Korg Volca Keys - SonicLAB Review

Подписаться 235 тыс.

Просмотров 327 тыс.

50% 1

The last of the Volca reviews, be sure to check out our other reviews.
Volca Keys is a 3 voice analogue synth capable of the 3 voice poly operation. astonishing in such a small, cost effective package.
Watch Sonicstate's Exclusive Series:
Sonic LAB: bit.ly/SonicLab
Meet The Makers: bit.ly/SonicMakers
Sonicstate Performances: bit.ly/SonicPer...
Sonic TALK Podcast: bit.ly/SonicTalk
NAMM 2017: bit.ly/SonicNAM...

Наука

Опубликовано:

30 сен 2024

Ссылка:

Скачать:

Готовим ссылку...

Добавить в:

Мой плейлист

Посмотреть позже

Комментарии : 337

@nickynocknoo 7 лет назад

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 лет назад

i mix synths with sodium bicarb in the microwave and smoke them - someone help me!

@hihan196 5 лет назад

exactamente es

@daft9097 5 лет назад

currently there, im fucking in love with the volca sample, not using my mpc500 anymore lol

@eljohncarajo 4 года назад

I'm not using my laptop, guitar and bass anymore since I don't remember when, but I'm happy.

@TheSheepshaver 4 года назад

Just got my 7th ! Gotta catch em all!!!!

@ilovemyhonda250ex 7 лет назад

Where else can you get a 3 voice poly analog for $150? This thing is excellent.

@sonicstate 11 лет назад

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.

@stack0413 9 лет назад

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 лет назад

+stack0413 ST@X13 @SoundCloud

@SonicBodhi1 7 лет назад

spent so much time playing music you forgot to study spelling and grammar in school! LoL!

@delta-9969 7 лет назад

Yeah, takes the time to add some cunty remark to a 2 year old comment.

@rexterrocks 3 года назад

@@SonicBodhi1 That was rather callous

@freezerfawn Год назад

@@SonicBodhi1 ass

@crousticroc 11 лет назад

The filter has more than a little bit of stepping IMO

@annother3350 4 года назад

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 года назад

I don't mind stepping in lots of cases. Sometimes it can sound cool

@rodmorrison47 3 года назад

Yeah, but it screams.

@rayderrich 2 года назад

It took me 9 years after this video to actually buy a Volca Keys... but hey the fun is still there!

@H4NDCRAFTED 11 лет назад

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.

@turbotimthree 10 лет назад

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 лет назад

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 ;)

@MrVitalic85 9 лет назад

To get rid of the hiss, bypass the delay witch a switch.

@KahroSynetic 6 лет назад

MrVitalic85 how ? :o

@gnarlysoundscapes7210 6 лет назад

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.

@LandonBalk 7 лет назад

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.

@moosgummi4480 6 лет назад

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...

@ShadowPilot 8 лет назад

For the price, this thing appears quite epic.

@thefishdog 11 лет назад

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.

@mickypoo4622 5 лет назад

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.

@gnarlysoundscapes7210 6 лет назад

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.

@yorkshireteafan 11 лет назад

That isn't stepping. That's the resonance increasing and decreasing peaks in the frequency spectrum as the filter is swept over them. Filters are SUPPOSED to sound like that. Gah.

@shervbalan 10 лет назад

Does anybody else wanna see Pink Floyd's "On The Run"?

@Jonnyguitar1877 9 лет назад

Stuff like that is why I would buy this! I wanna see the sequencer used more I guess in that subtle for me to make my decision.

@TheBearkat27 9 лет назад

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 лет назад

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

@MarctheDarc 11 лет назад

I hardly think that qualifies these days. The ESX-1 is off the market, so is the microsampler. The latter being pointless anyways, since it wasn't even out for a year before Korg decided it wasn't profitable enough, and dropped all support leaving customers with a sampler with no transfer to and from computer (a primary feature). The SP-404 is an ageing bugger, and even so constantly rising in price. All of which is above the relevant, price-wise, when people are talking Volca-sampler. Akai MPX8

@shug6009 8 лет назад

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!

@Decoy303 3 года назад

A little noisy and crusty. That's just how it goes. I kinda quite like it. -Nick

@spade2heart 9 лет назад

Just curious, what was the signal during the 6:58-7:03 marks?

@dlinnoedlinnoe 3 года назад

Year 2020 and I'm watching this review (because sonicstate reviews are really really the best!) hunting for some (additional) cheap (

@simone3989 10 лет назад

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 лет назад

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 лет назад

Alessandro Simone the TB-3 by Roland has some Daft Punk sounds, i.m.o.

@MarctheDarc 11 лет назад

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 лет назад

Does anyone know what clock those things put out/accept? is it just 16th note pulses, or do they have their own standard?

@weirdskyreallyweird.5519 5 лет назад

Seems like this might be my first synthesizer

@aikighost 11 лет назад

Very tempted to buy a couple of these to sync with my analog 4.

@stefangrudev8742 10 лет назад

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.

@skyhacker6 10 лет назад

What's annoying with your review is that you are quite pejorative when you speak about something ! " it's too loud, too this too that " come on could you be a little bit more neutral !

@alexandergatsby8807 10 лет назад

thats the whole point of a review man

@Synthematix 11 лет назад

even with only 128 steps it still should not step like that

@Alchemeleon 11 лет назад

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!

@AdamSeitzman 11 лет назад

newer or more expensive deisgns that DONT STEP I meant. sorry for the typo.

@AdamSeitzman 11 лет назад

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.

@jonowise 11 лет назад

try having a look at sonicstate's review of the Kaossilator Pro it goes into the midi functionality, the other thing is I think the Volca keys only excepts sync by its clock inputs and not by its midi input could be wrong tho and that could be updated later

@Athlor1 11 лет назад

This review was worth the wait. It hit the points I was wondering about and brought up a few issues to ponder. Excellent.

@murph9935 11 лет назад

6:21 There's a reason for that. When in either of the ring mod modes, the oscillators output square waves.

@adamgolding5790 7 лет назад

Love the camera changes. Though they should be synced with key changes ;)

@stefangrudev8742 10 лет назад

.........And in the end you are sounding like Vangelis ....

@gugabox 11 лет назад

@08:00 a MIDI controller i've built (SFX-JII) has a couple of MIDI LFOs which could be used to do what Nick talks about. unfortunately i don't have a Volca Keys to try it out but if anyone is interested, just drop me a message

@eddygalera3706 8 лет назад

THANK YOU NICK

@Chronovengers 11 лет назад

According to the specs don't you get a simple square wave with a single note in poly ring mode?

@sonicultura 8 лет назад

Really good review!!

@sonicstate 11 лет назад

Correct some radio hash

@cygnusvideo 11 лет назад

Nick you are awesome. Thanks for doing all of these great vids, keep it up!

@AdamSeitzman 11 лет назад

since im already writing a book here I might as well add in, the reason the volca bass doesn't step is because it cant record motion sequences or store the cutoff knob data. Of course I haven't played any volcas yet but have played hundreds of synths. I'm relay looking forward to both the beats and the bass both of which make sounds that haven't been available for the last 15 years for under a grand. The keys is surely the least expensive analog poly ever built tho.

@limeyamos 11 лет назад

and the stepping is still better than the some of the vintage analogs like the sequential six trak in particular.

@thefishdog 7 лет назад

i got one when released. i like its crusty cheap sound, ran through fx its great.

@Longuncattr 11 лет назад

createdigitalmusic . com / 2013 / 05 / hands-on-with-korgs / The delay is implemented as a microprocessor routine.

@Casious_Productions 10 лет назад

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?

@PlaceNameHeere 10 лет назад

Only saw really? They could have chucked square or sine in there couldnt they?

@zwete 11 лет назад

Does all voices have individual filters and modulation sources?

@technodrone313 7 лет назад

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.

@H4NDCRAFTED 11 лет назад

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.

@KWHCoaster 11 лет назад

Sigh, not available in Canada until sometime in November now. :-(

@WalterGiroldi 3 года назад

Hola muy buen video, aquí un tutorial en español: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-TCtm8INFraQ.html

@KWHCoaster 11 лет назад

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.

@fustavgromm_1 8 лет назад

i just tryed thebfkux mode but my chords results "chopped" or broken when sounds during reproduction. Why? probably my fault?

@fustavgromm_1 8 лет назад

the flux mode. sorry

@KWHCoaster 11 лет назад

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.

@beagleguitar 11 лет назад

Kind of apples and oranges, aren't they? The CZ-101 is digital first of all; this is analog. The CZ-101 has no on-board knobs for much real-time control, which, to me, is huge.

@jasoncorganbrown 11 лет назад

Does it record digital audio of your playing or is it recording performance data, then triggering the oscillators on playback?

@MarctheDarc 11 лет назад

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!

@bakatoroi 11 лет назад

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!

@Synthematix 11 лет назад

Im gonna bitch slap the next person who calls these amazing little instruments toys.

@JabunAudio 11 лет назад

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?

@roro_fosho 11 лет назад

theres a midi template you can get for the lemur on ipad that works as a midi LFO. that should work

@leepicciotto 11 лет назад

You can always spot the people that have no talent,no real equipment to speak of,and no future in music by the anger in their comments. My model d is more of a toy/novelty item than most of the things these guys hate on that sonic state reviews. I have a pretty nice collection and I'm still looking forward to opening my mailbox and finding the keys and bass inside.

@RFreigeldorff 11 лет назад

back in the days of analogue polysynths, the equivalent of 139EUR would have bought you a decent keyboard stand, mate. things that would emit sound, let alone more than one of them at the same time, would be well into the 4 digits.

@g0merp1le 11 лет назад

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!)

@cygnusvideo 11 лет назад

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?

@alexanderh.2854 9 лет назад

great review. thx for your work.

@limeyamos 11 лет назад

keep dreaming. a sampler requires a lot of development and research. getting one down to that size and price is incredibly difficult. the sp-404 is as close to a "volca sample" as we need anyway.

@garcezdocarmo 11 лет назад

How come there's step on the cutoff levels? Exactly which components are analog on the Volca?

@Synthematix 11 лет назад

Analog is not supposed to step at all, that's one of the reasons people buy analog!

@Chronovengers 11 лет назад

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?

@limeyamos 11 лет назад

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.

@dcashley303 11 лет назад

I thought I'd be more into these but in all honesty they're leaving me pretty cold. I'll just save up for an MS-20mini and hook it up to a delay instead!

@jamiedyson8446 8 лет назад

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

@KMHoran 10 лет назад

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.

@RMGWT77 11 лет назад

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!!!

@cygnusvideo 11 лет назад

Does entering flux mode prevent you from doing anything else.?

@limeyamos 11 лет назад

It sure sounds like it.

@johninfl 3 года назад

If I need a review, I come and see Nick...

@Goth108 11 лет назад

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!

@Alchemeleon 11 лет назад

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...

@slikmanp 11 лет назад

I thought the same thing the first time I heard someone demo the Keys filter. If you listen closely though you'll notice that as the filter sweeps higher it starts missing harmonics. It's too bad as they probably could have dropped motion sequencing support for something that wouldn't have bee missed (like the EG or one of the mod depths) and doubled up on the cutoff's resolution.

@riesgojavier 8 лет назад

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 лет назад

Is it too late to send it back?

@Sphenique 11 лет назад

King for a day...

@influxxmedia 7 лет назад

Hmmm. Kinda drooling here. I wonder if the sequencer can control other midi gear. I wish the beatstep had these sequencer features

@garygluebag 10 лет назад

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 лет назад

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

@Depuratumba 11 лет назад

as a person who mainly does live improvisation, the motion-sequencing and beeing able to pre-record them really makes me wonder if I should get this one or the bass (although eventually I might get both)... I don't care for the beats at all, but I can't wait to sync them up with my good ol' Electribe ER1

@Synthematix 10 лет назад

best one of the 4 without a doubt.

@PgTrAxX 10 лет назад

as standalone kit i agree. but with external effects and external sequencing(more steps) they all 3 kick butts...

@Unstrict 9 лет назад

***** There's 4...

@PgTrAxX 9 лет назад

TurkeyGaming i know, i have them all 4 but one is a sampler (and i hate it to bits and pieces)

@Unstrict 9 лет назад

Yeah, Idk I like the sampler.

@PgTrAxX 9 лет назад

TurkeyGaming would be better if the sample transfer was a bit more user friendly with computer. Maybe great if you have an iOS device and record samples on the road and make a full track out of those samples (also on the road). Not as good for studio use compared to the other. (imo ofcourse)

@TomahawkMcBear 11 лет назад

Made in China

@TYRONEBIGGLES 11 лет назад

they are here in the states!

@EthrealSlumber-fr9xi 2 месяца назад

where are the 3 ocilators, can you make one a sine one a triangle and one saw wave?

@KrasavkinRomanE 7 лет назад

Music man

@AdamSchneiderMusic 11 лет назад

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?