Circl3s

+Really powerful modulation matrix. 16 modulation slots and 4 modifiers. (Modifier is a thing, where you can do logic and math things, for example "Source X * Source Y". You have: Constant, +, -, *, AND, OR, XOR, MAX, min) +3 oscillators, 2 filters, 4 envelopes, 3 LFOs and 2 effects give you great possibilities. +On oscillator 1 and 2, besides the classic shapes, you can have wavetables and samples, both of which you can import. Default samples sound really good though, I really like the Piano and the Guitar. +Great overall sound +A lot of preset memory. +16-part multitimbral, though with 25 voices of polyphony (keep in mind it's DSP) I doubt you'll be able to load 16 decked out sounds at once. +Good price. --- -Very buggy. Multis bug out constantly. FM bugs out when trying to FM samples together. It once bugged out when changing MIDI to omni. -Hard to use with a computer (at least for newbies - like me). It uses SysEx and only SysEx for updates, moving presets, samples, wavetables etc.

+2 Nova synth engines, 4 drum tracks. +Polyrhythmic 8 bar sequencers. Every bar can have a different length, as well every synth, and drums in pairs. +"Sample flip" - though you can load one sample per drum track, and every drum track is monophonic, you can record changing samples. Very powerful. (I should point out the memory: 64 presets (both synths share the same presets), 64 samples - 60 seconds of 16-bit mono .wav audio, 32 sessions - projects) +Really easy to use. You turn it on and start making music. +Portable - it runs on batteries and has a speaker built in. +Cloud saving - When connected to a PC, you just go to https://components.novationmusic.com/ and you can backup all your sessions, samples and presets in the cloud. +Good price. --- -Synth editor is a bit hard to use. You can't edit presets on-board, you have to use the editor, which isn't the best designed program in the world. (They're working on a new one, VST, may be interesting) -Only cloud saving. Though you can download samples, presets and sessions to your PC, you can't transfer it to Circuit without accessing the website. Which means no internet = no backup.

Although I had some problems with the software editor, I think this interface/splitter/merger/patchbay is the best value option out there. You get 10 standard DIN ports (10 out, 10 in), 16 ports from the computer, 16 from the other computer (it can have 2 computers hooked up to it at once!), 10 ports through USB and 4 ports through LAN. It's unbelievable. I use it to route all the MIDI messages in my studio.

This is a great piece of hardware for someone who's starting out. 16 tracks of audio, 8 in real time, built in effects and sends, built in stereo microphone (!), audio interface capabilities (8 mono/4 stereo channels!) at up to 96 kHz, memory card slot for saving recorded things, you can daisy-chain the units to get more channels, and everything I just mentioned is battery powered. BUT! The build quality is poor, my jacks got stuck in the combi ports (I have to unsolder them from the mainboard), I have constant problems with it in audio interface mode (it's main purpose in my studio)... So only get it if you need a lot of aforementioned tools in one cheap package. I did need them, but as my studio grew I now need something more robust anyway.

It's good. That's it. +Does the job +Cheap +MIDI Out (which is quite rare in controllers of this price point, and that's why I bought it) +USB powered (or DC 9V if I remember correctly) +You can easily configure everything --- -Build quality is mediocre. It's plastic, and you can really feel it sometimes.

+Does the job +Cheap +Korg's XY controller +Arp and Hold modes - great for drum rolls +USB powered +You can configure the 4 pages of pads using software --- -Build quality. The XY pad is built worse than in Kaossilator / Kaoss Pad for sure.