Volca Keys for Ambient and Drone: still relevant in 2024?

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Korg Volca Keys: Still a Synth for Ambient Music in 2024?
Explore the timeless sounds and creative potential of the Korg Volca Keys in this video! Veteran user dives deep into its analog warmth, versatile features, and affordability. See why the Volca Keys remains a powerful tool for Ambient musicians in 2024!
Get classic analog sounds, lush pads, and evolving drones. Perfect for beginners and sound design enthusiasts.
Key features:
3 oscillators for complex sounds
Dedicated filter for sculpting your tone
Built-in delay for added dimension
16-step sequencer for creating loops & improvisation
Compact, portable, and battery-powered
Sync & MIDI for connecting with other instruments
Active community for resources and inspiration
Learn how to use the Volca Keys for Ambient music, including drone creation tricks! Watch now and get inspired!
Leave a comment below: What's your favorite thing about the Volca Keys?
Best Volca Keys Drone Hack: • Unlock Infinite Sustai...
Alternative Drone Hack: • Can it do this?! - Kor...
Drone With Creative Delay Manipulation: • Korg Volca Keys: the U...
01:19 Vintage Analog Sound at Your Fingertips
02:00 Unleash Your Creativity with Three Oscillators
03:50 Shape Your Sound with Filters and Envelopes
05:00 Delay for Added Dimension
06:13 Simple Loop Sequencer with Real-time Manipulation
08:24 External Effects to Make it Shine
10:03 Sync and MIDI, Portability
11:03 A Synth That Inspires
12:17 Conclusion
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[@2und2sind4]

Great topic! Maybe you can do a part 2 where you talk about how the Volca Keys compares to more recent competitors

[@ElectroMagnetic_AmbientMusic]

I was thinking about that!

[@matthewtunnicliffe201]

Yeah it's a basic synth, but I think it's raw sound is absolutely amazing. There's just something about it that I love. And I often run it through my NTS-1 for additional delay and reverb, and that works really well.

[@gru_day]

Sold Volca Keys n i bought Modal Skulpt for true poly experience... as it sounds huge, I can't get close to this sweet drifting, warm sound of this Voca. Keys is like Blade Runner OST in a box. Bought it again and will make it a keeper this time. Its a part of history. If not first Volca series who knows how synth market would look like now.

[@matthewtunnicliffe201]

@@gru_day Yeah, I think you're right. Korg played a huge part in the analogue revival. Volcas will probably be considered as being important one day in terms of synth history.

[@Marcodub75]

I make most of my music using volca keys, totally in love with this synth from day 1.

[@ElectroMagnetic_AmbientMusic]

Definitely an evergreen

[@dianamiino7391]

Long live the Volca Keys ❤ This is my best synthesizer by far!

[@ElectroMagnetic_AmbientMusic]

It's special for me too as you can see!

[@KeltyVince]

Cool video, another use for the Keys is as an extra oscillator/sound source combined with another synth, as in using with a synth that has external audio input, connect it to use Midi to control the Keys and send the Key's audio to the external audio input of that synth, giving you the extra oscillator/s, you can then use the main synth's filter etc, as well as the Key's filter etc, I've done this with my MS2000B and Monologue, as those both have audio inputs, there are many other synths with audio in, you could also use it with synths without audio inputs, just using Midi and a mixer of some sort, but you wouldn't have the features of the synth that have the audio input, such as effects and filter to experiment with, the Key's is good for this as its small, and easy to sit on top of some synths, such as the MS2000B.. that has space for a few pieces of gear each side of its control area, just another idea for Volca Keys usage.

[@hyponovalive]

Ay-up!

[@ElectroMagnetic_AmbientMusic]

Yes that's great. I was planning to couple it with the Roland s-1 since it has an input and see what I can get out of them. Cheers

[@Marcodub75]

I use the S1 with the volca keys, stunning couple.

[@ElectroMagnetic_AmbientMusic]

@@Marcodub75 i made a video about those two together!! If you want to check it out you can let me know what you think about it kzbin.info/www/bejne/qJiZXoyYf7R1fa8si=-oOhIfyRqbvLeyfC

[@JohnMitchellCalif]

lovely! subscribed

[@ElectroMagnetic_AmbientMusic]

Thanks!

[@giovannismoqi4577]

bought a second hand one after this vid :) is the built in speaker supposed to be loud? it's kinda quiet on this one

[@ElectroMagnetic_AmbientMusic]

I never really used it. It's really just for checking the unit in my opinion. Even a cheap small speaker works better.

[@djkanyon]

Dunno what Korg have against Hold button but it seems that it's something personal. I have Keys and FM and both are perfectly capable for pad\drone work, but only if you press hold from external midi keys (and that kills the whole portability idea). Even on my Electribe 2 there's no hold function to be found (you can find a workaround there for sure but hey, Korg guys, what's up with that?)

[@ElectroMagnetic_AmbientMusic]

I couldn't agree more with you. Korg, we want the hold button!

[@BonasBuden]

The Keys is a good sounding synth and running it through a good reverb and delay makes it sound really good. Then again with a good reverb and/or delay you can make even an audio plug noise sound awesome. :)

[@ElectroMagnetic_AmbientMusic]

😆 that's quite true! But with a gentle amount of effect you can keep the signature sound of the volca Keys and make it shine

[@Klaudio64]

It is undoubtedly a good synth in the budget range and I use it constantly in my music, but it has a serious flaw: even though I create a sequence with the metronome, it doesn't keep time: it plays the notes late. I also downloaded the machine update files from the Korg website without appreciable results.

[@ElectroMagnetic_AmbientMusic]

Did you make sure you deactivated the flux function?

[@Klaudio64]

Thank you for the advice, but I had already deactivated the flux function without obtaining any improvements. Unfortunately, the problem remains

[@droneinthewoods]

I've just bought one off ebay :) your fault!

[@ElectroMagnetic_AmbientMusic]

I'm sure you'll not regret! Cheers my friend