- Publisher: Native Instruments
- Product: Circular
- Release: HiDERA
- Version: 1.0.2
- Requirements: Kontakt v8.2.1 or higher
Imagine starting with a single note, a simple chord progression, and watching it effortlessly blossom into a breathtaking, rhythmic soundscape, alive with movement and intricate detail. This is the power of Circular, a new, expressive polyphonic sequencer from Native Instruments, designed to take your musical sketches from inspiration to fully realized cinematic sequences in moments – and it’s available now as a free download.
Circular is more than just an instrument; it’s a dynamic compositional partner. It invites you to explore a universe of sound, build complex, evolving patterns with intuitive ease, and inject an unparalleled level of expression into your music, all while maintaining a creative flow that feels both immediate and deeply rewarding.
The Circular Philosophy: From Sketch to Score in Seconds
At its heart, Circular is designed for speed and depth. It begins with your musical input – be it a sustained chord or a simple melodic line – and an entire sonic world unfolds. What sets Circular apart is its ability to transform static ideas into living, breathing sequences that shift, evolve, and tell a story. This isn’t about laborious programming; it’s about intuitive creation, allowing you to move from a nascent idea to a motion-rich score with remarkable velocity, while still offering the profound control needed to craft something truly unique and personal.
A Universe of Sonic Contrast: The Sounds of Circular
Circular’s sonic palette is a testament to the beauty of contrast – where the soft meets the harsh, the acoustic intertwines with the synthetic, and the familiar dances with the strange. Dive into over 100 meticulously curated experimental sound sources, including:
- Organic & Prepared Instruments: Discover the delicate charm of felted pianos, the intriguing textures of prepared guitars, the ethereal whispers of airy saxophones, and the resonant beauty of bowed ceramics and tuned metals.
- Hybrid & Processed Textures: Explore a vast collection of hybrid synths, processed vocals, and unique intimate object recordings.
- Evocative Atmospheres: From soft, tinkling music boxes to reversed bells and beyond, each sound source is crafted to move, unfold, and evolve across time, providing a rich tapestry for your sequences.
These aren’t static samples; they are starting points for dynamic transformation within Circular’s powerful engine.
The Engine of Evolution: Four Layers of Dynamic Sequencing
The magic of Circular lies in its sophisticated yet approachable sequencing engine. You can layer up to four sound sources simultaneously, with each layer operating as an independent entity, complete with its own:
- Sequence Lane: Craft intricate patterns with per-step control over all synthesis parameters – including the ability to change the sound source itself on any step.
- Effects Chain: Apply a range of high-quality effects to each layer individually.
- Modulation Matrix: Design complex, evolving movements with dedicated modulation for each layer.
This multi-layered independence allows for the creation of dynamic polyrhythms, richly textured performances, and constantly shifting sonic landscapes that would be incredibly complex to achieve through traditional means. Each step on each layer becomes a canvas for real-time modulation of pitch, filter characteristics, and effects, all shaped by your creative touch.
Sculpt, Modulate, and Express in Real Time
Circular empowers you with deep sonic control without ever bogging you down in menus. The interface is designed for a fluid, hands-on experience:
- Per-Step Effects: Apply granular effects, unison, delay, and more directly on a per-step basis, allowing for surgical precision in your sound design.
- Intuitive Drag-and-Draw Modulation: Easily create complex modulation shapes by simply drawing them in, with instant visual feedback that makes sound design feel playful and immediate.
- Polyphonic Aftertouch – Breathe Life into Every Note: Circular fully embraces the expressive power of polyphonic aftertouch. This allows you to imbue every note within your sequence with nuanced, dynamic changes, making your patterns feel tactile, organic, and truly alive from the very first step.
Your Sounds, Reimagined: Seamless User Sample Integration
While Circular comes packed with an inspiring internal library, it also invites you to make it your own. Effortlessly drop in your own audio samples and watch as Circular’s engine works its transformative magic. Whether it’s a whispered vocal line, the raw energy of a field recording, or the delicate pluck of a stringed instrument, your sounds become new building blocks for evolving sequences full of unique texture, rhythm, and motion.
You can add multiple samples at once, with each neatly mapped to one of 128 user slots, ready to be sculpted, sequenced, and modulated into something entirely new and unexpected.
Tactile Synergy: Deep Integration with Kontrol S-Series Keyboards
For an even more integrated and expressive experience, Circular connects seamlessly with Native Instruments’ Kontrol S-Series keyboards. This powerful combination unlocks:
- Expressive Aftertouch Modulation: Leverage the Kontrol S-Series’ sophisticated polyphonic aftertouch to directly modulate sequencing notes and parameters within Circular, adding layers of performance dynamics.
- Intuitive Browse & Control: Easily browse Circular’s sound sources and control its parameters directly from the Kontrol keyboard’s detailed display.
- Enhanced Playability with Light Guide: The Light Guide visually indicates active sequencing lanes, key ranges, and modulation points, providing clear visual feedback that enhances your workflow and performance.
Crafted by Visionaries: The Design Pedigree Behind Circular
The innovation and quality inherent in Circular are no accident. It was designed by the acclaimed Frank Elting, the visionary mind behind Native Instruments’ renowned granular instruments: Straylight, Pharlight, and Ashlight. This project was brought to life in collaboration with the boutique sound design agency The Most Human Colors.
Further enriching Circular’s sonic DNA, Elting partnered with leading sound designers, including Samuel Estes, noted for his exceptional work with Hans Zimmer, and The Solos, the creative force behind compelling trailers for blockbuster productions like Godzilla, Black Panther, and Game of Thrones. This collective expertise ensures that Circular not only functions brilliantly but also sounds extraordinary.
Who is Circular For?
Circular is an invaluable tool for a wide range of music creators:
- Film, TV, and Game Composers: Rapidly create evocative, evolving cues and rhythmic beds that add depth and motion to your scores.
- Electronic Music Producers: Discover unique rhythmic textures, complex melodic patterns, and ambient soundscapes that push creative boundaries.
- Sound Designers: Utilize its experimental sound sources and deep modulation capabilities as a powerful tool for crafting original sonic identities.
- Any Musician or Producer: If you’re looking for an intuitive way to generate inspiring sequences, break creative blocks, and add a touch of cinematic magic to your tracks, Circular is for you.
Begin Your Sonic Evolution Today – For Free!
Step into a new realm of rhythmic and textural creation. Circular offers a unique blend of speed, depth, and expressive power, empowering you to transform the simplest ideas into captivating sonic journeys.
Download Native Instruments Circular for free now and start composing with the sounds of tomorrow!
Version 1.0.2 (Latest) 2025-06-20
- Rename Discrete tag to Chromatic Compatible to align with
- new Scale Menu setup
Version 1.0.1 (Latest) 2025-06-19
- Align footer bar to IJI keyboard
- Click the about screen to close
- Credits page when clicking on instrument logo
- Default values on CTRL click for table lanes
- Help text to solo buttons
- Help text to sound lane and parameter lane
- Sound function menu “Paste with Lane Data”
- Show Tune values in sound lane, adapted color of value
- labels in parameter lane
- Editing improvements parameter lane
- Rename “Indefiniten taa to “Scale Deoendent”
- Scale selector help
- Snapshot ‘Rising Tension’ has a straight feel now
- Change some NKA presets to go inline with new scale
- menu display
- Do not set any values in draw_line when start and end
- steps are equal
- Duration lane shows wrong focus on 17-64
- Fine multistep editing sluggish due to delta value flooring
- Focus step on Parameter lane not correct on steps 17-64
- Focused step in sound lane not properly indicated on steps
- 17-64
- FX parameter remaps for Replika and Freak
- Layer selection on play page did not follow layer selection
- of other pages
- Missing range indicator and color settings on LFO Freq
- knobs
- Note lane octave quantisation is handled in KUI now
- Prevent that snd_ui_sel_step is not selected
- Reduce KSP calls on draw_step
- Sound lane not properly indicating velocity O steps on
- pages 17-64
- Sound lane start indicator was not updated correctly
- SoundStep could set KSP values in the wrong ui_table
- Step select buttons not initialised properly when page 17-
- 64 is selected on init
- The visible sound step could be deselected, which broke
- relative editing of selected steps
- Sound and parameter lane ramp drawing could be out of
- bounds and cause wrong values, Line can be moved with held option key now
