Korg Volca Sample Review

Gaz WIlliams takes a look at the first digital Volca. 4MB sample Ram (playback) and the usual Volca sequencing facilities.
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[@Kragatar]

Tip that Gaz forgot to mention: If you hold Func while turning the speed knob, it will change the speed in units of notes, making melodies more doable.

[@brandonbanks32278]

thanks for the tip bro

[@b-ss39]

Karl Marx reviews Korg Volca Sample

[@neezdutz833]

xD

[@virtual.memorycollective4930]

ツ

[@Korgi_Polymer]

A music sequencer for the proletariat!

[@mynameisalex_]

Seizing the means of music production

[@ShadowPilot]

This thread made my day.

[@romulo353]

It ain't no backward step, it's a forward step into love and magic. Hear my words: Creativity benefits from limits!

[@betalingsringen]

+Romulo Ferreira 100% agree

[@pirateradio808]

+Romulo Ferreira Truer words were never spoken... which is why Shakespeare's highly regimented sonnets are with us til this day.

[@hammercanttouchthis]

Romulo Ferreira nothing is linear, this is just an illusion and therefor there are no limits only those imposed by ones precondition. But I get what you mean :)

[@808j3]

Romulo Ferreira yeah but you can set limits with anything if you are motivated. :)

[@jaylinsa]

I think it's that limitations teach you to think in less limited ways. When you're spolit by too many different options you can get creatively lazy

[@CalvinWatkins]

I really enjoy playing/programming the actual device instrument vs the computer. Turning knobs, pushing buttons and sliding faders really put the fun in while your tweaking the music. You just can't get that "feeling" producing everything on a computer in my opinion. The Volca Series brought that fun and "feeling" back when producing music for me.

[@raddypex]

+Calvin Watkins That's exactly why I love them too. Sure my computer can do so much more than the volcas can but I just love playing with them. They sound amazing for what they are and you just can't put them down once you start messing with them, its too much fun.

[@FarskateUk]

+Calvin “DJ DejeXtion” Watkins You can use a midi controller on the computer to control things with knobs and sliders too. I ended up feeling about the NI Maschine controller which you use with the PC the way you feel about Volcas.

[@tomkenning5482]

@Ostrich160 id recommend the NI komplete kontrol controllers, you can tweak parameters on the controller itself

[@theorgandude]

my only criticism of this video is that the demo at the end is far too short. gaz, your beard is looking splendid these days.

[@Beatprisoner]

Always a pleasure ro watch yours and Nick's reviews.

[@jemgel1162]

Gaz always brings the best combo of good vibes and technical knowhow! The jam at the end was fun!

[@jake5265]

Great review, I've had mine for 2 months now and i absolutely love it. Learned some stuff from this review that I didn't know it could do. Haven't seen it mention on any other videos either.

[@coveredindie]

I love this presenter! Passionate, knowledgable, nerdy legend!

[@theNickRYG]

That part where you demonstrated the Caustic editor by making that beat off a single sample was SICK. One (longer) sample stepped into a full beat.

[@thenoizeniche1727]

Gaz, you rock man. Love watching your videos.

[@ottobyte]

Like it Gaz. You're great, I love your enthusiasm

[@philbrown8181]

Great review Gaz, thanks for all the insights and the energy! I think this could easily relegate my V-Beats to the bottom of the toy-box.

[@wildergonzales7336]

thanks a lot man!! I just bought one volca sample 3 days ago and you had help me lots!!! as Holger Czukay (Can) said: restriction is mother of innovation ;)

[@Paul_Uhl_]

Best Volca Sample overview I've seen. And I've watched about 20 so far.

[@megabot80]

Great Review as always guys, keep up the good work!

[@xtra8dj]

Very good review Gaz, cheers!

[@ryanjones5803]

That jam at the end just made me wish for a Gaz+Cuckoo+Cenk from Elektron "super group" performance!

[@koregmusic]

Love this review so much

[@jmichaelE68]

Great review Gaz. I'm sold on it.

[@samplerobot9639]

Fantastic, thanks Gaz! SampleRobot Volca-X is out now, helping you to autosample hardware and plugins and using those sounds directly in your Volca Sample.

[@thefishdog]

Great review. Thanks Gaz

[@NateTreme]

Awesome battery set up. I'm glad they got you off that desert island to do this review.

[@StarmanDeluxe2001]

The only thing better than this review is the reviewer. Gaz, and his beard, are awesome!

[@areyoujelton]

This thing changed my whole approach at making music. I love it. I'm thinking of getting another to really increase the possibilities. May get the Volca fm though... or the keys...

[@bboymac84]

Jelton Inc. The fm is sick. I just want something to combine it to add a beat to it

[@MrSlipstreem]

My favourite Volca Sample review by far. Very informative. Thanks. :-)

[@DivKid]

Some great mangling with the drum loop loaded in! :)

[@EddieSlowhands]

Thanks for a really useful video - nicely done !

[@therealkwame]

this may the greatest review I have ever seen for a product lol well done

[@rhampton1914]

I enjoyed your Review...1st time I'm seeing you....You did an Awesome Review... I'm getting one now

[@BorgoDrums]

Great review and great reviewer, keep it up :P

[@dcashley303]

I think I love Gaz a bit too much haha! Great demo and review; I understand the Sample a lot better now, cheers!

[@spyral00]

amazing! I love these little machines!

[@ArtemSolop]

Best Volca Sample review so far!

[@RetningNord]

Hoooray, Tom Bombadil has begun reviewing synth gear!

[@mukhumor]

Very droll.

[@stoatystoat174]

Tim Benzedrine

[@mCKENIC]

Brilliant Gaz - thank you! The fun potential of this diminutive little box really comes through on your review. I can see myself getting one and a set of Pocket Operators. So much fun, in such a small space! In fact, I dont think there has been something that looks as much fun in a small form factor since LSDj on the Gameboy!

[@dylanburtch686]

You just relapsed my sellers remorse for my gameboy rig.

[@mCKENIC]

Dylan Burtch :-( Sorry Dylan! But, but, but... TE Operators and Volca Sample could be a good replacement? Lol! Take care mate!

[@dylanburtch686]

Need reminded of choices every now an again, lol. It's more just that the chiptunes scene's demand has made replacing it very costly where I am. Got my eye on importing an AY3 though, and take care yourself!

[@sonicase]

Pretty good review Gaz

[@Deadowcroft]

Love Gaz getting more work on here, he's doing really well, he was a bit uncomfortable it seemed at first but he's awesome!

[@irrelevanceuk]

Great review Gaz. On the wish list now to pair with some pocket operators. Thanks.

[@williamsledge400]

GAZ!!! Keep doing reviews!

[@alphavoyager]

Gaz, yes, please, do more reviews!

[@ruscofox2927]

Hey, really great review. Thank you!

[@Bathubert]

Great review. Thanks loads. I shall now buy one and inflict my musical madness on the world!

[@secondnatures]

such a good review, thank you.

[@AndrewTSq]

I really like sonicstate, Gaz and Nick are 2 great guys. Great video Gaz!. 4MB sampleram is like 8times more then I was used to in the 80'ies :)

[@Michael_Smith-Red_No.5]

Right? Emax HD SE with 512K seemed monstrous to me. 22.5k drums were passable back then. 4mb seems like a mansion.

[@annother3350]

I expanded my esi-32 but that meant a full bank was 7 floppy disks!!

[@geraividet]

This guy is great! So much enthusiasm!

[@mathew2818]

Thank you for the review! One question, would integrating the Korg SQ-1 help and far as using the Volca Sample to play melodies? (more so, it would be cool to see Gaz experiment with the Volca series and the SQ-1)

[@TheGNCShow]

Gaz is just so damned likable.

[@garethbinks8804]

Gaz's face on the mix at the end. It's a winner all the way!

[@SONICTRAMP]

Gaz is a legend! :D

[@umonox]

oh and before i forget it: recording a motion sequence prior to parameter locking is NOT necessary anymore! i have OS 1.30 installed and i only need to activate motion sequence on the part, keep the step pressed, change the parameter - done !!! every subsequent step receives this value though. so you must manually set them all to a rest value. but recording it prior to editing it is not necessary anymore

[@1RhythmicHeart]

This is great intro to the Sample! If you have any more videos with the Sample, I would love to see the link.

[@aikighost]

Can anyone let me know what kind of quality were talking about for the reverb on this unit? Could I use it easily for ambient chords as part of a larger setup for example?

[@zerozeroisland]

Came for the Volca Sample review, stayed for that wicked Michael Giles drum loop sample :)

[@ThinkerThunker]

I keep waiting for him to do a series called, "Out of Gaz!"

[@donaldpriola1807]

Gaz! Nice one! I'd like to see that entire jam in a separate video. :)

[@saxophonedave]

At 6:26, is that a built in patch or did you put that together. I would love to find a mchine that had some preset grooves like that.

[@patientzero4889]

I love this little box, if you spend time making interesting samples it's s engaging to jam with. Takes me a while to make my videos as I tend to get carried away jamming and forget to film it!

[@TheLaptop12]

i have a question, are there only 16 steps? if not just that, can we make individuall step length for each part?

[@Spenjbob101]

More people need to hire this man

[@TheRealTakumaji]

Thanks for the review, Gaz. The fact that each sample slot sits on a different MIDI channel (fixed 1-10) is no prob for me because I'm using Notator with the Unitor interface on Atari ST which has three seperate outs but it could be tricky for people without extended MIDI routing options who want to trigger the device from their sequencer. Other than that, the little box looks like a lot of fun, it's on my wishlist now.

[@americareal3]

GAZ FUCKING ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!!

[@VioletDeliriums]

Nice review -- i got to learn about some of the cool things it has, and some of the shortcomings! one question -- do the Volca series thingamabobs have an option to use and AC power adapter, or is it battery only?

[@VioletDeliriums]

NZU TYBO THANK YOU.

[@deltraum1381]

Nice one gaz, your a legend on sonic talk! Cool review as well. You play about as i would ha ha ! I have the volca drums, which is now my go to drum machine over my roland TR-606 ! [i cannot afford a 909 or 808, but who can !] You are spot on with your comment on the swing thru sync, it would give the drums so much, maybe a mod could be done?If not Korg sort that out please.

[@Depuratumba]

I have one question for anyone who might know the answer is it possible to map mutes/solo per part via midi?

[@Mononerono]

0:12 best part

[@ryansanderson7023]

Sample THAT!

[@TEHBILB]

I think you mean 16:23

[@BugzKiller]

Can you connect this to a stereo receiver? Because I want to use this through my receiver and into my 4 track cassette recorder>Won't be using MIDI at all....just a note.

[@soulthesouleaters5332]

Gaz is amazingly funny! I like to see him, and his review is nice and informative! :)

[@wooki321]

Does it accept "analog "clock/gate signal from something like a modular square lfo?

[@uchiman]

Can I assign different samples across the keybed and play them as one shots?

[@TerryMelic]

Haha what a rad dude. Yeah the volca range is sick hoping to get my hands on a couple soon... better late than never.

[@khalylehagood3222]

I like this guy, he's a great reviewer.

[@DaisukeKunNyo]

you actually can put all volcas into swing if you have an ipodtouch/phone/pad with the "Korg SyncKontrol for monotribe" app it also uses the sync in port to syncronize the volcas it even supports WIST to sync with other korg apps like iMS-20 or iPolysix unfortunately i don`t know an android version that would do the same

[@naturecollision]

Daisuke Nagato how, using the audio out?

[@itsacorporatething]

Ok, it's me again. How does this compare to a korg es-1? Ie how is the volca sample not just the same thing but more expensive, less samples, less patterns, no sampler, etc?

[@TheInfamousEddy]

I'm looking to get into music production but I've got absolutely no musical/instrument skill. Anyone know how exactly I get started? I've got FL Studio 12 but I'm an amateur at it.

[@kimbobaloola7932]

Can you pull other samples through it if you will?.... I didn't understand the limitations he explained of which type of samples will not work? Which is a superior analog sampler please anybody? :)

[@Dhachia]

Good Review.

[@SCOREWIZARDSMUSIC]

More Gaz videos!!!

[@redmage091]

Also, I've clocked my modular from it before and I can say, at least when the sync is set to 16ths, there is definitely swing on the sync out.

[@voooodo94]

How do I add samples without eliminating the factory samples?

[@SharkRecordFilms]

How big is this little machine by the way? Like inches dimensions

[@bng.va.119]

Hello!! How can i save my sample and find it when i turn it back on??

[@OlliWilkman]

One work-around to get swing is the Korg SyncKontrol app (iOS only as far as I know, unfortunately), which is meant for the Monotribe but works fine with the Volcas. It sends the sync pulses from the iOS device's headphone out, and does swing. But having it built in would be nicer.

[@Pablo-cp2zv]

Is that the only way to upload the samples? Can't I plugged it to the computer?

[@cesarvalerio4292]

Great video! Greetings from Brasil

[@avrakotas]

I dont know whats wrong with mine but that step mode adjustment he mentioned at about 7:16 doesnt work for me at all. Even with motion sequence pre-recorded. Anyone else?

[@hrnekbezucha]

If you get a drumloop like at 13:00 you can get each drum separate with the _start point_ and _decay_ so you don't have to get each sample separately.

[@charliedronkers]

what was the thing again? each sample slot is a different midi channel?

[@geecen]

I love Gaz!!

[@yarddaug]

Anyone have a link to replacement parts to this model? The attack and length knobs have a mind of their own. Thanks!

[@andycrump4979]

can i transfer what I make on this to my laptop to to work on it more????

[@uhgvitybvouv]

I just wanted to say that I've just purchased a Volca Sample and this video hits the nail on the head on the pro and contra. Gaz only forgot about one thing: korg lets you mod this toy, so you can have, for example, a MIDI out. but it's still largely a toy, one that brings a lot of joy, but like Gaz said: 4mb, 33KHz bottleneck, playing notes with the pitch pot it's very difficult (impossible to use like a keyboard), some weird choices from korg, etc. but it's FUN, and a great cheap drum machine. EDIT: this is more than a toy, after i covered the manual i saw it has a lot to offer

[@bng.va.119]

how can i save my sample and find it when i turn it back on?

[@BDistoshortforahandle]

On the subject of swing... you can send a swing sync in via your iphone or ipad with the Korg Sync Control app!

[@thomashooks2244]

yeah, I'm not clear on that ipad to volca sample transfer. was that wireless? or did I miss a cable hookup somewhere?

[@umonox]

look closer, the cables are there ;-)

[@8-BitHeart79]

Just looked up the Doncomatic and just realized the snare on the Volca beats is the same as the Donc. Now, the snare that everyone loves to hate has been identified lol.

[@fukingvoodoomagicmani3606]

So I can send samples in to a eurorack?... I bought the MPC live with no CV unlike the MPC X ....is there another way of sending CV date from my MPC live ???? Please help as I'm new to the synthesis world, jus bought my first analogue hardware (a minilouge) and I'm over the moon with the filter section :) .. I'm planning on getting either a sub37 or and a mother32 plus Moog DFAM ,either way I dont wanna pay another grand for a MPC X just for the CV outs, but I need a way of getting my samples in to the matrit that shall became piece at a time after my next investments I mentioned, is there any suggestions aka ANSWERS to turning my MPC live analogue (u knw what I mean,getting it lost in the analogue circuitry)... Would a Atoria Keystep/beatstep work???...I also need a mixer interface ( more audio ins for Logic n that should b me done 👀 HA! Yeah Right! lol ) thnx for ure time

[@beninglis8097]

I really dig the Volcas and especially this one! The limited space makes you really chose your samples well and it is a rewarding challenge. It has really helped me understand how to edit a sample PROPERLY! I am really unorganized to so it stops me from loading up an ocean of crap sounds all titled aaa1, aaa2 or xvzyehzx. And yes I find it does force me to be creative... Only problems are the lack of connectivity and the stupid iPhone only app! But once you start to understand the editing capabilities of the device you can get a lot out of the factory samples, personally I have only loaded 22 of my own samples and I have had it for over 6 months and use it often. It is a great little go to device and is great for the train or at uni! But beware! I have been questioned twice by security as it does sort of look like a bomb with wires hanging out of it (I actualy shaved my beard because of this). So if are middle eastern or you look middle eastern like I do, perhaps you need to take that into consideration lol.

[@Underview]

This is hilarious.

[@redmage091]

Parameter locks will work without automation being recorded in, you just have to set the value back to what it was before you placed the lock.

[@soupforare]

Gaz is high-larious. Good to see him on more reviews, eh? Cover his bar tab anyway, nick~