Novation Circuit Rhythmchat_bubble_outlineFrom real comments

Many users describe the Circuit Rhythm as a genuinely fun, well-thought-out instrument that makes complex sampling concepts feel simple. Commenters repeatedly praise the hands-on controls and how quickly ideas come together.

@TheMikeHaskew

I’ve had one of these for years and have never thought to use it like this. Brilliant and so well presented, I think you just convinced me to keep mine and start using it again. Great vid and playing!launch

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December 6, 2024

@chrisb3389

Good recommendation for that instrumentalist getting into the groovebox world. As a guitarist, I jumped into the deep end by getting an MC707. I liked its depth and synth engine and still use and love it and the Verselab I added. However, for price, simplicity of sampling (easier than Roland boxes) and easy access to useful knobs like distortion, hard to beat the Circuit Rhythm.launch

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November 28, 2024

@leewightman8619

I find the rhythm an almost perfect device its so fun to use everything on the device was thought out well novation are geniuses to make a device that works so well if the Roland sp404 was steven Hawkins the novation circuit rhythm would be bryan cox .. meaning it makes a complicated thing seem simple and fun....i wonder if novation will add an eq to either the mixer for individual tracks where u could just scroll down after pan to get the functions or even a master eq as a grid effect ..i keep seeing people wanting time stretch that would be cool ..but even a time stretch effect on grid effects would sound cool. Or a way to turn normalize on and off...launch

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March 1, 2024

@sunflowerxsai3964

I literally just bought a Circuit Rhythm and have no clue what I've gotten myself into but looking at this tutorial has made me feel less intimidated about it. I'm like the most basic level beginner there is to all of this but I'm excited to learn something new, no lie I'm looking up some of the terminology you've used in this lol. I appreciate this style of video as the circuit rhythm is my intro to music production.launch

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February 4, 2024

Multiple guitarists describe pairing the Circuit Rhythm with amps, loop pedals, and live playing setups, praising its direct audio input and ease of layering live audio into sampled parts.

@DeGroove

I’m a guitarist, been using this for a while now in combo with a Yamaha THRII30 for home jamming. It’s perfect. Output goes to the aux in of the THR, line out of the THR goes back to the input of the CR. Recording time is limited though, depending on how many samples are in your project. Great stuff indeed. Thinking about hooking a midi pedalboard up with it…launch

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December 9, 2024

@Bonedriven1984

Apart from the direct sample recording, what does the rythm have over tracks (from guitarist perspective)? Did you have a chance to play with tracks? Are drums in tracks lacking somehow compared to rythm? I'm thinking guitar---multueffect processor--novation tracks/or/rythm---looper, for a simple play at home solution, and I can't choose between tracks or rythm... If tracks had the sample recording function that would sell it for me, but i doesn't.launch

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December 1, 2024

@ChromaticFramerø

I agree with you, and Rhythm is great for live audio instruments. It was my first groovebox and I loved my time with it. \nIf the threshold adjustments, being able to add effects to incoming audio, and tweaks to the \"live looping\" functionality was changed. I think it would be an ideal companion for many. I used it together with a loop pedal with piano and bass. But in the end switches both the looper and the Rhythm out for a Deluge. Which does everything the Rhythm does and more. But it's more obtuse and complex, and much more expensive so it's not necessarily comparable to the Rhythm. But I'm very happy with my choice. And if you are new to the groovebox world, and want something that will grow with you. The Deluge is ideal, while the Rhythm can be something you grow out of. But if you're just looking for a companion for drums, and maybe some extra sounds to play along with. It's great.launch

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November 28, 2024

@chrisb3389

Good recommendation for that instrumentalist getting into the groovebox world. As a guitarist, I jumped into the deep end by getting an MC707. I liked its depth and synth engine and still use and love it and the Verselab I added. However, for price, simplicity of sampling (easier than Roland boxes) and easy access to useful knobs like distortion, hard to beat the Circuit Rhythm.launch

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November 28, 2024

New users say tutorials and the device itself made an intimidating workflow approachable, even for people with no prior sequencer experience. Several first-time buyers credit specific video guides with getting them from confused to confident.

@sunflowerxsai3964

I literally just bought a Circuit Rhythm and have no clue what I've gotten myself into but looking at this tutorial has made me feel less intimidated about it. I'm like the most basic level beginner there is to all of this but I'm excited to learn something new, no lie I'm looking up some of the terminology you've used in this lol. I appreciate this style of video as the circuit rhythm is my intro to music production.launch

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February 4, 2024

@leftheavy.

Late to the party, but recently ordered a Circuit Rhythm as my first dedicated sampler. I had been having little luck wrapping my head around the workflow until finding this video. This took me from hopeless to relatively fluent in only a few viewings, and now it’s one of my favorite pieces of gear! Can’t overstate how helpful this was. Thanks for doing what you do!launch

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August 6, 2022

@Random_Sequence

Hi Gabe! Love your channel, and bought my first Novation (Rhythm) about a week ago. Love this tutorial, and I know my way around somewhat and have made a decent start, but I cannot yet fully wrap my head around the sort of meta-topics of it surrounding where my specific beats live, how to see all 32 steps when my sequence is playing, does your recorded pattern exist within the loaded sample pack or independently, and questions like this. I know you have done many tutorials on the Circuit Tracks, but would be great if you could consider another more in-depth look at the Ryhthm from the viewpoint of someone who is not experienced in the concepts of the tracks. Anyway either way I appreciate your channel and the decide is awesome. I almost returned it right away but after a few days I am getting the hang of it much more.launch

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April 26, 2022

@marcin_bruczkowski

I'm new to Circuit Rhythm and trying to make sense of it, but your tutorial makes it much less intimidating, because you are taking your time to lead me through the features at a pace I can follow on my own unit. Most YT tutorials are really quick runs through features, not tutorials... You are a very good teacher.launch

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February 25, 2022

Users like that the built-in, non-removable battery keeps the unit small and lightweight for grab-and-go use. One commenter specifically prefers integrated battery life over swappable batteries for portability reasons.

@DeGroove

I’m a guitarist, been using this for a while now in combo with a Yamaha THRII30 for home jamming. It’s perfect. Output goes to the aux in of the THR, line out of the THR goes back to the input of the CR. Recording time is limited though, depending on how many samples are in your project. Great stuff indeed. Thinking about hooking a midi pedalboard up with it…launch

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December 9, 2024

@chrisb3389

Good recommendation for that instrumentalist getting into the groovebox world. As a guitarist, I jumped into the deep end by getting an MC707. I liked its depth and synth engine and still use and love it and the Verselab I added. However, for price, simplicity of sampling (easier than Roland boxes) and easy access to useful knobs like distortion, hard to beat the Circuit Rhythm.launch

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November 28, 2024

@rodrigolaporte274

Great video!!!!\nI just want to point that yeah the pads glitch a little on the video but it's not a problem at all, it actually seems like a funny effect of sorts.\n\nNow about the circuit, I kinda went back to using it a bit more since your previous video, and yeah it's so portable and fun. I've found that I like pairing it with the microfreak, since I can sequence something in there from the rhythm, then I sample the microfreak output, and except for drums for which I import samples from somewhere else, I can do mostly everything with that small combo.\nAs for the battery, I prefer it integrated. I know it's not serviceable and at some point my rhythm will be 'plugged only' but I find that I don't use much the SP404 on batteries, since it takes like a zillion, and they don't last that much, I just plug it somewhere anyway. But on the rhythm that makes more sense since it's so small and lightweight, I can just take it anywhere with a pair of headphones and have a bunch of portable fun.launch

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January 11, 2024

Novation's track record of firmware updates gives users hope that early limitations will be addressed, and some cite past updates that already added on-device effects setup.

@littlehopeleft

I loved it while I had it. After update you could set up you own effects directly on the device. When exiting the chromatic mode, it will actually leave the sample on the last played key/pitch. Fact that you can just press and hold the mixer to quickly pop in and pop out upon release. Fact that you can almost live loop with little trick which SP still does not dooo. For me this brings far more features that KO2 for less money. What I did not care for was the way to view/chain patterns. Also I played some daylight gigs and the led lights just won't cut it at all. Currently on Smpltrek and apart from missing any punch in effects I am happy hippo till the GAS kicks in again.launch

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January 11, 2024

@SwiftDreamer

I preordered the Circuit Rhythm, but I'm pretty torn on if I should keep it or get a refund. I have the mc101, and me being so in tune with Roland's workflow, I'm missing what the circuit rhythm can offer me other than a direct line in port & a more simplistic workflow. The only thing that has me holding out hope is Novation being notorious for great firmware updates for the circuitlaunch

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June 29, 2021

@GabeMillerMusic

I filmed this before the device was announced, so I didn't know how it would be received. I know some of y'all were disappointed by it, and I was too when I read the spec sheet, but that disappointment went away once I used it nonstop for a couple of weeks. It's not for everyone, but I really like it.launch

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June 28, 2021

At least one commenter noted the drums and instrument samples sound noticeably punchier and more 'slamming' than on the related Circuit Tracks, and another found the limited sample time actually encourages selecting more versatile, usable sounds.

@MichaelGilboe

I’m surprised I haven’t heard any mention the sound quality on this compared to the Circuit Tracks. Because on every video I’ve heard, it sounds amazing. I know instruments are all samples, and not comparable, but drums are directly comparable, and everything I’ve heard in videos on this, the drums are slamming and punchy, whereas on the tracks everywhere I’ve listened the drums sound wimpy and uninspired. And the instruments I hear people play on this Rhythm also sound punchy as hell. Does anyone here agree with this assessment?launch

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June 28, 2021

@Nothingspeshalwaysfresh

Lol 222 seconds. I’m old as hell as we were stoked to get close to 30 seconds in the late 90’s.\n\nHonestly I think the sample time is very generous as it forces you to select very particular sounds , effectively loading the most versatile and usable sounds you can instead of just dumping loads of samples on there.launch

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June 28, 2021