Deep Dive into All Korg Volca (and naming the final winner)

[@rayderrich]

I just acquired the Keys, Bass and Beats and am happy I found this video, just to see what the others are about. I wish you jammed for an hour though. Thanks.

[@oryjen]

All of them are interresting and exciting, but I allways come back to my dear Volca Keys!

[@AdamVoxMusic]

So True! 🙂

[@planet_oith]

Great vid!

[@rsafreire]

I holeheatadly agree! It is insane the power these 3 little boxes have. It took me a long time to appreciate the keys' real potential but now it is hands down my favorite! I am so happy Korg released this range.

[@TZerot0]

I personally love the sound of the modular, I know it's probably the 2nd least "useful", but it sounds so good

[@AdamVoxMusic]

It definitely has some great sounds! 👍

[@johnchongsing7745]

I’d be FASCINATED to see your take on the Aria Compact J-6

[@smoothbrain8519]

I just acquired the Bass, am excited to deep dive and your series has got me hyped for building a band of Volcas. Loved the jam at the end, thanks!

[@AdamVoxMusic]

Thanks for the comment! 🙂

[@FKU7777]

Keys was my first purchase after my Mc-303 buy years before. Love it, a power house of a small bit of gear. Had the sample, which is also excellent, sold it to justify the purchase of other gear but should have kept tbh.

[@mustangsupersnake7848]

I LOVE your list and the top 3! Thank you :)

[@AdamVoxMusic]

Thank You!

[@emixbase]

Man... you hit me with the Carrie song on the midi volca fm 🍻, the keys and korg nts 1 its next on my wishlist ! Thanks for the video !

[@AdamVoxMusic]

Thanks for the comments! 🙂 yes, the DX E-Piano is super nice!

[@L3D0L3]

Just picked up a Bass for cheap, a few days later ordered the Drum, next on my list is the Sample 2. I think I just went down a rabbit hole.

[@lundsweden]

My favorites? The Sample 2 and Volca FM 2 and Modular. I've owned the original sample and FM, Bass, Keys, Mix and Drum. The Mix was my least favorite, it's very noisy and can't even run on batteries. I found the Drum kind of fun, also like how it looks, but after a while I found the limits to it, sampled all my sounds and sold it.

[@caifothiazz]

I have only Keys, Drum and now newly Sample. But I agree.

[@htechdance]

My Volca FM 2 is my current fav out of 5 I own.

[@AdamVoxMusic]

I still do not have the FM2, but it is definitely on my wish list!

[@htechdance]

@@AdamVoxMusic I did a short jam just for you-kzbin.info/www/bejne/n4iqdKuAaK6ZiLs&ab_channel=Htechdance

[@karty339]

Outstanding work on all your volca episodes. I found them very informative and serve as a great reference for navigating the volca range. Thank you for sharing.

[@everythingandnothing4856]

This looks so unbelievably overwhelming. Great video and thanks for sharing!

[@AdamVoxMusic]

Thanks! :)

[@dj_0xCD]

Though I'm an Ableton guy, hardware synths are true source of inspirations IMO🤗 My favorite is Volca Drum for the same reason with you👍🏻 Actually every volcas are precious😂

[@noir4356]

The Volca Keys was my first Volca, later on I bought the Sample, Bass and Beats. Buut the Keys is the one I've kept. It's very underrated.

[@AdamVoxMusic]

I also like it a lot! It's basically a minikorg 700s in a small package!

[@andih.5818]

My loved brother gave me an volca keys as a present and i started to play. What should i say? That is great to expierence the range of things you are able to do with that small synth. I'm addicted for more volcas 😁. Long live korg!

[@johnchongsing7745]

Great presentation! I agree with your choice of the Keys and the Drum (tho I would have placed the drum in the top 3. Don’t know the FM at all but am quite interested in the new version. You got some very rich sounds from it. My interest has definitely been piqued. was disappointed that you didn’t rate the Bass higher. All in all a very interesting video. Thanks!

[@AdamVoxMusic]

Yes, the bass was in the top fight, it is very usefull!

[@Rolf_Golfball]

great contet! high quality, love it

[@AdamVoxMusic]

Thanks!!!

[@AlexIsASeraphim]

Thank you Adam. That was awesome. Impressive jam. Yes a minikorg-esque synth that is not just monophonic is a great thing. I know the beats snare gets a thumbs down on the internet but doing the mod is easy enough but you'll need a magnifying glass. I know its kick drum sound gets some love but I use it for the agogo and claves, which my rd-6 being a 606 clone, doesn't have. The fm 1 does have great bass and pad patches imho and it is so easy to change up the factory patches with the velocity and transpose sliders. I've had difficulty with the samples 2 loading on samples. With librarian there is the insistance that the midi channel cannot be greater than 10. Yet no matter how many times I've installed it, my laptop assigns it channel 11 due to the some - not all - lower channels being taken by other software like the daw audio interface. Still haven't solved that problem. And voysr which was designed for the original samples, I can't get that working with the samples 2 either via usb or audio. So not a unit I'd recommend for noobs like myself if putting on our own samples easily, is a deal breaker. I acknowledge though, your mileage may differ. I'm glad I followed you and look forward to what you post next. Go well. B.

[@AdamVoxMusic]

Thanks alot for an insightful comment! :)

[@_-Marcel-_]

Thank you! Very interesting and entertaining!

[@colloquialprism]

I love the Volca Drum! Its my only volca for now but you can definitely get some real heat out of it. I have been considering the FM but now im going to look at the Keys too

[@Aleksandr_Kozhemyakin]

The last jam is so beautiful!

[@AdamVoxMusic]

Thanks! 🙂

[@dillipphunbar7924]

Cool jam. Your top 3 are the only ones I own. Maybe, to finish off that slot/space you had when they were all laid out, you include a FM2 with it's own NTS-1, controlling it from its midi out, giving a very rich main lead/chords tone to play over the sequences of all the others. Anyway, you have a great collection and some good skills in music making. Looking forward to hearing more.

[@AdamVoxMusic]

I am curious about the FM2 and its MIDI out. It could open up new possibilities!

[@LockStoppageSandwich]

The best Volca is the one that gives you what you want it to 😂

[@bigkik]

Your volca's deep dive are my reference to learn more how to use them. I don't have them all, but i'm overall really happy with the ones I bought.

[@lucaloideryt768]

you sound like a very good person and your video was very useful to me. THANK YOU.

[@AdamVoxMusic]

Thank you!

[@hanspeters1796]

Here's is my Ranking: 8./9. Modular/Sample (don't own) 7. Beats 6. NuBass 5. Keys 4. Kick 3. FM 2. Drum 1. Bass

[@caifothiazz]

I'm embarrassed about Drum. So many options, but the kicks just aren't as full as I want them to be. In contrast, the MIDI channels are so much better done than Sample has them. It takes an awful lot of time to make the desired sound on the Drum. Unfortunately, but in terms of usability while playing, Sample leads for me, and maybe Drum was a useless investment. But I won't sell it. The Hi-Hats and Percussion are amazing.

[@kiehtoo]

Well these are exactly the three I have, so thanks for the confirmation on the selection, I guess.

[@AdamVoxMusic]

Sounds good!

[@symbiat0]

Last year, my very first Volca was the Keys. And then I ended up buying the Volca Drum and then the Volca FM 😂

[@AdamVoxMusic]

Good choices! 👌😂

[@PAAmsterdam]

They are so addictive. It’s hard to stop buying more!

[@martinbeeby5750]

I like all my Volcas and on different days I have a new favourite Great Vid as always and always informative 👍

[@AdamVoxMusic]

Thanks!

[@MOOTANT1]

Thanks for this no BS video. 😎

[@Kung_Fu_Jesus]

I much prefer the Beats over the Drum any day. Try hooking it up to a Waldorf 2-pole, crank up the mods and rectifier and off you fly. Just being the kick level down a bit to allow the other instruments to get in the mix. The Sample is also a very useful piece , being able to assign reverb to any of the channels gives you a really nice transition between wet and dry in one pattern combine it with the isolator and you have a machine capable of producing a single track that’ll mash the dancefloor.

[@AdamVoxMusic]

That is a cool setup!

[@SandauxBeats]

Kudos on that last jam, sir!

[@AdamVoxMusic]

Thank You!

[@lowlevelretro]

Awesome, thanks... very helpful

[@AdamVoxMusic]

Thanks for the comment!

[@au77]

Great job!

[@AdamVoxMusic]

Thanks! :)

[@dylanmatthews1484]

My fav is the Volca bass , though i can see why you like the one you picked.

[@AdamVoxMusic]

Yes, volca bass is great. It was on place no 4.

[@robogod3000]

the volca keys is my absolute favorite too!

[@e8root]

My Volcas are FM and I yesterday ordered Keys... I anticipated Keys and FM to be at the podium with Keys being the best Volca ever. Visually FM is imho the best looking Volca, especially first revision with red display and red LEDs. I also like how Kick and Beats look sweet. Got stand for 3 Volcas so I might get new one. I think it will be Volca Mixer

[@AdamVoxMusic]

Sounds like you have lots of fun ahead of you! :)

[@Drinkyoghurt]

Don't get the mixer, it has terrible noise issues.

[@e8root]

@@Drinkyoghurt Thanks for the hint. Didn't know that.

[@waynesilverman3048]

Glad volca keys won,its got a lovely metallic industrial saw detuned sound or forgot u can connect it to a keyboard only 'fullsize' key board I still have stuck in my wardrobe is my massive with reflex speakers midi built in electronic late 90s Casio ,wish I was able to do it back then

[@BevisFriend2010]

The FM has to be the best value instrument of all time. I wouldn't part with mine for a fully functional DX-7. ;) My 3 to keep would have to be the FM, Sample & Bass. I had the Keys & Nubass but couldn't get on with either. Seemed like wishy washy versions of the FM & Bass. Never tried the Kick. The Mix is good for the money & handy. I really like the Drum synth. It does some excellent quirky stuff and plays well with the Modular, which is great fun. The Bass is a fantastic take on ol' TB303. The FM is mind-bendingly good for the price of a cheap FX pedal.. Mine cost me about £70 and it'd be the absolute last piece of gear I'd consider selling. I should look at the FM2 but just haven't had chance since getting into Akai mpc stuff. Their OP-X 4 Plug-in is a fantastically modern take on the DX-7 & FM synthesis.

[@AdamVoxMusic]

Thanks for a great comment! Yes Modular + Drum is a cool combination!

[@BevisFriend2010]

@@AdamVoxMusic Cheers. I think I may have been a bit hasty parting with my volca keys in all honesty. I've since bought a couple of Deepmind 12s though so can't really justify getting another one just for pads & leads. I could do with spending more time on the modular too. It has a great raspiness to it. I've also since gotten a Neutron, a Pro-1 and a model D. They've kinda taken over from my volcas being as affordable as Behringer stuff currently is. I like their own synths in particular. The Deepmind 12s are incredibly reasonable at about £450. Using the iPad Editor makes them a different beast altogether. They'd be my 2nd best recommendation after the Volca FM for sheer value. The FX & Mod Matrix make them bottomless in terms of sound design.

[@AfterNothingsEnd]

Jam at the end of the video is great!

[@AdamVoxMusic]

Thanks!

[@korgvolcakeys]

Volca Keys of course!

[@SandauxBeats]

Yeheyy!!! I have 2 out of 3 on your top 3! I got Keys and FM2! I have the Beats, though. :(

[@AdamVoxMusic]

Don't be sad, Beats is great for Techno and old school house!

[@rhmvideo]

Amazing tutorial..... Thanks a lot

[@AdamVoxMusic]

Thanks, happy you enjoyed!

[@drcentertainment4756]

The Volca Keys also is the only Volca that have them sweet lights under the selector switches.

[@SergijRatusnij]

I liked your music it's very cool

[@AdamVoxMusic]

Thanks! :)

[@grandmasterjo1]

Excellent video and pains taking to decide among 9 or 10 machines. Each one has its own unique character and personality. It gives excellent value for money and is compact. It’s not easy to pick but you did an amazing explanation and justification why the winners. Thank you 🙏

[@AdamVoxMusic]

Thanks a lot for the comment! :)

[@Volcaniced]

Bass ....... def.

[@AdamVoxMusic]

I was almost expecting that comment and some heat for leaving the Bass out of the top three... it is a fantastic piece of gear!

[@MikeM-fq8lc]

Grymt spelat!

[@AdamVoxMusic]

Tackar! 😊

[@ktfilm4789]

Took me 60 seconds(!!!) of unskippable advertisement to just watch this video about a Korg Volca. Thanks Google!

[@AdamVoxMusic]

Thanks for the feedback, I'll see what I can do.

[@westerncivilization]

what about an award for the mixer that had to deal with all those 1/8" inputs?

[@sebaster92]

The volca keys is the best of all the volcas, I found the best sound I look for in the machines now I synchronize it with a syntatk, tb3 and a sp 404 mk2

[@AdamVoxMusic]

Sounds Awesome!

[@erikavery1105]

I have the Beats, the OG Sample, and The Volca Mix. I'm getting more.

[@caythorgrimson]

nu bass is tha beast

[@Decoy303]

Volca Drum is the best Volca. Period.

[@mattcero1]

Dude! Perfect video for me as I'm wanting to pair something up (get more gear really) with my Novation Circuit. Would you recommend the Keys or one of the other to pair with the Circuit? Thank you!

[@AdamVoxMusic]

The Keys or maybe the Bass. These are the most versatile, and you can get a lot of sound out of these. Also very easy MIDI implementation. But no MIDI Thru though. That is a bummer, so you need to use one of the MIDI outs for this unit.

[@mattcero1]

@@AdamVoxMusic I just scored a Beats with power and midi cable for $50 so that'll be my jump off point. I couldn't pass up the deal being "like new".

[@Drinkyoghurt]

No idea how the Volca drum placed so high. IMHO it's the worst after the beats, I just couldn't get any good sounds out of it. I swapped it for a Volca Sample 2 and couldn't be happier. Also, the Volca Bass really needs a delay/reverb effect to shine to its full potential, by far one of my favorites!

[@AdamVoxMusic]

Thanks for the comment!

[@IntangibleMan]

Great video bud! So what’s your take on all the complaints out there about the Keys being “noisy”? I’m about to grab that sweet B2Go deal Korg has going at the moment and im torn between the Keys or Bass

[@AdamVoxMusic]

It is part of the charm! If you ask @Volcaniced he would recommend the Bass. I'm more into the sound of the Keys.

[@disomniatijuana2363]

I didn't know that volca Kick existed

[@ginociancio1]

I like your videos very much what do you think of the volca kick you think it make a difference to the bass thanks 👍🎼

[@AdamVoxMusic]

The Kick is definitely not the same as the Bass. Very diffrent sound and editing capabilities. The Kick is quite underestimated, and is good for Kick sounds, percussion, basslines or even some mono synth sounds.

[@mbanini6848]

Hi . Iiked this and other jams you uploaded. I would like to know, Did you try Volca Kicks? I wonder about your opinion sincerely. Good job!

[@AdamVoxMusic]

Yes, I did a deep dive on the Volca Kick. :)

[@Antonio-or6cx]

Great video! The best volca is to have the opportunity to choose one (or two or three or four...) for each occasion. I want them all!!! 😂

[@AdamVoxMusic]

Yes, it is so hard to choose! :)

[@davidbanner9001]

1. Bass 2. Drum 3. Keys

[@AdamVoxMusic]

Got it! 😉

[@DanikDarko]

watch the last jam at 1.75x speed. so cool

[@AdamVoxMusic]

Must try! :)

[@virtuosomaximoso1]

I've always wanted a full volca rig

[@AdamVoxMusic]

Me too, and I finaly got it! ☺️

[@dinogoldie9716]

I've owned all the Korg Volcas except the Kick and the NuBass. The best of the Volcas are the Drum, FM2 and Modular. Is the Volca line now dead because there hasn't been a genuinely new model in quite some years now (The Sample2 and FM2 revisions don't really count). I would still quite like a Volca Vocoder or a Volca wavetable. Ideally, what I'd like is Korg to bring out a Volca+ or Volca "Pro" line of boxes at around 400 bucks with better connectivity (sd card storage for samples and 3.5mm eurorack patch points).

[@AdamVoxMusic]

Good ideas! I think I would like a Volca MS-20 or a Volca M1!!! :)

[@libriumproject7207]

New volca FM 2 Is amazing.

[@AdamVoxMusic]

I haven't tried it yet, but it sounds great!

[@flaviocampos8053]

is it possible to plug the volca keys in an arturia minilab3? thanks in advance.

[@AdamVoxMusic]

Sorry, havn´t tried that.

[@JOYaL3ooo]

Bravooooo

[@andrewdeterman6721]

What's the name of this song that you play at 10:11? It's been driving me crazy. I can't find it!

[@AdamVoxMusic]

Robin S - Show me love

[@andrewdeterman6721]

@@AdamVoxMusic thank you!!!

[@fusionistaaaa]

Where did you get those DX7 presets for the Volca FM? Thanks

[@AdamVoxMusic]

They where included as presets.

[@thepglenn]

Ihave most of the volcas love them with the sq1

[@RDHamel]

I’m holding out for the volca banjolele.

[@AdamVoxMusic]

Yes, that and the Volca Cowbell!

[@SpeccyMan]

I did guess the top 3 but had 1st and 2nd place swapped round.

[@boothbuster]

Volca FM must be PISSED - you wear its shirt, after all, it thought it had the first place prize in the bag! :)

[@AdamVoxMusic]

:)

[@riccardotorri8648]

sorry to barge in: I desperately need to find a power cord for volca. from mixer to volca. where can I find it?

[@AdamVoxMusic]

See my other response.

[@choppergirl]

So do you line all these into a multi channel mixer or something? Is that how you are connecting them all? Or are you daisy chaining them. I'm trying to find an excuse for buying my first audio mixe that is not inside my desktop computer software.

[@AdamVoxMusic]

I am connecting them through an analogue 12 channel mixer.

[@dianamiino7391]

Totally agree, I really LOVE my volca keys (for some reason I tend to avoid capital letters, this box is a part of me after all). Yes a very simple and basic analog subtractive rig, but sports some sweet candies, like lfo sync, delay sync, paraphony, key velocity. And yes, you can play a square wave, just select poly ring and play staccato style (arpeggio from an external keyboard, and of course a sequencer, can do this easily). Of course a "mark II" release would make sense, for instance I would love the ability to chain patterns and step by step programming, full square wave capability, etc. But... I'm in love, who cares, no one is perfect, no synth is perfect.

[@AdamVoxMusic]

Thanks for a insightful comment! ☺️

[@dianamiino7391]

@@AdamVoxMusic I love your videos, keep on exactly this way 👍

[@the_anomaly-y3o]

I really like the sample 2 because I can use it as a drum machine and a synth

[@AdamVoxMusic]

Yes, it is really a workstation!

[@1AndyGTA]

I am lucky to have the volca keys

[@s56hqr222]

Keys are so good I bought 2.

[@AdamVoxMusic]

Cool, then you can create some true pads!

[@ruloma]

1 - Bass and 2 - Sample for me

[@AdamVoxMusic]

Good Choices! :)

[@Skyeraway]

Why did you put 2 digital synths on the top 3😭😭😭

[@AdamVoxMusic]

That is a good question!

[@turboeddy]

If i could only have 2. To make a song with -vocals what 2 would be best?

[@AdamVoxMusic]

Might I ask what genre? Otherwise, I think Sample + FM can be used for almost any genre.

[@turboeddy]

@@AdamVoxMusic Not sure yet but some Hip hop and psychedelic stuff (pink Floyd style) just experimenting really. As it's all new to me.

[@turboeddy]

@@AdamVoxMusic would it be better to get a Korg Monologue instead? Or would 2 Volcas be better? It's such a minefield 😂

[@MrLeftfootlouie]

I'm over 60 years old. I'm sorry but somehow I missed just how you linked these little music machines together. Do you have a technical guide on the correct paths?

[@AdamVoxMusic]

It is quite easy. You select any unit as sync master, and prefereply this one is playing throughout the jam. Then you connect the sync out of that unit to the sync in of the next unit. Then you connect the sync out of that unit to the sync in of the next unit, and so on.

[@MM-vu8dp]

@@AdamVoxMusic Hi. Great videos, thank you. How do you select the sync master unit?

[@AdamVoxMusic]

@@MM-vu8dp best to select one that is playing throughout the jam. Usually I select one of the drum unit, and then never stop it, just mute it. That way you keep the jam in sync all the time.

[@ninjabeatz905]

Awesomeness

[@AdamVoxMusic]

Thanks!

[@cemegonuts]

I have Bass, Beats, and Keys. I think the Bass is my favorite, Keys second... and honestly, i'm not happy with Beats at all. That is my rating. I would like to get a Drum and FM2.

[@thomaslessing1546]

Which one u recomend for beginers?

[@AdamVoxMusic]

I think Volca Bass or Volca Keys is best to start with.

[@thomaslessing1546]

@@AdamVoxMusic i bought volca bass

[@claudesilverio677]

Got the three. Love the Drum, the Keys Has this full sounds. The Fm I just began to play around. Love the volcas for their simplicity and their great sounds. As a Beginner on synthesizer they are perfect. kzbin.info/www/bejne/jIawZYeLpcijptk

[@dazling69]

i have to agree the keys is the best volca,, i havent played with a fm yet,,, but if the snare wasn't so bad I would have said beats no2 and the original bass as no3. thing that puts me off drum ,, it just sounds like a ay3 chip on a zx spectrum doing drum noises.....

[@AdamVoxMusic]

It has a special sound indeed! However I'm not really sure what chip they have used, but I don't think it is a AY-3 chip. Rumor is that it 's the same as in ElecTribe (Texas Instrument TMS320). I'll have to search the internet and see if someone has taken one apart. :)

[@MoonWalkersbin]

what about volca FM 2?

[@AdamVoxMusic]

I don't own one yet unfortunately. Would like one though.

[@palel]

You're Swedish I can tell. Tjena! Great video. On thing though: It's pronounced "base", "bass" means aborre the way you say it :D Remember Basshunter? I wish he was hunting fish instead of creating music.

[@AdamVoxMusic]

Japp tack för tipset! Men jag är medveten om mitt Aborre/bas talfel! ;) Jag försöker komma ihåg det, men ibland slinker det igenom en "Aborre"... :D

[@SergijRatusnij]

I prefer to do everything on one Moog. It is my personal opinion.

[@AdamVoxMusic]

Moogs are also great. Which one is your favorite?

[@SergijRatusnij]

@@AdamVoxMusic Moog Subsequent 37

[@SergijRatusnij]

@@AdamVoxMusic And I dream about MOOG SOUND STUDIO SEMI MODULAR BUNDLE MOTHER-32 and SUBHARMONICON and DFAM And Pioneer Toraiz SP-16

[@mertonderurumateoalonso3470]

every time you say bass i vant stop thinking of fish

[@AdamVoxMusic]

Haha, it is kind of my signum. But I have worked on my bass now so I usually say bass and not bass anymore.

[@MaDmanEXE]

Can't wait for this video to be outdated.

[@ChromosomeSyndicate]

The keys is the one i dont like.😅 I never use it

[@AdamVoxMusic]

But why! 🤣

[@ChromosomeSyndicate]

@@AdamVoxMusic I don't like the lack of waveform selection plus the mandatory pre-set oscillator setup hassle.

[@ChromosomeSyndicate]

@@AdamVoxMusic If they had made a two-oscillator synth with two different oscillators, a bit like the MS20 setup with ring and noise three voices, that would have been a different matter.

[@jenstrudenau9134]

I would consider the FM the worst one. It's not good for hands on control and basically just an emulator that you can get for free as vst.

[@AdamVoxMusic]

Thanks for your opinion.

[@kierenmoore3236]

My top 4 Volcas:- Keys 🥇👑 No Pttrn Chn :/ FM/2 🥈👑 Both hav Pttrn Chn?? Bass 🏅🔀? No Pttrn Chn :/ Modular 🏅 ---------- Sample 2 🔀? 🟠 (drm smpls = great btm) Kick Nubass 🤔 Drum ----- Beats 👎🏼 (unlss snr tone &kik lngth modded) … ^ No Pttrn Chn :/ Mix 👎🏼👎🏼 ➡️ 🟠 FX 🟠 Looper 🟠 ==================== Adam’s:- Keys ✅, FM-2 ✅, Drum**, Bass ☑️, Nubass*, Sample-2*, Modular**, Beats ❌, Kick*, (Mix) ❌ [FX] Mine:- Keys ✅, FM-2 ✅, Bass ☑️, Modular, Sample-2 Kick, Nubass, Drum, Beats, Mix

[@AdamVoxMusic]

Great top 4! :)