New analog boxes from Korg?

[Re-Member]

Although I already thought it was a bit weird trying to compare the Volca Bass to a TB-303 since it's going to have three oscillators vs. one, I looked in the manual and this caught my eye:

VCO grouping
While holding down the FUNC button, press a step button between 1 and 3 to set he VCO
grouping to one of the following. VCOs grouped together are activated by the same sequence data,
and produce sound, play back and are edited together.
By grouping multiple VCOs, the thick bass of a unison or a chord sequence at a fixed interval (fifth
degrees, etc.) can be created.
FUNC+STEP 1:
Each VCO will be in a separate group and operated by separate sequences.
FUNC+STEP 2:
VCO1 and VCO2 will be in the same group, and VCO3 will be operated by a
separate sequence.
FUNC+STEP 3:
All VCOs will be in the same group.

So you actually get three sequences to program with. This really hits it into a whole different ballpark.

[meatballfulton]

Of course all sequences share the same filter and amp gates/envelopes, but there's still lots of mileage with that esp. since you can mute each VCO as it runs.

Meanwhile it looks like Volca Keys has Electribe style "motion sequencing"...too bad there's only a few sequence slots and no way to offload them. The osc modes are cool...you get the usual monosynth suspects as "presets" (unison, octaves, fifths) plus MS20-style "ringmod". I wonder if the filter and amp are really polyphonic or like the old Poly 800 or Waldorf's Rocket?

Any more rumors on ship dates?

[loungedumore]

And in case anyone missed .... Yes you can set the midi channel to your choice .

[boxed]

I think Stab's on the money there, for the pricepoint they *are* toys, albeit intersting ones with some potential. Don't go thinking they're the next 808/303 etc, because they're obviously not.

Take them for what they are and you shouldn't be dissapointed. The emphasis is on fun, maybe sometimes they sound like s**t, maybe others they don't - but who cares? They're just meant to be cool little things to kick around the studio.

Personally I welcome anything that is a distraction from plugins.

Why don't you properly explain your point. Why is it that the Volcas are just simple toys, but the 808 (909 and 606) and 303 are not? If its simply about retail price (and not functionality), you have to understand that technology brings prices down. And alot of this talk about the Volcas being too inexpensive is elitist snobbery.

If anything the Volcas have more features and can do alot more e.g. such as Midi and having more oscs.

[loungedumore]

Omg . Both points are right .
Tools : very well thought out fairly capable instruments . Sophisticated features , very on the pulse of the current market .
Toys : very well thought out cost cutting corners keeping them from being pro level eg: only head phone out no memory dumping etc .
To each their own .

[Hybrid88]

Why don't you properly explain your point. Why is it that the Volcas are just simple toys, but the 808 (909 and 606) and 303 are not? If its simply about retail price (and not functionality), you have to understand that technology brings prices down. And alot of this talk about the Volcas being too inexpensive is elitist snobbery.

If anything the Volcas have more features and can do alot more e.g. such as Midi and having more oscs.

^ touchy much?

To be clear I was really just pointing out the difference between the old Rolands and people thinking they would get something similar with the Volca's. They're obviously different; aimed at different markets, different construction, different price, different era, different sound etc. The 808 was always a solid bit of kit, designed for the pro studio and made to a spec, not a price. The 303 on the other hand wasn't, it was a c**p product for it's intended use but excelled at something completely unforeseen. It was also an abject failure as far as sales go and made at a time when it appears Roland themselves were exploring cheaper construction materials/methods.

To me the only reason these physically look like the Rolands is because Korg are trying to sell them to people that want a 303/808 but can't afford the longtime overpriced market trend for them. But I think that's probably doing the Volcas a disservice, as they are interesting products in their own right.

Anyway, a good piece of advice would be for people to just chill out a bit, there are no "sides" here

[Blue Monster 65]

I've been told they'll have these at Gear Fest (Sweetwater) this weekend. Should be a big line to try them out!

[Re-Member]

no memory dumping etc .

According to an article I read, these units can be modified to add MIDI Out, so exporting pattern data is possible, just not right out of the box. All you need to do is the MIDI Out mod, connect to a DAW or different sequencer and then record the pattern, then when you want to reload it, just feed the pattern back into the Volcas via MIDI In.

[adekoyote]

Will you be able to do panning on the volca beats? So far I have not seen any controls to control the panning of each element...which can be a bit restrictive for some.

[tim gueguen]

Korg has released 3 new videos of the Volcas, featuring designer Tatsuya Takahashi.




Interesting that, unless someone has done an incredible dubbing job, Takahashi speaks fluent English with an English accent.

[Kidney05]

I'm sold on these. They look like a ton of creative fun. Love the under the hood options.

[adekoyote]

Some sick psychopath in me just wants to chain link 4 of the volca keys and two of the volca basses into a polyphonic monster and feed the outputs into guitar pedals...kinda like a modular groovebox approach...

With the beats...I am not so sure...there are lots of elements and playability...but no one knows if there is any ability to pan elements.

[Blue Monster 65]

No panning on the Beats.

Quickie review: TINY boxes, with plastic knobs that are fairly sturdy. Low output through headphones, but listenable enough. The Beats sounds ... OK. I didn't get to hear it through any monitors, which would have been ideal for all of them, but through the phones I was underwhelmed by it. Until I get to hear it pumped, I'll reserve any further comment on that.

Bass was great fun! The filter goes from fairly smooth to snarly and it is NOT a 303. You can be either grateful or disappointed by that, but it is a good-sounding little machine. I sorely want to run this via MIDI with a "real" keyboard!

Keys were ... well ... I didn't spend enough time to tell you virtually anything with it! Just listened to a sequence and tweaked a bit. Sounded fairly smooth as well.

When they're readily available (another month or so was the answer I got), it will be interesting to give them a real go, but for now I can say they're fun, immediate, and sound OK. I doubt I'll buy them myself, but I could be tempted. They'll sell by the tons, inspire some people and bore others.

[Sir Nose]

Should make for some great fun. I look forward to the portability. I expect to go for the trio.

[madmarkmagee]

Interesting that, unless someone has done an incredible dubbing job, Takahashi speaks fluent English with an English accent.

Look at his lips. That is English he's speaking.

Bet he speaks fluent Japanese as well.

Obviously he has been been heavily exposed to both languages equally at a very early age and constantly throughout his life.

Anyway they all look like a pretty awesome way to spend 150 dollars or whatever they are charging for them.