The Korg Volca Series: The Korg Volca Keys- Recording part 2

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

[@TelicSyndrome]

The delay is gone because of the mtronome. It has nothing to do with the lenght of the step sequence.

[@JohnKeston]

Nice videos on the Korg Volca Keys! Thanks, Marc. I especially like your technique of "just a touch of" audio range LFO to fatten the sound. Just a couple of quick notes: 1) There's no need to restart to overdub motion sequences. Simply hit record again. Record automatically turns off one time through the sequence after moving a recordable knob. 2) Someone already said it, but it's the metronome that disables the delay, not the tempo division settings. 3) Tapping clear again for either motion sequence or steps brings back the last sequence. This is awesome during live performances as a quick way to mute/unmute without truncating the delay!

[@gloverelaxis]

Thanks for this info, especially the last tip!

[@SendyTheEndless]

Another thing while I'm here, coming from the world of VST instruments, which do very good analog-style sounds these days, the limitations of these little units that are popping up these days are extremely welcome, in fact, I revel in the idea of seeing how much creativity I can squeeze out of a limited system, as opposed to being in a situation where I can do anything with anything. Adds a little balance.

[@SendyTheEndless]

I hate these people who call cheap instruments toys. The tools don't make the music, the musician does. Korg is doing great work here, bringing analog synthesis "for the masses, not the classes". A usable sound is a usable sound no matter where it comes from.

[@SendyTheEndless]

Well, correction, I don't hate the people, given that I don't know them, rather, I hate the attitude.

[@scottharris7222]

We are in the preset generation. press a button and instant soundscape.... that's ok some of us will explore these little boxes and get a lot of great stuff out of them.

[@StefanoPapaleo-TS]

These are far from being toys, and the tons of videos here on KZbin of wonderful music of any genre made with such "toys" prove it. Tools matter to a certain extent but I do agree that it is the musician who makes the music, not the instruments themselves. Often, limited tools unleash your imagination and igenuity and let you come up with good ideas to overcome their limitations and exploit their virtues. But that takes time and effort and not everyone is willing to invest in those so choosing among a million presets or thinking an expensive synth is better is what they do.

[@EduardoLopez-re2sp]

THANK YOU

[@bacongamer889]

100% agree! I much prefer tinkering around in a logical manor than using crappy pre-sets!

[@sanakassara]

Thank you yet again for teaching me to use/play another great synthesizer. It's just beyond amazing that this type of educational content has been done as free of charge available on the internet. Worth mentioning about the 1/4 to other beginners out there. 1. Turn off the Motion Sequencer when recording the sequnces, that way your keys does not sound like epileptic chicken. 2. As mentioned previously in one comment, the metronome affects the delay. So it works while using the 1/4 setting. Got one more Volca to buy to and when I have done that, I will be returning.

[@chrisabratte1371]

some of the most clear and useful information I've seen on this synth. thank you so much.

[@jonowise]

great to have the in depth reviews like this, so helpful when deciding on gear

[@lofiant81]

great vid this really helped me out, just a quick note....when using flux you can switch the metronome off after you have recorded and then add your delay again, it only cuts whilst the metronome is active, pretty cool

[@DJMixomnia]

Thank you for these videos! They are really in depth and well produced. I'm going to order a keys in the new future :)

[@LousyFacelift]

Cool video! Great explanation on tempo cheats for all types of instruments with a step sequencer. Informative and entertaining to watch.

[@OScillatorJams]

Great tutorial. Very helpful. Thanks!

[@orimatik]

sir thank you so much.. perfectly clear and usefull!!!! god of music take care of you!! keep going!!

[@AleLoy]

Great stuff! Thank you very much!!!

[@bumboclat]

this tutorial is super underrated.

[@fjfrancois]

Thank you MarC for your videos!

[@Allomerus]

Top reviews Marc! Thanks...

[@automaticgainsay]

Thank you!

[@ENFICAFC]

very very helpful! Many thanks by a total newbie...

[@nicolesproducerpack]

If you mess up, just hold function then the record button (which is also erase) at the same section you want to erase, then let go of both.

[@23petals]

This does make sense, thank you for clarifying.

[@Russ_Hell-Russell_Stevens]

it is pretty awesome

[@automaticgainsay]

Thank you!

[@wangus]

Kinda makes sense, the delay disabling. With the longer sequences, and the same flux resolution, it needs more memory to store the patterns, so it takes over the memory used for the digital BBD-style delay.

[@nickpelkey]

I'm speechless.

[@davidrothschild8913]

Can you hold down whole-note chords for the entire range of 4 measures?

[@AndresGonzalez-ut6xe]

How do you record the sounds from your volca keys to your computer?

[@setphaser]

Guys, I think we broke him. :( come back Marc! We love your videos an unique perspective!

[@Masterp100]

there's no delay bc the metronome is on

[@alfieella1]

correct sir,it is not the timing,it is the metronome stopping the delay function.

[@a_nick_t]

@Gustavo - try a factory re-set. How to do it is in the manual.

[@automaticgainsay]

More coming!

[@disarmsox]

The bass line at 5:55 mins sounds quite similar to the bass line of Katy B's 'Turn the music louder'. I wonder if the producer got the idea from this video :)

[@automaticgainsay]

I have no idea, but that would be cool!

[@Systemist]

Hey nice work with the demos... Getting my units by the end of the week hopefully. Anyway, any word on when we're getting the "sounds of volca" vids? You got me curious :)

[@beagleguitar]

Great video! Thanks for posting this; I learned a lot. One thing I wanted to say was that you didn't touch at all (unless I missed it) on the fact that there's a MIDI in jack so you don't have to use the little miniature keyboard! That was a huge plus in my book over the Monotron/Monotribe series!

[@LousyFacelift]

+beagleguitar Hi there! Could you tell me if using a MIDI keyboard also works when using the flux function? That would be pretty cool.

[@LousyFacelift]

+LousyFacelift Just found out that this does actually work, so nevermind. ;)

[@Systemist]

It's what Antonio Villaamil said... it's the metronome disabling the delay. Also when halving or quartering the tempo it's equivalent to just turning the tempo down to half or a quarter of the original (at least with relation to step data), thus it just plays back the step data more slowly rather than needing to borrow from the delay's digital buffer to store more step data, that's why you lose 16th note ability and so on.

[@avillaamil]

The delay is disabled because you have the metronome on (not because you're using the 1/2 or 1/4 tempo modes). The delay works fine on every tempo setting and also on flux. Also, pressing clear twice "undos" the clear which explains 2:25

[@setphaser]

Is this the last demo? Will there be more? Thanks antonio for the tip, I never would have worked that out, there seems to be a lot undocumented about these guys!

[@gepardek]

What happens when you turn off Flux while playing? Is it even possible? Same question about measures' change while playing? Is it possible and how it alters played material?

[@LZMAmzelle]

what if you set the tempo real slow and create the 4 measures, but play in double time you can actually create 8 measures, right? or perhapse even 16?

[@Rhapsodyinnoise]

If you actually set the tempo to 1/4 or 1/8 of the original one, you will be able to play a very very long sequence of 16 bars (or something like that) using the flux setting and the 1/4 setting... Very cool thing right !? :D (I just hope the tempo range goes like the volca bass from 10 to 600 bpm... If not then it's crap :( )

[@TooSlowTube]

+Rhapsody in noise Yep. In the manual, under "Specify global parameter settings" it shows how to switch between the default 56-240 bpm, or the full 10-600 bpm - hold down Func while turning on, then press 5 to toggle that setting. There's a setting for auto off (defaults to On) and battery type too (default is alkaline, or set to NiMH). Presumably that shows the battery level properly, and maybe helps it decide when it needs to shut down, if it goes too low. The manual is downloadable as a PDF, but it's not laid out for screen reading. I took screen shots of each section to make my own.

[@Rhapsodyinnoise]

+TooSlowTube ok thanks for the informations :)

[@dobanyi]

Time stops with a huge bang and flames, and you find yourself in 1955.

[@a_nick_t]

Next video is overdue! As is the delivery of my Volcas. Which will show up first??

[@Chronovengers]

Seems like the first "here are all the querks" video. Loosing 8th notes, loosing delay, flux maybe not recording exact. Havering to stop the pattern to record motion.

[@blkstone5272]

what is trigger sync?

[@heyotwell]

Trigger sync on means that the LFO wave is triggered with each key press, instead of cycling independently.

[@a_nick_t]

Has anyone seen Marc?

[@llRoBoBinHoll]

Do you like Aphex Twin?

[@setphaser]

Hey Marc! Should we be haranguing you More, or Less to get the final videos of this series?

[@StevenMorris]

That's only if it's set to 88BPM!

[@automaticgainsay]

Hmm. That's weird. I went to a lot of effort to show you that it wasn't a toy. Why do you think it's a toy? Granted, it has limited functionality, but it's also very small, battery-operated, and very VERY low-priced. When you take those factors into account, it'd would be less of a toy. If you connect this thing to a MIDI keyboard, it's just as powerful as some vintage analog polysynths. So, I disagree.

[@Decoy303]

You only lost the delay because your metronome was on. Explains this in the manual.

[@automaticgainsay]

Hey, thanks for explaining this to me seven years after the manual was released.

[@Decoy303]

@@automaticgainsay 😂🤣 you're so welcome friend. Thank you for all the knowledge you share. 💛

[@Systemist]

Yah... so sayeth the manual.

[@Goth108]

dude, switch off the metronom after recording next time, it's driving me insane. also, note the comments about delay, metronom and manual, one should read the manual before doing the demo....

[@MarkoDeLaVoota]

volca keys-nothing but a toy