Circa
by Audio Damage · Multi-FX · Six-layer looper
Not rated yet
Circa is a six-layer looping plugin for live performance and sound design, with host, master-loop or free-running sync for each layer.
It has 30 modulation slots, gesture recorders, monome grid and arc support, a built-in mixer with effects and seven stereo outputs, for $79.
Best for: Guitars, Keys & Synths, Vocals, Sound Design. Genres: Ambient & Cinematic, Electronic & EDM.
Keywords: samples & loops, ambience, creative, live performance, sound design, synths, bus processing, clean, destructive, feedback, inspired by, MIDI-controllable, mixing, modulation matrix, steep learning curve, undo/redo, vocals.
What it does
Circa is a six-layer looping plugin from Audio Damage, built to be played like an instrument as much as used as a studio tool. The developer calls it "equal parts workhorse and abstract creative tool", with a nod to ambient looping.
- Six layers: each layer records stereo input and runs on its own or in sync, following the host tempo and bar lines, a master loop, or running free. Each layer has its own undo for destructive edits.
- Recording and triggers: layers can start from the sync grid, from an incoming audio signal or freely, and an internal bus lets Circa record its own output for feedback-style layering.
- Varispeed: clean speed changes, with raised speeds free of aliasing, lowered speeds smoothly band-limited and no zipper noise.
- Touch strips and slicing: strips for speed and position, a slicer with presets of 0, 4, 8 or 16 slices, and a hold-slice function that loops one subdivision.
- Modulation: 30 slots that map MIDI controllers or LFOs to speed, position, level, pan, filter, send levels and slice jumps. The LFOs have seven shapes, from sine and saw to random and random walk.
- Gesture recorders: six recorders capture control moves made on the interface and loop them.
- Mixer, effects and outputs: per-layer filtering, reverb and delay sends, parametric EQ and a compressor, with six assignable stereo layer outputs plus a cue output for monitoring.
- Hardware and files: full monome grid and arc integration, drag-and-drop audio between layers and to the DAW or desktop, and presets shared across all platforms.
A fully working demo with saving disabled is available.
Source: Audio Damage product page
When to use it
Circa is the pick when you want to record and play loops live rather than chop audio that is already playing. Compared with Effectrix2 and Stutter Edit 2, which sequence or stutter the incoming signal, it captures up to six separate layers and lets you re-speed, slice and remix them. It is closer to a hardware multitrack looper than slicers such as Sugar Bytes Looperator. Pick it over Enso, from the same developer, when you need several layers, deep modulation and separate outputs. It has fewer built-in effects than a multi-effect such as Infiltrator 2, so plan to add your own processing on the layer outputs.
- Best for: live looping sets, layered ambient textures, quick multi-take synth recording inside a DAW, and monome-based performance.
- Genres: ambient, experimental, drone and electronic.
- Look elsewhere if: you only need one tape-style loop (Enso is more focused) or want rhythmic glitch effects on a track (Effectrix2 or Stutter Edit 2).
- Tip: in a DAW, the speed and position tabs are the quickest way to work, for example dropping two layers to half speed or slicing and moving a layer.
What producers say
Early reviews see it as a deep, well-designed looper whose main hurdle is its learning curve.
- Audio Plugin Guy rated it 4.2 out of 5, calling it "a powerful, flexible, creative, attractive, and clever looping toolkit" for live, mobile and DAW users, and praised the six layers, the modulation and gesture recording, and the touch-friendly interface.
- Workflow note: the same review found it handy for recording several synth patches quickly without setting up complex routing.
- Criticisms: limited onboard effects, a complexity that can be daunting at first, and less of the hands-on feel on Windows or non-touch screens.
Where to buy
- Audio Damage: $79
Tutorials and reviews
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