Hardware Session #29 | Korg Volca Bass, Sample, FM, & Keys w/ Arturia Keystep

Hey guys! I'm back with another Hardware Session. This one is using all Volcas! Adding the Keystep really adds a lot more power & flexibility to the setup, allowing me to sequence and play the Volcas with ease. Oh, and check out this neat 2 tier Volca stand by 3DWaves. It holds up to 4 Volcas and can sit at 2 different angles. 😎 Cool stuff!
•• SESSION BREAKDOWN @ 04:49 ••
Anyways, I really hope you all enjoy this video. As always, thank you SO much for watching, littleBIGsynths! 😁
If you enjoy my videos, please be sure to LIKE, COMMENT, SUBSCRIBE, and/or SHARE 😉👍
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Gear used:
- Arturia Keystep (Sequencing/ controlling)
- Korg Volca FM (Main sequence / melody)
- Korg Volca Bass (Bass sequences)
- Korg Volca Keys (Chords)
- Korg Volca Sample (Drums)
Other:
- Tascam DR-05 handheld digital recorder
- Behringer XENYX 802 mixer
- Boss RV-6 Reverb
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Explore my channel:
/ littlebigsynths
or check out some of my previous videos:
Hardware Session 25
• Hardware Sessions #25 ...
Hardware Session 24
• Hardware session #24 |...
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For even more content, follow me on Instagram: @littlebigsynths

[@thevanishingsaxon663]

Dude, I love that you add captions to your videos to answer some of the most fundamental questions that people might have. Amazing btw... and to think some people call these things toys.

[@blocktockblock6329]

loved the session breakdown! learned a lot! loving the sound, esp the bass line!

[@littleBIGsynths]

Thanks! 🙂 Glad you enjoyed it. It's something new I have been trying with these Hardware Sessions. Hoping it will prove useful for people watching. 👍

[@irunatbullets]

I really like your videos, the demos and tutorials are awesome. I'm not far away from having a similar setup. It's nice to make music (or the weird mess I end up with) without a computer. I stumbled over your content trying to find out about Keystep and now I can't wait for my birthday. I might have to get that midi splitter too.

[@adrianolopez5371]

Very good song! It reminds me somehow Joy Division.

[@littleBIGsynths]

Thank you! 😊

[@fabio.lor.]

80s nostalgia. I love it

[@littleBIGsynths]

Yeah, I'm a sucker for some 80s vibes right now. Heavily influenced for sure. 😉👍 Thanks for watching.

[@K0L1]

i love this song!

[@littleBIGsynths]

Thank you! 😁

[@zefMusic]

To me sounds like there is a real person inside volca sample playing drums. 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@littleBIGsynths]

Haha Thanks! And Thanks for watching. 🙂

[@MarkBatch]

Wicked

[@mikkoinemyr9490]

Love your stuff and I have learnt alot from you. Keep it up!! Nice tune btw, greetings from Sweden!

[@JordanService]

Damn this is so great. Song mode is so under rated.

[@ludwigkopp8130]

Very rich full-featured session. Sounds like a wall of synths when you close your eyes. 👍🤖🤚

[@haroldpalmer3245]

Very impressive.

[@littleBIGsynths]

Thank you! 🙂

[@BubbaSatori]

Excellent tune. Great session breakdown. Very helpful. Thanks!

[@armandostabile9385]

How can you simultaneosly sequence the bass and use keys/FM as lead with Arturia? Do you need a kind of MIDI hub? thanks for the video, really nice

[@irunatbullets]

Yeah, that's the thing in the bottom right corner with the different colored cables coming out the back.

[@thunderskins]

Check out section 4.3.3.2 of the keystep manual. I just learned about this feature from this video. Controlling two midi channels simultaneously (one via sequencer and one manually) is pretty handy. You’ll only need a midi splitter if you didn’t have midi thrus all down the line.

[@s3nsec0rruptr80]

i just learned this yesterday because this same guy posted a tutorial, but you can write a sequence, send it to one midi channel using a midi thru box, and hit shift+kbd play+midi channel, and that sends the note info on a different channel than the sequence, allowing the leads! i don't know about using the arp with the sequencer, though i suppose with the fm specifically you could use its onboard arpeggiator.

[@OScillatorJams]

Great!

[@littleBIGsynths]

Thanks! 🙂

[@dikaspo]

Thks for all of your jam & tutorial. What you think about volca keys & volca fm, who are better?

[@thesleepover3776]

Excellent as always man! Really digging the melody and bass line.

[@littleBIGsynths]

Thanks, dude! Glad you enjoyed it and thanks for always stopping by. 👊🙂

[@clindust]

fantastic sound! and special thanks for session breakdown

[@littleBIGsynths]

Thank you very much! 🙂 Glad you enjoyed the extra bit of on-screen info. 👍

[@LuisHouses]

Amazing sound!

[@psykheart]

Very cool! Thanks for breaking it down!

[@expensivenotes]

Cool set up and sounds! Well played. :-)

[@jaimepinto712]

Well done, yes! Congratulations! 👏

[@Elkesar1]

Very coool mate!

[@littleBIGsynths]

Thank you! 🙂

[@cougarman8]

Fantastic! Big fan of your videos!

[@hervedesormeaux1478]

Very great vidéo. Thank you. 👍👍👍👍

[@andyet1888]

This is incredible!!

[@michaelsmith5577]

What’s the make & model of the midi controller, to right of the Vfm it’s just out of shot.

[@littleBIGsynths]

The thing you are referring to is a MIDI Solutions Quadra Thru. It is a 1 input 4 output MIDI splitter/thru box. 👍 Thanks for watching. 🙂

[@peterstean2138]

Necro thread I know but thank you so much for explaining how everything is connected and how you build up the track. Most of the people posting Volca videos seem to want to keep all the secrets to themselves! One question if I may - what processing are you doing with the sound? There's clearly a bit of reverb going on with some of the instruments there, so I'm guessing you're doing that with fx on the mixer?

[@TheGreatPanicker]

Where did you find yellow midi cables? I can't find these anywhere, but I have red and blue! Thanks.

[@leprevada]

Hey dude, thanks for the video. May I please ask...In what mode do you have the selection switches on the back of the Keystep? Internal? I'm a noob and have pretty much an identical setup to this but am having real troubles getting everything synced. Thanks.

[@vileguile4]

Love it!

[@nickademuss42]

very inspiring, I am learning the ways of the volca's myself. I have the FM and the Drum, not made up my mind if I like the volca drum yet... I am also running arturia, and a UNO synth, I am thinking of adding the volca Bass just have more depth. Have you tried the Volca Drum?

[@rickoibop7372]

How to setting eaach volcas midi channel number At the keystep. ???

[@TheMatfa88]

Hi man! Good session ! I have this material but arturia keys step play all volva on like time... I don't understand please help me ^^

[@homar68]

I tried to connect my keystep with my 3 volcas by using a midi thru box but, if I set the proper MIDI channel of one of the volcas (i.e. th e volca keys), the sequencers of the three volcas start simultaneusly when I press "play" on the keystep, why ? There is a solution? I filtered real - time events with the thru box but,in this way, no one of the volcas starts from keystep play button.

[@jmmesaaudio]

But how you did to sequence 16 step pattern in the vBass.?? I see it's running 8 steps. I'm so confuse. I have V synth and FM and I cannot do that on this ones 😔 I hope you can help me. You are doing great job with your videos. Thx for the inspiration 👍👏👏

[@littleBIGsynths]

Thank you! 🙂 Glad you enjoyed the video. The vBass is actually being sequenced by the Arturia Keystep. The Keystep can sequence up 64 steps no problem. It's a great accessory for Volca owners for sure. 😉👍

[@smiledog6127]

I would also like to know if the KeyStep can actually sequence two instruments (both volca bass and keys) at the same time? Thank you

[@davidb3839]

so are you feeding the midi information for the volcas (sequence for bass and fm) through different midi channels?

[@b3bs]

Nice! How did you trigger the drop/fill in at 1:19 ?

[@littleBIGsynths]

Thank you! 🙂 You can use the vSamples song mode to program a chain of patterns. So in this case, a fill pattern is included in this chain. 👍 Hope that makes sense.

[@b3bs]

@@littleBIGsynths Ah, I forgot! My vsample is also my vintage drum machine ;-). BTW, too bad what Korg has screwed up with the 10 Midi channels :-( Edit: Would you share your samples with me? They sound really good!

[@zeusdelolimpo2882]

gracias por enseñar como estan conectados ,,muchas gracias i puedes hacer tutorial de como se conectan todos los equipos te agradesco infinitamente,,,,,,,saludos desde PERU

[@gerryk9]

Great explanation….I still don’t get it😫

[@hillside901]

I have this set up but how do control each individual volca?

[@jmmesaaudio]

Your videos and your music are very inspiring. Your are a great composer, I like to much the sound design on your tracks. I'm new doing jams and want to invite you to my channel and ear my first jam. I really want to know your opinions. I think I saw all your videos. Great!!! Keep producing music. I LOVE MUSIC. Greetings from Colombia

[@littleBIGsynths]

Thank you very much! I appreciate it. 😊 Your first jam was awesome! I really enjoyed it. Subbed. Keep em' coming. 👍