Korg Volca Series

Reviews | Korg Volca Series
82
the ‘multi-touch’ keyboards (or via
MIDI) and they’re surprisingly easy to
play accurately in the main (way easier
than the Monotron/Tribe). However, to
get the best out of a performance/
sequence (and particularly when
playing chords on the Keys) I advise
connecting an external MIDI keyboard.
The Keys and Bass (though not the
Beats) respond to velocity over MIDI
and all the Volcas react reliably to MIDI
note input. Each unit can also have its
own MIDI channel but there’s no
multi-timbrality on any Volca.
The Beats and Bass share the same
keyboard layout (horizontal) and the
Keys has a piano-style layout, though I
really wish the Bass had a piano layout
too, as it’s hard to work out which note
is which! Also, in conjunction with the
Func button, the keys double as
function buttons to access secondary
functions and this system works well
and is easy to learn. The balance
between functionality, ease of use and
playability is great on all three Volcas
and it’s amazing how much has been
crammed in for the money.
So how do they sound? In a word –
great! You have to keep reminding
yourself that these cost just £119
each! Whilst the tiny speaker on each
Volca kicks out a surprising punch you
realise how serious the Volcas sound
once they’re plugged into your studio
monitors or a big system. The raw tones
are up there sonically with synths/
machines costing a lot more.
The one downside here is that the
Volcas have quite low-level outputs
(particularly the Beats) and you often
need to jack your mixer gains to get
them loud enough. This tends to
magnify background noise in the
circuitry, so you need to be careful with
your gain staging.
This aside, the lows on the Beats
are beefy, the highs on the Keys are
upfront/raw and sizzly and the Bass
squeals but can do cleaner/smooth too.
There’s also a lot of crossover between
the Keys and Bass – the Bass can do
one fi nger poly-chord stacks and the
Keys can also do chunky bass!
All things considered, Korg have
done themselves proud and they’ve set
a new benchmark for sound/features at
this price point. I can even see the
Volcas eating into the sales of more
expensive synths.
Three of a kind
Each Volca has something unique to
offer sonically/feature-wise. The
sequencers feel tight and they are
perfect for one-man shows, for
introducing kids to the fun of
production (my daughter went crazy for
them!), for live instrumentalists/
vocalists wanting backing machines/
analogue sound modules and for
producers that are tight on space but
want quality analogue drums, bass and
keys without breaking the bank.
I dig them all equally, though the
Keys really packs a lot in and it’s very
versatile. The modding possibilities are
a real bonus and Korg also mentioned
to me that they’re prototyping a
combined case/stand to hold all three.
Of course at this meagre price there are
compromises including no standard
MIDI out, no
combined/
included PSU(s),
no audio in, no
swing, no way to
copy tracks, no
pattern chain and
no way on the
Volca Bass to automate fi lter cutoff/
resonance (though Cutoff EG Init
works). Regardless, I’m really digging
Korg’s direction right now and I hope it
inspires the other big manufacturers to
step their games up and get back in
touch with what their customers want.
These are deservedly going to sell by
the boatload and I can only imagine
excitedly what Korg have in store
around the corner.
You realise how serious they sound
once they’re plugged into your
studio monitors or a big system
VERDICT
BUILD
❚❚❚❚❚❚❚❚❚
VALUE
❚❚❚❚❚❚❚❚❚❚
EASE OF USE
❚❚❚❚❚❚❚❚❚
VERSATILITY
❚❚❚❚❚❚❚❚
RESULTS
❚❚❚❚❚❚❚❚❚
The Volcas are revolutionary at
this price point. Everyone should
own all three!
ALTERNATIVES
SymetriColour
Step Sister
£82
Battery powered dirty
analogue synth kit designed
in Boston, UK. Has a
sequencer with up to ten
steps, CV/gate outs, mono/
stereo outs and a lowpass
fi lter with A/R envelope.
www.etsy.com/shop/
SymetriColour
Korg Monotribe
£129
The precursor to the Volca
range and still sounds
great. Features a small
ribbon keyboard, LFO, MS20
fi lter, a single VCO synth,
analogue drums, Active
Step and Flux modes.
www.korg.co.uk
MFB 522e
280 euros
16-step analogue drum
machine with nine sounds.
Has plenty of tone shaping
possibilities, plus clock
sync and shuffl e (swing). It
can also hold 72 patterns
and eight songs.
www.mfberlin.de
Volca Keys
SPECS: KEYS
Multi-touch Keyboard
Analogue synthesis with
3-note poly
3VCO, 1VCF, 1VCA,
1LFO, 1EG
VCO: Octave, Ring
Modulation, Detune,
Portamento, EG Intensity
VCO Waves: Sawtooth,
Square
VCF: Cutoff, Peak,
EG Intensity
VCF Type: Low Pass Filter,
12 dB/oct
LFO: Rate, Pitch Int, Cutoff
Int, Wave (Sawtooth,
Triangle, Square)
EG: Attack, Decay/Release,
Sustain
Effects
Delay: Time, Feedback,
Tempo Sync
Sequencer
Parts: 1, Steps: 16,
Patterns: 8
Dimensions
193 x 115 x 46mm
Weight (excluding
batteries)
377g
Volca Keys
Volca Keys uses saw/
square waves and excels
at upfront three-note
chords, dirty lead/bass
lines, ring modulated
sounds and detuned
unisons. It also features
octave/fi fth mono modes,
a versatile tempo-syncable
analogue-style delay that
does reverbs/bit-crushing
(from the Monotron Delay)
freeform unquantised fl ux
recording and 1/1, ½ and
¼ tempo modes.
The sound is less raw
than the Bass (though still
drives when pushed) and
it can produce killer
basses too. Once again, it
uses the MiniKORG700s
fi lter (voiced differently to
the Bass) and there’s a
single ADSR envelope.
The biggest downside is
that when sequencing
chords, you can’t edit the
individual notes in the
chord as the sequencer
only has one track and as
there’s no step edit – on
the fl y erasing is your only
option if you mess up.
FMU271.rev_korg.indd 82 9/11/13 3:46 PM