01-The Korg Volca FM- Part 1- The Panel Controls Part 1

[@automaticgainsay]

There seems to be a trend of people who listen to the initial words of this video and come away from them thinking they're something they're not. First and foremost, you may be new to Automatic Gainsay, and that's fine. You may have no idea what this channel is about. You may have no idea how long its been here. You may have no idea that there is actually a friendly and communicative following of this channel. And that's all fine. But if you show up here with the attitude of "I've never heard of this guy, why is he talking to me like I have?" I'm not talking to you like that. I'm talking to my tens of thousands of subscribers, my millions of return viewers, my friends, and industry professionals who frequent this channel not because they stumbled across a KZbin link or bought an inexpensive synth and did a search. Because it is weirdly petulant and juvenile to assume that a person doesn't have a following because you've never heard of them, I'd like to invite those of you with a problem to "get over yourself." And, most of all... it seems like because you hear "do you know who I am" in that introduction, you come to all kinds of conclusions and assumptions that are based on your ignorance of this channel and what I do. But you're taking a phrase out of context so that you can shamecast. And that is particularly irritating because out of your own ignorance, you have no idea what I mean by that. And, you broadcast your ignorance by having a problem with something you've ignorantly taken out of context. The Automatic Gainsay channel has been around since early 2006, and has for more than a decade since then been a resource for those who seek knowledge and understanding in regard to vintage analog synthesizers. Until 2011, Automatic Gainsay was a vintage analog demonstration channel. After 2011, it also became a modern analog demonstration channel. But you see, the Volca FM is a DIGITAL SYNTHESIZER. It's not vintage, nor is it analog. So, the notion that Korg would ask me to demonstrate it... knowing full well (because I worked with Korg on a number of analog products... go to their KZbin channel, and you'll see my videos there) that I don't DO digital... is hilarious and weird and invites the sardonic question "do you know who I am?" This isn't about me being special in any way, and I'm not indicating that it is. So, I'd like to invite you to acquire a little knowledge and understanding of context before you come to some erroneous conclusion and shameturbate on my comments. Thanks. To all of the rest of you wonderful, kind, people... thank you for being cool.

[@scotttascarella2951]

AutomaticGainsay I got into synthesis in 2016 and since then you have been my main source of help for everything I’ve gotten. I have actually purchased some of my gear just because I knew you had videos about them and I would be OK learning how to use it LOL! I just wanted to thank you for your videos and the “Down to earth” way that you teach... like I’m going over my friends place to learn about a synth. 😊

[@rallyfreak08]

Best CYOA ever!!

[@snailnailnailnailnailnails]

he mad lmao

[@az03161979]

You gave a decent review and we appreciate it but you do come off like, meeeee do you even know who I am? Rogan has lots of subscribers and doesnt need to boast his status. You could have just explained why you reviewed a non analog synth without all hot shot boasting

[@abbymotionfilms3963]

I just subbed. I'm receiving mine hopefully this week. Learning a lot from your channel.

[@4thdymension]

Thank you so much for explaining things in clear and easy to understand terms. I honestly don't get the negative comments on here. Whatever motivates the haters (jealousy, immaturity or unresolved childhood trauma) please keep on doing what you do 😊

[@davidreidy5750]

Two yrs later still my fave synth reviewer on YT!!🤖📡

[@automaticgainsay]

Thank you!

[@paega86]

I watched the whole series now and you are awesome! Thanks for bringing life to my first ever hardware synth!

[@MelVinMaSsaCrE]

Congrats on the request from Korg. They, like us, are obviously loving these informative videos you're publishing. I look forward to watching more parts from you about this synth :)

[@automaticgainsay]

Thank you!

[@aliocha23]

Jesus, I was about to throw this godamnit synth through the window because Korg know how to make synths, but they don't have a clue about users manuals, and I finally came here, and once again you saved my day.

[@automaticgainsay]

I'm glad to help!

[@PunguinYoga]

Yes, I've been warned about Korg manuals.

[@dustincassidy]

Really nice presentation Marc. You made FM a lot easier to understand.

[@thefightingaxolotl]

Man, was I glad to see you do a video on this little monster (I've been waiting for the Kraft demo too long). I first got into synthesis after watching one of your videos, and recently got my minilogue in the mail. Thanks, Marc, for everything you do for the weird and wonderful synthhead community.

[@automaticgainsay]

Thank you, and thanks for watching!

[@gridrunner7452]

Great stuff, looking forward to checking the other parts of this series

[@braincoral9866]

Yeah! 80s! I was there! Seriously, though, after reading Future Music's review of this, and the fact it's only like £100..it's a no brainer! Cheers again, Mark.

[@automaticgainsay]

Ha ha, thank you!

[@sodaverde]

Great channel, man. I laughed when you tell the anecdote of Korg contacting you. :)

[@automaticgainsay]

Thank you!

[@TozBourne]

After watching the most excellent intro, I had a sudden urge to watch King Fury again. Seriously, this is a great demo Marc!

[@automaticgainsay]

That's an excellent association! Thank you!

[@neatlyknotted6203]

Dude, so glad you're doing this. Your Korg ARP videos convinced me to get an ARP and I love it. Got one of these a few months ago and it rules, too. Thanks!

[@neatlyknotted6203]

My rig is only this and the ARP now, and they pair together nicely in a weird way.

[@iancain6647]

Why couldn't the people in the last 12 videos I watched explain FM synthesis that well? I'm buying a tee shirt just for that!

[@automaticgainsay]

Thanks! :D

[@darwinsaye]

Excellent demo as usual Marc! Being an analog snob myself, I surprisingly found myself tempted by the recent FM offerings from Korg and Yamaha (Reface DX) because of the simplified programming compared to the DX7. After extensive research, I chose the Reface however, and am extremely happy about it. I find that the sacrifice of two operators and 30 algorithms is satisfactorily made up for by having available feedback for every operator. Besides that, the Volca's lack of keyed velocity and the three note polyphony were the real deal breakers for me. With the velocity and and 8 note poly, the Reface is very expressive and capable of massive moving pads that make the Volca seem no more than an interesting little groove box to me (and I rarely use sequencers, so no loss there). Also thanks for your series' on the MS-20 Mini and the Minologue. Definitely getting a Minilogue after watching your comprehensive review. Keep the excellent reviews coming!

[@automaticgainsay]

That's interesting, mk! It's actually pretty cool that these devices are different enough in price and application to give people some options.

[@azacharias]

One simple way of describing the difference between carriers and modulators is that carriers define the overall amplitude of the sound and the modulators define the overall timbre of the sound. When you shape the envelope of the carrier it changes the amplitude over time. when you shape the envelope of the modulator it changes the timbre over time.

[@pcuimac]

For example a(t) = A_0 cos(w(t)), w(t) = 2 pi f *E(t), E(t) = E_0 * curve(attack time, decay time, sustainlevel, release time) Correct?

[@azacharias]

You forgot the Bessel functions!

[@Electro4locos]

excellent video, I'm glad they got you to do this Marc. Your videos always help me immensely! :)

[@automaticgainsay]

Thank you for watching!

[@Electro4locos]

Glad to! Take care

[@reddjinnking9413]

great video series (as usual), and it made me pick up a Volca FM (somebody give this man a bonus !). At about 12:56 it actually sounds like you were launching into an FM synth version of "Little House on the Prairie" theme song :D

[@maxmartinez6430]

Great way to explain what carriers and modulators do !! Love these videos.

[@ranzee]

Awesome stuff Marc :) Hopefully you get to keep the little gem! I love mine, and it is by far my favourite Volca. I compared it to the DX7 - and they are very close sonically. The Volca does miss out on the velocity MIDI implementation, but an aftermarket cable fixes that quite inexpensively.

[@automaticgainsay]

Thank you!

[@Rompler_Rocco]

...and if anyone will ever figure out how to MacGyver that after-market cable using like $3 of material, it'll be ranzee av.. I encourage volca enthusiasts to visit his channel ;)

[@carlossaraiva7968]

Lovit!!!!!!!!! Perfect demo of this model. I looking foward for the sequence... One ThumbsUP and one subscription. Good job.

[@nobel11]

That's really great! "Oscillator Packages", I like that. I think I understand FM a little better now. I've been having a blast with my Volca FM, it's easily my favorite so far. I love all the new features to the Volca setup that I'm sure you're going to cover in later videos I'm just glad you got to review an FM synth that isn't a brown, clangorous POS. Can't wait for the the rest of the videos!

[@automaticgainsay]

Ha ha ha!

[@robertsyrett1992]

Man, that analog midi signal is hella phat!

[@Degear-ls5lw]

I love the filter on this midi!

[@almightyEsquilax]

Analog MIDI is called MIAI

[@xavier-rose]

Merci beaucoup Marc, vos explications sont claires et simples , je commence de comprendre mieux ;-) et je continue le série !

[@RichRobinson]

Great tutorial. Would you mind sharing what drum machine/samples you used for this demo/intro/outro? Much appreciated!

[@automaticgainsay]

I honestly don't remember! I'm sorry!

[@els1f]

I love FM synthesis. But then again, I also love reading manuals and learning new terminology :)

[@nawel1]

Hey! Great job with this video!! Brief but complete! And the way you pronunce helps me a lot, because I´m not an english native speaker. Thank you very much!

[@elmeromero6559]

great video but cannot decir between the MICROKORG S n this KORG VOLCA FM ..which is more versatile to desing sounds??.. any advice?? thank you =)

[@Rompler_Rocco]

I was crying laughing during the intro! Least likely video ever posted to youtube. Though you truly can explain anything.. In one unedited segment, your language made more of this click for me than I've grasped after months hands-on with this deeply unholy, unanalog box of mystery. Now if only my brain can digest that I'm thanking Marc Doty for helping me with FM synthesis in waking reality.

[@automaticgainsay]

That's freaky. I can't even imagine actually helping someone with FM. It's the endtimes. Thank you!

[@ZombieTactics]

They used a slider ... for the octave control ... yes that ... makes ... perfect ... sense.

[@aizoyurei]

Hi Marc, great video series! That intro song is so dope! Did you make it? If so, would you be willing to share the drum samples!? Anyway, keep up the great work! It's nice to have good vids to watch on my train commute to work!

[@davidreidy5750]

I reluctantly sold my fm recently for store credit (and clean up my mini studio)I regretted it and yup just ordered another one.The best Volca out there next to the Keys.

[@bobbythompson4268]

Gotta save everything til you die. Then someone comes across your stuff many years from now, after it has become a future day legendary, discontinued piece of equipment.

[@youknowwhoiam6484]

Fm synthesis is easy but hard as hell to get to a good sound. If you have presets, you’re the kind

[@ownedbymykitty270]

I love this synth! This is the best Volca so far!!

[@automaticgainsay]

As weird as it is for me to say this, I am shocked at how powerful it actually is. It really is one of the best.

[@DivKid]

Didn't think I'd hear that intro on anything from you Marc! :)

[@automaticgainsay]

:D I'm full of surprises!

[@alancurrall]

"Attack of the Modulators" was the title of my favourite 80s SciFi movie.

[@DimitrisDermanisMusic]

Wow! Amazing presentation! Waiting for the next video!

[@automaticgainsay]

Thank you!

[@JiggyWig]

Good explanation of the feature. When I got mine I was surprised by how much tweakability the transpose+velocity+envelope-knobs provide; makes it every bit as tweaky as the other Volcas. Nicely done. Almost makes up for the failure to honour input MIDI note velocities. ( Surely that could have been done by making the velocity slider a scale rather than absolute value.. )

[@automaticgainsay]

Thank you!

[@TheEstateOfHoHu]

You can purchase the retrokits cable with the fm. It is able to transmit velocity from a a midikeyboard that is connected to the fm. That way you get the velocity back as it would be played from a dx7 for instance. www.retrokits.com/rk002/

[@JiggyWig]

Looks cool for sure, but I made a max4live device to hack it for now, not a big deal for me since I usually have my grooveboxes hooked into Ableton for recording purposes anyway (never know when a random noodle might turn out to be epic).

[@arielmendoza6118]

¡Realy good video! I have a questions ... ¿Do You experiment a back line noise or hum using the AC adapter? ¿Wich adapter do you recoment? really thanks and go on!!

[@PseudomoniaProject]

when I first saw this I thought 'oh Marc is doing the goods FM that's cool'. It took 5 days for the penny to drop and think 'wait Marc Doty is doing a digital???? WTF!?' hahaha

[@fredlupin]

Would you say that a Carrier is what we would call an OSCillator, and the Modulators would be like an audible LFO; HFO as you said...?

[@estebangil1573]

Korg Minilogue, Korg Volca FM & Korg Volca Kick would be a interesting Live Performance Setup.

[@BlakeFoster050]

I have one, absolutely love it.

[@raymcpherson6772]

Marc- no-one is going to freak out with you doing this. Because YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING. Don't do yourself down. False modesty is never attractive. You did it, pal, you did it.

[@PunguinYoga]

By the way, I don't see how people interpreted your "Do you know who I am?" as a boast. You were just saying, "I'm known for my love of analog synths. I review analog synths. You want me to review a DIGITAL synth?"

[@milpycafe6528]

Hey big noob coming through, what cord would i use to connect a micro korg into this thing? Ive yet to mess around with midi or connecting synths at all yet.

[@CosmicArmchair]

You can connect a MIDI cable from the MIDI out port of the Microsoft to the MIDI in port of the Volca

[@chartomosfil1278]

So you can use the minilogue as a keyboard for the volca FM?

[@EverettDudgeon138]

I always wonder if we will ever see a new full sized FM keyboard synth. I would really like to see a company be it Korg, Yamaha, Nord whatever. There seems to be a big gap in the current synth market for FM synthesis.

[@stuartdavid8493]

Yamaha Modx

[@PureAmbientDrone]

I had one and the MIDI in was broke (Sigh) so back it went, but didn't really want another. Just wasn't for me.

[@dinogoldie9716]

The way I understand it, "analog" synths are subtractive (raw noise minus filters and manipulation). Phase Modulation synthesis is more like multiplication or division (Carrier X modulator).

[@KILLAGORILLA7000]

Yesss! Doty's back!

[@tubeDude48]

I have a Korg PS60. Also I own ALL of the Volca's. I've been told that the two work together on Channel 9. What's the truth about that, and how do I set that up?

[@toitoitoy]

wow, that was great, i think I understand FM at last, and I remember your old DX7 video :)

[@automaticgainsay]

Wait until the next videos... I go a lot deeper into FM! Ha ha, oh, yes... that. :D

[@raymcpherson6772]

And to follow up; Marc- I watched this and I have known synths for 30 years. Despite your best efforts, FM synthesis remains.......Bull.

[@peterfuzz3887]

you can stock your own sounds ?

[@MarcellsWorldJjr]

Win for Korg! Mine is on the way today :)

[@Thyrnheimr]

Korg Volca FM ist eigentlich ein MUSS. Phantastisch! Das (die) Videos sins auch gut).

[@cesarvalerio4292]

Thanks for the lesson! Greetings from Brasil!

[@scottrogers2599]

Analog Midi Signal! In my day we called that a Piano Roll!

[@automaticgainsay]

:D

[@zorbanongreco]

Scott Rogers : 😂 how old are you?🐂💨💨

[@DanielDavissynthman]

Love it! :) embrace the digital future! ;)

[@automaticgainsay]

Well, I don't know if I'll go THAT far. ;D

[@DanielDavissynthman]

We're lucky to be playing synths in a time when we have so many (TOO many!) great options. It's an embarrassment of riches, to be sure.

[@KILLAGORILLA7000]

And it seems to be getting even better!

[@DanielDavissynthman]

It really does.

[@ogasi1798]

+Daniel Davis there's a couple more sneaking round the corner this year 😉

[@ChrisLeeW00]

Definitely unexpected, but it's a good surprise!

[@MrFricoco]

Wicked intro! Wicked tutorial too!

[@automaticgainsay]

Thank you!

[@thetanil3702]

That outro music is sick!

[@MrJackal43]

Great demo, just subbed...

[@automaticgainsay]

Thank you!

[@digitalsea9147]

I love how important this guy think he is!!

[@automaticgainsay]

We all do.

[@panique365]

How can I get one in the US?

[@jasoncorganbrown]

Roland Romplers are next?

[@HotStrange]

Lol no.

[@jasoncorganbrown]

The Korg Triton filters are so thick and powerful.

[@y34r]

Thx for the review. You really get me triggered, gonna buy this little beast

[@automaticgainsay]

There are a lot more review elements coming! You're going to REALLY want one! :D

[@andrestrevino8119]

I think Korg decided to have you demo the synth due to the work you've done with the three analog volcas. I recall one of the comments saying that Korg should give consumers a link to your videos instead of a manual, and I agree you explain things in a very comprehensive way. Ps. You made me chuckle a little bit when you said that you might be in danger.

[@automaticgainsay]

Thank you!

[@jackevans2386]

2:51 Analogue MIDI signal ??? WTF

[@automaticgainsay]

OMG

[@danieljung2810]

Fantastic job!

[@rydeentokio]

Never forget your DX7 'demo'...

[@fender1000100]

rydeentokio I will never forgive him for that. But at least he is meeting FM half way here.

[@automaticgainsay]

While that is my voice, I didn't write it. I did think it was hilarious, though. :D

[@automaticgainsay]

Project DX, I'd say I was meeting FM all the way, here. :)

[@fender1000100]

AutomaticGainsay Yes you are, I have to give you kudos here. Love the videos. I have one of these babies. And they are very good despite the lack of poly. Having a virtual DX7 in the palm of your hand is very appealing to me. I have to upload some song demos soon. To show of its sonic potential. Since my DX7 died recently. These are my new best friends.

[@dinogoldie9716]

Thanks for this video series. Why do people struggle with "Carrier" and "Modulator?" Have they never used a vocoder?

[@justinsalazar4952]

It's easy, modulator is the waveform and the carrier has the airplanes.

[@joeboygsxr]

Analog outputs ;)

[@MouseFloof]

Very interesting little synth ^.^ Would be interested in seeing a review on the DX7... Dunno if you've been getting my messages on facebook, but oh well :P

[@automaticgainsay]

I'm sorry I haven't responded yet! I'll get on it!

[@synthdude7664]

Was there a specific reason why you chose the preset “SMASH IT!” 🤣

[@Mark_Ocain]

BLASPHEMYYYYY!!! LOL Not a wave table kind of guy but hey....this was fun. Good review.

[@automaticgainsay]

Thank you!

[@DeeJay003]

Excellent.Subscribed.

[@plamp]

You've changed.. jk Love your vids analog or not.

[@automaticgainsay]

Hee! Thank you!

[@mthomas1091]

@ 3:00 no info so far... waiting on a tutorial but only hearing about the uploader....

[@automaticgainsay]

"The uploader..." Ha ha, M Thomas, you're a delight. Since you're new to KZbin, let me clue you in. Y'see, some people on KZbin go to specific channels for a specific type of content. Automatic Gainsay has been on KZbin since its start, and has provided content that is specifically related to analog synthesizers... especially vintage analog synthesizers. As a channel with thens of thousands of subscribers, a very long history, and nearly eleven million views, there is this thing called a "regular viewer," which means that a lot of people come to this channel with intent AND expectations, unlike those who fell onto KZbin yesterday and think that channels are their servants. As for your implied suggestion that there is something wrong with the format of the video, I'd like to thank you for hanging in there for three minutes, and then I'd like to tell you to fuck off to some other channel if you're going to show up here in ignorance and scorn the channel because you don't know what's happening on a very (comparatively) old and relatively popular synthesizer demonstration resource.

[@MrJackal43]

Mine just showed up damaged, missing the batteries and covered with greasy French fry finger prints... also it was thrown in a damaged box and some one took the algorithm placard and instructions.... REALLY mad. It took 3 weeks to get here. Just sent it back, not a good Christmas. 2020 sucks.

[@PunguinYoga]

Holy moly!

[@theendlesstour]

Thanks for this

[@d3br1s_]

thank u!

[@exitritual]

FM makes me queasy. Scarred for life by my first synth, the YS200.

[@pcuimac]

You know that FM is originally an analog technic? You don't have to do it digital. Every TV and radio, before DVBT was invented, used it to transport information.

[@automaticgainsay]

There is a difference between "FM" and FM Synthesis. Frequency modulation has been around for over 100 years. Yes, it's the main premise of radio and many other functionalities. But FM Synthesis, the process through which timbre is achieved by structured and controlled modulation of sine wave oscillator/amp/envelope combinations by sine wave oscillator/amp/envelope combinations is different. While Chowning was undoubtedly inspired by the analog frequency modulation process, analog oscillators were too unstable to realize his concepts at the time when his synthesis was born. These days, analog oscillators are so depressingly stable that it might be possible to pull it off.

[@pcuimac]

Ah. Thx for the long answer. Keep your great videos comming! :)

[@JacobVBurg]

@@automaticgainsay "These days, analog oscillators are so depressingly stable that it might be possible to pull it off." haha I'm laughing but in reality I'm dying inside... This is too true my friend.

[@animalbeats]

I'm not Marc Doty but I do wonder what the heck your doing.

[@automaticgainsay]

I'm not sure how to address your question!

[@animalbeats]

Sorry Marc, you commented during the video that "you didn't know what the heck you were doing" reviewing the Korg Volca. I've never seen an FM synth so I didn't know what you were doing either, even tho I'm not Marc Doty. I'll try hard to not be annoying in the future :)

[@st3x442]

+AutomaticGainsay silF

[@animalbeats]

Þröstur Sveinbjornsson Society of Indian Law Firms (SILF) is a constituent body of 100 law firms and is the apex representative organisation for corporate commercial and litigation law firms

[@zacsuxatgaming4982]

This guy is like Khan Academy but cooler

[@smallalien5860]

We get it. You usually use analogue.

[@nickdestruct]

fk me.. i wrote a paragraph and lost it gg utube. i use the volca fm a lot for all my nin, ministry, skinny puppy, pig, wanna b tracks ive made over the years. but who cares what people think. even jean michelle jarre and his disdain for the dx7. wonder how many hipsters with a room full of Reverb'd vintage synth bukakke bought a digitone. 🤔aint no shame in the digital game

[@chikusobox]

Less talk more rock.

[@automaticgainsay]

My kind and loyal following doesn't show up here to watch me noodle about or cover Daft Punk songs, alas. I demonstrate functionality and resultant sound, and that's been my shtick lo these ten years since I started. Luckily, the Internet is just bursting with people who want you to watch them play a Volca FM. :)

[@WalterGiroldi]

Muy buen video, te felicito, paso un tutorial en español para aprender a usar este maravilloso sintetizador: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fWPGhIaGicqMiqc

[@MrVadymMykh]

Ok grandpa = ok boomer )))

[@automaticgainsay]

Aw, look at you employing an idiom and everything! Great job. P.S. I’m Gen X, and in the grand custom of my generation, I’d like to invite you to fuck off.

[@freeecountryy]

Yr tutorials rule

[@derekspitz9225]

Nice vid. Although, what it covered could have been done in a quarter of the time. SMH

[@automaticgainsay]

Look at you shaking your head in disgust. I can't tell you how much I regret harming you to this degree. In the future, I'll make shorter videos in the past. I am so, so sorry, Derek.

[@derekspitz9225]

@@automaticgainsay 👍

[@ultravirtual5749]

its not analogue but it doesn't have to be to be awesome...

[@nelsman]

My god! Just get to the point.

[@automaticgainsay]

Thank you for your kind and helpful input.

[@BeardslapRadio]

Is this the end of your digitaphobia?

[@BeardslapRadio]

Can we expect to see a Blofeld demo?

[@automaticgainsay]

Ha ha, no. :D I'm still just as afraid of it as before.

[@longfade]

I am still looking for a volca FM KZbin Series that isn’t a waste of time. Sadly, this is not it; a fifteen minute vamp that, if stripped of the pointless, irrelevant chatter might have five minutes of meaningful content. I’m going to try some of the next few. Maybe it will get better. You gotta quit talking about yourself though. Seriously.

[@automaticgainsay]

Hey, Zach... you might notice that this is only one video of a series that examines the entirety of the Volca FM. While you might not be familiar with me, I've been doing synth demonstrations for over a decade on KZbin, and have a huge following and viewership. I understand that you might be new to Automatic Gainsay, and that's fine... but perhaps you should have a greater understanding of the channels you peruse before you criticize them. You should feel embarrassed about proposing that your opinion is an objective assessment of a video or channel. If this video, or series you didn't watch, didn't address your specific needs, I regret that. But you could also ask questions. While I'm sad that my video didn't meet your needs, I also feel like your personal preferences are substantially irrelevant. Good luck in your quest to find your personal requirements from other people trying to meet the needs of the average of people.

[@isocarboxazid]

Damn, who shit in your corn flakes?

[@TheMrANONYMOOSE]

SnaShH it?

[@Synthelicious]

Lol how can we hate you for showing us awesome gear?