TR-6S or Volca Drum - Which is the better first drum machine? TR-6S & Volca Drum Review

[@sleepvessel2233]

Took me over a year to tame the volca drum. I wish it was bigger, but once you understand the layers, slice function and probability features, it's really amazing. the sounds that come out it are in a league of their own. It's a tiny beast.

[@geofff6671]

Volca drum can do some crazy rhythms with its wave folding and can sound really cool and interesting. What it can’t do well is just conventional sounding drums.

[@Chasing_Thoughts]

It can create perfect 909 and 808 kick drums, also decent claps. But the hi hats it makes are nearly unusable. I don’t think the envelopes are fast enough to make that quick of a sound.

[@Pastryarchy]

I’ve had no problem making conventional drum sounds, you just have to play with the layers independently to mimic initial hit and resonance , then be modest with your pitch and parameters

[@marsoblivi0n945]

Exactly why I want it. Has some mini monomachine vibes.

[@geraldclark5812]

Volca Drum was one of my first synths, purchased in 2019. Just bought a TR-6S to go with my MC-101, so far so good. What I really wanted to comment on was how spot on your criticism of Korg's documentation is. I struggled for weeks trying to understand how to work the Volca Drum. By not emphasizing the importance of understanding Layers, Edit Step, and the difference between loading Programs vs. Kits (which I still think I don't have a handle on), you have to go through endless trial and error to figure out how Drum works, very frustrating. Today Volca Drum is my favorite synth, I love playing with the sounds and mangling them, not really great for playing along with other synths in a song, but by itself utter craziness. Korg probably thinks they're cute putting all the documentation on one big sheet of paper, they'd be better off pointing to you a more complete PDF like Roland does. Nice video!

[@scottfaucett5747]

Lol, I bought a volca drum and sample 2 I played with them got irritated, that sat for weeks and now I'm back at learning. thankfully we have KZbin 👍❤️👍 I may still have a chance at learning... Lol

[@cadetesespaciales]

Good review! Keep it up!

[@kylekeller7577]

I own both. Go with the 6S!

[@Two-Eyed_Boy]

Exactly the comparison I needed! Thanks for taking the time to do this!

[@tomblaze2]

Great video - Thanks

[@Tiger.Arcade]

Great review man! I’m usually salty about reviews that don’t demo products but you were very thorough. I appreciate you mentioning at the end the model cycles as well. For me it’s between what you’ve mentioned here or forking out a bit extra for the digitakt.

[@Alan_Watkin]

holy shit, so i just watched this now and was about to comment an my eye just strayed down abit lol, an i seen you.....yeah was good this neary went with the tr6 volca drum was my first box of drums as good as it is, its to clunky 2buttons to do anything not when you've the body of boy, small boy!

[@micedevice2389]

What a mic! It got the looks!

[@StephenGallagher101]

Thank you for your excellent videos! I learn so much from you.

[@LUPART]

cool. I was just wondering about that Volca Drum. Thanks

[@alexwestconsulting]

I have both and recommend both. Elektron model:cycles too. All sound great with their own special features and sounds.

[@afrohamurai]

I’ve been lusting after a model:cycles for a while too - might see if they show up on sale anytime soon…

[@alexwestconsulting]

@@afrohamurai yup get a used one. Just make sure it includes midi dongle or 2. I got my used model cycles for half what I paid for my used tr6s.

[@TheScreamingFrog916]

Agree, I have all three too, and the Elektron Syntakt. Will never part with any of them, as they all have unique qualities that I really like.

[@doctorauxiliary]

great vid, sir!! & my name is rocco, so... it kinda felt like I was in the room. haha!!

[@afrohamurai]

Thank you, and welcome to the videos!

[@sebastiennesp1978]

Top review mate! Enjoyable even if one is not in the market for a new drum machine. (Can you imagine such a person?!!) Decided to Subscribe...

[@treborrenmus2420]

Very helpful, thank you

[@huntrrams]

For me it’s the TR-6S! Love it a lot!

[@afrohamurai]

Same! I’ve enjoyed the Volca Drum, but I think if I had to pick just one the TR-6S has more uses for me.

[@elchalan6728]

Disculpa hermano como resolviste el problema de las muestras por qué las mías al importarlas se escuchan con un volumen muy bajo

[@Turbo_TechnoLogic]

Nice overviews thx

[@PaulOrtiz]

I have almost all the Volcas, and so the completionist in me would love to have the Drum! But I recently picked up the TR-6S and MC-101 and they just have so many features in them. Maybe if I have some spare cash I'll pick the Drum up. But at this point I'm out of audio inputs lol Have you tried the MC btw?

[@alexwestconsulting]

Get the Volca Drum. Do it. Best of the lot. I use it for hats all the time, has an organic/unpredictable element to its sound that's perfect for hats.

[@mikemeengs5720]

Great video! I love my Drum, but I think I'll add the R6S just for all the standard drum sounds it offers...those TR kits sound great!

[@sullycliftona]

If any one has boutiques and needs a rack . Here’s a hack .. cut about 6 inches up and ten inches in on a milk crate do the same again so you have like step .. and you have yourself a nice platform ( I chose to do it width wise .. that way they sort of sit with a overhang on each side of machine … you can store two volca underneath on the flat bottom to. Use a jigsaw.. it took no time at all… you can make a slightly more complicated version if you cut on the other dimensions but th boutique will need a shelf built because they fit inside a crate with about 1 inch gap ..

[@SuperRingoffire1]

Thanks for the info 👌☮

[@NatLifeSounds]

I have both, they are pretty different machines, both very useful and massive!

[@andrewstanworth529]

Love it!

[@MrSeanyj69]

Really enjoy your content and especially Rocco’s guarding skills. I’m on the edge of a TR8S purchase. Am I wasting money if I go for that over the TR6S. I’m drawn by its performance abilities and immediacy. What’s your thoughts?

[@afrohamurai]

Thank you! Rocco appreciates it too 👍🏾😊 The biggest thing that made me go for the 6S over the 8S was portability. The 8S only works indoors from a power outlet, but the 6S is properly portable. Although, if I had desk space (or end up with desk space) I would absolutely have the 8S permanently setup. It’s basically the same but with 11 tracks, and it can have all 11 output on separate analog outputs so if I had 11 inputs I’d be sorted. For me, they’re both absolutely worth it - I see the size and portability as the biggest things to consider.

[@MrSeanyj69]

@@afrohamurai Thanks Afro and Rocco. I’m looking for a permanent space and the external audio in is another thing. Anyhow keep up the good work!

[@stevewoywitka3258]

Had the drum sold it. Want the 6s

[@Smegma_pirate]

Two different machines for two different purposes. The 6s for the drums and bass and the volca for percussion, and texture

[@marcosrotllan]

Going for a tr6 exactly for that

[@tonycanderton1975]

cool had the volca drum sold it I have a tr6s if you want fm drums go for the volca fm it's much more versatile regret selling the fm

[@bobbythompson4268]

The fm is dif from the drum. I haven’t had any drum sounds come out of my fm.

[@TimWrightDJ]

Great video, just waiting for the delivery of my TR-6S today and yours and looppops videos have already been very valuable in getting started with these. Care to share your Max4Live device to control the deeper parameters on the TR-6S?

[@afrohamurai]

It’s downloadable from maxforlive.com/library/device/7123 - I also have a video that shows off some of what it used to to. There’s more it can do now and it behaves a bit better with automation

[@VJFranzK]

(There are third party Volca USB power adaptors I think?) Electribe 2 and Circuit are also fine choices! which include full melody sections

[@djdeemz7651]

Volca goes well in DJ setup if your a scratch dj it's a dope little add on for your own scratch beats

[@Mikhael_bureau]

I have both, I really love the Volca Drum as it is very original and creative with it synth approach and it sound design potential, unfortunately, it has a great con: very fragile and easily broken, the keys are weak so I have to vote with the TR-6S.

[@S4V0LAEN3N]

For 1st drummachine from those two I'd say TR-6S - just because at least for me Volca Drum would be the last drum machine I'd ever need. :)

[@78thandSynth]

I use the Volca Samole and TR-6S side by side. It’s like a tape vs a cd. I like both tapes and cds so I wouldn’t say which is better. But sound quality objectively is not comparable.

[@Decoy303]

Comparing apples to oranges.

[@channelz3363]

Thanks for this. I got the TR6S for the reasons you give and that’s also why I’m looking at the MC101 (for the synth mod aspects). TR6S is a keeper for me though.

[@afrohamurai]

I’d imagine the combo of TR-6S and MC-101 would be a beast! Basically 10 tracks with 6 for drums and 4 for synth - thinking about it, it’s a pretty good small DAWless setup 👍🏾

[@Decoy303]

They are completely different. That being said... Both are essential pieces of gear to own.

[@Alan_Watkin]

well done was interesting this, i really looked at the TR6s as an upgrade from the volca drum, but ended up going with Behringer's RD9, the drum is a great box, but all the 2button one function stuff is not for me, but it sounds ok the drum was my first drum machine attempting to make mid 90s style house/trance it was enough to make me want more so i cant grumble really

[@leewightman8619]

Its say the roland t8 is a better option as its cheaper and has the bass 303 synth in it too

[@bjornlange635]

Can the TR-6S control the Volca Drum via midi?

[@afrohamurai]

I would think so - at very least it can sync to it's tempo. I haven't tried using the TR-6S as a MIDI controller beyond that

[@officialsimonharris]

No question the TR6S is better, I had the Volca Drum and it's very limited, hard to control the sound and most of the sound is really not usable. The TR6S is packed full of tried and tested iconic Roland kits and much more.

[@johnruschulte2593]

One page manuals are sadistic just do a proper pdf version on multiple pages.

[@afrohamurai]

For real! Maybe for a Quick Start manual put it on one page, but make a proper one for the PDF

[@mymockumentary9716]

myvolts USB to 9v :)

[@legendhero8966]

Not both,, buy volca kick.. very2 fun and amazing .

[@F.S.H.O.]

I wanna sub but you have 808 subs

[@jevogroni4829]

its*

[@marcosrotllan]

Tr6, no doubt. Volca drum is inmense and non intuitive as tr6. No doubt

[@JoeJohnston-taskboy]

+1 on the crap manual format.

[@attiliohollige]

Dont know Roland but the Korg Is pure trash

[@b0bhumperdinck795]

Yeah it's only used by millions of producers in the world you don't even know what you're talking about

[@bobbythompson4268]

Yo what’s that cool case for the volca?