Novation Circuit updates
Both the original Circuit and its analogue Mono Station follow-up have been on the market for a good while, but Novation continue to add to their capabilities through firmware updates and accompanying software. The latest of these enhancements come in the form of a new web-based editor for Circuit, and a firmware update for Mono Station which adds some cool Eurorack-friendly features.
Users of the original Circuit have been able to make use of the browser-based Components application for some time already, which facilitates the upload of custom samples and allows users to edit the mapping of the macros for the two synths. That’s now been expanded to include a full synth editor, giving users access to every element of the instrument's two digital polysynth engines. This allows users to get under the hood and adjust the oscillators, filter and effects for each synth, as well as giving full access to the 20-slot modulation matrix. As with the macro assignments, patches can then be stored to Circuit, shared online or saved to your computer. Components uses Web MIDI to allow editing from a browser window, but a standalone version is also available now to registered users.
On top of that, Circuit owners also get a host of new sequencing features in the recent v1.7 firmware update. This deepens the capabilities of the instrument's Pattern mode to allow for longer song creation. The synth sequencers have received an upgrade too, now giving users the ability to program drones and nudge steps off the grid.
Circuit Mono Station users, meanwhile, benefit from the arrival of the v1.2 firmware update, which adds some creative new sequencer features. The first of these is Patch Flip, a new mode that allows for different presets and automation assignments to be allocated to each sequencer step.
The update also allows note data to be input into the modulation sequencer channel, so that this can be repurposed for outputting CV/gate control for modular gear. There are also additional trigger and sync modes for the LFO and envelopes. The updates can be found on the Components site.
Available at components. novationmusic.com.