Circuit Tracks is an agile groovebox for creating and performing electronic music quickly and easily. Its acclaimed, hands-on sequencer gives you a seamless workflow and its two refined, polyphonic digital synth tracks let you expand your sonic capabilities. The four drum tracks let you load your own samples and shape them to perfection. Two dedicated MIDI tracks permit seamless interconnectivity with other equipment. With a built-in, rechargeable battery you can unplug and create music anywhere. Let your creativity thrive!
Circuit Tracks is both a compositional tool and a live performance instrument. It’s an eight track instrument - two for the polyphonic synths, four for samples and two for interfacing with external MIDI devices like analogue synths. It lets you create music fast: getting patterns together is rapid and intuitive. If you’re working in the studio, Novation’s superior sound quality means you can use Circuit Tracks as the basis of your finished track.
The playing grid is a set of 32 illuminated, velocity-sensitive pads, which act as synth keys, drum pads, sequencer steps and perform numerous other functions. The pads’ internal illumination is intelligently RGB colour-coded*, so you can see at a glance what’s going on.
Eight rotary controls are provided to let you tweak the synth and drum sounds to perfection and the Master Filter control is always available to further enhance your performance. There are a host of other quickly-accessible features: synth patches and drum samples to choose from, a choice of musical scales, adjustable tempo, swing and note length, and more. You can start with a simple pattern of 16 or 32 steps and then rapidly assemble these together into more complex patterns of great length.
You can save your work in one of 64 internal Project memories. Additionally, Circuit Tracks’ powerful Packs feature lets you access, create, and save thousands of Projects, synth patches and samples on a removable microSD card.
Circuit Tracks integrates totally with Novation Components, a powerful software application which lets you download, edit, and create synth patches, swap out your samples, create MIDI track templates, and store your work in the cloud.
For additional information, up to date support articles and a form to contact our Technical Support Team please visit the Novation Help Centre at: support.novationmusic.com
* RGB LED illumination means that each pad has internal red, blue and green LEDs, each of which can light at different intensities. By combining the three colours at different brightness levels, almost any colour of illumination can be achieved.
Note
To download this user guide in PDF format, go to: downloads.novationmusic.com.
This is Version 5.0 of the Circuit Tracks user guide.
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Two synth tracks with six-voice polyphony
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Two MIDI tracks with programmable CC output
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RGB grid with 32 velocity-sensitive pads for playing and displaying information
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Eight customisable macro encoders for further tweaking of sounds
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Hands-on sequencing with eight chainable 32-step patterns non-quantised record, step probability, pattern mutate, sync rates, and more
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Reverb, delay, and side chain FX
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DJ-style master filter (Low pass/High pass)
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microSD support - save thousands of samples and projects across 32 packs
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Built-in rechargeable battery with four hours of battery life
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Novation Components integration – full synth engine editing, sample upload and project backup
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Full size 5-pin MIDI In, Out and Thru
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Analogue sync out
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Two mono audio inputs – mix external audio with native sounds, apply FX too
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Stereo audio output (L/R pair)
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Headphone output
We’ve tried to make this manual as helpful as possible for all types of user, both newcomers to electronic music making and beat making, and those with more experience. If you’ve already been beat making for a while, you may want to skip over certain parts of the manual. If you’re just starting out, you may want to avoid certain parts until you’re certain you’ve mastered the basics.
However, there are a few general points that are useful to know about before you continue reading the manual. We use some graphical conventions within the text, which we hope everyone will find helpful in navigating through the information to find what you need to know quickly:
Where we refer to top panel controls or rear panel connectors, we’ve used a number thus: to cross-reference the top panel diagram, and thus:
to cross-reference the rear panel diagram. We’ve used Bold text to name physical things – the top panel controls and rear panel connectors, and have made a point of using the same names used on Circuit Tracks itself. We’ve used smaller Bold italics to name the various Views that the grid can display.
Please check the list below against the contents of the packaging. If any items are missing or damaged, contact the Novation dealer or distributor where you purchased the unit.
Easy Start gives you a step-by-step guide to setting up your Circuit and creates personalised tutorials based on how you plan to use your Circuit. This online tool also guides you through your Circuit’s registration process and accessing the software bundle.
On both Windows and Mac computers, when you connect your Circuit to your computer, it first appears as a Mass Storage Device, like a USB drive. Open the drive and double click ‘Click Here To Get Started.url’. Click ‘Get Started’ to open Easy Start in your web browser.
After you’ve opened Easy Start, follow the step-by-step guide, to install and use your Circuit.
Alternatively, if you don’t want to use the Easy Start tool, visit our website to register your Circuit manually and access the software bundle.
id.focusritegroup.com/register
Important
It's crucial you update your Circuit's firmware when you first plug it in, whether you go through Easy Start or not.
If you don't update the firmware of your Circuit, it's likely many features won't work.
To update your Circuit's firmware, you need to use Novation Components. Go to components.novationmusic.com to update your firmware.
Visit Novation Components at components.novationmusic.com to unlock the full potential of Circuit Tracks. Use Components software to delve into Circuit Tracks’ powerful synth engines, upload your own samples to your unit, set up MIDI templates for your external gear, and back up your projects.
If you’re brand new to Circuit, you can follow our Easy Start Guide to get up and running. To access the Easy Start Guide, connect your Circuit to your Mac or PC, and click on the Tracks folder. Inside you’ll find two files named Click Here to Get Started.url and Circuit Tracks - Getting Started.html. Click on the .url file to be taken straight to the Easy Start Guide, or open the .html file to learn more about it.
For help getting started with your Circuit Tracks, visit:
If you have any questions or need any help at any time with your Circuit Tracks, visit our Help Centre. Here you can also contact our support team:
We recommend you check for updates to your Circuit Tracks so you have the latest features and bug fixes. To update your Circuit Tracks's firmware, you need to use Components:
You can power the Circuit Tracks in three ways:
Circuit Tracks can be powered from a computer or laptop via the USB connection. Use the supplied cable to connect the unit to a Type ‘A’ USB port on the computer or laptop. The internal battery will be charged while the unit is connected (provided that the computer is powered on and that its USB ports have an adequate power rating).
You can power your Circuit Tracks with a USB-C to USB-C cable if required. A cable of similar length to the included USB-A to USB-C cable will offer the same performance.
The AC adaptor supplied with the unit is a 5 V DC, 2 A type with a Type ‘A’ USB output, and can operate on mains voltages from 100 V to 240 V, 50 or 60 Hz. The adaptor has interchangeable slide-in AC plug heads; different plug heads are supplied, which make the adaptor compatible with AC outlets in many countries. Plug heads can be swapped if necessary by pressing the spring-loaded semicircular button in the centre of the adaptor and sliding the plug head upwards to separate it from the adaptor body. Then slide in the correct plug head (as shown by the arrows), ensuring that it locks firmly in place.
Use the supplied cable to connect the AC adaptor to the Type ‘C’ USB port on the rear panel of Circuit Tracks ( on Rear view).
The use of AC adaptors of a type other than that supplied is not recommended. Please contact your Novation dealer for advice on alternative PSUs if necessary.
Circuit Tracks will also operate from its internal Lithium-ion battery. The internal battery is not user-serviceable. If you are having issues with your battery, please contact your distributor or the Novation support team directly.
Circuit Tracks will operate for up to 4 hours, depending on battery state. When powering on Circuit Tracks, the remaining charge level will be displayed on the pads. If the central 12 pads are green, the charge level is high. As the charge level decreases, fewer of the central pads will be lit in the battery indication view:
The battery will be charged while Circuit Tracks is connected to the AC mains via the AC adaptor, or to a computer’s USB 3.0 port: charging time is up to 4 hours, again depending on initial battery state. To indicate that Circuit Tracks is charging, the power button ( on Rear view) be lit green.
See also the Important Safety Instructions packed with the product for information regarding battery disposal: this information can also be downloaded from the Novation website.