Introducing KORG volca keys

An overview of the Korg volca keys, three note analogue synthesizer.
Presented by its hardware designer and chief engineer, Tatsuya Takahashi, it shows some of the synthesis and sequencing capabilities highlighting the powerful automation features.
3音アナログ・シンセサイザー volca keys。開発者である高橋達也が、VOICING機能による特徴的なシンセシスや、オートメーションを含むシーケンサー機能についてご紹介します。
more details:
English : www.korg.com/vo...
Japanese : www.korg.co.jp/...

[@ootheca]

this guy seriously, not only was he the head of development for the volca series but he can bang out some of the best sounding techno i have ever heard on a promo vid!

[@technoericg]

ya that last part was decent to say the least

[@icareg]

yeah that was a solid jam at the end. loved the bass line

[@Only-Juno-G]

Then i have other meaning what is the best techno sounding :)

[@gnarlysoundscapes7210]

The Volca Keys is just about my favorite of all synths. There's so many tricks up it's sleeves, and you can create some really mesmerizing soundscapes with it. I've played it almost every day for a year and a half and I'm still finding new sounds hiding in it.

[@roujiteku2114]

this is a late reply but do you think they're still great? when the volca fm came out apparently people were saying it made the volca keys age like milk in comparison

[@carlrhoads]

Lol it sounds like a toy you need to try some REAL Synths!

[@gnarlysoundscapes7210]

@@roujiteku2114 FM is a totally different type of synthesis. I don't like it much because you can't reshape your sounds as you play. So for me, Keys is easily the best. But, if you're someone who likes to just create one really nice patch and save it, then FM is probably better for you.

[@gnarlysoundscapes7210]

@@carlrhoads lol I guess you haven't watched my vids. I have a pretty excessive synth collection for a hobbyist. I also like to think I can make the Keys sound pretty dang awesome. :-P Maybe you could check out one of my jams on it and give me your opinion. My top 3 favorite synths as of now are the Behringer (or Octave) Cat, Neutron, and Minibrute. Volca Keys is still one of my favorites though... That crackly lo-fi delay makes some really atmospheric sounds if you're creative with it.

[@carlrhoads]

Gnarly Soundscapes yeah but for example you cant compare its sound to the monólogue that you own!

[@nomad1517]

Hope they never end this project. These things are legendary.

[@greenaum]

They seem to have sold a lot. Probably quite cheap to make, but nobody minds when the sound is so great, and they're so cheap. You get all the LEDs and knobs for your money. Probably be a lot of people's first synth, or proper one when they move on from the Casio you get when you're 10. My friend started off with 1...

[@brynhendry2899]

It's not meant to sound like a processed digital synth, it is raw and for synth lovers.

[@hallugi]

am i the only who smiled from 1:44 through 1:51 specially with the super mario coin at the end.I really like this little synth box

[@abeldiaz1275]

SO MANY SOUNDS AND THAT LAST ONE REMINDED ME OF POKÉMON

[@dutchmenneer3289]

Where can I buy a Tatsuya Takahashi?

[@YouzTube99]

@dutch menneer: I do not think Takahashi-san is for sale but you can rent his expertise through Yadastar GmbH.

[@TheYuvrajarora]

Contact Yakuza Gang

[@lvd357]

Introducing Volca Takahashi - It‘s a smart, good looking and Volca-sized device to make easily and intuitively tiny well designed audioware

[@mickypoo4622]

This product is no longer available!

[@ruxiwang9571]

@@mickypoo4622 on sale in china

[@1TaylorCamro]

So far my favorite demonstration video. I can't wait to purchase the trio of Korg Volca instruments.

[@porcorosso81]

If plugins give you the sound you want, that's OK. I'm a hardware guy, and know that (especially in the case of Polysix and MonoPoly, which still use true VCOs) real analogue synthesizers are like real instruments, where the signal path is formed by lots of small chaotic influences. Most software implementations won't give you that. I'd rather use software for things analogue can not do. The Volca Keys sounds truly phenomenal, and I applaud Korg for making real analogue synths again.

[@realmchat6665]

Just ordered one, it's a legend now, and Korg is a legend for offering such quality gear for affordable prices.

[@lenonel3286]

can't believe it's been almost 10 years

[@Noruego]

anyone heard the Mario Bros coin sound at 1:50 ??

[@juanpela6045]

Christian Noruego ii

[@ThePsikore]

yeah. you are right :D

[@Kragatar]

lmao I was just about to comment on it. xD

[@SplinterAce]

lmao

[@rytmmusic2793]

Christian Noruego yea 😂

[@attizzoso]

i own a VolcaKey, after this video I'll buy 5 more

[@Ralph_Sandwich]

No you wont

[@joemcbee]

@@Ralph_Sandwich "it's called humour...I mean hyperbole. Learn about it."

[@wooflord]

@@joemcbee who are u quoting

[@fryncyaryorvjink2140]

@@wooflord - Wayne Gretzky - Michael Scott

[@GT6SuzukaTimeTrials]

1:51 sounds like the two notes that play when you turn on the original Game Boy.

[@blerkh]

OMG, this guy's so f-ing charismatic! The more Takahashi videos I watch, the more I like him. He just doesn't seem to give a f--k in this video. The British accent tops it off.

[@hexyko4850]

He's sexy and makes some nice IDM

[@Lasher500]

Can’t watch synth reviews unless they are Japanese with a Brit accent.

[@illuminatiCorgi]

The man has literally sold me a product without even using the word 'buy' :|

[@iyerpratik]

Marketing genius

[@Gummo22]

this is by far the best out of the 3. at least for my needs. pretty great. and for the price point you cant beat it!

[@dbcooper9401]

The lick he was getting down with at the end was ignorant! Reminded me of the advent. Bangin'

[@kunstssst]

Game Changer. Well done, KORG. You guys are special.

[@setphaser]

Thank you to korg for wisely making these videos with Takahashi-San. In English!! Domo arigatou!!

[@DonnieB822]

i think he just turned on a gameboy at 1:50

[@edhk6440]

thtat's what i thought

[@wojtekwozniak9272]

Can somebody make a DIY version of of that synth without a delay and with more waveforms , dynamic keyboard and MIDI out? Thats would be pure pefrection!

[@Engineer9736]

Would be a nice project indeed!

[@gliderism]

You can make good abstract sounds and techno with this gear,sweet

[@airefc]

Such a good sound from a small unit

[@wax83]

It's going to be very nice for oldskool techno/house stabs & arpeggios.. !!!

[@Longuncattr]

There's an article on Create Digital Music wherein the designer reveals that the delay effect is a routine run on the Volca's microcontroller.

[@WilsonTims354]

I shall do all that is in my power to learn to use the Volca synthesizers -- all three of them: especially because they are so affordable, and therefore within reach. They are of course musically interesting, first of all, but intellectually stimulating and challenging, too. I shall try, if I can, to learn how to use them as musical instruments in their own right; but, once I feel confident enough (assuming I have been able to afford the synthesizers in the first place), I shall plug them into a guitar amp and see what I can do with that kind of rig.

[@jamesd.6979]

Good luck on your quest, Captain Autismo

[@lenonel3286]

did you do it dude?

[@tabletbeats8900]

So small but still has great sound!

[@fivefoflow]

What are you asking about? They are stand alone instruments. You plug it in and play sounds on it.

[@greenaum]

Since these have a gate / CV input, one easy thing you can do is buy, or make, a stereo splitter cable, from stereo to L / R jack sockets. I did that for my friend, he plugged it into his Gameboy running LSDJ. From there, he just needed a small click sound to play on LSDJ. Run that through the left channel, and LSDJ music through the right. Feed the left into the Volca, and you can sync them together! I dunno if it's supposed to work, but it does! Or did for us anyway, might need to twiddle the volume. If you're not much of a solderer, which I find hard to believe in an analogue keyboard fan, you know you can buy sets of headphone adaptor cables? And there's the one for airlines that turns 2x mono jack into a stereo one? Of course, they work in the other direction too, it's just plastic and metal strips in there. So instead of joining 2 mono channels, you can split a stereo one instead. You'll need a gender-changer cable male-male, and a couple of gender-changers female-female. The latter, though.... You know those adaptors that let you use 2 pairs of headphones in one socket? Well surprisingly that's just metal strips and plastic... so there's your two female sockets connected together, and ignore the male plug. Shonky but works well enough, very cheap and available. Or else just solder a proper one up. But it'll do in a fix. It's nice because studios used to use a "click track" way back in the day when it was all analogue. Like a more versatile metronome. In this case the artists would listen to it through headphones and perform along, but Volcas can do that too.

[@iRumble1]

3:22 i love that! and i want that!

[@djkanyon]

Tata we miss you, come back please

[@gru_day]

this is modern classic :) Have it, sold it, bought it, sold it again and... bought it again. That's how good it is :)

[@syfire0478]

1:51 Coin :D

[@SmugSuspenders]

Shepuurrrd

[@dissforlife]

just realized the unison ring tone he plays is nearly the exact sound on the parish of spacedust by gorillaz. what a cool little synth

[@beloyaraistov8007]

Keys with beats sounds incredible!

[@dvamateur]

Don't get me wrong, the Volca devices are very attractive, nicely designed aesthetically (a rarity in today's designs) and full of features. However, to me personally (that's just my opinion) a Yamaha QY10 (same size device running on 6 AA bateries, so comparison is not out of place here), with that little Yamaha I could churn out entire multitrack songs with all harmony and chord changes I could ever imagine. Maybe today's music is more about the rhythm, not the harmony (all Volcas seem to play patterns without changing chords at all). I am tempted to get all the Volca set, however, if I don't see a video in which someone actually puts together a song with chord changes, I don't think I spend the money on those, even though it is tempting. Kudos to the ingenuous design and great sound, and staying away from cheesy color touchscreens. Hey, the fact alone that there's no touchscreen could make run to buy these immediately. But I digress...

[@benjaminmoran2777]

From what I'm gathering, the thing about the Volca series is the sound quality/analog signal path. Finding something more feature-rich is pretty easy, it just won't sounds as good.

[@dvamateur]

Volcas would be cooler to me if you could make songs with chord changes on it. All the demos I've seen are stuck in one chord. Unless there's no concept of changing harmony in modern electronic music.

[@francescoclemente1961]

Andrew Piatek with those machines you can easily do techno-ish stuff that should not consider harmony, cause that is techno. but if you want to use them to make anything else, just plug the midi.

[@Unstrict]

Andrew Piatek Experiental Electronic Music

[@dvamateur]

TurkeyGaming Karlheinz Stockhausen? Okay, I get it.

[@GB3770]

The intro riff sounds very good!

[@mattcero1]

Great video man, thanks. I have a Novation Circuit and would like to get one of these lower end Korg products to Midi together. Which would you recommend? Thank you.

[@TheAnanda9new]

Namaste MASTERMIND! You create something EPIC! And you made it small, flexible, innovativ, massiv. Also the sound is amazing, like a lot the part at 2:13, very trippy sounds. I guess my TB 303, TR 606, my 2 Polysix and the MS 20 will have a new "friend" soon, hehe.

[@archebeats]

DONT!, you can chain them together! :) and the version 2 of the monotribe (firmware) is really good. I wonder what can you do with this and the monotribe.

[@jammingpositivevibration]

Love it, its on my top list now.i love 💘 jamming with korg volcas.... Keep on jamming positive vibes❤💚🤩❤💛💙🧡

[@dinogoldie9716]

Are there any practical/musical applications for the Korg Volca Keys's poly-ringmod voice? Are there any good demonstrations of its use on youtube? Had mine for a couple weeks now. So far the only downsides to the KVK are: limited loop duration/resolution, no way to store voice presets, not enough save-slots for loops and, loss of delay when you double/quadruple loop length. Other than that, a surprisingly powerful little box.

[@TehTr0nik]

Ok, we've got these awesome boxes, mono/poly rack extension in reason, and the korg M01D for 3ds coming soon. Korg, you are taking all my money D:

[@TheScreamingFrog916]

I hope they release a Volca Keys2 with more polyphony, and expanded effects, like the FM2.

[@mstram]

Maybe some where in the ~500 odd comments it's already been mentioned. It would have been great if you had shown a close up of the dial settings.

[@blacklava4978]

Hi, sorry for dumb question, Im very new to synths. Can someone please explain how you switch between waves? I followed the instructions on holding the function button and then selecting different waves from the keyboard but there is no difference between them.. any ideas?

[@roksterful]

Blacklava You can't switch between different waves. OSC is only saw. You can change LFO only. With FUNC. :)

[@blacklava4978]

Ah yeah, I get it now! Thanks for getting back to me, much obliged.

[@WalyB01]

+roksterful Crap was hoping for more. I want express myself in triangles.

[@RevLeonPLeon]

Dude, that was awesome!!!

[@rg7120]

It sounds great, the only problem I have is that it looks like you can't get square waves without ring mod. Does anyone know if that's possible? Hopefully there will be a simple mod to fix that. If there is I'll definitely buy one, all the other analog poly synths are so expensive.

[@KelmoMusic]

I really want the sub phatty and this so I can have a little bit of analog polyphony and the moog sound together. Run this through a moog filter or use it as a full size keyboard for this and vise versa, OH THE POSSIBILITIES!

[@weshuffman6757]

Do you think this would be a good place to start for me to get into synthesis?

[@analogsynthplayer]

Wes Huffman Yes, or Volca bass. The Korg minilogue and monologue are showing up on ebay and craigslist, used, for a decent price. Same with the volca series

[@anigbrowl]

It's out in Japan now. Us in about a month, or go to eBay if you can't wait. I can...but only just. I will certainly be buying all 3.

[@subjecttodeath]

just wish they had a proper 1/4" audio output

[@gabrielazevedo2259]

Ultra awesome!!!

[@Synthematix]

im not too interested in the volca beats but the bass and keys are fantastic bits of kit

[@SeraphicSedition]

I feel like this could make one hell of an arp

[@savanaviolenta]

Another item on the list.Thats a must a polyphonic analog synth for 111€

[@federicobejarano3043]

he's like an asian Jonny Greenwood

[@crippleized]

Federico Bejarano this machine made me think of radiohead.

[@JoshLuke864]

LOL

[@NickB-md1oy]

Robert Pattinson**

[@ToddCarlislepropagandamachine]

Korg owns the entire market.. all of the anger I had over the KP3+ and Kaossilator Pro + getting no sampling upgrade has been wiped totally clean with these awesome devices.. Looks like dollar menu and ramen noodles in my future because I must have these!

[@roybm3124]

Wow these things are amazing! Imagine if Beethoven or Mozart had these.

[@rytmmusic2793]

Roy BM Skrillex is better than Mozart

[@TheFrygar]

lmfao jesus god no

[@luke_almquist]

His name is Richard D James

[@lenonel3286]

they wouldn't be able to play them without any batteries or power adaptors

[@80Jay71]

Why can't you produce a readable manual for this synth??

[@mindcine]

Dear Takahashi-San, Too late for a firmware request? Please have the FUNC+G# and A# keys select Clock divide 1/3 and 1/6 respectively. In this way, users can supply 24 PPQN clock IN. In any case, can't wait!

[@deadpolitical]

but that would only provide polyphony if you programmed separate notes in each individual sequencer, you couldn't actually play six notes of polyphony by any means through a midi controller considering there's no midi out.(still better than no midi as with the monotribe) And sync isn't cv exactly is it? sorry for all the questions.

[@stephknarr]

Not even halfway through and I was like yes I do need this

[@TangleTwister]

is there any input that you could process say your voice if you wanted???

[@johnk6312]

do the sequences transpose across the keyboard ? otherwise you are stuck in one key and whats the use in that.

[@PKinema]

Awesome!

[@cobiwilliams]

I think midi would be ideal for these. IF you are talking about the knobs, live with it. They seem great for the price.

[@matteotamburella608]

This might sound as a stupid question, but I am approaching to the world of syths for the first time.. What other devices do you (obligatory) need to make it work? What are those two cables on the right connected to? Thank you very much

[@SianaGearz]

If it's gonna be Volcas, you need a set of batteries or a power brick and some headphones. Plug the headphone in, put the batteries in, and jam on. This is the bare minimum. You can get a stereo cable to connect to line in of your computer so you can record the sound. You can get USB->MIDI adapter to sync these units to your computer or remote control them, but their MIDI implementation tends to be somewhat limited, they're mostly directly controlled. If you get multiple of these, you may want to get some 3.5mm audio cables to connect their sync signals together, and either a multichannel soundcard with sufficient number of inputs (Maya 44 or something? Terrasoniq Phase X64 is kind of versatile, but beware of dragons), or a mixer (uhm something like Behringer Xenyx series is the cheapest, but they're made out of shit and are noisy). As far as PC soundcards go, you don't need too many input channels on the soundcard because the Volcas actually produce mono signal, so you just get 3.5mm -> stereo RCA leads and you can use one of the stereo leads into the soundcard and leave the other one hanging. You can also record two volcas without a dedicated soundcard by some creative wiring, but with a soundcard, you can do all 4.

[@KitsuneCentral]

If you are buying a synth for the first time, I suggest skipping the Volcas unless you are strapped for cash, just wanting to have a little novel fun, or really liking the electrofied sound the Volcas have. There is nothing wrong with them, but a better first synth would be something like the Arturia Microbrute at $299.99 US Dollars. Personally I own a Volca Bass and love it for the sound reason, getting a Beats or Keys next. Can't decide! :)

[@icareg]

KitsuneCentral you should check the volca sampler

[@KitsuneCentral]

Joe Geraci Ehhh... Pointless device. I can buy a Mini KP 2 for about the same price and does buttloads more than the Volca Sample. Also throw in the fact the Volca Sample needs an iDevice to work to it's fullest capacity is a real big no go for me. Thanks for the suggestion though.

[@matteotamburella608]

Thank you all very much guys! KitsuneCentral I'll check that one too, thank you! :)

[@mechanesthesia]

I want one and want to learn how to use it. I don't know anything about music, can someone explain why he has 2 more attached to the one he's using and if you can just use one by itself or do you have to connect it to something?

[@HUMANDR7B8A]

Do you need computer for this ? actually i was thinking to buy Volca keys ... I saw many videos on youtube Volca keys and aurturia midi setup.!

[@Fonkemman]

No, you don't.

[@sharonbrown5162]

I understand that you can only save 8 sequences. My question is whether is saves the sequence and synth setting or just the MIDI sequence. I find this really limiting compared to an UNO synth or monologue . . . .

[@kaneda7368]

can the mini korg do all of the things the different volcas can do?

[@savanaviolenta]

I think so,but anyway I'm getting the volca keys just for the analog sound and the loop function so I can pair it with Tr8 and make some other adjustment on my other synths.

[@WaltonV]

How are you recording the KORG into computer?

[@GT6SuzukaTimeTrials]

I'm gonna pair one of these with a new volca kick and see if that's enough volca for me.

[@savanaviolenta]

I'm gonna pair volca keys with Tr8 oh man what a great combo

[@michaelmoore1434]

Was it enough?

[@GT6SuzukaTimeTrials]

@@michaelmoore1434 I didn't get the Keys. I bought the Monologue + Kick bundle for $299 two years ago. I want more. Drum or Sample. And a Minilogue XD.

[@michaelmoore1434]

@@GT6SuzukaTimeTrials 😆 gotta love that micro tuning tho .

[@crowbarfilms808]

what is that little TV in the background? I feel dumb I can't remember any word to describe

[@daniellynch2047]

it's in oscilloscope.

[@crowbarfilms808]

thank you very much

[@GB3770]

Track at 4.25 sounds very good!

[@Mono808]

Good demonstration!

[@dusk8408]

this or volca bass which one is better for beginners

[@pacewade]

is it a goof ideo to route the keys (or bass) in a mono-in ?? i only have a tascam us-122mk2 interface wich have 1 stereo in (2x mono) or 2 mono (l+r) . are both giving out a mono or stereo signal? thx!

[@stephenmarlow4610]

Yes, but can he work an iron?

[@andrewoshesky6378]

Does anyone know what the small TV monitor behind him is? It looks like it is responding to sound.

[@saji1382]

does anyone know what kind of a computer is on the right side?

[@vinyljunkie07]

Nice video Mr.Takahashi. Cool vintage Tannoy monitors behind you ;-)

[@deadpolitical]

are there any plans to offer midi chaining to allow added polyphony with added units?

[@emilianopastortorighelli]

Whats the automization he does? Didnt understand

[@rg7120]

What I'm worried about is how the polyphony works. It's obviously paraphonic since there's only one filter. But on the Korg website it says there's also only one envelope and one amp. So do the three notes have to be at the exact same time?

[@eurokush171]

What is the best korg volca for hip hop?

[@lucassavaris960]

what type of piano is in the background?

[@Synthematix]

how many sequences can the bass and keys store?

[@jameswgmoore]

Guessing you can't use this as a midi controller? It'll only take midi in, right?

[@clamsnake5401]

you can get a solderless midi out thing on ebay I think

[@KoZaIsy]

So what all do I need to make this work and sound like the video?

[@dinogoldie9716]

Hi. How do I assign modulation on my KVK to the mod wheel of my Oxygen8 (1st version)? I want to use my Volca Keys as a sound source for a talkbox but need modulation control via my keyboard.

[@jonathangalarcetapia5912]

Somebody knows what happend with memory slots when changing batteries? they're lost?

[@biggrime]

I know this is a volca but couldn't you make bass sounds with this too?

[@charlesminormeriwetheryoungsr]

good job that thing looks awsome.

[@distortimus7631]

Which of all the volca do you recommend I get first?

[@pasauliite]

Sample

[@dreamhyperdrive]

Pure genius 👍

[@ginoanfewso9732]

Can you use this without a computer?

[@jannahquill5864]

do u come with the carrr?