Just When I Thought I Was Done with the Novation Circuit Tracks, It Pulls Me Back In
- Sunwarper
- Oct 18
- 4 min read
It’s been about two years since I last turned on the Novation Circuit Tracks. Back then, it was the main brain of my DAWless setup, and the first piece of Dawless gear I ever used. Over time, as my setup and workflow developed, I shifted away from it, until it's been relegated to sitting on the shelf for the last 2 years.
Recently, I decided to dust it off and see if it still holds up in 2025… or if time (and technology) has left it behind. Come to find out... it's a little of both.
Why I Bought the Circuit Tracks in the First Place
When I first picked up the Circuit Tracks in 2021, I was in the middle of a year-long monthly album challenge. I’d been producing everything in a DAW and felt completely burned out staring at a screen. I wanted something I could jam on by itself, that was fast, portable, and inspiring.
The Circuit seemed perfect, with two polyphonic synth tracks, two MIDI tracks to control external gear, and four drum/sample tracks that made it feel like a self-contained groovebox. The workflow was simple: step sequencing, sound design, and live tweaking all in one.
But after a few months, I started to hit the workflow walls.
Where It Fell Short
The biggest issue? No real sampling. The “drum” tracks can play back samples, but you can’t record or manipulate new ones inside the unit. Around that same time, I was getting more into incorporating live instruments and sound design... and that’s when the SP404 MK2 entered the picture.
Once I paired the SP404 with the Circuit Tracks, everything changed. Sampling guitars, synths, and even vinyl made the process feel alive. The SP handled the textures and resampling, while the Circuit took care of sequencing and structure.'
Trying It Again in 2025
After getting gear like the Digitakt and Polyend Tracker, I phased the Circuit out of my setup. So now in 2025, I wanted to see if the Circuit still had any magic left, and surprisingly, it does.
Booting it up felt like catching up with an old friend. The pads still double as a visual grid, and the immediacy of sequencing is hard to beat. Within minutes I was back to building patterns, adding swing, and dialing in that low-fi house groove I used to love.
But the limitations came back just as fast:
Only two synth tracks internally
No sampling
A dated synth engine that still requires using the external Components app to make deeper edits
Even the MIDI sequencing, while powerful, feels limited compared to newer gear like the Digitakt II or SEQTRAK.
The Classic Circuit Tracks + SP404 MK2 Combo
Once I plugged it into the SP404 MK2, though, everything started to click again. Running the Circuit’s output through the SP’s bus effects instantly added the character and grit it needed.
The combo works best like this:
Circuit handles structure and timing (you can also send MIDI to the SP to trigger samples on there)
SP handles sound design, FX, and resampling
Even without MIDI sync, the setup is inspiring for quick jams and using the SP’s Quick Mutes function makes performing with it surprisingly fluid.
Here's a video breakdown of my first live set with the combo that shows exactly how I was using it at the time:
Would I Still Recommend It?
For beginners or anyone who loves quick, tactile grooveboxes, the Circuit Tracks is still fun. It’s intuitive, portable, and great for sketching ideas. But compared to what’s out now, it feels limited, especially if you want full sampling or detailed sound design.
If Novation ever released a “Circuit Pro” combining the Circuit Tracks and Circuit Rhythm, that would be the sweet spot. Until then, pairing it with a sampler like the SP404 MK2 or Digitakt keeps it relevant. In terms of standalone grooveboxes, a SEQTRAK or Digitakt II can do very similar things but with much more power. That said, the biggest perk of the Tracks is it's easy and intuitive workflow. Mastering it's functions is far easier than most other grooveboxes, so if you're new to gear, it may still work great as an entry point like it did for me back in 2021. Just listen to sound examples of it to see if the synth engine is right for you.
Worth the Revisit?
Revisiting the Circuit reminded me why I fell in love with DAWless setups in the first place. It’s fast, hands-on, and freeing... even when the gear shows its age.
There’s a weird nostalgia in using it again, but also a reminder of how far my workflow has evolved.The Circuit Tracks might not be my main instrument anymore, but it’s still a fun way to rediscover that early excitement of making music.
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