Korg volca - 3 small analog groove boxes

[mztk]

what use is global delay on a beatbox!? indiv send, no?
i was thinking this with the ER1, and also:shame not more outs.

I remember getting good use out of the ER1's delay but I honestly can't remember how. In any case, that's a pretty dumb limitation to have carry on for so long. :-/

would you trade your mint 606 for a volcabeats?

Most likely, if for no other reason than the motion sequencing.

must be the 'on trigger' change mode for the motion thing. like i said,
a strange approach. pretty effective when you change patterns and get
total scene change.

[gunnare]

I tested the Volca Keys at Just Musik while beeing on holiday in Berlin. I set it up with a masterkeyboard. I was very surprised that the envelope was always sent to VCA, and the filter had a dedicated env level knob. And velocity was sent to VCA. In almost all sounds I do I set the VCA envelope quite flat, and let the filter envelope do the work. I think that is the most common way to program a sound. (exept for string sounds) When you set the filter with a long attack, you will not hear the whole sweep, just the ending, since the only envelope always controls VCA.

On the Monotribe there is a switch to set the VCA envelope flat (10V) .

I think this is a design flaw that makes the single envelope not so useful. I checked the Volca Keys manual, and there is no way to change this, it seems to be hard wired. But maybe it can be modded ?

The sound: Very good filter. Some phase problems with the 3 oscillators when setting the detuning at minimum, and very difficult to find the sweet-spot in with the detune knob since it has large range, and is not exp scaled.

I even tried the MS20. It is perfect, I found no problems with it, it just sounds good. It even crossfades between 10V and envelope when you raise the envelope amount knob for each of the filters. And dedicated env knob for both filters gives you better control than you have on the Yamaha CS80. The MS20 is not a beginners synth: Every time I tried it after another person had played it the settings were totally off, and sounded like the synth was broken. It happens when you try all the knobs and dont know what you are doing. I can predict many ms20 for sale because of this. But right now it seems that Korg can not produce enough MS20s. They are expected in february 2014 to Norway

All the best
gunnare

[Uncle E]

Agreed on the Volca Keys. I think they should have called it Volca Synth or Volca Bleeps because it's great for weird, modular-esque synth noises and sequenced lines but not for any keys or pad sounds I would normally use an analog poly synth for. As a techno machine, it's just about as good as it gets and I could see someone like The Advent using it to great effect.

The Volca Bass is a bit easier to grasp and it just flat out sounds great for both basses and leads. I think it's a must-have for just about anyone.

[KungKrille]

But right now it seems that Korg can not produce enough MS20s. They are expected in february 2014 to Norway

Sound1.com

[Kriminal]

Anyone got the drum machine and 303 emu..?
Any good or just toys...?

[Uncle E]

Anyone got the drum machine and 303 emu..?
Any good or just toys...?

The Volca Bass is a surprisingly good all-around bass and lead synth. It may not replace a Sub Phatty but it's got a lot more vibe than most softsynths, and it overdrives hard when resonance is at 75%. The Volca Beats has killer kick, tom, and hihat sounds, and the snare and clap are good for giving the kick some punch.

Here are some videos I made to demonstrate the ranges of sounds possible:

[gunnare]

Oh, I know why they had to hardwire the envelope to the VCA: It is in order to get release. But it would be much better if the VCA had 10 volts while the key is held, and then goes into the same release shape as the VCF. That would be perfect. The Keys really does not work for sounds with slow attack.

There are many things with the Volca Keys that I like: I love that it has built in delay. I never found the level setting for the delay, but it was OK by default, so no problem. And I love all the strange noises from the ring mod. And I like that you can set octaves and fifths just by turning a knob. But I think the Volca Bass will display semitones on the display, so that would work ok too.

Often when we implement unison on softsynths we set the unison detuning non linear from voice to voice. How we do it is a secret. I suspect that the Volca Keys has linear detuning between the oscillators, and that is why there can be some phase problems.

When I tried the Volca Bass it only played osc1 from the external keyboard. Anyone know how to switch on osc2 and osc3? So I only heard osc1 in the shop. And anyone knows if the envolpe in Volca Bass is hardwired to VCA too? (Edit: I read the manual, and there is a function to switch off the VCA envelope, so that it is only sent to VCF).

Thanks, I found out that sound1 has some MS20s here in Norway. My local dealer says Christmas, and Korg Norway says february. But there are a few units around in some shops.

All the best
gunnare

[Kriminal]

Anyone got the drum machine and 303 emu..?
Any good or just toys...?

The Volca Bass is a surprisingly good all-around bass and lead synth. It may not replace a Sub Phatty but it's got a lot more vibe than most softsynths, and it overdrives hard when resonance is at 75%. The Volca Beats has killer kick, tom, and hihat sounds, and the snare and clap are good for giving the kick some punch.

Here are some videos I made to demonstrate the ranges of sounds possible:

Thanks, will check the vids tomorrow.

[Uncle E]

Oh, I know why they had to hardwire the envelope to the VCA: It is in order to get release.

Good observation!

But I think the Volca Bass will display semitones on the display, so that would work ok too.

You can play chords and detune when you do that on the Volca Keys.

Anyone know how to switch on osc2 and osc3?

You can see how to do it at :05-:10 of my video.

(Edit: I read the manual, and there is a function to switch off the VCA envelope, so that it is only sent to VCF).

Does that go for the Volca Keys, as well?

Thanks, I found out that sound1 has some MS20s here in Norway. My local dealer says Christmas, and Korg Norway says february.

God Jul!

[gunnare]

Yes, checked the Volca Bass video, and see that you hold the "function" button , while using the first 3 ribbon notes to switch the 3 osc off/on.

I just checked: Only on the Volca Bass you can switch off/on VCA envelope. And for the envelope you can switch off/on the sustain stage, so that the envelope works as a attack release envelope (no decay).

Only on the Volca Keys you can set the LFO to "trigger sync" so that the LFO will be restarted at note on. Then you can use the LFO as a VCF envelope. I dont know how useful it is , since I set the decay time longer than the attack in most of my sounds.

The Volca Bass has LFO square and triangle, The Volca Keys LFO has Saw, triangle and square. I wish I had tested that in the store when I played the Volca Keys. A LFO saw is perfect when using the LFO as VCF envelope: Zero attack, just decay.

All the best
gunnare

[Johnny!]

I finally laid my hands on Volca Bass - it's my first hardware synth and I love it.

One thing though - I have an AC adapter that has just the right parameters for this little machine, but the plug is too large - I'd like to replace it with smaller one, but I can't find any info on what size(s) should the plug be? I think it should be 5,0mm x 2,1mm but I would like to make sure before trying anything. I'd much rather just fix that (for about 2€), than shell out ton of cash for original waaaay overpriced Korg AC adapter.

[Uncle E]

1.7mm

btw, I'm getting custom power supplies with 3 ends made for these.

[Johnny!]

I might get the Volca Beats later, but for now just one end will be nough. So you're sure it's 5,0x1,7mm ?

[Uncle E]

I'm sure it's 1.7mm. I don't remember the length.

[Johnny!]

yeah it's not too deep so it shouldn't be a problem. thanks then, now I have to sort that plug out (like they couldn't go with a common size...) otherwise I'm gonna spend all my money on batteries

ed: ok just bought a cable with 4,8x1,7mm plug from ASUS Eee PC power adaptor, I'll report how it fits when I'll receive the package