Korg Volca Nubass Review - more than a 303?

Korg sent me a Nubass to see what I'd make of it and I discovered it's far more than the TB-303 Bassline clone I assumed it was. It has all the fun and fruitiness of the 303 but with more depth, fatness and versatility.
Correction: The Nubass has a sawtooth and not a triangle wave as I mentioned in the video along with the square. Still can’t tell them apart though!
www.korg.com
Intro - 0:00
Overview - 2:59
Step-Sequencing - 10:48
Motion Sequencing - 13:19
Step Jump - 15:51
Pattern Chaining - 17:21
Using a MIDI keyboard - 18:00
Playtime - 22:32
Conclusions - 25:16
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[@technodrone313]

volca nub ass is the best name for any instrument ever.

[@brysenjasper6764]

I realize I'm kinda off topic but does anyone know of a good site to watch newly released movies online?

[@PaulBoos]

That's a fun box! Nice review! Love the synth groove Robin!

[@23jackleeder]

Love the "step-jump" thing, it's great for live improvisation, especially used with trigger probability, like on the Volca Drum. Lots of fun sound exploration.

[@TheDeathBeatsOfficial]

Great review mate. I've got a TB3 and a TB03 but I have to say this baby also looks very cool. I love the fact that it has a sub oscilator. Cheers!

[@georgeray3492]

Good review. Have been enjoying the Nu-Bass since it came out. Looking forward to you journey with the Volca Modular and the SQ-64 that was lurking on the bench.

[@bistrobmusic]

Volcas are fun. I have the FM. Excited to see what you come up with in future episodes.

[@unitedstatesofmordor]

Just taking my first plunge into Volca world so, from a modular synth greenhorn, thank you for the tip on updating the firmware out of the box (and also for the demo too).

[@TheMachinesWon]

Wish korg would spend more time updating the Volga’s they have, like pattern chaining and other quality of life updates to their older Volcas instead of pushing the volcas that aren’t selling for them...they’d sell more of their older volcas and we’d all be happier

[@rorz999]

The general lack of firmware updates is a bit of a piss-take tbh, it wouldn't take them long at all to add things like pattern-chaining and so on

[@Gainn]

You can get some quite interesting sounds out of this little badboy. Mine always ends up sounding like it belongs on a 70's jazz fusion album.

[@Avalaraeon]

Same, the sub oscillator saturation went out on mine so it almost became an 808 at almost no filteration....

[@MusicArtlIfeQ676]

Inspiring Jam!!!! Thanks For The Video 👍🔊

[@ZoomyCat]

Was interested in seeing more videos of these three units together as I'm thinking of starting with the Nubass and Modular and expanding from there. The Volca Drum seems to be the obvious answer as the best to drop in beside these units. Any info on content regarding the Nubass and Modular together on the way?

[@MoltenMusicTech]

Unlikely at this time i'm afraid, but you never know.

[@caythorgrimson]

own it myself and playing around withe that and the nts is freaking fun and i find its a time machine aka time dispears real fast when playing around withe it

[@23jackleeder]

Volca key surface has certain performance advantages. And they use little space and lower costs. Besides an arturia device can sequence a bunch of volcas, plus provide decent keys for Tinkling even funkier sounds out of them. The main flaws in the volcas is the limited 3 channel mixer, instead of 4 channel. And the lack of dedicated effects device in the range. Using an NTS is okay or Kpad mini, but why not a volca FX, with 2 separate channels offering insert/send/master options, infinite reverb and tube filtering compressor... Korg are you listening? Make it so

[@MoltenMusicTech]

A Volca FX is a good idea

[@Hellseeker1]

I am about to explode waiting for my Bassline Tracking number

[@brokenscart7989]

‘I’ve been wanting a TD3 but the more I read about Behringer, the more I don’t want to give them money - and I have doubts on the longevitity of their devices. What’s selling this to me is the motion sequencing and step jumps - so powerful for live play. I already have the Bass so I can’t help but feel I’m getting too machines that are really close together..!

[@jevogroni4829]

same.

[@bsmith8166]

How do you hook the volcas up to guitar pedals? I would love to add delay like you did in this video, but the outputs don't make sense.

[@MoltenMusicTech]

use just use adapters or cables with the right ends

[@aidantaylor9295]

Great video! How's the Deckard's Dream coming along?

[@MoltenMusicTech]

Did a load of resistors yesterday as it happens

[@aidantaylor9295]

@@MoltenMusicTech Can't wait to see it all finished!

[@BottleMakesMusic]

I have the Volca Bass and the Drum and can confirm that the integral keyboard is next to useless. I didn't buy them for the keyboard TBH as I sequence/clock them externally from a Conductive Labs NDLR. Also, IMHO the Bass is better suited to melodic motifs rather than bass-lines (I generally use my 0-Coast or Mini-Brute for bass duties). That being said, the Nubass gets squelchy AF. Funky! Only thing that would make it a no-brainer for me would be some polyphony (not asking for much, maybe a three-note paraphonic mode, that would be super awesome for drones via the NDLR). I know that's an edge-case application for what is an extremely low-cost mostly analogue mono synth.

[@Gainn]

Yeah, the BASS is much better at doing twiddly melodic stuff. plus you can use it as a limited poly..

[@seanspartan2023]

I have the NuBass and FM and they're quite fun to experiment on 🙂

[@PaulBoos]

I love my FM. The Nubass is sort of on my radar, I have a Volca Bass already, which is pretty the only reason I have held back. I love the Volca Drum!

[@krytenfivetwothreep2485]

That's funny, cos I had a Nubass and traded it in for an FM lol

[@stefpenfield5918]

Just got one for $20. So fun.

[@krytenfivetwothreep2485]

I wish the FM had that step record mode. Would make it so much easier to make patterns without having to rely on those tiny keyboards. Also, this video kinda makes me want to get another Nubass, after I swapped it for the aforementioned FM lol Another thing, you can still get the motion sequencing even when sequencing from an outside source. I sequence my Volca Drum with a Launchpad and record the motion into an empty pattern on the Volca. This can create some interesting effects as the Launchpad is 32 step to the Volca's 16 steps. So you can make the second half of the 32 step sequence different to the first half and the motion will effect it differently

[@NeonArtifact]

I have a Launchpad Pro actually, could you help me to sequence them like this in Ableton? How did you go about doing that exactly? Just use a MIDI interface or something?

[@krytenfivetwothreep2485]

@@NeonArtifact You just need the Launchpad and a Volca, no need for a DAW. You program a sequence in on the Launchpad and have the Volca on a pattern that has only motion sequencing, no notes. It's literally just playing two sequences at once, the Launchpad does the notes and the Volca does what amounts to automation.

[@NeonArtifact]

@@krytenfivetwothreep2485 Are you talking about Stand Alone mode? Thanks for getting back to me. I only have the Volca Keys right now, but it should work the same in theory. I think I need to look up how to use the shift command to get into setup to reset it. I bought it used and the MIDI channels might be different on it. This is exactly what I need though cuz I got a Novation Circuit I use primarily for jamming and would love to use the Launchpad to control my older synths... again, very much appreciated advice!

[@KelvinHemas]

Oscillator police here. That is a saw wave, not a triangle.

[@MoltenMusicTech]

You’re dead right - not that it made much difference in this case

[@KelvinHemas]

@@MoltenMusicTech It does not seem to have the widest pallet. But nice and beefy for what it can do.

[@shabbee]

@@MoltenMusicTech with the filter peak high, saturation and drive around 50%, I don't think it had a fair chance in the waveform comparison

[@MoltenMusicTech]

@@shabbee Yes, fair enough

[@NomadVarietyShow]

Just ordered one. Can't wait tonplay with it. Setting up midi keyboard simple enough? I don't really use midi apart from my daw 😕

[@RaquelFoster]

10:00 Nice.

[@Andybaby]

I want that shirt.

[@brawndothethirstmutilator9848]

“You can play it on the bus…” Challenge accepted.

[@mrgratis561]

I really like it but needs separate lfo rate and int knobs.

[@Decoy303]

The shift function doesn't work well for this machine in this area. Very hard to audition a note while simultaneously effect these two parameters and makes it a not so fun machine. Also not being able to slide all 16 steps was a huge mistake. Nubass for me is a FAIL.

[@mrgratis561]

@@Decoy303 Exactly, trying to audition a note while adjusting it means you really need 3 hands, it's dumb. Also the difference between the square and saw wave oscillator is so subtle they shouldn't have bothered. Try it on the volca bass and the square wave actually sounds like a square wave.

[@mortarmopp3919]

I was hoping to get a comparison between the original Bass and Nubass.

[@MoltenMusicTech]

Hard luck, sorry

[@andrewmarshall195]

17 mins in, slower version of Josh Wink higher state of consciousness :P

[@dannydaniel8975]

I like it but that drive button thins out the sound

[@smookydreamsintes1996]

ke hermoso

[@hdebbache2000]

More than a 303, but also less than a 303

[@stevensinclair4931]

10:02 morning after a hot curry 😂

[@iixorb]

Interesting box in its own right - and I might pick one up - but it ain’t no 303 ;-)

[@MoltenMusicTech]

Exactly.... it's not a 303... :D

[@Tyler_Durden987]

watching this trying to convince myself not to sell my Volca Drum...

[@WH3]

I have the Drum / Nubass / Beats / Mix. The digital drum machine Volcas pair well with an analogue one, so Drum & Kick, Sample & Beats etc, that might help

[@rorz999]

Don't sell your Drum for this lol. The Drum is so much better

[@matthewpreston1396]

Yeah, God only knows how you’re meant to actually play anything on those weird little keyboards. They feel like they completely suck any musicality or creativity out of me the moment I try and use them. Which is a real shame, because the sequencers on the Volcas are supremely powerful, when you consider that you can record all the movements on the various knobs. That’s where the real fun is for me, As you can come up with all sorts of happy accidents that way. I have a bit of a love hate relationship with these units, but in general I’d say the pros outweigh the cons for the most part.

[@drbop6951]

I didn’t know what it was yet... ...apart from a rather vanilla TB303 wannabe. Some of the Volcas are awesome. This is not one, in my opinion. :)) Great channel tho. Cheers n G’day!

[@mechmancannon]

I am passing on the Nubass and buying a Monologue instead. Midget form factor is for oompa loompa's.

[@regplasma7906]

This Volca is awful.Sounds like another fart box making 1970s kids tv themes.

[@bobbythompson4268]

That’s the best ish tho. Also 80’s nes shongs.