Korg Volca Series

Reviews | Korg Volca Series
78
K
org’s Monotron series/
Monotribe have really
helped put analogue back
into the hands of those on
smaller budgets and as a result of their
popularity, Korg are now moving fi rmly
forward with more new analogue-based
products. Many have lusted after a new
TB303, TR808 and MS20 for years,
yet none of the big companies
seemingly had the desire to go there
– that was until Korg broke the mould
and released the MS20 Mini at under
half the price of the original! Jump to
April 2013 and Korg’s Volca range
previewed at MusikMesse showing once
Korg Volca
Series | £119 each
The eagerly awaited Volca range is the talk of the
town. Dan ‘JD73’ Goldman gets a multiple Korgasm!
WHAT IS IT?
Bass, Beats and Keys
machines with analogue
signal paths/step
sequencers
CONTACT
Who: Korg
Web: www.korg.com
HIGHLIGHTS
1 Sound as good as more
expensive analogue synths
2 Super compact, well built,
can be battery powered
3 Crazily cheap considering
their power/features
INCLUDES AUDIO
l
again that Korg really mean business
when it comes to new analogue. Roland
must surely be concerned, especially as
the Volca Bass and Beats are obviously
inspired by the 303 and 808. Let’s see
how worried they should be!
Best of both worlds
Volca Beats, Bass and Keys are
designed in Japan and built in Vietnam
and each has a ‘full analogue signal
path’. However, as Korg explained to
me, the “control signals are generated
digitally” whilst the “CPU’s have a
10-bit DAC giving incredible near-
analogue resolution”. I can happily
attest this to be the case, though the
fi lter in the Keys does step slightly
when swept at high resonance settings.
Essentially, these are hybrid units;
analogue sound engines with digital
control so dial tweaks and note info can
be recorded into the sequencers/
accessed over MIDI. Several parameters
Stutter control and
Step Jump for
mashing up and
glitching your beats in
real-time. Dial
movements can be
recorded into the
sequencer (Motion
Sequencing).
Stutter/Step Jump
Six analogue and four
PCM drum sounds.
Sound shaping
options include
speed, grain, decay,
snap, click and pitch.
Piano-style keyboard
for playing up to
three-note chords.
Can also be triggered
via a MIDI keyboard
or via your DAW.
Most dials receive
MIDI CC info.
Analogue-style delay
plus six synth modes
including Poly,
Unison, Octave, Fifth,
Unison Ring and
Poly Ring.
Volca Beats
Keyboard
Volca Keys
MiniKORG700s fi lter
screams and distorts
when pushed and it’s
also great for making
sound effects along
with the LFO, which
syncs to MIDI and
goes into audio range.
Filter
FMU271.rev_korg.indd 78 9/11/13 3:45 PM