Novation Circuit Tracks: Automation Tricks for Dynamic Groovebox Workflows

Dylan demonstrates the preset browsing system, which leverages the Circuit Tracks’ grid to present a wide palette of sounds. Each preset can be previewed instantly, streamlining the process of finding the right timbre for a track. The grid-based interface is clearly designed for speed and playability, minimizing friction when auditioning sounds.

Once a suitable preset is found, the macro knobs become the primary interface for sound shaping. These macros are context-sensitive, mapped differently for each preset but always matching the hardware’s labeling. The video highlights how quickly a sound can be transformed from a short pluck to a swelling chord, reinforcing the instrument’s focus on tactile, performance-oriented control.

The workflow moves into constructing an eight-bar chord phrase using pattern chaining and extended note mode. Dylan demonstrates how to link multiple patterns for longer phrases, then selects octaves and records a chord part, adjusting as needed to fit the musical context. This approach allows for more complex arrangements without leaving the hardware environment.

Sound refinement is handled directly on the device, with effects such as delay and reverb added via the effects mode. The video shows how tweaking filter cutoff, amplitude envelope, and filter envelope modulation can dramatically alter the character of the part, all in real time.

The process is then repeated for the bass, with a focus on extending patterns to two bars and using the same preset for sonic cohesion. Sidechain techniques are introduced to help the bass and chords sit together in the mix, demonstrating how Circuit Tracks supports both sound design and basic mix engineering within its workflow.

Automation is presented as a key strength of Circuit Tracks, enabling users to create evolving musical phrases from simple patterns. Dylan shows how duplicating a short bass pattern across multiple patterns allows for automation of synth parameters over a longer phrase, adding movement and variation without changing the underlying notes.

The demonstration continues with automation of mixer effects, specifically delay and reverb sends, to add dynamic splashes of brightness as the filter opens. This real-time manipulation is recorded directly into the sequence, making it possible to build intricate, expressive arrangements with minimal effort.

Throughout, the emphasis is on hands-on control and immediate feedback. The video makes it clear that Circuit Tracks is designed for producers who want to inject life into their sequences through performance gestures and parameter automation, rather than static programming.

The session wraps up by underscoring how Circuit Tracks’ automation and pattern chaining capabilities allow for the creation of complex, evolving arrangements from the simplest musical building blocks. Even with a basic sequence, the addition of layered automation transforms the result into something much more engaging.

Novation’s presentation style here is direct and practical, focusing on actionable techniques rather than abstract theory. The takeaway is clear: with Circuit Tracks, dynamic soundscapes and performance-ready tracks are within reach, even for those starting with just a handful of notes.