Native Instruments has introduced Circular, a software sequencer that features four independent layers and deep modulation control.
You can sequence over 100 experimental sound sources, from felted pianos to bowed metals, or import your own samples to work with.
Features:
- Four independent layers: Create polyrhythms and textured performances.
- Polyphonic aftertouch support: Add expressive nuance with polyphonic aftertouch.
- Real-time step controls: Modulate pitch, filter, and effects with per-step precision, all shaped by aftertouch.
- Extensive sound library: Explore over 100 acoustic and synthetic sound sources.
- Sample import: Transform your own sounds into evolving sequences with 128 user slots for imported samples.
- Kontrol keyboard integration: Integrates with Native Instruments’ Kontrol S-Series keyboards.
Native Instruments Circular Walkthrough Video:
Pricing and Availability:
Circular is available now, priced at $199 / €199 / £179.
Seems to be a clone of an old iOS app
Yep, it’s the app called Patterning 2 which is amazing!
A current iOS / macOS app: https://www.olympianoiseco.com/apps/patterning-3/
if you’re referring to the ios app “Patterning”, I’d argue that the circular thing is – in general – super inspired by the Buchla 252e “Polyphonic Rhythm Generator”
Interesting.
Sounds like the Olympia Noise app and BEMI hardware were both released in 2015, though there might have been a long lead time from Buchla work.
So it’s quite possible that Patterning drew direct inspiration from the manufacturer. At the same time, “the circular thing” has been a thing for much longer than that.
The reason immediate parallels between NI’s new release and that wellknown iPad app might have more to do with the overall appearance than “a circular sequencer focused on modulation”.
Also, for “that circular thing”, you can add a ‘1’ before the BEMI device name to get a date for a text which included circular notations.
https://www.jstor.org/stable/620103
(the original dates to 1252)
https://archive.org/details/la-musique-arabe/D'Erlanger 1938 La Musique Arabe Tome 3/page/n291/mode/2up?q=1252
Glad they could be bothered to “innovate” by copying an iOS app called Patterning (now on it’s second version, I believe), that came out in 2015.
Nothing quite says excitement and innovation like a company owned by Francisco Partners.
Echoing the observations that NI is just cloning the circular sequencer idea and bolting on another multi-gigagbyte sound library of overcooked presets to add ‘value’. At this price I’d just buy all the fors.fm plugins, or Patterning if you really like the circular visuals. The polymetric sequencing functionality is available from numerous vendors in hardware and software. You can even do it on an MPC.
Oh c’mon. ‘Circular’ sequencers have a long history, far pre-dating an iOS app. Buchla, Future Retro, Trax, Xaoc, plus Patterning and several other iOS apps use a circular sequencer… just of the top of my head. It’s a fairly basic idea – accusing this of being a rip-off for that reason makes about as much sense as accusing every step-sequencer of being a rip off. As much as I love Patterning, this looks a fair bit more comprehensive, and is easily the most interesting thing NI have done for years.
I thought it costed around $50 when I saw the ad.
Not making any hard and fast conclusions here but everybody knows captain cave man and sons actually had this concept ages ago I believe they called it “wheel”