Korg Volca Series

Korg Volca Series | Reviews
79
SPECS: BEATS
Multi-touch trigger
keyboard/step keys
Analogue synthesis (Kick,
Snare, Hi Tom, Lo Tom,
Closed Hi Hat/Open Hi Hat)
PCM synthesis (Clap,
Claves, Agogo, Crash)
Kick: Click, Pitch, Decay,
Part Level
Snare: Snappy, Pitch,
Decay, Part Level
Tom: Hi Pitch, Lo Pitch,
Decay, Part Level
Hi Hat: Closed Decay, Open
Decay, Grain, Part Level
PCM: Speed, Part Level
Sequencer
Parts: 10, Steps: 16,
Patterns: 8
Connections
Audio Output/Headphones:
stereo mini-jack
Sync
Sync In (1/8” monaural
mini-jack, Maximum input
level: 20V)
Sync Out (1/8” monaural
mini-jack, Maximum output
level: 5V)
MIDI: In
Dimensions
193 x 115 x 45mm
Weight (excluding
batteries)
372g
on the front of each Volca
have a MIDI CC and can be
addressed via a MIDI controller. For
example, you can control fi lter cutoff
(though not resonance) and delay time
on the Keys, the hi-hat ‘grain’, ‘stutter’
and tom decay on the Beats and gate/
slide time and VCO pitches on the
Bass, (though unfortunately not fi lter
cutoff or resonance which I presume is
to keep the fi lter sweeps smooth).
The sequencer on each Volca is
limited to 16 steps, though you can
make longer sequences by using them
as sound modules/sequencing from
your DAW. Real-time recording is
possible on all three (all steps are
auto-quantised except for ‘fl ux’ mode
on the Keys) but only the Beats and
Bass have fully editable step record.
All Volcas can store eight sequences
and although there’s no sequence
chaining, sequence loading from
memory is instant.
Each Volca is housed in a
translucent plastic case (you can see
the inner workings/LEDs fl ashing) with
a metal front panel and they’re
approximately the size of a VHS
cassette, making them perfect for ‘go
anywhere’ production. They can be
battery powered or by a wall-wart,
though no power supplies are included
and currently there’s no Korg solution
to power three together, so factor this
into your budget.
On the outside
The dials are lifted from the Monotron,
with pretty much a dial per function.
Build quality is a big step up –
everything feels tight/sturdy and ready
for some serious abuse! You’ll notice
that some dials are translucent and
some solid. As a rule (some exceptions)
the solid dials’ movements can’t be
sequenced, whereas the translucent
dials can be sequenced and are backlit
red plus fl ash to denote which
parameters are active or recorded in a
‘motion sequence’ (motion sequencing
captures dial movements into the
sequencer on the Keys and Beats). The
tempo dials fl ash in time with the
internal/MIDI-clocked tempo and each
key/sequence step has its own LED too.
These let you know what’s happening at
a glance within complex sequences.
Happily, the LFOs (Bass and Keys) sync
to master tempo/beat divisions/MIDI
and can be re-triggered by note-on
information, except for the triangle
wave in the Volca Bass.
Connectivity on the Volcas is limited
to a shared stereo mini-jack for
headphones/main out, though the audio
signal itself is mono and you’ll need
adaptors to
interface with
¼-inch jack-based
studio gear.
There’s also a din
MIDI input for
triggering from an
external MIDI
device/clock (such
as a DAW or controller) and there’s
Sync in/out which uses 5-volt audio
pulses to sync one Volca to another
(cables provided). Apparently there’s no
limit on how many Volcas you can
chain this way for clock sync but
without a third party MIDI out mod,
there’s no way to build a monster
polysynth (using three Volca Keys for
example) as sync doesn’t transmit
note-on/off info.
This aside, I tested syncing the
sequencer of each Volca to Logic’s (and
my DSI Tempest’s) MIDI clock and
Volca Beats
Based on ‘common
analogue vintage circuits’
(and sounding similar to a
Roland TR606), the Beats
has six analogue and four
PCM sounds.
The kick can be clicky or
deep, the hats cut nicely
and the snare has a woody
tone that can be further
bolstered by layering a
PCM clap, or increasing
‘snap’. Active Step mode
is great for odd time
signatures/variations whilst
Step Jump is fantastic for
live fi lls (hold your fi nger
on any step to loop).
Stutter can also make fi lls
and rolls, gated FX,
delays/reverb and bit-
crushing/pitch shifting and
can be applied globally/
individually then ‘motion
sequenced’. Muting (press
mute+sound) and
changing part volume is
simple, whilst the PCM
sounds have a speed
control that can radically
alter tone.
The only things lacking
are a fi lter and swing.
They’re approximately the size of a
VHS cassette, making them perfect
for ‘go anywhere’ production
Features three VCOs
and a three-track
sequencer with step
editing. Excels at
mono bass/leads and
VCO grouping enables
poly-chords to be
played via one fi nger!
Volca Bass
FMU271.rev_korg.indd 79 9/11/13 3:45 PM