Novation Circuit and Dreadbox Erebus working together explainer video
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- Опубліковано 28 сер 2024
- Andy Pidcock explains this simple set up of the Novation Circuit and the Dreadbox Erebus. This video uses direct audio with no added effects or processing ~ Recommend headphones or external speakers for this one ! Video recorded using Hudle 2. Audio recorded onto Korg d1200 all put together in Serif movieplus.
man Dreadbox have really nailed sound itself with any of their synths. Beautiful
totally agree !
Sorry forgot to say thank you for the beautiful explanations here. Btw i seem to have completely underestimated the Circuit. It is pretty amazing for the price. Like a swiss army knife
Thanks Andy. Good to see them working together. I have had a Circuit for a few months now and love it and working well with my Waldorf Rocket and Blofeld but the Erebus is really tempting :-)
Fantastic demo Andy. The fact that you’re playing something so beautiful makes the demo that much more interesting and useful. It’s what’s missing from so many demos /tutorials these days. Thanks a lot mate, will subscribe for sure ;)
Hi Nyan, Thank you so much and that is very kind of you to say so. Glad it's been helpful. best
To my ears the Erebus is a "Tangerine Dream" synth, which is just... awesome :-)
Great tutorial, informative, interesting and sounds amazing 👏🏾👏🏾 Pad on Circuit Synth1 is a belter. Thanks for sharing 🙏🏾
One of the best demos I've seen in a long time!
The last part with the delay was inspiring!
Got yourself another subscriber.
cheers, glad you enjoyed !
Thank you very much for this clear and excellent demo about both machines. Very inspirational .
An amazing demo, simple and more than a little awesome!
insane ! you make magic with the erebus - such HEAVY sound
Finally a demo that sounds great too! I'm about to purchase a circuit and try this with some pedals and a Minotaur
I'm sure all that will sound very fine indeed ! you will love the circuit, such a creative piece of gear, let me know how you get on
This is just incredible. Thanks for making and publishing this video.
Just got the Circuit for a week. Awesome to see it 'integrate' with Synths, like the Erebus 😊. Together with all update stuff coming out for Circuit. Stellar!! Good work .. Enjoy tweaking haha 😉
Thanks for this. I've been on the fence about getting a Circuit, and after seeing this video, I'm definitely getting one.
Excellent job !! I like these your improvisation ... and the sound you can get out of these little beasts is impressive!
erebus feedback near the end is really nice .. maybe i'll buy one too.
nice demo also...
Fantastic; thanks for putting this up - I have really had my eye on both these units.
+Kevin Stay You are very welcome, hope it helps and good luck - there is soooo much good gear out there at the moment ! but have really enjoyed using these two units.
Great job showing this unit's potential
Thanks for the great demo, explains a lot what you can do with these 2 boxes. I have the erebus and i love it. Looks like i have to start saving up to get a Novation Circuit now... :-)
Circuit has kept my thoroughly engaged for four months now, it seems a little overlooked as an actual synth maybe viewed as a scratchpad groovebox. All the music I make with it has such feathery liquid nuances I like it very much. I'll probably add an analogue synth for another more direct pallet, that is why I'm enjoying this video.
Crystal clear explanation, thanks!!
Cheers
Now that's my type of music, very cool track, so simple yet so great, could take that to some higher places ;) - Very informative demo as well, thank you, really really made me want a nice mono synth to pair with the circuit, however Erabus is a bit hard to get in NZ
Hi, Many thanks and glad you enjoyed it. Can't believe how much fun just having one note (or two on the erebus) can be ! I know Thomann deliver to NZ if that helps.
This is stunning man!
Your other video got me going with Erebus and Circuit but this is just great!
I'd be interested in how you'd approach adding an Electribe ER-1 into the mix...
Good explanation, thx 4 sharing! 👍
No problem 👍
Omg! Total eargasm! Very cool!
Great, thank you so much for putting this up.
Great demo. Very nice pattern.
just ordered mine today ! i am looking forward to messing around with this ,
Very helpful and interesting. Thanks for putting this up.
great video been on the fence with the circuit but this changes things.
Awesome, am doing a similar thing using the volca bass.
Great video. Love your sounds. Which Version of the Erebus are you using? Thanks for taking the time to do such a clear and easy to understand vid 👍
Hi, V2 Erebus, glad it's helpful
great vid, learned a lot from this! been using mine with a korg sq1 also a lot of fun :)
The arp strongly reminds me of "Boris Divider - Citydrome". Just a tip for those who like this kind of music.
yes Andy, very helpful... now I have something else I want and need to save up more money to buy an Erebus!!! :D
Very nice! The Circuit Mono Station should also be a good partner with the Erebus... especially with OS 1.2 which has a 3rd sequence going out via CV (to the Erebus patch bay)... all analog!
Hey, That sounds nice ! didn't know about the new update and a 3rd sequence ! Love how Novation keep squeezing more features out of their gear.
@@andypidcock Yes, with regular updates it is worth "investing" in Novation gear -- especially their Circuits
Great demo!. One question, could you make the pads into a sequence also, set it pick up a guitar or something and play over the entire mix? An acoustic slide guitar or a violin over that would be super!
andy is the man!
sounds great.....
Hello, I love this. very nice. May I ask a question? I have just built a four voice modular and have set it up to be driven by either midi or CV. We use Arturia Spark when using the laptop to sequence, but I want to leave the computer at home more and do everything on the fly live. So we are looking for drums that are not just 303 or 909 clones. This looks great for adding drums and some poly pads. Question is do you think it will be easy to clock sync the Beatstep Pro and Circuit and use the sequencing power of both? Ideally having the BSP drive the modular and the Circuit drive itself with its own sequences and perhaps send midi sequences to our 0-coast or Mother 32. What do you think?
Hello Kelly Rain 2 ! Good questions. The quick answer is yes to all the above. The Circuit will send or receive midi clock so will sync with your BSP. The circuits midi channels are set (synth1 ch 1, synth 2 ch 2, drums ch 10) so as long as you can live with that all will be fine. So put your O coast on one synth ch. and your mother 32 on another ch, the BSP could pick up the midi clock from the circuit and then just do it's own thing. I love the drum sounds in the circuit and as you can now change the drum samples to your own stuff then this should do what you want - it is an incredibly flexible piece of gear. I also love using the sequencer on the circuit too. Sounds like you need this in your set up and your life ! let me know how you get on.
amazing job bro! and nice machines!!
Really cool what you did there at the end. Was wondering, if you had to choose between the Circuit and something like the minilogue, what would you go with? Would like to nab both, but only have the money for one right now.
Hello there, The end is using the great lo-fi delay on the erebus if you 'ride' the feedback just right it can sound amazing. As for Circuit or minilogue or any of the other great gear around at the moment it really depends on what you are trying to do. I love using the circuit because it makes you think in different musical ways as you don't just end up doing the same keyboard riffs as it doesn't have a traditional keyboard on it. Also it has two independent synth voices plus drum sounds and now you can import your own sounds and samples which I think makes it such a flexible piece of gear. The best is to combine the circuit with some type of analogue gear though, best of both worlds then !
Thanks!
Wow man,,i gotta get me a novation,,,,how did i miss this??
great! wouls you need a computer hooked up for the midi settings? (assigning channels etc). Also, awesome circuit pad, self-created?
Nice work man ")
I can’t wait to get my hands on this. I’m so bored with ableton.
Totally get that !
really nice. only thing whit holding me from buying one is the lack of separate out and only 2x synth seq.
great video!
Great work mate! Although I thought the Erebus delay was a capacitor delay so still analogue just not oil can or tape?
Hey Genial la sesión bro saludos desde Tijuana mx
I dont understand, how can you use the Novation as a decent keyboard when it only offers you 8 notes per octave while playing? Or am I missing something?
Hellooo, Your right in the demo on the video but there are other 'scale' modes that you can select, one of which is a full chromatic keyboard scale (you get two octaves worth on the pads) interestingly the pads are exactly the same width apart as full size keys.
Andy Pidcock Hmmm... :-) So, you dont use it as a regular keyboard then? You use it as a minimized scaled keyboard??
absolutely, don't get me wrong I love keyboards but this makes you think differently which is refreshing.
Erik Persson the Circuit has a scale mode and chromatic mode(piano mode) he is in scale mode on the video.
Are the string pad sounds part of circuit? Or samples you added? Sounds great!..
hi, Yep the pad/string sound is just part of the circuit sounds tweaked a little using the circuit sound editor
With Circuit polyphonic sequence, which note will trigger the Erebus, the highest?
I love the Erebus and have watched your videos, but am a little disappointed on Medusa, because as I stated on looppops video, apart from xy pads I don't understand what I'm getting more than this set up??? As it stands in play mode you cant even transpose??😕.. My comment was so..if I get deep mind 6 and circuit..both with effects, I get polyphonic synths WITH EFFECTS AND CHANGE...pitty really wanted to love it, but .....glad I'm not the only one who understands that circuit is sooooo underestimated as live midi sequencer!! Great video Sir!
Cheers Inky ! and with 1.7 firmware on the circuit, much longer arrangements it's hard to beat IMHO
@@andypidcock I totally agree, I want a neutron and mono station as Erebus kit scares me 😬😬😂 I mean I can solder but but.....
or try dipping into the white line series, uses the Erebus VCO's and build up a modular version ? a bit more money I know but...... or the Erebus V3 www.thomann.de/gb/dreadbox_erebus_v3.htm?sid=b2ad7a78be35a8c2652f6ddf9c38207a
Confused on what sounds are coming from the Erebus? They both can make synth sounds correct? So you are playing the Erebus on the Circuit when you play a melody? Newbie here...
Hey there, No problem and good question. Yes I'm using the novation circuit to trigger the sounds of the Erebus using the midi out on the circuit to the mid in in on the erebus. Yes the circuit certainly does have sounds and when combined with the erebus it makes for a very good sound world. If you are new to all this I would highly recommend just starting off with the novation circuit it can do sooo much and I think amazing for it's price. Get to know it and how it works then when you are ready add other gear to it. The circuit can grow with you as and when you want to add to it. hope that helps. let me know how you get on.
Andy Pidcock Thank you for the feedback. Appreciate it. Will do.
Andy Pidcock That is excellent advice! Slowly build a small studio around the Circuit which remains your main sequencer. You can set up the Circuit just to send Clock Out of its MIDI channels 1 and 2 - this would drive other sequencers like the UNO, Boutiques, Volcas, etc which have their own notes/sequences programmed locally within the unit (a MIDI Thru box comes in handy here).
Nice jams.
sorry for stupid question but just want to now if it's possible to record an external gear in real time mode. thank you for very inspiring video
They're great machines but you learn a lot about what electronica is actually made up of in terms of composition and live performance. Cool.
Many thanks, You are only as good as knowing where to put the spaces !
I noticed that the feedback is really regular and eternal sounding, which is quite useful as demonstrated. Is that easier to create on a digital delay? I have an inexpensive delay pedal that I have a lot of fun with but which I think could not quite pull what I hear here as either the decay turns into noise or fades out. I can't find an eternal or near-eternal sweet spot on the knob.
The delay on the Erebus is a low-fi delay that acts like an analogue delay so it will feed back on it's self, but it is controllable. Digital delays tend not to have the same gritty feedback sound. The only way to find out if your pedal will do a similar thing is to turn the feedback to max and see what happens, then ride the feedback dial till it's controllable.
When you say ‘these are pad sounds I have setup on the Circuit’...please explain . Getting started here. And the Novation comes with synths but you are using the Erebus also? Thanks.
He used the buttons (pads) to play notes and chords on the first synth instead of using an external keyboard to give this soft ambient orchestral feel. What he didn't say is that the Circuit used the same synth engine as the Nova/Supernova series of Novation synths which are very powerful (they are digital not Analogue and the Circuit has 2 which is one more than their standalone synths -You can connect a keyboard by midi or by usb through a computer or iPad).
Thomann in Germany are retailing over the web @ €275 at the moment, a great price.
Hi! Great video and nice music. What scale mode are you using on the circuit and could you maybe share the exact notes of the little sequence you send to the erebus? Thx!
As he said C min, from what I hear within the 2 bar sequence they're 3 groups with 3 notes each (C4, D4, G4 ) (C4, D4, F4 ) (C4, D4, Eb4) (C4, D4, Eb4) and one last group with 4 notes which completes the 2nd bar (C4, D4, Eb4, D4) The last group starts at position 2.3 if you are using a sequencer. The bass line is really just C, D, Eb , F, G if I get it right, played in octaves. The descending melody starts on Eb, so that's Eb D Bb A and then G. Eb I guess to outline the character of the minor scale and ends on G which resolves to C from the start of the seq. anyway great tune and demo!
Come avete sincronizzato i due synth insieme?
Is the Circuit pad a stock patch or custom? If it's custom could you share the patch? It's reeeeeeeeallly good!
Hey Marc, Think it was based on a stock circuit sound with a little noodling from the circuit software but really not much. It's been a while but I'll check and let you know ! youtube seems full of peeps doing great house/D&B/acid/trance stuff on the circuit which I love too but the circuit is capable of doing some really nice warm pads too.
So just starting out would you recommend this combo over the Korg volca combos or what combination of gear would you recommend? Thanks.
I think of the Volcas as a nice addition to a more robust setup, but
I wouldn't base my entire rig around them, whereas the Circuit could be
the foundation for an entire live performance rig.
If you're just interested in learning subtractive synthesis the Volca Keys is fantastic, but quite limited. The Circuit it is digital wavetable synthesis, and has it's own limitations, but you will find a much wider pallet of sounds to explore and be able to save more complex songs.
The Erebus is a beast, if you can afford it.
Very nice coment and music
If you want to trigger two or three external analogue synths what is the easiest/best way to split midi signal apart from using a computer?
I'd look for a Banana Split or a midihub 6-way. I'm using the 6-way because it can be master clock which is great for jams, but the split might be what you want. www.tindie.com/stores/hotchk155/ Great prices too.
How did you programme the erebus to midi 2 - does it automatically sync?
You open the back of the Erebus and change the dip switches which changes the midi channels
Ta ;)
Браво!!!
Can you record live into the circuit or does it only record in step mode. Also if you can record the pads in realtime can this be edited later ?
Hi, Absolutely you can record any of the the pads in real time (drums or synth) you can then edit anything you have recorded in step mode including note pitch/note length/velocity, It probably sounds more complicated than it is but it becomes a very intuitive thing to do.
Andy Pidcock thanks i think im going to get the circuit then
I was looking for a way to externally sequence my system 1, but also looking for a simple way to program it and save. This is not only the solution, but as a added bonus, 2 synths, ability to backup, portable groove box. I was thinking Beatstep Pro, but was turned off by no polyphony over midi. Then I looked at the Arturia Keystrokes, but really didn't want another keyboard.
Hellooo, Looks like you are looking for a circuit then. I think they are brilliant creative tools and great for sequencing external stuff. plus 6 x AA batteries, pack it in your bag and go get some creative ideas then bring it back and add it to the rest of your setup. As you say it also gets you away from a traditional 'keys' set up mentality. let me know how you get on
Yes! I was looking at the Pyramid and Engine for quite sometime, but I'm not a real hardcore studio guy or even a real musician for that matter. I'm more of a tinkerer, but really a tinker who just wants to have simple fun. If anything at max I would only sync two midi items. The other two offer 16 midi devices per channel offering a whopping of 32 devices controlled and frankly I'm no John Carpenter. This is the device for me especially as for I need a mobile sketchpad too with synths built in and this does that and 4 drum tracks.
Mmmm think you are right. I get to play with some nice gear but keep coming back to these little circuits - they just work ! nothing like squeezing the max out of a minimum setup.
Exactly! Well over 20 years ago I worked in a few music studios and I used to sit there and watching musicians frustrared over programing the sequencers. The worst was when they forgot the manual to them and there was no online manuals and many sequencers were already 10 years old. This grid based simplicity takes all of that away and is saved in memory and no tape to fail or stretch!
remember the whole tape world ! you could always sample some tape stretching and load into the circuit just for old times sake.
When Circuit synth channel is turned down but still playing Erebus, can you play pad notes on Circuit to Erebus?
Oh wait, Erebus is monophonic so no. I have been doing same with Circuit/Mother 32, lovely stuff.
Hey great stuff there , sou d's beautiful.
I'd like to ask how you choose the erebus to play MIDI from channel number 2 ?
I got the Dreadbox Hades from a friend for a few days
Thanks
Hey, On the Erebus you have to unscrew the back and change some small dip switches to make it respond to midi Ch. 2. Not sure about the Hades sorry ! Dreadbox stuff sound sooooo sweet though. Enjoy
@@andypidcock yep I have heard it's the same on Hades, too bad it's a friends and I can't unscrew it:( Thank you though
Is that Erebus compatible with Eurorack? Can I patch my Mother 32 in and out of it? NEver even heard of it before. Sounds sweet.
Hi, yep fully patchable with Eurorack and Mother 32, Two very sweet analogue Oscillators in the Erebus. Enjoy !
Understanding that this is an old video, but I'd be really interested in explanations regarding how you get these pad sounds from the circuit! Or if anyone could point me to a tutorial...
Hi, This was a patch that was based on one of the circuit presets just noodled about a bit on the free PC circuit editor. Think the pads where then set to a pentatonic scale. You can get some decent pads just using the dials on the circuit without using the editor. Don't know if this helps but good luck !
So can this be used as a sampler in addition to being a sequencer?
with the latest updates to the Circuit you can now load in your own .WAV files up to a max of about 60 seconds so they need to be short samples ! being limited makes you more creative.
Excellent video , very good explanation. I just have my Erabus since 3 days .My sequencer is a Carbon from Killpatrick audio . Awsome synth and sequencer match . I was not sure to keep the Erabus or exchange for a Oberheim SEM pro , cause my seller propose it . But since watching your video.... i gone keep the Erabus .......and probably buy the SEM also . What do you thing about that ? Thank you , your a very good teacher !
Hi, Noooo don't get rid of your Erebus you will only want it back. Have them all and you will have some amazing sounds at your fingertips. Enjoy
Nice demo! Can it sequence external stuff polyphonically?
Hi, absolutely, The internal synths in the circuit are 6 note poly and there are two of those in the circuit. I use the circuit to sequence all sorts of external poly gear and it is brilliant at doing it to !
Awesome! I'm guessing it does all the scale things too? Sounds like a really good bargain, I'm gonna have to get one.
Yep 16 different scales, in any key, fully poly transmits on two independent midi channels (1&2) plus a four part drum machine (ch 10) loop from one bar (16 beats) up to 8 bar loops on each channel, it's a complete bargain !
Certainly is, I just saw a video for the update that shows you can play more than 4 drum sounds looks like a no brainer now
A weird question but could you sequence the drums from the circuit on a beatstep pro? I'm just wondering because the beatstep has a randomizer which is really good for making non static beats and if I can I could get rid of one of my samplers
is it possible to record the knob tweaks from the erebus into the circuit sequencer?
No it isn't, but I use the the LFO to sweep through the filter for example. I guess if you want that type of midi recall and you want the sound to always be the same then the Erebus probably won't be for you. hope that helps !
thank you, appreciate your insights
Hi Andy! Could I do the same thing with my Arturia Microbrute?
I'm thinking about buying a Novation Circuit and I wanna now.
Yep you can no problem. will be a very nice combo !
cool
Fab .......
I am gonna buy me an erebus - they should be paying you!
Lol, tell them when you buy it ! it is a brilliant sounding piece of gear you wont regret it, I'm thinking of getting another one ;-)
I like you sounds bruv
electronic exorcist