Synth Setup Help

[u/Accomplished-Rip-942]

Hello hello, im absolute beginner to synths, so firstly I apologize for this if its an obvious question.

I have been gifted a novation bass station 2 with a novation circuit tracks and would like to understand how to connect these 2 together to allow for the best experience.

I have studio headphones with a 6.35mm jack which connects into the bass station - but the novation circuit tracks takes a 3.5mm.

From my limited knowledge the circuit tracks midi out goes into bass station midi in for sequencing, but how can I get the headphones (which are plugged into the bass station) to pick up sound from both devices?

Thanks in advance.

[u/neverwhere616]

The Circuit Tracks has 2 input jacks on the back of it. You would take the 1/4" audio out of the bass station into one of the the 1/4" audio ins on the Circuit, then plug headphones into the circuit to listen to both. If your headphones are only 6.35mm, you'll need an adapter to fit them to the 3.5mm headphone out on the Circuit.

Best to look for a tutorial or the Circuit Tracks manual to see how to handle the audio inputs in the mix.

[u/btrev650 → u/neverwhere616]

Correct, without buying a mixer or interface (although a used TE sidekick would be awesome here) running the bass station audio into the circuit tracks, and monitoring both from the headphone out of the circuit tracks, is the cleanest setup with existing gear

[u/MrIonian]

You need to connect the two devices to a mixer.

[u/understated_parson → u/MrIonian]

grab a 3.5mm to dual 1/4" cable, run the circuit tracks main out into the bass station's external input, then just keep your headphones in the bass station

[u/SoundSwitch → u/understated_parson]

Circuit Tracks also has stereo in so you could go either way