Novation Circuit Rhythm vs Roland MC-101

A comparison of the Novation Circuit Rhythm vs the Roland MC-101, both portable self-contained grooveboxes with sampling capabilities but very different approaches.
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00:00 Intro
00:27 Similarities
01:15 Interface
03:14 Handling Sound
08:15 FX
09:35 Workflow
10:30 Sound Engines
12:08 Chopping Samples
15:19 Inputs
15:58 Loading Sounds
17:09 Resampling
18:07 Building Full Tracks and Live Sets
19:26 Studio Use and Multitrack Recording
21:03 Scatter FX / Grid FX
21:37 Verdict
24:04 Outro
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My current favorite music production gear:
Novation Circuit: www.zzounds.com/a--3972602/it...
Korg Electribe 2: www.zzounds.com/a--3972602/it...
Roland MC-101: www.zzounds.com/a--3972602/it...
Model:Cycles: 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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[@Kpm1985]

The 101 being able to play back stereo samples is what makes it the winner. The Circuit looks really fun, but mono-only tends to sound lo-fi in comparison to stereo playback and that wouldn’t work for me.

[@vznquest]

"lo-fi"...exactly the market they are probably aiming for. but i agree the mono thing is a bummer.

[@shoba7665]

Just hook up the circuit to an iPhone or other iOS device via the midi out and load/host multiple instances of Koala Sampler per midi channel since it now has Auv3 support, run the stereo out back into the circuit, midi learn the cc parameters for koala on a per track bases, and there ya go stereo sample play back with storage only limited by your devices capacity, only real draw backs being the delay and reverb sends not working with the stereo in, but the grid FX still do and as u might know Koala has quite a few decent effects you can again apply on a per track bases so there’s that to play with, not to mention with this method you could edit sample flipped samples within each track individually within koala like adjusting attack and decay and pitch etc on a per sample bases, which you couldn’t do on the circuit natively with out step automation.

[@Kpm1985]

@@shoba7665 yes in terms of getting the functionality that works but it’s too many additional steps for me when all I want to do is have a single device that can handle stereo samples and also have onboard synths. MC-101 for me :)

[@Ispowzfmanalog15]

The Rhythm sounds fantastic… it gets good and harsh when I want it to

[@skyddsrum3350]

Great comparison and video! 👍🏻 I own the MC101 and recently got my hands on the Circuit Rhythm (still learning but also owning the ’Tracks’ helps alot!). I really think they complement eachother in a fantastic way! With all the loads of synthpresets on the Mc101 to sample on the Rhythm and then easiness to compose/layout on the Circuit makes this a killer combo!

[@IQM24]

Great video 😎👍. I have the Original Novation Circuit, but not got round to learning it yet.

[@5honey116]

Yeah man! Thank for a video!

[@SwiftDreamer]

The latest mc101 update that allowed looper export to your sd card really brought the groovebox to a whole new level of flexibility (messing around with 16 exported looper stems in a drum track) though the circuit has a much faster and simpler workflow, which is great, I love the amount of options and quality synth engine the mc101 has, though you spend much more time creating stuff

[@xintoowo189]

U

[@teabreakbeats]

Yes! you can also sample your random patches into a looper track then export it to tone track / drum track!

[@SwiftDreamer]

@@teabreakbeats i love watching your mc101 vids teabreakbeats!

[@lukecunningham1155]

You rule man! 2nd favourite KZbin channel next to the pedal zone with Stephan. I bet you like him too. Anyway… love it!

[@pricehodson8530]

Very helpful. Thanks

[@squeakD]

Great vid man! Music gear manufacturers today need to understand that the need for the “proper” self contained groove box never died or faded away. They just stop making them. I love working within the DAWS that I own, but damn, nothing beats the self contained unit. We need to see something like the old Yamaha RM1X (modernized) brought back. A self contained groove box with sampler, tons of editable presets, 16 trk linear and 16 trk pattern sequencing, and so on. An updated version of the RM1X would sell itself.

[@WotanSkyFather]

Could you do a video of the MC-101 and Circuit Rhythm TOGETHER?

[@Ispowzfmanalog15]

I own and use both of them together… I love them.

[@kingchemist]

Great video :)

[@hallvardpaulsen]

I have a MC-101, but not really learned to use it properly yet. One thing I have achieved though is to use it as a "sound module". I connect it to an external keyboard and can have it play 4 different sounds/presets/samples simultaneously (adjusting the individual levels with the faders). Could I do that on the Circuit Rhythm?

[@Ispowzfmanalog15]

I dumped the MPC ONE in favor of the rhythm, sure the MPC is awesome… just not anything I wanted for live sets. The Rhythm is QUICK and simple to use and to most humans, they are never going to tell the difference between stereo or mono when their ears are being beaten to death live, not ever.

[@samspritzer1643]

What are the boot/startup times for the two devices? From you press the power button until they are ready to use.

[@Ispowzfmanalog15]

I have a small and portable live rig, using the 101, rhythm and a pocket mixer, packed into a 18”x13”x6” hard case… it’s dope.

[@jean-francoisgaudreau3421]

Can I ask you witch pocket mixer you are using ? I own both also.

[@AcidAlex]

Gabe, it’s probably a stupid question, but on the Rhythm can you load/use sounds from different packs into the same project or are you limited to the sounds in the chosen pack once you’ve started making beats? Thanks

[@mechadebzilla]

Comparisons like these make me realize how amazing the Electribe Sampler is.

[@leewightman8619]

I was gonna get the mc101 but glad I got the circuit rhythm instead as its my favourite bit of gear .. I'm gonna get the MPC one soon

[@FuZZbaLLbee]

Would like to see MC-707 vs MPC One.

[@GabeMillerMusic]

Stay tuned, I have a video comparing multiple expensive grooveboxes (including those two) on the way!

[@unclemick-synths]

I'd like to see that too though I suspect the answer is to get both.

[@strelokknoize]

@@unclemick-synths Yeah! But: I bought the MPC first. Now I'm not longer sure if I need the 707 as well.

[@unclemick-synths]

@@strelokknoize Although I love my MPC One I don't find it jam-friendly. I'm not very good at flipping through the menus while keeping the music going and even then I can only tweak one thing at a time. I'm going to try one of those little Korg MIDI controllers to see if it's worth getting a full-featured controller but if that doesn't work for me I'll be getting a groovebox.

[@cds8137]

I have the MPC Live 2 retro and a Force. Unbeatable in my opinion. MPC needs more connections but thats why we have the Live 2

[@twiglet2214]

Thanks Gabe i'm using your channel as my default research resource and i'm completely new to electronic music creation and i've just received my first synth - the Korg Wavestate.To complement it i've narrowed it down,following watching your comparison to these two so the question is this - as a non musician looking to have some fun creating music which would be my best option please ? I'm guessing the Cicuit Rhythm in terms of workflow and user interface but wondered what your thoughts were please ? Great review,thank you very much.

[@GabeMillerMusic]

For something more immediate, a Circuit is always a good bet. I'd also check out my video comparing the Circuit Tracks and Rhythm, there are some important differences if you're planning to work with synths like the Wavestate.

[@twiglet2214]

@@GabeMillerMusic Thanks Gabe - i've since seen your review of the Akai MPC 1 and have to say it looks the bees knees and a tutorial on setting up for beginners has convinced me that this is the one for me,methinks.It certainly blew my mind and it might rustle the leaves a bit but it won't blow the bank balance that's for sure.Cheers from the UK and have a good day,as they say !

[@Morenoo]

I got a Roland MC-101 yesterday thanks to your recommendations. It's such a powerful device! While fiddling with it I can totally feel its power under my fingers. But I got so used to the Circuit Tracks that I actually find the MC-101 getting in the way of just recreating what's in my head, something that was super fast and straightforward in the Tracks. I'm hoping that goes away the more I get used to this one. Do you feel now that you understand the MC-101 enough for you just to jam without the device getting in the way? Or is it something that never goes away because of the sometimes-not-intuitive workflow?

[@GabeMillerMusic]

Yeah at this point it's pretty fluid for me. It took me longer to get there than it did with the Circuit, but at this point the 101 workflow doesn't get in the way at all for me.

[@Morenoo]

@@GabeMillerMusic thanks for the reply! That is good news! There’s hope after all then… good to know.

[@jdog7982]

Great video. Its funny this video comes across as "i know the MC-101 specs sound way better but trust me the Circuit Rhythm is dope". I have kind of programming mentality when I make music so, if I didn't know better I would choose the 101 cuz the deeper specs. However I have used the mc-707 and the workflow is pretty awful so....maybe the Rhythm is the way to go. I've used most of the groove boxes at this price point and I have to say that it is well worth spending the extra money on a Akai MPC One. I've been posting trax with it lately and it blows this other crap out of the water. Not even close.

[@Kpm1985]

100% agree that the MPC One blows all of these smaller boxes out of the water in terms of capability and sound quality. The only reason I’d say not to choose it over the 101 or Circuits is if portability was a priority or if you wanted something that’s a bit more like an straightforward instrument than a DAW.

[@kierenmoore3236]

I’m really looking for a super-portable, song idea sketch/note pad. I’m currently comsidering the J-6 (maybe the S-1, as it seems to have as good a sampler - and perhaps even better, in that it’s more flexible, ie you’re not hedged into equal-length bars?!), the MC-101, and the MV-1 (tho’, that loses points on portability, right off the bat). If neither circuit does polyphony, then they are both out immediately … What I like playing around with most is chord progressions, which is what drew me to the J-6 (also, a more properly laid-out keybed (ie like a piano), which I much prefer). Assuming the S-1 has as good (more flexible) a sequencer as the J-6, that’s great … tho’, it would lose points on having tinier ‘keys’ (2 octaves don’t matter so much to me, as I largely want to program in chord progressions and single,note lines that I think up myself, to hear them out and (if I like them) save them, at least ‘til I get home). Sound design isn’t a big deal to me, at all … so the S-1 is only preferable to the J-6, if it truly has a more flexible sequencer (ie, I’m not locked into all equal bar lengths, like I think the J-6 does 😏). The selection of Juno preset sounds are more than fine for me/my sketch and note-pad purpose. I can even plug in a Keystep and play in chords and notes that way, should I wish to carry around an extra device at times, right? Given the above, I think the MC-101 is overkill for this particular purpose, and the Circuits and MV-1 are out, based on lack of polyphony and portability, respectively. The only thing with the J-6, tho’ (assuming the bar sequencer isn’t too limiting), is the lack of polyphony … which might be why I would go for the MC-101 (ie for more than 4 note polyphony, so I can program in extended chords). 🤔 The size, and 4.5 hrs of battery life via USB-C charging, of the J-6 (S-1) is very attractive, tho’ … assuming I can get around their polyphony (shell chords 😏) and any sequencer (esp. J-6, with its universal bar length setting?! 😒) limitations. Or perhaps I just go the MC-101, deal with the janky interface, and not have to worry about limitations/have so much more functionality on top of mere sketching/‘note-taking’ (pardon the pun). Interested in and grateful for thoughts/opinions of those far more familiar with these (and other such) devices than I am … (which would be just about everyone, lol), please? 🙏🏼

[@philippeedwards5813]

thx for the video! Still doubting between MPC one and circuit rhythm. I've been using Ableton for a while and I feel that the screenless approach and the novation workflow is super attrative to someone that wants to get out fromn the computer. The negative point is that it's super limited so i still don't know if I want the whole "daw in a box" or go on with the limitatioons route

[@dna598]

The retro editon MPC one is highly desirable! Get that! ;)

[@unclemick-synths]

I wouldn't consider the One competitive with the Rhythm - it's a whole different product. I've got the One and although I love it I don't find it great for jamming because live tweaking of sounds means menu dives and I'm always on the wrong screen at the wrong time. I'm going to try out a MIDI controller but I suspect I'll be getting a groove box.

[@dna598]

@@unclemick-synths I was thinking of adding it alongside my tr6s to get some breaks going.

[@davidcooke779]

There’s no real comparison between the MPC one and the Rhythm, the MPC is way more comprehensive.

[@joeb.4204]

you should compare the circuit rhythm to the korg electribe sampler

[@JoshIsMakingMusic]

Great comparison. The MC-101 feels like more of a toy box, while the Circuit Rhythm feels a little more utilitarian. Both very nifty pieces of gear!

[@GabeMillerMusic]

Having used both a lot, I'd say the MC-101 is actually a bit more pro, despite the build being less slick. It gives you more to make polished tracks. That being said, I think people really underestimate what the Rhythm is capable of and how good it can sound.

[@kierenmoore3236]

No polyphony on the Circuit Tracks, either? And you can’t Sample into the Tracks * directly* , right?

[@BrancoArgenta]

if one day they will implement multitrack recording on the Rhythm I will get one

[@CrescentRollCarl]

I'm not sure what they were thinking with the Circuit Rhythm. The Polyend Tracker came out a year ago and feels like it does all the same things way better, with a ton of extra features as well and a screen. Slightly more money, but not a whole lot more.

[@ikrat9456]

The immediacy of the Novation circuit, tricks, and rhythm is unbeatable.

[@SwiftDreamer]

I wish the mc101did sample chopping better. Would love to see chopping based on time converted in minutes/seconds/milliseconds versus what looks like chopping by individual samples of the audio. The circuit rhythm live chopping is genius

[@AppAxis]

I have both. SO far the MC101 is more convenient. To be certain, if the MC101 had Sidechain Compression (not tremolo) and Vinyl SIm, I would not have purchased the Novation Circuit Rhythm. They compliment each other well as a dawless setup. As far as the Circuit Rhythm, it should be noted that the Sidechain Compressor is triggered by "step" not "audio". So be careful with drum loops. And hopefully, Novation updates the firmware to allow the end-user to allocate and divide the limited sample length as they desire. To be clear, at present, each sample is limited to 32 seconds. What would be better is if they allowed us to sample up to the entire 230 seconds in one sample if we desire. Or simply sample FOUR, 38 second long samples should we choose. #Novation #Dawless #MC101 #CircuitRhythm #Roland

[@FuZZbaLLbee]

On the 707 there is something like a motion designer, to creat a filter based on an LFO. This can used to duck an instrument on every kick. If it is a four to the flour kick at least. Maybe that could also be used on the 101?

[@dinogoldie9716]

Why would you want to "sample" for nearly four minutes on the one pad? That's not sampling. That's a jukebox.

[@FuZZbaLLbee]

@@dinogoldie9716 or a vocal track

[@dinogoldie9716]

​@@FuZZbaLLbee In which case you want a multitrack recorder; not a sampler. Roland's MV1 Verselab is designed with remixing/song construction in mind. So if you're looking to lay down an entire vocal track, that's the machine for you. Circuit Rhythm is a sampler/sampling drum machine.

[@AppAxis]

@@dinogoldie9716 it’s an example. But here is a more practical one. what if I want to sample FOUR, 35 second samples.

[@TROGULAR10000]

The more I think about it the more I understand that before any "Circuit Pro" that does everything under the sun we really want a Circuit "DAW" meant to compete more directly with MC101 and Verselab and even Maschine and MPC, for about the same price as the Rhythm and the Tracks. And yes you should then be able to export its tracks separately in one go for editing on the computer. So you could have the Rhythm and this new "DAW" and even the Tracks as a complete setup to replace either Maschine and MPC for about the same price and about twice the workflow speed (!) They should stick a high quality onboard mic on the DAW version or at least an XLR input, let it vocode, and give some standard useful instruments like acoustic and electric pianos, vintage strings, clav, etc and a couple of synths. And you could also record your guitar or whatever into it. Give it enough memory to make an entire album. My setup would then be Monostation + Rhythm + this new Circuit DAW and my other guitars and synths. I would still use my EHX 45000 probably. Loads more fun than MPC and even Maschine for less than 1000 dollars!!!

[@waveforthefrequencies]

You can chop on smart devices and quickly load stereo quality samples onto the 101. Work around trade off. But….STEREO=yes.

[@athopi]

Mono samples on the Elektron Modal Samples is what kept me away from it. Lovin my 101!

[@tronlady1]

I can’t help but think that the korg microSampler knocks all these devices out of the park? I got an akai force but it’s waaaay too complex and heavy. Never owned a MS but you can sample ANYTHING you want (in stereo) plus it has a keyboard, sequencer, vocoder and shitloads of fx. Okay no synth but you just pop your iPhone in it and tadaaaa….everything you need, batteries and portable 🤩. The thing is insane and for some reason it got loads of bad press???? I keep looking at these devices and realising they are missing tons of stuff and then I remembered the KORG MICROSAMPLER!!!!

[@martinstubs6203]

Die author really does his best to make the Circuit Rhythm level up to the MC-101 but in the end, the Novation box comes out as unspeakably lame in this comparison.

[@jammingpositivevibration]

Thumbs up to rhythm 👍... It will be on my list now. It will be good friend to tracks...

[@tronlady1]

I can’t help but think that the korg microSampler knocks all these devices out of the park? Never owned one but you can sample ANYTHING you want plus it has a keyboard and shitloads of fx. Okay no synth or sequencer but you just hook an iPhone up to it and tadaaaa….everything you need and portable 🤩

[@Stadsjaap]

Mono only and no polyphony. In 2022!? This is why I'm selling my Circuit and keeping my 101.

[@fpham8004]

Versus? They are almost made to work with each other. Rhythm does best what MC doesn't.

[@luminousbrilliance1711]

Oof! Gabe Miller predicted MC-101. *eyes Peel back*

[@SwiftDreamer]

It should also be mentioned that the circuit rhythm does not allow the truly unquantized experience at this time, which could be very disappointing to sample based producers who play with natural swing

[@GabeMillerMusic]

Yeah it's technically not purely unquantized, it's using microsteps to get as close as possible. That's usually good enough for me, but it might not be for everyone.

[@dinogoldie9716]

The Circuit's "unquantized" is, in practice, 24ppq (6 microsteps per step). That's very good for the price point but could always be better. Also, unlike, say, Korg's electribe S2, "swing" is global on the circuit Rhythm and not per track. But again, for the price point, it's V good.

[@ejmikk]

The one unforgivable thing about the 101 is that you can only play one octave on the "keyboard" at once, it's just a total workflow-killer for me and makes me just disqualify the whole thing. And since the point of these machines is to be very portable, an external midi keyboard is not the solution.

[@UniversalHomeboy]

I plan on using my Roland Gaia in tandem with the MC 101. You can turn local control of the Gaia off and still have MIDI I/O so that you could control the MC101 across octaves and still sequence the Gaia. If you can still only access one octave at a time via MIDI In...that might be a deal breaker

[@Hanoveur]

This is true of most grooveboxes and synths. Thus the Octave+ and Octave- buttons.

[@ejmikk]

@@Hanoveur If you are riffing on bass lines, melodies or trying out chord progressions, you need at least two octaves, the octave buttons are useless for me in that case. I can just about get by with the two octaves on my OP-Z. You can get 2 chromatic octaves on all of the Circuits too, 4 with scale mode. If you aren't as much about playing in melodies, bass lines or chord progressions I get that you can program them in with one octave, I just really like playing stuff in quickly, without clunky octave switching... I could even get by if the 101 would allow you to have two octaves in a scale mode (like the og Circuit and the Circuit Tracks do), but one chromatic octave is just useless to me.

[@ejmikk]

And it's not true of most Grooveboxes and certainly not of synths, only Roland and Elektron boxes have one octave, Electribes, MPC's, Teenage Engineering boxes and the Polyend Tracker all have multiple octaves or a scale mode...

[@Hanoveur]

@@ejmikk MPC-101 has a scale mode. I think this where the communication got crossed. I even misread the original comment. I think assumed you could only have one octave. But just like the MPC-One, it has 16 pads and the notes are assigned differently depending on if you’re in Chromatic or Scale.

[@BIG1TOWER]

I have both and like both of them but for me the mc 101 kills the circuit rhythm. The only thing the circuit rhythm is better at is the work flow. I also find that mono samples don’t sound nowhere near as good. The reverb and delay on the mc 101 is better than what’s on the circuit. I gain stage my tracks so sidechain is not a big deal for me. I will soon sale my circuit rhythm and use the money to put towards a Roland sp404 Mk2

[@GabeMillerMusic]

That's definitely fair!

[@JESchomb]

Fuck man, before this video I was so down and ready to get the rhythm and now that I've seen this in depth comparison I'm soooooo on the fence. I think the rhythm workflow is incredible and looks so appealing but there's just so many annoying limitations that make it seem overpriced and outdated. the mc101 isn't what im looking for either though, I'll probably stick with the daw a while longer, til this drops in price or I can save more.

[@fuzbeats]

I guess the mpc one might be something for you

[@JESchomb]

Nah not looking to spend $800 on a "daw in a box" when I already have ableton on my laptop lol. My main issue with the rhyhtm is you can't make full polished songs with it. Honestly if it had MTR I wouldn't be as on the fence. Most of its other limitations could be aided with a daw imo, but IDK

[@fuzbeats]

@@JESchomb you will always have limitations with dawless gear. If you want something polished and you are happy with daw then stick to it. Use gear with the limitations to get something you won't be come up with in a daw.

[@GabeMillerMusic]

I'd say the Rhythm isn't *super* limited, but it definitely has more limitations than the MC-101. You can make full, competent sounding songs on both, but you'll definitely be able to get more polish in a DAW with the MC-101.

[@JESchomb]

@@fuzbeats I understand! and those are my intentions with dawless gear. I often get in creative ruts with daw and rhythm seems like it could remove some of those roadblocks for me, i just wish it had better support within a daw

[@roddy9372]

"whole ass synth engine" 😂 thats something i'd say

[@squoblat]

Civil engineer? No such thing... sincerely, a physicist ;)

[@twiglet2214]

He's certainly civil and you have a certain chemistry....are you a wave or a particle ?

[@squoblat]

@@twiglet2214 well you've observed me now, thanks for collapsing that party

[@twiglet2214]

@@squoblat Perhaps a catalyst ?

[@hobbowizardanimations]

I found the keys on the mc 101 awful