Comparing Roland Aira Compact T-8 vs Korg Volca Sample 2 - KEY differences to help us choose

[@paneyesonic1849]

Very useful schematic language, video format, content, pace, clarity, opinions! Thank you very much.

[@rochefsky]

Thanks for that positive feedback!

[@VelVibez]

I’m really liking your format of comparisons they are very organized and straight to the point!

[@rochefsky]

Thank you! I’ve got to get back to those - got wrapped up finishing a song :)

[@leelayz]

Hi …So nice of you to have made this comparison. So I recently got the T8 as my first drum machine. I am a guitarist trying to create a lofi jazz music (where previously I will take drums samples from splice and then compose jazz chords and solo on top of it). I wanted to get away from the DAW and got this box. I also have the SP404MK2. I played around with the T8 for a day learning and creating and within 24 hours I felt I could not use this for my regular music production because the sounds felt very acid/techno focussed. I was trying to create jazz and bossanova drum patterns. Also, I felt I can’t time-stretch the same note say over the (e,&,a) like I could on a DAW. I was struggling to understand how to do this and could not find a way. It felt like each beat tightly snaps to the pads and they can’t be extended or clubbed. If I want the same best on both 1 and e, and I place them on both then they are separate best and not the same beat over both of them. Which makes the beats very rigid. I tried decay and ascent on the notes but they are not able to solve the problem. Was there something I missed here? Anyway, I have now scheduled a return for the T8 because I felt limited with the sound. Instead I ordered, the volca drums and the volca sample 2, because I did not know which one will solve my problem (I will return one of them) I basically want to create rock/blues/jazz type on drums on this. Or even if that’s not fully possible, create beats which are not fully acid like the T8, but something where I can play ambient, post rock/indie rock type of guitar on top of it. Will you have any recommendations on how I should approach this ? And also among the T8, drum and sample2, which one will be the ideal one for me to pair with my sp404mk2 ? BTW, I had a lot of fun with the T8 for the 24 hours it was with me. I was pretty productive and also did a acid/techno ish live set :) So returning it felt bad in way. But I felt it was not going to help me create the type of sound I was chasing.

[@rochefsky]

Totally get the limit you hit on the T8 - it leans hard into that 303 acid bass , which is awesome if that’s what you want but not so much for the needs you described. Also not loads of sound design for the drum sounds compared to the Volca drum… and the Sample 2 is unlimited given it is sample based with the library app. I think you can time shift notes slightly on one of those machines but can’t find it right now. I suspect the Sample will meet your basic needs - but you’ll know after trying both!

[@ripsniff9742]

Get a boss or roland dr for jazz drum sounds. There also is step programming so you can go how deep it gets.

[@babonneau]

@leelayz So after 6 months, which one did you keep among the Korg drums and Korg sample? I was also eyeing towards the Alesis SR-16, as like you, it seems, I like playing more indie / post-rock / shoegaze guitar. I’m not a techno head although I can appreciate some electronic music sometimes, or maybe more synth pop / krautrock. I recently acquired a second-hand Arturia Microfreak, my first ever synth :)

[@defjeff2907]

Fun comparison! Sample 2 is a real fun machine to learn sample-based synthesis, something you won't get from t-8. If you take the extra 50 bucks and add a Retro Kits RK 002 to the Sample 2 you get polyphony via midi and other cool features.

[@rochefsky]

Retro kits... I definitely need to check that out - haven't heard of it at all yet - thank you!

[@defjeff2907]

@@rochefsky if you're into midi, Retro Kits makes the coolest stuff! And the owner is so friendly and responsive to any questions.

[@rochefsky]

@@defjeff2907 you I will definitely look!

[@Septeemberpain]

Thanks for sharing 😊

[@andreylvaney2491]

Thanks a lot for such a detailed review! I've been looking for such kind of video and found! Actually, I would love to buy T-8, but it is a huge disadvantage that it has an extremely limited number of sounds. The volca's ability to have a lot of samples and upload new ones really makes me think

[@rochefsky]

glad to hear it was helpful! There are just so many devices to chose from, maybe you can find a happy middle - like one of the elektron devices or novation - or even other Roland devices... good luck!

[@mvandell]

I've been considering both these units to couple with a Roland Aira J6, mainly for a drum machine type backing.. I think I'm going to go with the Novation circuit rhythm. It ticks all the boxes 😅🔥

[@uncanalmenor]

I was looking for something to lay down a groove while I play lead on my microfreak. After much research I boiled it down to these two. I'm so glad I found your video.

[@rochefsky]

Oh yeah - either of these (and many more!) would be great for that!! Have fun!

[@Void-tp4yv]

Great review. Thoroughly enjoyed it.

[@rochefsky]

Thank you!

[@401dB]

Brillian work Sir! I'm going to put the Volca on the map paired with the SP404. Using it for drum lines only.

[@rochefsky]

Nice! Hope you post your music!

[@robotmad]

Be interesting to see the comparison between the Roland P6 and Volca Sample !

[@rochefsky]

Ha - I just ordered the P6 yesterday! Stand by 😊 and I want to compare it to the ep133 and a few other devices too

[@robotmad]

@@rochefskySeems a great price for a Sampler and it's the next one on my list, I have the T8, E4, J6 and the MK1 Volca sample with the Pajen Mod. Look forward to seeing the review !

[@ildarkinildarkin]

Thanks for the useful videos!

[@rochefsky]

Appreciate the feedback!

[@realmchat6665]

I love the Volca Sample 2.

[@ido_is_here]

Hey thank you for that video, but can you please make a comparison between the volca sample 2 and the roland p-6 sampler?! I feel like they sit in the same position and they’re both amazing.

[@rochefsky]

Haven’t been able to order the P6 yet but I definitely will be trying one soon

[@litup6465]

Sample 2 goes on sale for $109 regularly- so there’s that!

[@rochefsky]

Good to know - thanks!

[@CM_Civillian]

Maybe I need both?

[@rochefsky]

that was my solution ;)

[@Fade2Gold]

Solid video...breaks a lot down

[@rochefsky]

Thanks for the feedback!

[@jjbing3]

This was perfect. I have the T8 and am thinking of getting the Volca Sample 2. I hate hate hate that the Volcas can’t be chained with Audio In! Theres so many of them and they don’t connect to each other! 😑😑😑😡

[@rochefsky]

Yes….but… they sell a Volca mixer 😝

[@jjbing3]

@@rochefsky I keep seeing only that it is trash and the worst volca out!

[@rochefsky]

I won’t argue with that 😆

[@simpson6700]

i mean... what's the point of a drum synth, if you can't really do "synthy" stuff with it? the T8 is a glorified sample player, that has a great bass synth built in. i really wish we could do a lot more with the drums of the T8. i think i'll return mine and get a volca that i'll load up with a bunch of drums. edit: no quantized pattern load is a big turnoff though...

[@rochefsky]

Yeah I get it - feeling like every device is meant to be a challenge with unique constraints that purposefully push our creativity… that’s my optimism - and justification for why I keep buying devices ;)

[@lundsweden]

I don't think these are really comparable. The Volca Sampler, being sample based is going to be much more flexible and powerful. The Roland's synth sounds would definitely be better quality, as would the drum sounds but you're stuck with 808/909 & 303 synth sounds.

[@rochefsky]

Agreed there are specific differences in how they produce sounds and the flexibility each offers... and that's why I decided to compare them - to help people decide which might work best for them depending on the features that are important to them... it wasn't meant as much as a "which is better", more like a "which works better for you"

[@lundsweden]

@@rochefsky It would be great if Roland made a little AIRA sample player, the AIRA line seem a little more polished than the Volcas.

[@jjbing3]

@@lundswedenI’m thinking that is the next one in the series. It’s gotta come soon! It’s the only thing we really need. It would have the mix in and out and it would be perfect!

[@rochefsky]

I’m really enjoying the MC-101 actually… might have to do a video on that one 😊

[@mvandell]

​@@jjbing3I've been wondering the same thing today 😅 Thinking of getting a Novation circuit rhythm to partner up with my Roland Aira J6 🤔

[@АнатолийНедашковский-о9м]

More logical to compare volca sample 2 vs rolland p6.

[@rochefsky]

Easy to say now 😝😝 the P6 wasn’t available when I did this video…….

[@dinogoldie9716]

Neither. Get the Korg Volca Drum or the Sonicware Liven lofi-12. Or save up and get Erica Synths' LXR02.

[@rochefsky]

Oh no… I might have to do that 😬

[@defjeff2907]

Volca Drum is one of my favorite synths! Endless sound to create and one of the better Volca sequencers.

[@rochefsky]

@@defjeff2907 think I need to include these Volca Drum in there next round!

[@dinogoldie9716]

​@@synthetic24 Sounds like you didn't know how to operate The Volca Drum. It's a very impressive bit of kit for the price (there's a huge leap up from that to the LXR02 or the Syntakt). The Roland T8 seems OK but the Korg Volca Sample2 has far better alternatives in the same price bracket (Elektron Model Samples, Sonicware Liven lofi12 and Novation Circuit Rhythm to name but three).Each to their own I guess....