The Korg Volca Series: Korg Volca Keys- Recording Part 1

Here is a demonstration of the sound and functionality associated with recording and programming music with the Korg Volca Keys.

[@dylanbob82]

This is the best tutorial on KZbin. The others move to fast.. get too advanced too soon.. which is off - putting. So, THANK YOU!

[@automaticgainsay]

+louise brady Thank YOU, Louise!

[@HominidInterneticus]

You've outdone yourself. This is almost a video manual on the unit more than a review.

[@porcorosso81]

Thank you very much for your reviews, Marc. So far, these have been the most thorough examinations of the Korg Volca series on KZbin. It also helped me a lot to finally decide on the Volca Keys, since its functionality covers most of what the Volca Bass can do, with the additional delay and paraphonic oscillator mode. If they would have added one more oscillator, they could have called it the Korg MonoPoly Mini.

[@graemelang111]

you make it sound so cool, I seem to make it sound like an epileptic chicken banging its head on a broken piano. =(

[@Dogboy73]

I'm blown away by how this thing sounds.

[@OregonDARRYL]

The tempo delay tip was worth the entire video. Thanks! Subbed.

[@jayfunk5988]

Just got mine out a box as been using the drum and sample2 got a volca mix and this vid has been a game changer❤

[@jayfunk5988]

For the Keys✌️❤️

[@jemo]

Great overview, thank you for making this video!

[@shauncusack2632]

Good vid well done. I want my delay to be on time, so thanks and am glad to listen and learn.

[@porcorosso81]

True, if you use the Keys and Bass in a live set-up, this makes for a difference. The funny thing is that after 3 days of playing with my Volca Keys now, I most oftenly use it to create thick bass lines, which is perfectly possible once you get to know it better. What I am trying to say is: don't let the naming of the synths mislead you into using them for one single purpose only. Both Keys and Bass have a huge area of overlap, which is why I think that Korg could easily have combined them.

[@FunkyVader]

Superb demonstration, thanks!

[@automaticgainsay]

Thanks for watching!

[@DavidBagshaw]

Great demo of sequencing on the Volca Keys.

[@vertigev]

Great tutorial! Thank you

[@ElliotAtkins]

Superb. Many thanks!

[@grimmwolf100]

Thank you so much for posting this

[@automaticgainsay]

Thank you so much for watching this!

[@cattleprods911]

You're a pro at these demos, thanks mate.

[@automaticgainsay]

+cattleprods911 Thank you!

[@SendyTheEndless]

Great overview! I really like the sound of the quantized filter, reminds me of MIDI velocity being mapped to cutoff. I wonder what happens if you are playing back a cutoff sequence and you tweak the pot... would it add to it like an offset (that would be really cool for accent effects), or, I'm guessing more likely, it simply overrides the sequenced filtering while you're tweaking. These units are beautiful.

[@PocketUnv]

I may or may not have said this before, but I REALLY NEED THESE THINGS!

[@shlamhabor]

Thank you for this video to share with us :)

[@mikeshannon1864]

Great tutorial, Marc. You have just reduced my learning curve.

[@automaticgainsay]

Thank you, and I’m glad I can help!

[@hrrrmit9187]

Thanks super helpful!

[@automaticgainsay]

There is a "Sounds of the Volca Series" video coming, where I make music with all three of them. I don't normally do outside controllers or any MIDI stuff... but I am tempted because playing these with a full-size keyboard is really amazing.

[@kenrawlings4184]

thanks - your video explains what Korg doesn't tell you.

[@harryyes1527]

You have the coolest intro on youtube

[@automaticgainsay]

Hey, thank you!

[@firstascent7339]

Great Tutorial! Thanks for not turning knobs so damn fast I don't have a clue as to what the hell is going on.

[@iosmusicman]

Ace! Thanks. Lee

[@ellgrassos]

Thank you for very good tutorial

[@automaticgainsay]

Thank you very much!

[@diegobis2048]

nice tut, thanks!

[@robertsyrett1992]

volva Keys, still a modern classic.

[@wangus]

I'm set on getting the bass, definitely.

[@Systemist]

Yeah I probably got a bit over-excited about how damn flexible the keys is!! Bass will be awesome too and looking forward to the para sequencing which is pretty flexible too. You could have a bass, arp and lead in one, the arp being triplets... Probably the first think I'll try!

[@billyparham630]

great demos, really helpful so far but i just cant make the motion sequence work. i do exactly what you do in the video but it just doesnt remember what i do with the knob. it changes things in real time but it doesn even have the red light going on and simply doesnt remember nothing. any thought on what i do wrong?

[@wangus]

They're still balanced, which I think is pretty cool how Korg did it. Bass has the step sequencer, more in-depth oscillator control (waveform, tuning, grouping), true polyphonic (multitimbral?) sequencing (i.e. not just one polyphonic sequence, but up to three even with different lengths each), no steppy filter (also slightly more acid-y filter). So yeah, you could list more features on the keys, which is great, but the bass still has some really key ones that might be deal-breakers for some.

[@beninglis8097]

I have the keys and the sample. Best little investments I have ever made.

[@haakman123]

You can kinda do a step by step sequence, I've done it to program in On The Run by Pink Floyd. Just use active step to select the next note and record it. Not the most intuitive but if you need to program a specific sequence it does the job.

[@defpanda1]

Your Volca Keys sounds way better than mine with much better sounds. I'm clearly not grasping it's full potential yet.

[@Athlor1]

I for one would love to see some good examples of using the Keys with midi. As I understand all knobs but resonance (peak) are available through CCs. This to me is it's coolest feature.

[@MrTifli]

How do you record sounds from the korg volca beats with the computer?

[@rayderrich]

Watching this 9 years later, yes I am late to the Volca party :)

[@juanpilanz]

Hey whenever I press record and play on my volca keys, some random melody starts playing and there seems to be no way I can make it stop. Do you know what might be happening?

[@crazysandy6562]

Hi! Thanks but sorry... i have a problem. At 1min53, you show how to record with the metronom. But with me, it doesn't work: at the time i try to record, after, when i play it, i don't have the beginning of my melody. I have the korg volca bass, it goes well, but with korg keys, it does'nt work at all. Could you help me, please? Cause i 'm not happy at all with this keyboard.... if i can't play what i want....

[@drouk22]

muti track recording is posssible ? and possible to connect to electribe 2 ?

[@MarcJane]

Just curious what are you playing the Volca through to make it sound pristine over the computer?

[@Heleno.]

Hi, I tried to record, a sequence on the Volca Keys as you instructed, but when I press the record key together with the play key, the strobe lights on the keyboard do not turn on and do not move as in your video, and Volca does not record any notes or sequence. Can you help me on question? Thanks. turn on the light

[@Uncrackable]

Well some is having problem with Keys? I have this problem: My Volca Keys doesn't trigger any sequence, nothing at all. It only plays the notes that i touch on the ribbon. Tempo Knob is stuck on red no blinks. If i plug the Bass CV out to Keys CV in, it triggers the sequences i recorded and everything. If i plug MIDI In the only thing it does is send notes Global Operations is OK Key 6 and 7 have Led Lit. Ideas?

[@automaticgainsay]

I always look forward to your comments, Nick. :D

[@nicolesproducerpack]

I cant seem to change my tempo. Help!

[@nickpelkey]

Any plans to demo this series together? Or with outside controllers? I do appreciate seeing how these things work on there own.

[@nickpelkey]

Someone's up bright and shiny.

[@jenntaiga3316]

I'd appreciate it if you did as well. Not because I plan on using the Volca with some crazy fancy MIDI setup or anything, but for the sake of having a full keyboard and seeing its full oscillator range.

[@jasoncorganbrown]

Does this have multiple record banks or just one 16 step?

[@Ullish1989]

I can't seem to record over a previous part or delete something i've already recorded. It's very frustrating

[@thebunkers2007]

What kind of cable do I need to run the Volca Keys into my interface?

[@mikeshannon1864]

You need a 1/8" cable and a 1/4" adapter to get it from the headphone jack on the volcano keys to the line in jack on your interface, unless you can find a 1/8-1/4" cable, which I haven't run across yet..

[@wangus]

The battery level, is that only the keys?

[@jakefon1217]

How do you delete the memory's

[@nickpelkey]

Today's thrift shop score. Yamaha SHS-10, an UPTown drum machine and a mic with an old school MTV logo on it. Now I can listen to Wham's "Last Christmas" all I want with a Fresh Prince approved beat.. and sing along. Marc I'm drowning in FM.... point the way to affordable analog.

[@autoexe2695]

Now why can the Volca Bass' oscillators have individual tracks but not the Volca Keys?

[@crazysandy6562]

That's my question, too. I'm not happy at all with the volca keys. I have the volca bass, and i think it should a better choice to have another volca bass than the volca keys..... moreover, i can not record what i play on the korg volca keys...

[@AndrakarVideo]

Marc, Marc, Marc!!!

[@automaticgainsay]

You're so sweet, Bitexion!

[@girlinagale]

I need that analogue sound like I need lentils. I mean I love a rib eye but lentils are pure love of life. And the dog likes analogue but finds digital synths disturbing.

[@automaticgainsay]

Yay!

[@woodswalker88]

thanks, but I need to know how to CLEAR what's on my Used Korg Volca. The instructions are not working

[@zanetaturonova7179]

I had the same problem, you have to turn it off and while holding FUNC and MEMORY turn it on (it will blink). And then just press the REC button and everything will be erased.

[@108julo]

@@zanetaturonova7179 seriously??

[@iStobs]

Recommendations on a cheap, entry level synth? Would this be the one? I am actually looking for something with minimal controls just to get started because I have no experience in this realm, so very basic is good for the time being. The Volca Series or MicroBrute seem to be the best options I have seen given my price range. I love love the vintage sounds I hear from the MicroKorg, but frankly it seems like that is A LOT to start with (even the MicroBrute seems like a bit much given how little I know about synths). Like I said, simple is good. Any recommendations are appreciated. P.S. Are vintage-y sounds possible from the Volca Series? I guess I specifically mean vintage synth pop and pad-type sounds. Thanks. These videos are fantastic and have been a huge informational help. EDIT: I did see the Monotribe and all the Monotrons too. The Monotrons seemed cool but not very versatile, but like I said without any experience it's hard to really tell.

[@iStobs]

+Benjamin White Wow, thank you so so much for this information. I have been leaning towards getting the volca keys because it fits well within my budget, it is minimalistic in its controls so I feel it may be a good starting point, and the polyphonic mode and sequencing at least adds the capability for a good amount of fun and experimentation. I think it is almost perfect given my beginner status with synths. I can always upgrade later, but for now I am getting quite excited about the Keys and hopefully a vBeats down the line. Again, thank you so much for the information. As I get more acquainted with synthesizers I will certainly be revisiting these comments of yours. Cheers!

[@iStobs]

haha yes I see that the prices jump up very quickly. Well, I'll cross that bridge when I get there I guess.

[@9neplacednb]

i owe people money :)))

[@automaticgainsay]

Very soon, I promise. :)

[@drouk22]

how can we ...save...ours song with the volca key since there no SD card ?

[@NewSagaMusic]

drouk22 hold FUNC then press WRITE then pick the number you’d like to save it in

[@johngoodlass]

The volca keys has 8 memory locations, which contain default factory sequences

[@a_nick_t]

Marc - did you find the Keys more noisy than the others?

[@Sharkwhisperer]

I wonder> once you play a loop, can you play a melody on top of it that is not part of the loop. I mean like save a prayer duran duran , can you let the loop play on the background and play your own melody on top of that

[@zoned7609]

in poly mode i think so

[@Systemist]

I reckon feature-wise, this slams the bass! Paraphonic playing, ability to half/quarter tempo and play long chord progressions in flux mode, built-in delay, almost complete automation, different osc modes inc ring mod... come on, feature-wise it blows it out of the water. Only drawback is as Nick Batt said, more noise. Not knocking the bass at all, it's still awesome, just narrower in use; with its own plusses. Still need all three though :)

[@MarshmallowMadnesss]

I'm struggling to produce the same sounds at the 2 minute mark. Mine sounds very tinny. I cant see exactly how you've set all the smaller knobs, but I'm close enough to sound like a cheap imitation.

[@nickpelkey]

Anyone notice Marc playing "Too much time on my hands" by Styx? Just checking.

[@ChannelZero1031]

Do i have to have prior piano skills to use this? You seemed to play a chord with three fingers and made a chord...I want one but i don't play the piano.

[@automaticgainsay]

You'll probably still do okay!

[@ChannelZero1031]

@@automaticgainsay I take that as a yes?

[@automaticgainsay]

@@ChannelZero1031 You don't need to be able to play the piano!

[@ChannelZero1031]

@@automaticgainsay ok

[@wangus]

But you couldn't, say, independently mute and unmute individual mono sequences. If you layered 3 synth lines, they're always all going at once on the keys. You also couldn't keep one melody playing while loading a different melody from memory to accompany it.

[@wangus]

Ah, I wasn't familiar with the terminology "paraphonic" versus "polyphonic". Yes, they are paraphonic. What I meant to say is that the bass has the capability of assigning a different monophonic sequence to each of the oscillators, as opposed to just one polyphonic sequence.

[@porcorosso81]

It's not that much of a limitation. If you set the keys to Poly mode, you can very well enter 3 different sequences per memory slot. You only have to take care not to overlap 3 different notes per step.

[@wax83]

Hey! There's no real "smoothing" on the motion seq it's just interpolating the values between 0 and 127..

[@bloxelectrix]

It's a tough choice but i think the keys is the best volca. Versatile wise anyway.

[@llRoBoBinHoll]

Will you ever show your face to us again?

[@Longuncattr]

It has eight memory slots.

[@nickpelkey]

Currently thumbing through my crisp new signed copy of Chainsaw Confidential by Gunnar Hansen. The joys of living in Maine. Between this and the reissue of the horror themed cereals I'm having a swanky Halloween season. Also to note.... I'm going through the pains of pretending I'm a carpenter so I can have all of my weird gear out and functional. We call it.. the never ending garage project.

[@WalterGiroldi]

Muy buen video, aquí un tutorial en español: kzbin.info/www/bejne/inTXnmt_g6ull7M

[@automaticgainsay]

Yes, unless you're recording with "flux."

[@scarybodega]

Very helpful. Korg's documentation is horrible.