Loving mine. Beware that it's a total gateway drug though! You'll soon want more Volcas and other synths as you go down the rabbithole...
@GB3770
5 жыл бұрын
i mix synths with sodium bicarb in the microwave and smoke them - someone help me!
@hihan196
5 жыл бұрын
exactamente es
@daft9097
5 жыл бұрын
currently there, im fucking in love with the volca sample, not using my mpc500 anymore lol
@eljohncarajo
5 жыл бұрын
I'm not using my laptop, guitar and bass anymore since I don't remember when, but I'm happy.
@TheSheepshaver
4 жыл бұрын
Just got my 7th ! Gotta catch em all!!!!
@stack0413
9 жыл бұрын
One of the best reviews I've cam e across so far, I'm a guitar player and just started to spread my wings and this is my first synth. I'm happy with the purchase and haven't played my guitar in over a month, I think I should pick it back up before I lose my calices!
@stack0413
8 жыл бұрын
+stack0413 ST@X13 @SoundCloud
@SonicBodhi1
7 жыл бұрын
spent so much time playing music you forgot to study spelling and grammar in school! LoL!
@delta-9969
7 жыл бұрын
Yeah, takes the time to add some cunty remark to a 2 year old comment.
@rexterrocks
3 жыл бұрын
@@SonicBodhi1 That was rather callous
@freezerfawn
Жыл бұрын
@@SonicBodhi1 ass
@LandonBalk
7 жыл бұрын
Nick, I appreciate that you actually play something nice and melodic. Many other synth demo/reviews (especially the manufacturers) are people just jerking around with uninteresting sequences and saying all the great things it can do. I don't care of all the cool things it can do if I don't know how I can use it with the music I create.
@ilovemyhonda250ex
7 жыл бұрын
Where else can you get a 3 voice poly analog for $150? This thing is excellent.
@mickypoo4622
5 жыл бұрын
Just got mine and about to have some fun playing with it. Thanks for the great review as it was most helpful and influential in making my decision to buy one. You really know your stuff, clearly explain the features and give great constructive criticism, all of which is very informative and refreshing. Please keep up the good work.
@shug6009
8 жыл бұрын
Hey Nick, was just watching your reviews of the Monotron Delay/Duo and Monotribe. The analogue synth industry (Volcas not the best example) and your channel have both come a long way in the last 5 years. Not missing the goatee at all!
@gnarlysoundscapes7210
6 жыл бұрын
Definitely the best of the Volcas. I even like it's sound more than a lot of really expensive synths. Love the gritty old school feel of it... perfect for ambient soundscapes. Having built in delay is a huge bonus too... the average delay pedal costs as much as the Volca Keys itself.
@gnarlysoundscapes7210
6 жыл бұрын
The Volca Keys really is an amazing little synth. I play it every day and I'm still finding new sounds it can create. It can be a smooth polysynth, a bassy monosynth, and if you have a sampler it can even provide your analog drum sounds. Love it.
@sonicstate
11 жыл бұрын
No, its not. Analog filters do not generally step like that, they have a smoother slope to them, the stepping is due to the lack of resolution of the control knob. This is because of two things - the MIDI controller is only 128 steps AND Korg have not done anything with the interpolation to make it smoother. Unsurprising really considering the cost, but that is why.
@rayderrich
2 жыл бұрын
It took me 9 years after this video to actually buy a Volca Keys... but hey the fun is still there!
@Athlor1
11 жыл бұрын
This review was worth the wait. It hit the points I was wondering about and brought up a few issues to ponder. Excellent.
@stefangrudev8742
10 жыл бұрын
I like, I love and I adore your SonicLab reviews of synthesizers and other things. I watch them very active, very often and completely all reviews. And I watch them some of them several times. SonicLab reviews is my favorite. Wonderful!!!
@turbotimthree
10 жыл бұрын
to me, it's about the unique features. automation is very cool. you can really do things with these that you can't do with anything else. great for creativity. plus when the power went out the other day I hardly even noticed. also I like the stepped sound to the filter when the res. is high. people usually complain about this but I use it to my advantage, you can play melodies with the filter and sounds different than everything else out there. thank you korg.
@SjN7HETIK
7 жыл бұрын
not unique though... Almost all korg products have that automation thing, the older one too. As parameter locking in ALL the Elektron machines... So not only Korg ;)
@plentas
9 жыл бұрын
I would say these three reviews (beats, bass and keys) are the best and most informative of all that I've stumbled uppon on youtube! Thanks!
@simone3989
11 жыл бұрын
Sorry, I have a quest. Do you think that with keys ,beats and bass is possible to make sounds like daft punk? I mean old daft punk like in homework and in discovery. Another thing. Volca keys might be used to play elettronic-ambient? Or there are only dance sounds? (I think like mmoths-THNX. There is this music on youtube) thanks! (Ps I hope is possible to use not a lot the pc hahah)
@nobel11
10 жыл бұрын
I think it would be easier to do classic Daft Punk with the Volca series. But you'd need some kind of sampler, too, as the old Daft Punk stuff was very sample heavy. As for MMOTHS, you might make it work, but you'd need to do a lot of post-production to get that beautiful shimmery sound they have.
@ThePsikore
6 жыл бұрын
Alessandro Simone the TB-3 by Roland has some Daft Punk sounds, i.m.o.
@spade2heart
10 жыл бұрын
Just curious, what was the signal during the 6:58-7:03 marks?
@crousticroc
11 жыл бұрын
The filter has more than a little bit of stepping IMO
@annother3350
4 жыл бұрын
They only need to put a tiny amount of lag on that. That would only cost them a few pennies (or yen or whatever)
@jgmusicman2281
4 жыл бұрын
I don't mind stepping in lots of cases. Sometimes it can sound cool
@rodmorrison47
3 жыл бұрын
Yeah, but it screams.
@jasoncorganbrown
11 жыл бұрын
Does it record digital audio of your playing or is it recording performance data, then triggering the oscillators on playback?
@KMHoran
10 жыл бұрын
Slight mistake in the review: the motion controls can't be applied to the VCF Peak knob or the tempo knob. All the other white/transparent knobs can have motion control applied to them. One very positive thing to note is that the it's actually possible to play the keys on the device, unlike that sadistically tiny strip that comes on the Monotribe.
@fustavgromm_1
8 жыл бұрын
i just tryed thebfkux mode but my chords results "chopped" or broken when sounds during reproduction. Why? probably my fault?
@fustavgromm_1
8 жыл бұрын
the flux mode. sorry
@thefishdog
11 жыл бұрын
I purchased the volca keys and hated it on my first listen of it. Its growing on me as i play with it and learn its features. The way its designed with the sync makes you want all 3. I have now ordered the bass and beats will be no doubt on the the way soon. All i can really say is you get what you pay for. its very good for price but dont expect a awesome sounding analog. With tweaking and change of EQ through a mixer , external fx it can sound sweet.
@ShadowPilot
8 жыл бұрын
For the price, this thing appears quite epic.
@AdamSchneiderMusic
11 жыл бұрын
Great review Nick. Given all the different features and louder noise level of the Volca Keys, would you choose the Keys or the Bass if you were to only get one?
@technodrone313
7 жыл бұрын
if you are watching this and still dont own one of these things, go out and buy it. you wont regret. the keys has been a solid performer in my studio.
@RLreedyProductions
11 жыл бұрын
The sounds you made in the outro of this video are freaking awesome!
@eddygalera3706
8 жыл бұрын
THANK YOU NICK
@TheChilledHamster
8 жыл бұрын
Is there any way to get the sound quality a bit higher/better by connecting the volka keys to a DAW? (logic pro x or ableton live)
@MrTrollinglol
8 жыл бұрын
This is probably already going into a DAW, the quality won't really improve but the grittiness is kind of the staple sound of Korg's lower-end synths (some people like it, myself included), either you like it or you don't
@Alchemeleon
11 жыл бұрын
Yo mate do you have a link by any chance? A name or something to make it easier to find? Not lazy, just hopin to avoid scouring for hours haha. Thanks!
@lwispe
11 жыл бұрын
I wasn't too convinced of its actual usefulness until you showed the tempo division feature! I'm going to try and sync it to my EMX-1 to add a few chords here and there. Thanks for yet another awesome in-depth review. PS I read somewhere the filter is steppier on the Keys due to it being digitally controlled (for automation recording) unlike the Bass.
@aikighost
11 жыл бұрын
Very tempted to buy a couple of these to sync with my analog 4.
@tomadams4053
10 жыл бұрын
Hello, thanks for the great review. I was wondering how you played it through your separate keyboard. I have a Novation MiniNova with Midi In and Out. Would that work? Thanks. Tom
@fjfrancois
10 жыл бұрын
Wow Tom Adams you have to much Ego Thanks Tom
@Synthematix
10 жыл бұрын
Fj Francois lol
@garygluebag
10 жыл бұрын
Sounds nice on the video. Im not too sure bout the filter stepping. I have volca bass, roland tr8, electribe em1, and a roland sh101 for playing live acid house/detroit techno. What are peoples genuine views on the keys?
@cozmiucc
9 жыл бұрын
my 2 cents on the volca series. i played with the beats. the kick is really good. not too happy about the snare and the hats are ok i guess, more on the lo-fi end of things. i found the sequencer to be limited for me, but maybe i dream too much about mpcs. bottom line the kick is great. volca bass is the best sounding of the bunch. not that much noise, great filter, brilliant subs, really nice as a monophonic synth. no gain control over different oscilators though. if you pitch it up it is nothing like the 303. also, no sine wave oscilator?! bummer. some say it sounds distorted with the peak up, but synthetis IS distortion so... have fun. the volca keys is somehow the hardest to immediately love. not too musical or playable at fiirst tests. the filter is steppy and restarts when different new notes are played. it is noisy and glitchy. BUT. It has a very nice sequencer, the best of the volcas. really good to morph the same sequences over and over and over. ironically, this might be the next 303, and not the volca bass, because it was sent on the market to do something - you know... keys. and, imho, it s not that good at this. but, on its own, without an external midi controller, its glitches and artefacts can be sequenced really well into something new. if i had to choose. bass for subs and little melodies. keys for indulgent knob turning and time away from the computer. long story short. volca bass - instant gratification. volca keys - a grower
@Allomerus
7 жыл бұрын
Excellent Review as always. I've got one coming in the post.... Thanks!
@zwete
11 жыл бұрын
Does all voices have individual filters and modulation sources?
@cygnusvideo
11 жыл бұрын
Does the other synths (bass/drums) have anything similar to the tempo 1/1 - 1/4 division? When you are using a 1/4 tempo division can you switch patterns ? Do patterns saved with tempo divide mode save with theiir respective tempo divisions?
@MrVitalic85
9 жыл бұрын
To get rid of the hiss, bypass the delay witch a switch.
@KahroSynetic
6 жыл бұрын
MrVitalic85 how ? :o
@Casious_Productions
10 жыл бұрын
No noise generator on this one? I mean..if i just wants to use it as an effect sound unit..to make breezing winds an suchs?
@Braunschweiger1984
11 жыл бұрын
Great review as always! I want all three volcas. Because of Nick and Sonic State I have bought Moog, Korg and Dave Smith synths. I've also avoided buying equipment as well.
@Chronovengers
11 жыл бұрын
Very important question (for me)! If I wanted one volca just as a analog synth module for my DAW and not for live performances which do I want? Bass or keys? Which has the bigger range use in studio work?
@woodswalker88
5 жыл бұрын
Can you transpose the key of a sequence in realtime? I have an IK UNO which is great but I don't think it can transpose.
@SendyTheEndless
10 жыл бұрын
Just a note about waveforms, the oscillator puts out a sawtooth wave, except in the ringmod modes. If you go into ringmod poly and play single notes, you'll get a square wave. Hardly earth-shattering, but it's a nice feature.
@weirdskyreallyweird.5519
5 жыл бұрын
Seems like this might be my first synthesizer
@Omni-Kriss
5 жыл бұрын
Really informative, man.. thank you for making these videos, your knowledge helps a lot of people, seriously, thanks you very much. You are the best!
@PocketUnv
11 жыл бұрын
I genuinely need all three of these.
@Chronovengers
11 жыл бұрын
According to the specs don't you get a simple square wave with a single note in poly ring mode?
@RMGWT77
11 жыл бұрын
So is it necessary to have the Volca beats if you want to create a sequence? I see this, and the bass have "Step" functions, but I'm not sure if they can sequence without the beats...if so, then that's great!!!
@Driftless91
11 жыл бұрын
Thanks for all your reviews Nick. I watch them all the time. Going to be reviewing the Bass Station 2 soon by chance? Cheers
@g0merp1le
11 жыл бұрын
Are the volcas in stereo? or just mono? And could you do a video of all three of them playing together to show the range of sounds that can be created together? (go on, you know you want to spend half an hour noodling!)
@L33M49
8 жыл бұрын
which one is the best one to buy? and whats the most popular one for making techno sounds the bass beats or keys?
@JackTheDeergal
8 жыл бұрын
The volca sample is well-rounded
@coleford6197
8 жыл бұрын
Volca Bass by a long shot
@RestaurantMariaMaria
11 жыл бұрын
that little set up is badass
@garcezdocarmo
11 жыл бұрын
How come there's step on the cutoff levels? Exactly which components are analog on the Volca?
@MinimalWave1982
11 жыл бұрын
i love this dude, its so pleasing to listen to his reviews,
@MarctheDarc
11 жыл бұрын
Excellent end to a fine series of reviews. Like how you rounded up some general notes, very thorough. Rather strange (and disappointing) how it's noisier than the 2 others, but still doesn't sound anywhere near as bad as the monotrons, so still a very tempting proposition. Also disappointing with the filter, as the filter on the bass sounds very sweet in your review of that. Btw, any1 know, is it confirmed that the delay is analogue? I believe the monotron delay was only "analogue style". GJ!
@TheBearkat27
9 жыл бұрын
great vid got a lot of info, missed if he explained what the LFO trigger sync function did. I'd watch it again im just quite busy if anyone would explain that would be most rad.
@TheBearkat27
9 жыл бұрын
AYE found my answer so ill just post here in case anyone is equally as clueless as myself. The LFO trigger sync function when turned on restarts the sweep of your LFO with each new note you play pretty groovy
@tadhgbrennan2482
7 жыл бұрын
goin to buy one of these and i was wondering if i should buy a midi controller with it or is it ok on its own... i just plan on having some fun with it
@brianque9892
7 жыл бұрын
Tadhg Brennan The keys are fun to play but a bit finnicky.. especially for chords, takes a bit of practice not to hit wrong notes on occasions. A controller definately recommended. The sequencer is ace though!
@dlinnoedlinnoe
3 жыл бұрын
Year 2020 and I'm watching this review (because sonicstate reviews are really really the best!) hunting for some (additional) cheap (
@lofiant81
10 жыл бұрын
can i connect my volca keys to my micro korg with a single midi lead or is there more to it ???
@OllyV
10 жыл бұрын
Yes, one single MIDI lead. The Volca only has MIDI in, so it will only accept MIDI clock data, not send it.
@riesgojavier
8 жыл бұрын
How on earth did you get it to be so NOT noisy? That's almost the only thing that mine makes. Noise is so prominent I rarely even use it.
@coleford6197
8 жыл бұрын
Is it too late to send it back?
@murph9935
11 жыл бұрын
6:21 There's a reason for that. When in either of the ring mod modes, the oscillators output square waves.
@Systemist
11 жыл бұрын
Motion recording delay time adjustments to make a chorus is such a good idea! Could do the same with detune in tandem maybe too for even thicker effects. Damn it I can't wait for these boxes!
@EthrealSlumber-fr9xi
2 ай бұрын
where are the 3 ocilators, can you make one a sine one a triangle and one saw wave?
@dianamiino7391
2 жыл бұрын
I have a volca keys and I love it. It's really a minimal rig, by the way it's capable of surprisingly subtle shades. Noisy, yes, a little. Not a problem, it's too much fun for the buck.
@H4NDCRAFTED
11 жыл бұрын
Wow that sounded nice and big at the end there. I really like the rustic delays, if it is like the one on the monotron I will love it!
@jasoncorganbrown
11 жыл бұрын
Only a matter of time until we have a "mini" poly 6! Congrats Korg on enhancing you analog image this year.
@dinogoldie9716
8 жыл бұрын
Can you play each of the KVK's 3 oscillators separately ala the Volca Bass?
@cygnusvideo
11 жыл бұрын
Nick you are awesome. Thanks for doing all of these great vids, keep it up!
@abrokenframe82
10 жыл бұрын
Is it possible to have a midi keyboard connected to volca keys, volca beats and korg monotribe and then control them all via midi? or connect midi keyboard to volca keys and monotribe and control the monotribe via midi?
@F-Andre
10 жыл бұрын
no monotribe has no midi in and volcas have no midi or cv out. volca has a midi out an the circuit board but not in normal state
@abrokenframe82
10 жыл бұрын
***** thanks for the info Fabian. That's a real shame. Think it would be a good combo to have monotribe used as another sound source with the volca especially as the volca has no noise source.
@KMHoran
10 жыл бұрын
Amazing Machines makes a really easy mod kit for the Monotribe that gives it both MIDI in and MIDI out. There's even a review of it by Nick Batt. Search around for Miditribe and you'll find it. I installed it on my Monotribe and would consider it a mandatory upgrade :) I haven't gotten around to connecting the Miditribe to the Volca Keys yet...
@abrokenframe82
10 жыл бұрын
Kevin von Heymann-Horan Thanks for the info Kevin. I will look into that. The monotribe seems a flexible machine considering its small size.
@jamiedyson8446
8 жыл бұрын
hey, im tying to connect my axion 25 mk2 to my volca keys via a Dc 9v adapter without a computer. I have masure they are on the same channel, but Im having no luck
@H4NDCRAFTED
11 жыл бұрын
A mini portable sampler keys would be nice, they should do a mini sample player with analogue filter and delay. A little micro sd job, but make it run on batteries.
@adamgolding5790
7 жыл бұрын
Love the camera changes. Though they should be synced with key changes ;)
@cygnusvideo
11 жыл бұрын
Does entering flux mode prevent you from doing anything else.?
@MarctheDarc
11 жыл бұрын
Yeah, in this case i'm inclined to agree. But traditionally the noise is a huge problem with all Korgs units with built in speakers. That's why it's on so many peoples minds in this case too. About the sampling, all those interested in a cheap sampler should take a 2nd look at an Akai MPX8. Which also kinda proves that a Volca Sampler is very possible. And Korg have earlier done very well with the Electribe ES-1 and ESX-1 samplers. Think that tech would easy and cheap conform to a Volca format.
@els1f
11 жыл бұрын
Does anyone know what clock those things put out/accept? is it just 16th note pulses, or do they have their own standard?
@stefangrudev8742
10 жыл бұрын
Wow! Ouuuuu! Wonderful...... The Synth is completely wonderful and all review is wonderful!...... And the music what you play for the review in the review is wonderful!.... I like it very much .... And it is wonderful the all end of the review... finishing in TV episode way with the credits, and the content of the all picture: Illuminating in white and after that go dark and go night with night lights. And the music correspond to the illustration and all picture....with that music expression and the expression of the image in the video relating to the music! The all expression of the entire video review relating to the product presentation, the all idea which is this what it is THIS. It is so so so good! It is wonderful every thing in this video. You have very good and very good quality of expression in all kind of things/activities, side and ordinary things/activities which are expected to be side and ordinary but they are not. This is just a product review of a manufacturing product but the things inside this are not that ..... They are other things. It is wonderful.
@moosgummi4480
6 жыл бұрын
7:32 LFO cutoff internet? For that I´d choose a very slow pulse LFO with an incredibly short pulsewidth, so my internet only cuts off shortly every now and then. Seems like someone put a S&H in there...
@Alchemeleon
11 жыл бұрын
Yeah I think I'd buy the beats if I didn't already own an EMX-1, but the Volca Bass just has a such a great sound to it considering it's price. Can't wait...
@AdamSeitzman
11 жыл бұрын
If you use a slow LFO to modulate the filter, it will not step. The EG attack/decay will not either. generally the stepping is usually on synths where there is some preset storage or automation ability, because I believe the slider is controlling data not the VCF directly. My Jupiter 6 does this, but funny enough the Andromeda does not. So maybe its newer or more expensive data encoder designs. The only way anyone can say no to this synth is if they already have a more comprehensive analog poly.
@Goth108
11 жыл бұрын
yes! a midi lfo box is something really missing on the market, same as just a standalone pitchbend/modwheel for keys with no function like that. where are the manufacturers with their mind? nice demo, you did a great job on this and the v bass!
@limeyamos
11 жыл бұрын
As far as sampling goes, I think between the Korg ESX-1 and microsampler and the Roland SP-404, there are plenty of affordable, easy to use samplers out there already. Plus samplers are not having the sort of renascence that analog synths are right now.
@EthrealSlumber-fr9xi
2 ай бұрын
if you only get a saw wave then why does it say square sine and triangle
@carnmarth334
Жыл бұрын
Superb demo. Thank you.
@richardscriven3750
5 жыл бұрын
Great video. Can you hook this up to a Roland tb 3? If so how?
@bakatoroi
11 жыл бұрын
So I bought the Volca Keys and I tried plugging it to my Kaossilator Pro. The only thing I managed to get with that is synched clocks. Is there something else I can control with the Kaoss? (Such as starting loops on both machines at the same time) Overall, I really like it. Yesterday I commuted to and from work while trying new sounds with it. I'm sure there's a whole lot about it I haven't discovered yet!
@EthrealSlumber-fr9xi
2 ай бұрын
so are the other wave forms only for lfo and not for ocilators
@SRDhain
11 жыл бұрын
This is megasonic, simply due to the ability to clear the quantize and go freeform over four bars...lovely stuff!
@TheLittleHoffman
9 жыл бұрын
Is there a way to sync the LFO Rate to the Tempo knob/MIDI tempo???
@JabunAudio
11 жыл бұрын
Hmmm wonder if they'll release a software update like with the Monotribe :D I could go for that! I'm guessing the filter doesn't track the keyboard right?
@dillipphunbar7924
6 жыл бұрын
I like your reviews Nick. Informative and conversational style, that gets to the centre of the subject without too much jargon. I have the volca fm (which is a superb unit) and am thinking of adding the keys to my humble setup. If only the volcas could receive midi on different channels.
@rzajc
4 жыл бұрын
They can! you can select the channel
@Synthematix
11 жыл бұрын
Amazing little synth the bass mate, has a very unique sound and is capable of some really complicated and fresh new sounds. It's not just for bass either, you can make some amazing leads too even bass drums and percs. Most people are saying it sounds better than novations bass station II which is pretty amazing considering theyre £400.
@sonicstate
11 жыл бұрын
Correct some radio hash
@KWHCoaster
11 жыл бұрын
From the retailer where I have my pre-order waiting to be filled. They checked with Korg Canada last week and just heard back from Korg today. Funny, Korg Canada already has a bug fix posted for Volca Beats and the system software 1.02 to download.
@marcuswilespage
9 жыл бұрын
Can you go into more detail on how you got that chorus effect my modulating the delay time?
@carlosdrfx
8 жыл бұрын
Marcus Wiles Chorus IS a modulated delay! You should use short feed backs and short times and modulate the time. Another way to simulate the sound is to detune the oscillators in unison mode.
@H4NDCRAFTED
11 жыл бұрын
Now I understand why Akai has made that new mini sample player! They timed it with these I reckon , for the tabletop hobbiest tribes. Akai could of killed it if they were clever enough to realise it should be able to run on batteries, but no Alai lost it long ago.
@rg7120
11 жыл бұрын
Can you use the motion sequencing on the delay time for chorus? If so I'm definitely getting one.
@KWHCoaster
11 жыл бұрын
I picked up a portable Lithium-ION battery pack for $20 that you use to recharge smartphones, MP3 players, etc. via a USB cable. It powers the Akai MPX8 great. I haven't tried to see how long the MPX8 will run off the battery pack, but probably longer than typical 6-AAs.
@lwispe
11 жыл бұрын
Yes I saw that! Never actually got around to trying it out... thanks for the reminder.
@exiletomars
11 жыл бұрын
You can't change the waveform on this?
@Signature221
11 жыл бұрын
nah, i'm pretty sure it's locked on saw
@annother3350
4 жыл бұрын
It sounded pretty flippin musical in your demo nick!!
@therealKINDLE
11 жыл бұрын
Now that we've got the toys out the way, can we get back to reviewing state of the art synths! No but seriously, great review. You covered everything. Thanks.
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