How to Mod Your Korg Volca Beats Snare Guide | Before and After Audio Demo | DIY C78 MOD

In this video I show you how to modify the stock Volca Beats to improve the stock snare sound.
Chapters:
0:00​ Intro
0:44 Stock Snare Demo
2:16 The C78 Mod & Schematic
3:20​ Tools Needed
4:28​ The MOD
8:20 TEST
9:04 REBUILD
9:38 FINAL DEMO
10:15 Outro
Link to Dimitree PDF : www.muffwiggler.com/forum/vie...
Link to my Techno Jam featuring the modded Volca Beats : • Techno Jam MS20-mini ,...

[@sp0ck275]

Thank you wel done! 🔥Now I wait for the separate outs mods 😜

[@tonelessgear1241]

Hey thanks very much! I’m just sorting out some screen recording software but hopefully I’ll upload some stuff on it before Christmas :)

[@mbrombert]

Nice video! The combination of the stock snare and clap can have more body to it if you add in the high tom and adjust the parameters. The sound is really nice once its all mixed well. I also modded the snare, sounds much better afterwards. I then decided to add in the individual outputs which is a game-changer. All the best to you!

[@tonelessgear1241]

Thanks Robert a real treat of a comment to receive on my birthday! Shall have to try out layering the Tom! Cheers, Cameron

[@edwardfletcher7790]

Thanks very much for sharing this mod !! Cheers from South Australia !

[@tonelessgear1241]

🇦🇺❤️

[@edwardfletcher7790]

@@tonelessgear1241 Hey, is been a while, have you done any more mods yet ? I'm working on an internal battery mod using 2x 18650 & $2 AliExpress charger booster module.

[@tonelessgear1241]

I don’t think I have actually… way too much playing not enough modding! What’s the vibes with that battery mod is that so it’s rechargeable..? Colour me clueless haha

[@pipnpop47]

I really appreciate the synesthesic descriptions of what you're changing - I can normally never visualise what the changes mean

[@tonelessgear1241]

Thanks AJ I appreciate that! I try to keep it brief and not bog down too much in details, whilst still explaining some concepts along the way 🥁

[@0xbenedikt]

While I cringed at the mod for not using a ceramic SMD capacitor, I really enjoyed the before and after demo for deciding whether this is something I want to do.

[@tonelessgear1241]

Oh totally if I had surface mounts (or any knowledge on how the sizing works 😂) I’d be all over sticking an SMD in there!

[@nellythesquid]

Great video man! Thanks for sharing! I’m interested in doing this mod myself. I’m wondering if you know what size the C78 surface mount footprint is? If it’s 0805, there are 50v/ 680nf caps available which should solder straight on, no glue required. Is there a reason you chose a thru hole cap?

[@tonelessgear1241]

Yo! So it was this exact reason, I didn’t know the footprint or enough about surface mount… I should do some reading 😂

[@federicomariconti4347]

hi very good job! as i know noting about capacitor, could you please give me more technical details (or a link too for exemple on amazon)? i searched on amazon and on the web for a capacitor 680nf but what i found look different from yours...thanks in advance!

[@tonelessgear1241]

Hey dude thanks. Any 680nF non polarised capacitor should work great. You also can experiment with different values for different sounds. I couldn’t find exactly the one I used but if you want piece of mind this should work fine! www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Capacitor-Polypropylene-Kemet-Mkp-680nf-Series-X2-Anti-interference-15mm-/133987329105?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l6249&mkrid=710-127635-2958-0

[@volt7cooltangs701]

Hi, Great vid TG and great Mod! Are you anywhere near London? SE? M25? Want my beats modded but useless with a soldering iron. Can post if in UK and pay of course etc.

[@tonelessgear1241]

Cheers! Yeah based in Berkshire dude so just outside the M25 off the M4 pop me a message on Instagram @tonelessnoise or set me an email [e-mail] and we’ll figure something out! 🎉

[@BurntWeeny435]

Good job. I would love to do this on mine, would you say this is quite an easy mod for someone like me that has never really done any soldering?

[@tonelessgear1241]

Hello there! Thank you :), I think it would be worth getting your soldering skills up first as it’s quite fiddly... Personally, I don’t think I could have done it right off the bat before I was really confident at soldering! I recommend building a few diy audio kits (guitars pedals/synth modules) first and see how that goes? You’ll end up with something really cool and you’ll work out if you have the knack for soldering, without potentially ruining your volca! Cheers, Cameron

[@BurntWeeny435]

@@tonelessgear1241 good idea, I'd hate to break something.

[@JeezVince]

really cool! but... why gluing the capacitor? Is that definitely necessary?

[@tonelessgear1241]

I suppose it’s not completely necessary as it sandwiches nicely between the PCBs but my thoughts were to reduce strain in the place where the solder connections are! :)

[@natanvance]

Is the capacitor 680nf or 618nf? Knowing nothing about capacitors, I'd like to have the exact reference (also most others speak about an 100nf, hence my confusion). Thanks in advance!

[@tonelessgear1241]

Hey dude, I went for a 680nF this tike around, I’ve had success with 1uF as well I’m sure 100nF would sound great too! :)

[@natanvance]

@@tonelessgear1241 Thank you so much! Maybe it's just me but I like the sound with the 680nf more - almost like an 808. So I'll definitely will look for it. :)

[@numusique]

Thank you for sharing the mod. Ive already ordered the capacitor from my local electronics store 680nf looks exactly the same as the one in the video👍🏻 Happy days 😊

[@petercane6376]

Great mod. I have heard so many people Winge about the snare but you have done something about it. Well...I was thinking if building my own synth but the eventual cost would be so high because of the component costs etc. The Volca beats and Volca bass would surely be a basis of a good modular synth. If they made about six different machines all the same size, they could represent the modules . Just put them all together in a cabinet. Presto....one cheap but very useable synth. What do you think? Pete

[@tonelessgear1241]

Hi Pete, Thanks, I'm glad you liked the video! I'm a big Volca fan myself and they actually have tonnes of units now. The sample, keys, fm, kick to name but a few, definitely worth checking out. :) I believe there's even a Volca unit called the modular... So definitely have a look at that one if you're a fan of synths in general. If you wanna check out some serious DIY synth-age there's a channel called Look Mom No Computer that delves into the dark arts, but in a really nice, easy to understand format. You'd be right, a wall of volcas would be one cheap(ish) wall of a synth! They all sync up to one another really nicely and I bet it would sound wicked! It might be slightly less user programmable than a modular synth, but that's not to say you wouldn't be able to craft some really unique textures and music! there are some amazing artists that solely use volcas for live sets and they get great results. Cheers, Cameron

[@THEREALDATALORD]

I AM NICE MAN

[@tonelessgear1241]

👨‍🚀

[@lukasfischer7574]

I did not understand what capacitator you used. 😭 Can you write a comment? Thanks 😍

[@tonelessgear1241]

Hola! Any 680nF non polarised capacitor should work great. You also can experiment with different values for different sounds. I couldn’t find exactly the one I used but if you want piece of mind this should work fine! www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Capacitor-Polypropylene-Kemet-Mkp-680nf-Series-X2-Anti-interference-15mm-/133987329105?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l6249&mkrid=710-127635-2958-0

[@stanclarke9111]

Bored beyond belief

[@lundsweden]

I was SHOCKED to find your account has no video content- NOTHING! I wanted to see your superior videos, but it looks like you have made nothing.

[@apollyon7617]

lol wtf... a ONE MINUTE demo of the snare... just turn down the tone and decay. Problem solved.. no need to rip it open and spend money on parts. I'd argue that the people that dislike the snare have no clue about synthesis or how a snare is made.

[@tonelessgear1241]

Hey dude, thanks for the feedback. I personally really like how this mod allows you to dial in the snare noise component! Was a super fun project with some fiddly bits to put my ironing skills to the test. If you wanna check out the theory behind the mod this documentation is super cool and lined up nicely with the results of the mods you can make. Some really nice scope shots in the pdf attached to the post too. :) modwiggler.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=193238#p2710371

[@sideshowbob2421]

I still think it sounds like crap before the mod.