Volca NuBass: Part 1

This video is part 1 of a 2 part series I'm doing about the Volca NuBass. This video turned out to be less straightforward than I had expected (hoped). I am a big fan of the Volca series and typically feature them in one way or another on this channel, BUT the NuBass has left me scratching my head. A lot. Nevertheless, I do love the sounds it can make. I use the original Volca Bass for a lot of context in this video. Take a look and please make sure to comment if think I'm missing something. Thanks a lot for watching!
TIMELINE
00:00 Doing a little hypertempo stuff on the NuBass. You have to open the tempo range (global settings) to get the sequencer to run this fast.
00:26 Intro. Discussion of why I got a Volca NuBass and where this video is headed.
02:56 Volca Bass: Envelope
05:56 Volca NuBass: Envelope (a.k.a. how do I hold a note?)
11:55 Volca NuBass: MIDI (Arturia Keystep)
14:30 Volca NuBass: MIDI (other MIDI sources)
17:18 Volca NuBass: MIDI (sequencing with Korg SQ-1)
CLOSE-UP LOOK AT THE NUBASS
18:56 Oscillators and Envelope
24:45 Low Frequency Oscillator
28:00 Searching For Cool Sounds
"BUT THE VOLCA BASS CAN..."
30:20 Discussing some favorite features of the original Volca Bass.
33:00 Outro. Maybe I should watch more KZbin? Or less? idk.
36:30 At this point I admit confusion and retreat to something I understand. The NuBass VTO's (vacuum tube oscillators) got me thinkng about oscillators in general. I demonstrate a simple DIY physical audio oscillator and run it through some reverb (the Slo pedal from Walrus Audio). This sort of "loudspeaker twitching", and much more, can be found in the great book "Handmade Electronic Music" by Nicolas Collins.
LINKS
www.korg.com

[@Jeff-hy1eb]

Thanks for this video. You explain things in a clear yet friendly way, and I really appreciate that approach. After watching this video, I think that I have a pretty good idea about what to expect from the Volca Nubass.

[@undulations]

Hey, thanks much for checking out the video, I appreciate the feedback! I still really enjoy the NuBass; I've used it a lot since making this😀!

[@metokyo4960]

your videos are chilled, cool and informative and thats what makes them interesting. Thanks.

[@undulations]

I'm really glad to hear that. Thanks a lot for the feedback!

[@KaleOrton]

Mate! That intro was so FAT! Love it. I've had my NuBass for 3 weeks, and haven't heard it do THAT! I also just got Tony Horgans incredible guide, so much to learn! Thank you Sir for your channel; I love your peaceful voice. 🙏

[@KaleOrton]

Lovely kitty!

[@undulations]

Thanks very much for checking it out, I appreciate the feedback🙏🏼!

[@user-cz4ml2mt7t]

Love your content, thank you so much for the good vibes

[@undulations]

Hey, many thanks for watching and for the feedback🙏🏼!

[@pressgangs]

that was a treat at the end, very cool & interesting

[@undulations]

Awesome, I"m glad that you enjoyed it. I haven't done any "speaker twitching" on the channel before - glad to share the concept :)

[@OnixMox]

It always makes me happy, when I see you've made a vid on a synth I'm interested in... Thanks for your content!

[@undulations]

Thank you very much😀! I feel like these NuBass videos have some good parts, but some of my critique of the envelopes may be unjustified - my expectations vs. how a TB303-style device should work. Anyway, thanks again for watching!

[@OnixMox]

@@undulations you always seem to push a Synth beyond its intended design limits (I feel anyway) and this always gives me a better idea of how it can sound..

[@undulations]

@@OnixMox Hey, thanks much!

[@reznajafi3372]

Hey man! Just wanted to let you know that I watch your videos, even though I might be 9 months late... Anyway, thanks for the mention and I wish I saw that back then! I wouldn't have sold my NuBass... Keep up with the fantastic job, man.

[@undulations]

Hey, thanks a lot Rez! I really appreciate it. Your videos on Instagram have always been a source of inspiration! ps I need to see if there have been any NuBass updates🤔.

[@Leandrob13]

Your “i got a birthday coming up” is my “christmas is around the corner”. I will make the nubass my fourth volca. Great vid as always.

[@undulations]

Thanks very much🙏🏼! I think you'll like it a lot. Great sound and it works nicely with other Volcas.

[@SouthShoreSonics]

Just found your videos! Love them. Subscribed!

[@undulations]

I'm glad to hear that! Thank you!

[@XxChillikingxX]

The end noise sounded like it was straight out of a1950's sci fi film. Always entertained by your videos.

[@undulations]

XxChillikingxX Ha, I totally get the old sci-fi vibes. That sort of oscillator-thing is kind of unpredictable and the reverb makes it pretty dramatic. Thanks for watching!

[@fernandomercado2711]

Waveform Oh yeah 100% and I think that this makes a lot of sense if you wanna go that route

[@GOLDFISH817]

Very useful videos man

[@undulations]

Thanks for checking them out🙏🏼!

[@The_Invisible_Man]

Great work! Love your video’s

[@undulations]

Thank you very much🙏🏼!

[@The_Invisible_Man]

Undulations regarding the sustain on the ENV, this is the same on the TB303.

[@undulations]

Understood. I figure it must make sense for the intended style of play. It seemed so alien coming from the original Volca Bass. I still really like the NuBass, such a nice sound.

[@nikpharesmusic5768]

Nubass with Behringer RD-6 to try tomorrow!! Great videos as always cheers!

[@turfoid7899]

Great channel 👍🏻

[@undulations]

Thanks for checking it out🙏🏼!

[@ETA555]

Thanks. Great video.

[@undulations]

Jonas Pettersson You're welcome! Thanks a lot for the feedback🙏🏼

[@ETA555]

@@undulations has recentley bought korg volca nubass Also owner of Volca kick Volca sample Volca Fm Volca Keys Volca Bass

[@k5r2d2]

Thank you so much for this, I learned a whole bunch.... cheers m8 :hat1:

[@ForecastGrim]

Novation Circuit Tracks controls midi properly. I route the Nubass audio back into the Circuit tracks to add reverb and delay. Circuit tracks seems to play well with others.

[@undulations]

Ahhh, that's cool! I have an original Circuit but no Tracks at this point, so thanks a lot for sharing🙏🏼!

[@Decoy303]

I believe the sustain works this way because when you're pressing a note down it's automatically putting on a slide and just like the TD-3 you can't have a continuous stained slide; so no slide can ever be on the 16th step because it will do exactly this... Slowly fade out. I could be v wrong but I think that's what's happening.

[@undulations]

That makes sense. I guess it's just that it seemed really alien compared to the original Volca Bass. I've continued to use the NuBass and really love the sound. Thanks for checking out the video🙏🏼!

[@Decoy303]

@@undulations I'm a subscriber. Take enjoying your videos on the Model:. Cycles. Seems like this FM Drum Synth has really taken off recently in terms of popularity. I'm have one on my birthday, July 26th, so your videos are really coming in clutch for that special date. Thanks for the response. Be well, be safe, be blessed, and please continue to share the knowledge. Like Rickey Tienez says... Knowledge is Power.

[@atrue8875]

Very intuitive as always. Would you ever do a Volca FM demonstration??

[@undulations]

Thank you🙏🏼! I will - that is a great idea. I don't use it enough (and making a video is always a great way to learn more about it). I think a focus on its features makes sense, but also as a platform for some dicussion of FM synthesis in general. Thanks again👍🏻!

[@surf_machine]

10:22

[@undulations]

You're welcome! He is a handful sometimes but a really sweet cat :) Thanks for watching🙏🏼!

[@2nichtdu]

Hey, Cloud it be possible that the nubass has the 1 or 2ppn midi clock but the aturia key sends a different? I hear something like this that some korg synth need a special midi configuration... I think the Microfreak gives different clocks special for korg. Sorry for my guessing but it could be the midi clock. Wish you good luck 🤞

[@undulations]

Hey, thank you! I appreciate the ideas and information. I need to go through some NuBass stuff again (especially see if there is an update). It's got such a nice sound😀!

[@MrKeys57]

I already watched the part 2, - and though there are som shortcomings and issuses i think they can be fixed by firmware updates, it have a nice and warm sound, as often tubes produce, so i will order it! -- the last DIY "synth" was really fun and pretty cheap to build too! ;D greetings, Levi in sweden

[@undulations]

Yeah, the Nubass has got a really nice sound!

[@MrKeys57]

@@undulations i ordered it today, will be here by wednesday!

[@undulations]

MrKeys57 Excellent👍🏻!

[@MrKeys57]

@@undulations got it, play it now, GREAT!! - but i find the volume level pretty low, even at max? or is it just me? am i loosing my hearing after years of high volumes! - i had to connect a small earphone amp to it, to get the levels i am used to, otherwise great fun! greetings, Levi

[@MrKeys57]

@@undulations and i also adjusted to 600bpm... ;)

[@zinghao131]

Would you know of a hand luggage size (bass) synth that's got decent enough release to compete with my trusted Korg M500? This one obviously has got zero, and the volca bass has got way too little...

[@undulations]

M Kinz Well, I’m certainly unqualified to say for sure, but out of the gear that I own? I think I would pick the Roland SE-02. I looked around, there is a bass demo of the SE-02 on Synthtopia (but that demo seems to focus more on plucky funk bass, maybe some other video somewhere?). I hope this helps a little. Let me know your general findings if you get a chance, just curious on what reasonable options are out there🤔.

[@zinghao131]

@@undulations Maybe... right now the Moog Minitaur seems the more affordable option on Ebay, although I cannot confirm the ADSR from anything I have watched. I think it would though as it's based on the Taurus...

[@zinghao131]

@@undulations But thanks!

[@jamesbtex58]

Have you tried writing to Korg and describing your issues?? Do they have a response?? Seems since you have already documented this on video, you could point their support to this video and ask about those issues. After trying that many keyboards the problem is the NuBass.

[@undulations]

No, I think I just sort of moved on after the video. I've tended to use the NuBass as more of a standalone instrument. I'll check to see if any sort of update has fixed that issue.

[@rebeccatheuma6554]

Is pitch quantization possible with the volca nubass?

[@undulations]

Hey, it is👍🏻! You can play quantized from the keyboard of course, but you can also hold the Function key while you turn the Pitch knob to take semitone-quantized steps for the overall tuning.

[@gianfry1980]

it is not possible to insert the accent with the CC48 of an external keyboard with the Midi velocity as happens in the TT-303, this is an indispensable function for a bassline

[@undulations]

Gianfranco Carone Understood. Thanks for lending your expertise on this. Will mention in the follow-up video👍🏻.

[@gianfry1980]

Undulations please write to korg for this, I did it

[@olivierrenoir9282]

Very interesting. No way to have zero peak ?

[@undulations]

Thank you! I can't say for certain that the peak knob's minimum is truly zero, but I think it probably is. It at least goes low enough to really darken the sound and basically make the envelope into an amplitude-only sweep (even with the EG Intensity all the way up) - much more of a thud than a twang.

[@shatteredsquare]

did they fix the ADSR issue yet

[@undulations]

shatteredsquare I don’t think so. The 1.06 update is the one listed on their website. It’s from 12/2019 and is stated to only fix a midi thing and a couple of minor bugs. ( I’m not 100% sure that I even have that update.)

[@exitritual]

"Nope, I don't want that penny on me."

[@undulations]

scott sturgis You’re killing me with this😂! I think i got shocked at one point - barely noticable because of the vibration.