KVR Audio

cocoazenith · Post by **cocoazenith** » Tue May 31, 2016 1:39 pm

aMUSEd wrote:I don't get why anyone would get this, it seems so limited in terms of voices (4) and expression, even compared with something like the Yamaha Reface DX which at least has 8 voices and seems a more complete recreation of the original even if it is a bit more expensive:

http://www.juno.co.uk/products/yamaha-r ... Gwod30QC5w

4-voices? It would have been a no-brainer for me.
It only has 3 though...

emef · Post by **emef** » Tue Jun 07, 2016 6:14 pm

got my Volca FM today, this thing is sick, i loves a bit of filthy FM

Daags · Post by **Daags** » Tue Jun 07, 2016 7:37 pm

emef wrote:got my Volca FM today, this thing is sick, i loves a bit of filthy FM

i'm well jell.

post some demos to soundcloud/youtube if you get a chance

Daags · Post by **Daags** » Fri Jun 17, 2016 6:09 pm

the Volca FM is on the front cover of the current Sound on Sound magazine...I read the review at the newsagents.

Some things I remember... has all the params and algos of the dx7, except for portamento and glissando. this is a bit of a bummer, especially since it has a mono mode (three modes are: mono / poly / unison)

what's the point of mono mode without portamento ? i guess 'forcing' incoming midi to play monophonically if it isn't a mono midi composition already. if you're sequencing the volca fm from an external midi source you could perhaps sequence pitchbend to 'fake' portamento, if you are so inclined.

the original dx7 had a split mode .... and the volca fm can load those patches, so it is in effect bitimbral though each sound will play at the same velocity.

regarding velocity, well, the velocity slider controls the velocity of the notes ... and the velocity slider can be midi controlled, so if you're using this unit as a sound module you can still effectively create velocity responsiveness if your sequencer is capable of sequencing CC's as well as note data. I don't recall the review mentioning if the velocity slider is recorded by the internal 'motion sequencer' ... would be great if it did.

i'm not 100% sure I understood it correctly, but from what I gather from the review (and what I remember) - the motion sequencer only records the params from the transparent knobs on the face of the unit ...as is typical of the other volcas. however, considering this unit has a deep FM engine with something approaching 200 available parameters - it's a pity if you can't at least sequence one or two of them, using the same slider(s) that is (are) used for editing the parameters normally. I hope I misunderstood this, but if I didn't it's not a major disappointment ........... at any rate, as a module all the 'internal' params are midi controllable so if you're sequencing it this isn't a problem.

as is common with other korg electribes/volcas, motion data can be recorded without any note data ... so you can use an external sequencer for note data, or just play it live with the built in buttons, while the motion sequencer adds movement/variety. if memory serves me correctly, each pattern can load a unique patch including motion sequencer data ...and you can chain up to 16 patterns together .... which extends nicely the whole trick of having the motion sequencer running while sequencing note data externally or playing notes live.

the unit can store 32 patches ... but there is no midi-out for sysex dumping your own creations ... to dump patches you have to do an audio-dump from the sync-out jack .... so your patch dumps will be saved as audio.... hopefully they will release the SDK, like they did for the Volca Sample, and we'll see some (freebie) editors for better managing our patches that are created or edited on the volca itself.

the included manual isn't supposed to be that great, in terms of programming a digital FM synth. in that respect the reviewer suggests looking up an actual dx7 manual or other material that documents programming FM on a dx7. the included manual does cover what you need to know to operate the unit itself though, and comes with a card detailing the algorithms and - i think - midi mapping

i think that's all the significant stuff I remember ... maybe more will come back to me.

Over all, based on this review my impression is that besides a couple shortcomings (and fingers crossed I misunderstood that one about 'internal' param sequencing), I think it will still offer a lot of fun and significant bang-for-buck. and of course for any volca fans it is still a no-brainer. I won't be cancelling my pre-order based on the shortcomings I wasn't expecting anyway. and of course you never know what a firmware upgrade may bring.

if any of this is alarming or giving you ideas to cancel a pre-order, you should probably double check with the sound on sound review before you do so, as I may have misread something or misremembered.

ymmv.

god bless america.

whyterabbyt · Post by **whyterabbyt** » Fri Jun 17, 2016 6:19 pm

Daags wrote:the original dx7 had a split mode

no it didnt. it had keyboard scaling of operators so you could fudge an approximation of it, but it was monotimbral.

Daags · Post by **Daags** » Fri Jun 17, 2016 6:26 pm

whyterabbyt wrote:
Daags wrote:the original dx7 had a split mode
no it didnt. it had keyboard scaling of operators so you could fudge an approximation of it, but it was monotimbral.

i'm only repeating what I read. fudged approximation or not, according to the reviewer: whatever split/pseudo-split mode was available on the dx7 is also available on the volca fm - with a couple caveats i.e you need to load such a patch on to the volca fm (as opposed to programming one on the volca fm itself), and both sounds respond to the same velocity level.

whyterabbyt · Post by **whyterabbyt** » Fri Jun 17, 2016 6:28 pm

Daags wrote:
whyterabbyt wrote:
Daags wrote:the original dx7 had a split mode
no it didnt. it had keyboard scaling of operators so you could fudge an approximation of it, but it was monotimbral.

i'm only repeating what I read. fudged approximation or not, according to the reviewer: whatever split/pseudo-split mode was available on the dx7 is also available on the volca fm

Yes, Im aware of that, Ive got the magazine. But it wasnt a split mode and the article says as much.

(* that wasnt introduced until the DX7 II)

Daags · Post by **Daags** » Fri Jun 17, 2016 6:41 pm

.... am I misquoting split-mode instead of split-keyboard, or something like that ? ... because the article definitely references the original having some kind of split ability, and playing two different sounds at once. am i actually misrepresenting the function of the volca fm, or is this just a quick exercise in pedantry on your part ? i don't recall him alluding to or outright stating that the original's split-* feature was only a fudge, approximation, or pseudo implimentation. memory is a funny thing though.

if it matters this much to you to get the terminology right, it might be best to simply quote the sentence or two the reviewer devoted to this topic, since you have the magazine.

whyterabbyt · Post by **whyterabbyt** » Fri Jun 17, 2016 9:22 pm

Daags wrote:. ... because the article definitely references the original having some kind of split ability, and playing two different sounds at once. am i actually misrepresenting the function of the volca fm, or is this just a quick exercise in pedantry on your part ?

It is what I said it is; the DX7 wasn't actually bitimbral, and didnt have a split mode; patches which achieved two separate sounds on the DX7 werent due to a split keyboard facility intrinsic to the synth, but the result of the keyboard scaling in a given patch to approximate that. It wont work for patches where that scaling can't be applied the same way for whatever reason. Its quite as simple as that.

The article did make clear it was a result of key-scaling, which is a different thing, and they're not interchangeable.

Ive made my clarification; one that should ensure people wont assume the Volca FM can do something it cant. If you've got an issue with that, tough.

If it matters this much to you to get the terminology right, it might be best to simply quote the sentence or two the reviewer devoted to this topic, since you have the magazine.

If it did, I would have. So I guess your assumptions need recalibrated.

Numanoid · Post by **Numanoid** » Fri Jun 17, 2016 9:26 pm

Daags · Post by **Daags** » Fri Jun 17, 2016 9:57 pm

whyterabbyt wrote:
Daags wrote:. ... because the article definitely references the original having some kind of split ability, and playing two different sounds at once. am i actually misrepresenting the function of the volca fm, or is this just a quick exercise in pedantry on your part ?
It is what I said it is; the DX7 wasn't actually bitimbral, and didnt have a split mode; patches which achieved two separate sounds on the DX7 werent due to a split keyboard facility intrinsic to the synth, but the result of the keyboard scaling in a given patch to approximate that. It wont work for patches where that scaling can't be applied the same way for whatever reason. Its quite as simple as that.

The article did make clear it was a result of key-scaling, which is a different thing, and they're not interchangeable.

Ive made my clarification; one that should ensure people wont assume the Volca FM can do something it cant. If you've got an issue with that, tough.

If it matters this much to you to get the terminology right, it might be best to simply quote the sentence or two the reviewer devoted to this topic, since you have the magazine.
If it did, I would have. So I guess your assumptions need recalibrated.

Deftly side stepping the opportunity to quote the reviewer, lest you have to acknowledge he used split terminology.

There's a distinction to be made between correction and pedantry, and it's clear which side of that divide you prefer to dwell.

Daags · Post by **Daags** » Fri Jun 17, 2016 10:08 pm

Numanoid wrote:

Save your popcorn. I am familiar enough with this pockmarked neckbeard to give him a wide berth when he's desperate for online validation by way of pedantic/semantic masturbation.

Though it is possible I've already given him enough to bust his proverbial nut, so maybe you'll need your popcorn after all... Depending on what passes for entertainment in Germany on a Friday night.

hoolak · Post by **hoolak** » Sat Jun 18, 2016 7:07 am

And now for a brief interlude...

Loving this unit!

hoolak · Post by **hoolak** » Sat Jun 25, 2016 4:17 pm

Welcome to the fantasy zone. Get ready!

Daags · Post by **Daags** » Tue Jun 28, 2016 7:35 pm

got my shipping confirmation today, with any luck it arrives by Friday. woop.

and here's a couple vidjas to celebrate .... korg volca doing dub techno chords ... ok, arguably its the space echo imparting most of the dub techno pizzazz, nevertheless it sounds nice and authentic driven by the volca fm

an obligatory 'unboxing' video ... but the dude goes through the presets

there's many videos of Korg Volca FM online now, especially jam sessions featuring other Volca's and various other synths/fx/drum machines.

Oh yes, and referring back to this hair-splitting controversy:

Daags wrote:the original dx7 had a split mode .... and the volca fm can load those patches, so it is in effect bitimbral though each sound will play at the same velocity.

Paul Nalge for SoundOnSound Magazine, Volca FM review wrote:I mentioned that all DX7 patches loaded effortlessly, but it's worth emphasising that this even applies to those that feature split keyboards (created via the DX's key-scaling). Thanks to the wonders of Yamaha's original spec, your Volca FM can therefore play two sounds at once. It's darn cool, even given the shared velocity.

that is the sum total of everything that was said on this feature, in the review I was paraphrasing from memory. The same review captain neckbeard had a copy of while exercising his right to be a bellend.

I think that should indicate pretty clearly what captain neckbeard is all about.

Korg Volca FM ... [details about 'smart' midi cable to solve MIDI Velocity issue inside]