Ableton has now released the Move, a portable groovebox designed for musicians who want to create wherever inspiration strikes. With built-in sounds, effects, a microphone, and a battery that lasts up to four hours, Move is a powerful standalone device for on-the-go music production. Its tight integration with Ableton Live makes it a great companion for refining ideas later in the studio. But how does it stack up against the Novation Circuit Tracks, another popular portable groove box?

Updated for Move firmware v1.2!

Even though the Ableton Move is currently more expensive than a Novation Circuit Tracks (450 euros vs 350 euros or dollars), I think a lot of people are wondering what the strengths of these two grooveboxes are, as they look very similar.

I'll try to update this article as soon as I have more information, or as updates become available.

Ableton Move will certainly be updated regularly as it shares much of the code used for the 'Ableton Note' iOS/iPadOS App. Under the hood, Ableton Move runs on a Raspberry PI 4 compute module, which suggests a potential for interesting development.

For now, these two groobveboxes share the same general characteristics:

• Flexible Tracks: Both models provide flexible tracks that can play samples or synths.
• Step Sequencer: Both feature a step sequencer with an off-grid mode for precise sequencing control and automation recording.
• Built-In Audio Effects: Enhance your sound with a range of integrated audio effects.
• RGB Pads: Play expressively with 32 backlit, velocity-sensitive RGB pads.
• Portable Power: Both models are battery-powered, offering up to 4 hours of use, making them perfect for musicians who need portability and freedom to create on the go.
• MIDI and Audio Connectivity: Both devices allow for integration with other hardware via MIDI and audio inputs/outputs, making them flexible for live performance or hybrid setups with other instruments and gear.
• Hands-On Controls: Both devices emphasize tactile control with pads and knobs for playing beats and shaping sounds, encouraging a more intuitive, performance-based workflow.
• Easy patterns transposition to other scales, and selectable scales for melodic tracks

• Track Mixer with global FX

  

Novation Circuit Tracks strengths

• 8 fixed tracks with 2 polyphonic Synth tracks with the Nova engine (6 analog-like voices), 2 polyphonic MIDI tracks for external gear (6 voices), as well as 4 drum sample monophonic tracks
• All Nova Engine parameters can be modified by connecting the Circuit via USB to a PC.
• External audio input to mix and process with effects from the Circuit.
• 2 dedicated MIDI tracks for external synths, capable of sending notes and CC automation.
• Custom MIDI CCs
• Master FX: Shape your overall sound with Delay, Reverb, Side Chain master FX sends, Reverb, and a DJ-style master filter (Low pass/High pass)
• Full size 5-pin MIDI IN, OUT, THRU and analog sync out (vs one USB-A MIDI on the Move)
• Polyrhythm: Explore intricate rhythms and freely set the start and end steps of patterns.
• Up to 256 steps patterns with pattern chaining (using 8 clips of 32 steps)

• up to 64 samples on each drum tracks

  

Ableton Move advantages

• Only 4 tracks, but flexible. You can choose between Drum/Melodic sampler and Melodic synth tracks
• Two synth engines can be used on the Melodic tracks: Drift synth engine and Wavetable. The Wavetable synth engine offers more modern synth sounds. But currently you cannot modify all synth parameters
• A more advanced sampler with support for 16 sub-slices and resampling, more filter types, and nine available playback effects: Stretch, Loop, Pitch Env, Punch, 8-Bit, FM, Ring Mod, Sub Osc, and Noise.
• Record samples directly into the Ableton Move with auto-start
• Up to 4 minutes per sample (vs a 3 minutes and 16 sec limit for ALL samples on the Circuit)
• 2 Global FX, plus 2 FX on each track, which you can choose from Channel EQ, Chorus-Ensemble, Delay, Dynamics — a combined compressor and EQ effect, Phaser-Flanger, Redux, Reverbs and Saturator
• WiFi connectivity that allows: wireless file transfer, projects synchronization with Ableton Live and Ableton Note, OTA updates, AirDrop sharing.
• Can be a dedicated control surface for Live on PC.
• 16 bars pattern limit per clip

• Direct export of the audio on the Move. For the Circuit Tracks, you'll need an external recorder.

  

Why would you choose the Circuit Tracks?

You will prefer the Novation Circuit Tracks:

• if you have external hardware synths that you would like to sequence via the Circuit and mix live with the Circuit generated sounds and effects. The Circuit Tracks has better MIDI and Analog clock sync options, with analog sync ports and three 5 pins MIDI ports.
• if you like sequencers with a Probability and Mutation function to create more interesting sequences (plus PolyRhythms or PolyMeters)
• if you feel that 8 tracks are better than 4.

Why would you choose the Ableton Move?

You will choose the Ableton Move:

• if you want to directly sample external instruments, and have more options for sound sculpting and resampling. The Move is really better as a sampler than the Circuit Tracks (and also the Circuit Rhythm)
• if you already use Ableton Live and want to use Move as an inspiring tool on the move, to finish your projects on the PC
• for the deeper sound library: Move comes preloaded with over 1500 sounds, presets, and drum hits, alongside collaborations with notable sound designers like BNYX and DECAP.

My preferred

It's quite difficult to choose from the 2 in the end because they have big limitations depending on how you're going to integrate them into your studio.

For example, the Circuit tracks will fit much better into a DAW-Less environment with your existing synths. It's also more suitable for playing live. The 2 Nova synths are fairly classic in terms of sound, but you can edit all their parameters via USB.

On the other hand, Ableton Move will integrate perfectly into the Ableton Live ecosystem, but currently, MIDI connectivity is rather limited and/or buggy. The USB-A Midi port can be only configured as IN-only or OUT-only. On the other hand, the Move sampler is much more powerful than the Circuit sampler. The synth engines are not fully editable at the moment, but they may be, via Ableton on PC in a future update.

And don't forget that in the versatile and portable 4-track category, with an excellent sampler and a huge sound library, you also have Roland's MC-101!

If you want to support my blog, you can buy them using the affiliate links below 👍

• Ableton Move on Amazon ⭐
• Novation Circuit Tracks on Amazon ⭐
• Novation Circuit Tracks ⭐

Feel free to comment below if you have questions about these cool grooveboxes 😊