User Manual

28
English
Exploring the Macros
You can modify Circuit’s synth sounds extensively with the Macro controls
3
. Each of the 64
factory Patches available can have eight of its parameters “tweaked” in value to alter the sound.
The audible effect of any adjustment will depend to a large degree on the Patch itself: on some
Patches the effect of a given Macro control will be more obvious than on others.
By far the best way of understanding the effect of each Macro control is to load some different
Patches, and experiment with the controls while listening. You will nd that with certain Patches,
turning some of the Macro controls will have an audibly different effect when other Macro
controls have different settings. Try moving pairs of controls together to create unusual and
interesting sonic variations.
If you’re familiar with synth terminology, you may nd it useful to know that,
where possible, the assignment of the Macro controls broadly follows this
scheme:
Macros 1 & 2 adjust Oscillator parameters
Macros 3 & 4 adjust Envelope parameters
Macros 5 & 6 adjust Filter parameters
Macros 7 & 8 adjust Modulation and FX parameters
However, it must be emphasised that numerous Patches will differ to a greater or lesser
degree from these assignments, and that there is no substitute for experimentation!
Each Macro control has an RGB LED below the knob, which illuminates in either purple
or green according to which synth is selected. The rotary controls are ‘endless’; the LEDs
therefore provide an indication of the parameter value, with the LEDs’ brightness indicating the
current value of the parameter as the knob is turned.
You can use the Macro controls while a pattern is playing to alter synth sounds in real time.
If Circuit is in Record, the LEDs change to red as soon as the knob is turned, and parameter
variations will now be recorded to the Session. See page 36 for more details.
Recording a synth pattern in real time
To record a synth pattern in real time, you will probably rst want to record a drum track. Drum
patterns are discussed in full detail in a later chapter, but a good starting point for a rhythm
“bed” is to select Drum 1, and press Pads 1, 5, 9 and 13. Then when you press Play, you
will hear a simple 4/4 bass drum. You can add some snare hits on or off the kick drum beat by
pressing some pads on the lower two rows* (Drum 2), and you can also add some 1/8 or 1/16
hi-hat if you wish by selecting Drum 3, and entering some hits on the upper two rows of pads*.
Enter Note View for Synth 1 or Synth 2 (press Note and then Synth 1 or Synth 2 if not already
selected) and run the pattern. If you want your synth notes to extend over four octaves rather
*Assuming that the factory default patches remain assigned.