Those who are starting out in music production may have heard more experienced producers recommend synths such as Native Instrument’s Massive, Xfer Records’ Serum, or LennarDigital’s Sylenth1.
Although these synths are so-called “industry standards” and certainly sound great, they often come with a steep learning curve and hefty price tag, which aren’t ideal if you’re just getting into producing.
Circle2, on the other hand, is a lightweight and fun synth that’s also capable of producing some stellar sounds. It has all the essential features you need without the intimidating user interface of Massive or Sylenth1.
Here are a couple of reasons why I think Circle2 is the perfect synth for the beginner producer.
1. It’s easy to use
Circle2 has a beautiful user interface – full of color and (of course) circles. The interface may seem pretty complicated at first glance, but it’s actually quite simple. The main workspace is divided into three sections. The left section is where your sound generators live, the middle section is where you can apply filters and effects to your sound, and the right section is where you have your modulators.
Speaking about modulators, most advanced synths such as Serum and Massive have pretty complex ways of carrying out and routing modulation. But what I love about Circle2 is how easy it is to modulate a parameter and hear how each modulator changes the sound. To modulate a parameter, simply drag the “circle” at the top left of the modulator and place it on an empty circle below a parameter. Hovering the circle over the parameter auditions how the modulator affects the sound.
A beginner producer can design patches quickly with Circle2’s easy-to-navigate interface. In fact, we have a few guides to get you started on creating Circle2 patches within a matter of minutes.
2. It sounds great
Don’t let Circle2’s playful interface fool you. The synth is capable of some unique sounds with the implementation of VPS oscillator wave shapes. Like many of the top-tier synths, Circle2 features a bunch of effects such as distortion, echo, and delay, in addition to unique filters such as a “mouth filter” to enhance your sound.
It also has an amazing selection of wavetables that can create gritty sounds that cut through any mix.
For a deeper look into the sonic possibilities offered by Circle2, check out the video tutorials below:
3. It’s affordable
At Splice, we offer Circle2 on our Rent-to-Own program for $7.99 a month. Rent-to-Own allows you to pay monthly for a plugin or instrument until you own the software outright. Once you own it, you stop paying and get the full license for the plugin.
Circle2 will take about 16 consecutive payments for you to own the plugin outright. With Rent-to-Own, you have the added flexibility of pausing your subscription and resuming where you left off.
If you’re a beginner looking to start dabbling in synthesis, why not give Circle2 a try? You can try it free for 3 days and then start your monthly payments at $7.99 a month.
December 18, 2017
