To be fair, the similarly priced Elektron Model Samples has an even more limited amp envelope, and shares the lack of a filter envelope. Novation have clearly prioritised ease of use over deeper sound manipulation with the Rhythm. Turning to the right dials in a longer attack and decay shape.Īnd that’s it for design and modulation at the sound level. To the left of centre, this applies an increasingly snappier Decay phase.
Encoder 4 is labelled Slope, and is a single variable amplitude envelope control. You can adjust pitch, sample start and length, apply both high and low‑pass filtering (with resonance control), and add distortion.
Unlike the Circuit Tracks, which has different parameter macros depending on the current patch, these controls always do the same thing. Whichever track is active takes over the encoders for sound control. Half the pads then display a step sequencer grid where you can quickly drop triggers across two pages (32 steps). Tapping any of the track selectors switches you to a dedicated view for that track. In addition to the eight triggers, another eight pads turn on note repeats at various straight and triplet rates. Drum Pads view lets you finger drum all eight tracks at once from a single grid view.
The Rhythm has eight, monophonic sample playback tracks, which can be performed and sequenced in a range of ways. The Circuit Rhythm’s rear panel is a busy place, with a USB‑C port, microSD slot and three full‑size MIDI ports. I found myself pulling out my phone to light the panel often until I developed some muscle memory. The primary functions of the buttons are indicated with backlit displays, but unfortunately the black‑on‑grey text denoting secondary functions and encoder defaults is much harder to read in low light that on the Circuit Tracks.
There are occasions where you might need to look up how to perform an operation or change settings, but there are clues in the form of chunky text abbreviations that flash up on the grid when tapping unlabelled pads. A central design limitation, or perhaps philosophy, of the Circuits is to forgo a screen, which in some ways can feel quite freeing. They are super‑light, powered by an internal battery or USB, and small enough to pop in your pack without compromising on usability to the extent that I thought Roland’s MC‑101 did. Portability‑wise, Novation have really nailed it with these Circuits. There’s also a microSD slot for storing up to 32 ‘Packs’ (see ' Packing A Punch' box) and a USB‑C port.
Round the back there are line outs and ins, a mini‑jack for headphones, and a full complement of traditional MIDI ports.
There’s the familiar 4x8 pad grid surrounded by mode, transport and track buttons, plus the eight endless encoders for adjusting parameters within each view, and the master high‑to‑low‑pass filter.
Portable Powerīoth of the new Circuits appear to be identical on the outside bar the colouring and labelling. It adds a number of unique features, such as on‑board sampling, slicing, performance effects and chromatic sample playback. But the Circuit Rhythm isn’t just a drums‑only Tracks. Rhythm, on the other hand, is a pure sampler/drum machine, with eight identical tracks for sample playback and sequencing. Tracks built on the original Circuit’s groovebox format, with two on‑board synths, four sample tracks and two MIDI tracks. When Novation refreshed their much‑loved Circuit earlier this year they renamed it Circuit Tracks and gave it a sibling: Circuit Rhythm. Novation’s Circuit Rhythm offers portable immediacy and a surprising amount of depth.