Native Instruments Intros Circular Expressive Polyphonic Sequencer | May 16, 2025

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.

 

This instrument/library for Kontakt is really interesting for all who like to search for unpredictable results. It has a lot of sound sources (you can also add your sounds) and a lot of parameters to tweak, from Euclidean to step sequencers, and many other creative variables. I've downloaded it from sister site (thanks Hidera) and am spending a lot of time on with a lot of fun too. I suggest not to watch the boring walkthrough (second video) with the better known "fat voice guy" who talks for more than 10 minutes on 12. Better to read the online manual that you can find here: https://www.native-instruments.com/ni-tech-manuals/circular-user-guide/en/welcome-to-circular.

 

I haven't spent too much time with this yet, but I'm liking it so far. Ok, the sounds themselves aren't that great without tweaking, but the sequencing bit is great.

I'm getting quite a lot of mileage by assigning the four sources to a vector pad and slowly morphing between them, kind of Wavestation-esque.

 

You can use your own samples which not many of these kinds of tools will allow. Big plus.

 

Last edited: May 17, 2025 at 9:58 PM

the closest thing i can think of is playbox, also from native instruments, and uvi mosaiq, both of which you can load your own samples.

 

I quite like the 4 track MIDI recorder, as MIDI routing in Ableton is the usual garbage. Though standard MIDI out is pretty useful as well.

 

Apparently there is no PDF manual for this one (yet?).

 

And the online one is unfinished. Thankfully it covers the main points though.

I'm expecting an update in a week or so, as usual.

 

I marked up a PDF manual directly from the online HTML guide. It's a PDF mirror of that online guide. However I am still trying to find out how to get my own samples loaded into the thing. The current doc's sort of "hint" around the subject, but doesn't really say much about the actual nuts and bolts. Looking at the Circular "factory library" of sounds - the stuff sitting in there are all .NKS files. When one tries to load (by the suggested drag-and-drop method) a sample (in this case an MP3 file) it just rejects the sample and doesn't load it.

[UPDATE]
It wont load samples that are of a compressed format apparently. Made a 16bit .WAV of that previous MP3 sample that would not load as .MP3 - Now it loads fine as a .WAV 16 file.

 

Last edited: May 18, 2025 at 2:23 AM