them. They're kind of the polar opposite of a Circuit: they have no hands on control at all, they're incredibly deep but you need external hardware to get any use out of them.

[@greyroom6730]

Sorry for the basic question here....but using the Circuit as the sequencer for the MC-101 via midi will only allow you to use one sound at a time, correct? How can the Circuit best utilize the power of the MC-101? Or am I missing something?

[@358life6]

Hi there I'm interested in the circuit. Can I stream from my phones headphone out to the circuit, and then mix and send it on to the speakers? If you can, can you record it too? I'm brand new to this obviously!

[@GabeMillerMusic]

You should be able to pass your phone through to the audio input with an adapter, but the Circuit Tracks can't record anything directly into it. You can load your own sounds in though.

[@358life6]

@@GabeMillerMusic ok, thank you for getting back to me. Can you recommend a stand alone device that can do it? I want to make samples of songs I like to play in one continuous flow. 404 mk11? I'm so new to this I dont even understand most of the lingo. Imagine talking to a 9 year old, maybe 11 year old lol. if you have the time.

[@The_artist_called_The_Engineer]

Getting my head around the mc101 it is a wonderful machine there is a bit of a learning curve and a bewildering number of functions and settings. I’m comfortable with tracks and clips but I am finding an almost total lack of tutorials on scenes, For example I know you can assign clips from multiple channels to a scene but can you have multiple clips from the same channel in one scene and if so how do I do that. It would be great if you could do a video of the mc101 on song structure from scratch using a series of scenes for verse/chorus/middle eight etc. PS I did buy the $5 sound bundle :) hint hint

[@GabeMillerMusic]

I already did! Hopefully it's helpful: kzbin.info/www/bejne/h5CzqGxnaZWgiac

[@The_artist_called_The_Engineer]

Thanks I’ll watch it again.

[@The_artist_called_The_Engineer]

Definitely more info on scenes. I suppose I’m looking for Scenes for dummies. For example can you have multiple clips for the same track play in order within a scene, so I could say have two different drum clips and a single bass clip repeating over them in the same scene or would I need to use two scenes one with each drum track to do this?

[@christophlukaseisner8895]

Can I do the same with a circuit Rhythm and a 101?

[@GabeMillerMusic]

Not quite, since the Circuit Rhythm can't play more than one note at a time on each track. And you can't sidechain inputs. You could probably get a similar setup, but it won't behave the same.

[@funfactswithmaxx]

Did you graduate from SLO?? Saw the shirt a few videos back.

[@GabeMillerMusic]

Yep, I graduated from Cal Poly (Civil engineering) in 2020

[@funfactswithmaxx]

@@GabeMillerMusic congratulations. Nice school. My wife graduated from there.

[@GabeMillerMusic]

Niceeeeeee

[@shannontravis2445]

I’m so sorry to bother you, but I genuinely do trust your input about gear- so would it be okay, if you were to make a review + a first impression video.. about the SMPLTREK from SonicWare..?

[@GabeMillerMusic]

I might at some point! I've got a bit of a backlog of video topics to get through, but I do think that would be a good time.

[@taossmith]

Melody giving me some Somebody's Watching Me vibes

[@SvenFx-22]

So don’t all the notes you play on midi 1 Also trigger drum sounds which is also on midi 1??

[@GabeMillerMusic]

You can reassign which tracks send and receive which midi channels, but by default yes, that would happen. In this case, I didn't end up using the MC-101's drum track.

[@chaocrator]

like in advance ) let's see what's your approach...