RS043 Korg Volca Bass: Pandora's Bass Box

One of the worst things about synth GAS is that synths are very often pretty big. While you can easily store dozends of videogames in a drawer, synth GAS will often leave you with very crowded walls full of keyboards form top to bottom.
Luckily, Korg decided to relief this situation with the introduction of the Volca line of machines in 2013. Much to the relief of wives (and possibly some husbands) around the world, you can now be a fully fledged synth hoarder without the need for your personal synth cave (or attic).
While they were at it, they even went as far as squeezing some extra oscillators into that tiny box too, as well as some more controls and features usually not found in your average 303 clone. That, among other reasons (like that it’s really cheap, widely available second hand and of course that it sounds really nice) made me pick it up in my never ending quest to own an absurdly large collection of affordable 303 style monosynths.
Seriously though, the Volca Bass is far from just another 303 clone, it has got it’s own unique flavor that is raw and gritty, much more than the tiny box might make you think. So, go check it out, I’m sure there is another Volca sized place left in your home studio ;)
If you like the background animations in my videos, go check out my new sub channel Rejected Synths Recycling Center, where you can download them for use in your own video projects:
kzbin.info/door/aQI...
For this video, I started using ProjectM again, simply the trippiest of all music visualizers:
github.com/projectM-visualize...
Tracklist:
0:00 Intro
0:37 Introduction
2:08 Volca Bass Controls vs 303 Controls
4:23 303 Style Single Oscillator Demo
5:39 303 Style Multi Oscillator Demo
7:22 Voice Doubling Demo
8:18 Powerchords and Lead Demo
9:16 Full Chords Demo
10:13 Demo Jam feat. Volca Beats
12:55 Conclusion
13:33 Outro

[@Drinkyoghurt]

Problem with the Volca series is that they're limited, but within their limitations they really shine. I started with DAWs but hated the workflow. "Do I want this sample or this one? this instrument or that?". Now I just get my Volca Bass, Volca Drum and my Minilogue XD and can be up and jamming within 2 minutes and it never sounds the same. At these low prices you can't afford not to have at least 1 Volca.

[@rejectedsynths]

These days people spend more on one dinner or half a dozen beers than what a preowned volca costs you 😜

[@Drinkyoghurt]

@@rejectedsynths It's funny, I'm coming back to this video after a night where I decided to stay in and make music instead of going out and spending Volca money on one night. I honestly don't know why the Volca Bass isn't more popular than it is, it will definitely become one of those holy grail synths in a decade or two. I'm really amazed by how much it can do. 3 VCOs in such a tiny box is just incredible and pair it up with a reverb and you're set. I'm definitely never selling mine, ever.

[@rejectedsynths]

With the inflation soaring, you'd soon be able to afford two used volcas for skipping a single night out 😁

[@rkic5440]

That’s the funniest intro ever! Excellent video 👍

[@tareklule9249]

Very cool stuff. Thanks for the demos!

[@rejectedsynths]

Hey there, glad you like it!

[@teenagebottlerobert]

instant subscribe for that intro, but also, more importantly. I can clearly see what you are doing while you explain it :)

[@TheJimbo1791]

THE INTRO IS THE BEST I´VE EVER SEEN. At first I was like what the fffff 😆😆😆👏👏👏

[@rejectedsynths]

Now that's some serious praise! Thank you 😅

[@N_L89_]

I have that volca , Is a really good synth and very fun to play

[@nobel11]

Volca Bass was my first Volca, and it really sold me on the line. I still love it, it's such a great monosynth. I like to midi pair it to the Behringer Moog clone and make some hugely fat sounds.

[@MrSeedi76]

That intro 😂😂😂😂. Almost peed myself laughing 😂😂. Just got my Volca Bass yesterday but haven't tried it yet. Slightly afraid of how complicated it might be as it's my first synth. So far I only played guitar and flute 😊.

[@mikolasstrajt3874]

That demo at 5:39 works great as smooth transition from Acid House to EBM. This is great idea I need to work on.

[@Randeema]

Great video review. Captions [CC] would help!

[@matthewseelye122]

Holy shit, this thing sounds so fucking tight, amazing! Sick demo man 👌

[@rejectedsynths]

Thx! 😍

[@Zoie3x8]

that intro is hilarious, left her looking like the Joker ! MWAHAHAHA !

[@maxmatson1578]

My volca bass is a Workhorse for me I record directly to a zoom H5 and usually the stereo track 1 and 2 are reserved for my main keys and then track 3 is for bass and track 4 is for my drum machine and lately I've been pairing my volca bass with my newly-acquired tb-3 Behringer clone and having them fed to the same track for space reasons them together make a great pairing!🎹🎧💫😵👌😎👍

[@rejectedsynths]

Sounds like big fun, any tracks you'd want to share?

[@maxmatson1578]

@@rejectedsynths Alas, I haven't figured out how to put my tracks onto computer yet?😅 but I am hoping in the future to start my own personal KZbin channel to put my tracks on. If it ever gets off the ground I'll definitely give you a link! Thank you✌

[@rejectedsynths]

If your computer doesn't have a line input or it sounds really bad, get a cheap audio interface for starters. The Behringer ones start from 20-40€/$ and the quality of those is more than ok for beginners. I record all of my stuff on cheap Behringer interface 😉

[@rejectedsynths]

Or look for one of their xenyx mixers with built in usb soundcard, a lot more comfortable for mixing your synths and they are dirt cheap too. I got a 24 channel one with built in fx for 100€ pre-owned

[@maxmatson1578]

@@rejectedsynths I definitely want to check that out👍 thanks for the recommendation brother, much appreciated🙏✌

[@shadynasty6393]

Thanks for this ! Is it possibly to do “lately bass “ on here If you can do something on that would be great!

[@rejectedsynths]

Lately bass is FM, this is the cheapest way to get proper lately: kzbin.info/www/bejne/n5DKeGyuh9CerZY

[@couchcamperTM]

Schön demonstriert. Klein aber oho, der Volca Bass.

[@ahmedtaktak581]

Very nice video! I was wondering how you make the video heh

[@ahmedtaktak581]

I mean the visual effects that are synced to the music*

[@rejectedsynths]

It's called projectM, basically an updated version of milkdrop Winamp visualizer (if you are old enough you'd probably know what that actually is 😉)

[@ahmedtaktak581]

@@rejectedsynths hahaha yepp, I do remember winamp. Thanks a lot for the reply, much appreciated! Cheers!

[@rejectedsynths]

@@ahmedtaktak581 glad you like the video 👍

[@scoreeclectic]

Caution. Never listen to a Volca Bass through small speakers such as computer speakers, headphones or even smartphones. Use a large speaker with sufficient bass output. Anything else sucks.

[@couchcamperTM]

every synth wants to be heard^^

[@yanny-kun1020]

This ^^^^^^

[@SpaceAndroidz]

Lolzz dat was awesome 👽🧬🌍

[@LFC303606ACID]

Resonance does nothing until knob turned to 85%. Why does everyone ignore this?

[@rejectedsynths]

From 95% on it rips your eardrum though 😵

[@zdave6083]

Resonance abuse is for wankers.

[@jenstrudenau9134]

Because it's not true. The lower changes are more subtle but definitely there.

[@epigon1]

Dumb question.. better this or the uno ?

[@rejectedsynths]

Depends I'd say. The uno only has two Oscs and a tamer filter but a lot more parameters that can be changed via the editor, plus patch memory. You can also check out my uno video for a comparsion.

[@epigon1]

@@rejectedsynths thanks

[@rejectedsynths]

Always happy to help

[@tonycanderton1975]

number one why why why are you trying to get 303 sounds from this machine number two no distortion a td3 struggles to quack like a tb 303

[@HeXetic]

I could've done without the psychedelic background during the play demo. I'm trying to watch what you're doing with the controls, not taking drugs and dancing until I'm dehydrated. Why even show the device and control manipulation if you're going to give anyone trying to watch them a brain aneurysm?

[@rejectedsynths]

ALL HAIL HYPNOTOAD!

[@googlepigs7027]

Your demo of this is the best BY FAR l've seen. Blows crap like sonic state and loopop away ! THANKS ! ❤👏

[@rejectedsynths]

Now that's some serious praise! Thanks a lot! 🤩

[@zdave6083]

B.S.!! Nobody tops Nick.

[@donpirla]

german accent with bass boost e no subtitles? THANK YOU

[@rejectedsynths]

Keepin it lofi (loh fei) since 2019 😝