One nice thing about the simplicity and intuitiveness of controls is that you can put the Volca Keys away for a few months, then jump right back in without needing to get re-acquainted with complex menus, knob assignments, reading the manual, etc. This is certainly not the case with many synthesizers.
Please trust me that you're missing half the fun by ignoring that sequencer! Honestly- please try to not dismiss it outright, and just give it one more shot for what it CAN do... especially in the context of a Volca / Pocket Operator jam. If it's not too presumptuous, may I raise a couple points to keep in mind? -basically EVERY KNOB can be sequenced (everything but Resonance, Tempo, and master volume, IIRC). All at once. Even the Delay controls. Over a dozen simultaneous lanes of parameter sequencing! The Minilogue & Monologue only allow 4. -Each pattern can be up to FOUR BARS LONG! Even without decreased resolution, because... -You can record unquantized (sort of)! Enabling "FLUX" unlocks the 16-step grid, and you can basically realtime record as many notes as you want in each pattern, almost like a looper (although there is still some degree of quantization going on). And each pattern can be 1, 2, or 4 bars long, so at its slowest speed (10 BPM), a single pattern can go for over a minute and a half before it loops. One cool possibility is recording into the sequencer using a controller with an arpeggiator. Enable FLUX, select the "1/4" TEMPO, hit REC to arm it for realtime recording... then just start playing 4 bars of arpeggios. You can overdub and make use of the 3-note paraphony... But ultimately, the insane Motion Sequencing capabilities is where the fun i-- good Lord! It's 3am! I need to chill out about this and go to SLEEP! ...anyway, enjoyed the video!! 😉🙏
Yeah, I know it's got some awesome tricks up its sleeve, but I can never get it to accurately record what I want it to. Note length always seems off, random notes get cut, stuff like that. I'll give it another shot soon though. Thanks for watching!
Great video man, thanks. If you had to pair any one Korg Volca product with a Novation Circuit, which would you pick, maybe a second choice as well. Thank you.
I always enjoy hearing the keys! For me it’s like when you have a favorite dish that you always get from a restaurant. You don’t get the most variety, but you get exactly what you want.
I've been rewatching your Volca Keys videos lately and learning a lot. Thanks for that. I finally ordered one while they were on sale last month, but it looks like it won't arrive until June... maybe. I knew that when I ordered it, but for $129, I couldn't resist and I figured it would give me something to look forward to.
Great video as always! The sounds really are amazing, and I’m glad to hear other people mention problems with the sequencer. I really have been struggling with it, almost considering buying the Korg SQ1 just to get a better sequencer. But I don’t want to buy anything new until I learn this.
I own my Keys since some month and like it a lot. There is a third party editor u can use standalone or as a VST, this give u the options of save patches and use automation in a DAW and make the Keys more amazing. When u are not an expert in synths, like me, u can learn a lot from using this lil synth.
I got mine a year and a half ago and I'm in total agreement here. I've watched many of your Keys videos and you always do it proud. It's good to see someone singing its praises because it's a very underrated synth. Yeah, it maybe basic perhaps, but the main thing is the sound and it sounds bloody brilliant! I'm currently using mine for bass in a track and it's a monster.
I just got my Volca Keys about a week ago, and so far it seems amazing! My only issue so far is that I find it difficult to tweak, then again I'm still learning subtractive synthesis, so its probably a me-problem lol. I will say that it is very good in the bass department, and can create some killer leads. Overall, I feel that its an amazing synth! If you are a beginner, I recommend spending the money and getting it! Another alternative that is nice is the Stylophone Gen X-1 (although that has no polyphony).
Along with Moog Werkstatt, Volca Keys is one of my favorite synths and they both compliment each other very well. Had them both for 5 years. I also own NTS-1, Volca Kick and Drum.
Thanks for the vid. To me, it's useful to hear the opinion of someone who has owned one for a couple of years. I'm trying to decide between one of these and the FM version. I may go with the FM. I wish they had more than 3-voice poly!
Hi Freebeat! I am currently checking for midi keyboards. Do you think the Arturia Keystep you have there is excellent for the Volca Keys? Or should I go for the Arturia Keystep 37? Also, someone said that the Volca Keys is Paraphonic and it's not good for Keystep or Keystep 37. Hence I should go for the Keystep Pro. What are your thoughts?
The Volca Keys is indeed paraphonic, but that has nothing to do with the controller. So upgrading to the Keystep Pro won't change anything. I actually really like pairing the Keystep 37 with the Volca Keys, you can get some pretty cool strummed chords!
I really want to know how difficult the volca fm is to play? I've been thinking about that for my next one or the drum or save up longer and get a dread box
I've found that it's good at the limited things that it does, but you can get everything from fat to reedy sounds and make them as dirty or clipped or saturated as you like. I have a larger Korg digital polyphic that I use when I need more than a couple voices at the same time or if I need a tune to express a specific preset in mind... and it does that well, but I can get lost in it and forget what I'm trying to accomplish. For me, the keys are great for either a more distinct analog melody or harmonic support or specific bass tones or drones. I think I'm up to four volcas at this point, but the keys are handy for puzzling out little ditties in isolation and the limitations help me to focus because my choices are restricted a bit, and then I can shape what I end up with and layer that into what the other bits of kit are offering.
From a technical perspective, the keyboard of the Volca Keys isn’t a resistive strip like on the Monotron, but a capacitive button array, so the tones are at least quantized in frequency.
I’m wondering if I could use this with my Orba 2? I just really want to add effects and layer sounds over existing loops on the Orba in real time. For a live campsite performance lol
The sequencer is meh, this is true, but it can do just enough to be useful. I have been feeding mine through a shimmer reverb pedal lately and it can sound epic. Honestly, for basic synth sounds, this, an NTS1, and the Monotron Delay and Duo...that'll do you. The combos are amazing.
you made a playlist about the nts-1. how about making playlists for the volca keys and the microfreak? on a pc the search function is available for each channel, but on an ipad this is missing, so a playlist would be helpful.
I think the Keys are one of the best Volcas to get just becauz of the simplicity of it. I think the biggest problems the other Volcas have is that they have great features that are bottlenecked by their limitations. But becauz the Volca Keys are so simple and straightforward, you don't feel constrained like you would with the other machines. The only limits are no MIDI out and a sequencer that can only loop one bar, but it's easy to get around that with an external sequencer. The other synths have the same constraints in addition to other constraints. Out of all the limitations, the Volca Keys just seem to hav the least. It's versitile as well, it can create a variety of sounds and has just enough to work with to get nice sounds. It doesn't have complexity outside of it's capabilities.
Random question, but I figure if anybody knows the answer to it, it’s you. Have you had any issues with the Volca keys getting stuck playing a note nonstop, when controlling it with an external controller? I’m using an oxygen pro mini and it has happened twice now where a note stays “on” and I can’t get it to stop unless I restart the Keys. Thanks!
@@FreeBeat I think my question was incomplete. I have a Arturia Keystep, which I plan to use it to play either the Volca Keys or the Bheringer D. Now, what do you think? Thanks again for your reply!
I'm certain the "VCO" is actually a DCO, because it never needs tuning. The "Detune" knob is to detune voices not a global frequency control. I'm happy with this because it means I just switch VK on and play in concert pitch without needing to warm it up and use a tuner which VCO synths require.
if you see the red light inside the machine seemingly randomly going on and off - it is autotuning - does this basically continuously.. (not sure if covered in video)
I'm in the same situation as you with Volca Bass. The 3 oscillators (like Keys) are kind of tricky, but that's a unique feature that lets you do a different sequence with each oscillator. The filter, resonance (Peak I think they call it) and LFO can be lots of fun, but it doesn't do acid type (303) music as easily as I was hoping. I was also disappointed that you can only have 8 programs total, and no accents (there are videos on doing accents, I haven't tried them out yet).
I have an NTS-1, I don't have a Keys but have watched lots of videos on it and own other Volcas (Bass, Drum). NTS-1 is worth looking into, for the reasons you mention, but Keys has about twice the number of knobs, speaking to FB's point about 1 knob per function. You have some button/knob combinations to learn with NTS-1 which are probably not necessary with Keys. NTS-1 doesn't have a sequencer and its keystrip is even worse than Keys, totally unplayable without a Keystep. So depending on your experience level and requirements one or the other might be better. Personally I feel like NTS-1 is a lot of fun, teaches you about synthesis, and the added bonus of using it as an effects box makes it a no-brainer purchase, but your mileage may vary. Good luck!
NTS-1 was my overall best synth purchase of last year, hands down. It not only gives you basic, tuneable synthesis, but it also has so many free (and paid) oscillators and effects, that you'll have fun creating something new every time you use it. Highly recommended.
As someone who had this as a first synth, I found it a really poor beginner synth and I'm surprised it gets recommended so often. The controls aren't logically laid out and are poorly labeled so it's hard to really understand what is going on, the sequencer is terrible, the sounds are super basic, it has very limited sweet spots and it's actually pretty hard to just fiddle around and get something usable. And, for me, it doesn't sound good at all without external fx. And it's much too expensive for what it is. When you look at what else this money can buy you these days, there's far better out there. I see them for sale all the time in my local classifieds for £70 and down and they don't sell.
Yeah I’m in Sonoma County California. The Korg website keeps directing me to east coast locations. I was thinking Guitar Center on Van Ness in San Francisco might have one but I haven’t called yet...
Yeah I’m seeing it now across the country online, my only concern is it potentially getting damaged during delivery. It would also be nice to have it to play around with immediately after purchase, but none of my local music shops have a keys specifically..
You only have mono pulse wave on the poly ring mod and you cant turn off ring mod. No hack to do poly square...It sound good, but you will buy another later too. And all key related volcas like FM2 using the same sequencer, no step record and like a looper.
Use some patch notes like this one! There's another one as well you can find pretty easy with a Volca Keys Patch Sheet and a google search :) bracket-three.com/wp-content/uploads/1/cfile6.uf.2609763D532276772C488D.pdf
![Seungmin "그렇게, 천천히, 우리(As we are)" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/kAzmhLHePqU/mqdefault.jpg)
One nice thing about the simplicity and intuitiveness of controls is that you can put the Volca Keys away for a few months, then jump right back in without needing to get re-acquainted with complex menus, knob assignments, reading the manual, etc. This is certainly not the case with many synthesizers.
Definitely! One of my favorite features as well :)
Please trust me that you're missing half the fun by ignoring that sequencer! Honestly- please try to not dismiss it outright, and just give it one more shot for what it CAN do... especially in the context of a Volca / Pocket Operator jam. If it's not too presumptuous, may I raise a couple points to keep in mind?
-basically EVERY KNOB can be sequenced (everything but Resonance, Tempo, and master volume, IIRC). All at once. Even the Delay controls. Over a dozen simultaneous lanes of parameter sequencing! The Minilogue & Monologue only allow 4.
-Each pattern can be up to FOUR BARS LONG! Even without decreased resolution, because...
-You can record unquantized (sort of)! Enabling "FLUX" unlocks the 16-step grid, and you can basically realtime record as many notes as you want in each pattern, almost like a looper (although there is still some degree of quantization going on). And each pattern can be 1, 2, or 4 bars long, so at its slowest speed (10 BPM), a single pattern can go for over a minute and a half before it loops.
One cool possibility is recording into the sequencer using a controller with an arpeggiator. Enable FLUX, select the "1/4" TEMPO, hit REC to arm it for realtime recording... then just start playing 4 bars of arpeggios. You can overdub and make use of the 3-note paraphony... But ultimately, the insane Motion Sequencing capabilities is where the fun i-- good Lord! It's 3am! I need to chill out about this and go to SLEEP!
...anyway, enjoyed the video!! 😉🙏
Exactly, motion sequencing is where the real fun begins with the Keys (and most other Volcas).
Yeah, I know it's got some awesome tricks up its sleeve, but I can never get it to accurately record what I want it to. Note length always seems off, random notes get cut, stuff like that. I'll give it another shot soon though. Thanks for watching!
Well said i use it a lot!
Great video man, thanks. If you had to pair any one Korg Volca product with a Novation Circuit, which would you pick, maybe a second choice as well. Thank you.
Hmmm, I only own the Volca Keys and Volca Drum, but I'd probably say the Volca Keys and the Volca FM 2, since the Circuits can do drums pretty well.
I always enjoy hearing the keys! For me it’s like when you have a favorite dish that you always get from a restaurant. You don’t get the most variety, but you get exactly what you want.
Definitely!
I've been rewatching your Volca Keys videos lately and learning a lot. Thanks for that. I finally ordered one while they were on sale last month, but it looks like it won't arrive until June... maybe. I knew that when I ordered it, but for $129, I couldn't resist and I figured it would give me something to look forward to.
Ouch, that's a while to wait! Hoping it goes by fast for you :)
I use it with my circuit tracks/rhythm set up. Gives me good bass sounds to sample and good plucks to add reverb and delay to
Yeah that's a great setup!
Great video as always! The sounds really are amazing, and I’m glad to hear other people mention problems with the sequencer. I really have been struggling with it, almost considering buying the Korg SQ1 just to get a better sequencer. But I don’t want to buy anything new until I learn this.
Thanks so much for watching!
I own my Keys since some month and like it a lot. There is a third party editor u can use standalone or as a VST, this give u the options of save patches and use automation in a DAW and make the Keys more amazing. When u are not an expert in synths, like me, u can learn a lot from using this lil synth.
Thanks for watching!
The Editor says it's like a remote control for Keys. But how do you connect it to the computer?
@@OmenAhead With MIDI :)
I got mine a year and a half ago and I'm in total agreement here. I've watched many of your Keys videos and you always do it proud. It's good to see someone singing its praises because it's a very underrated synth. Yeah, it maybe basic perhaps, but the main thing is the sound and it sounds bloody brilliant! I'm currently using mine for bass in a track and it's a monster.
Thanks so much for watching!
I just got my Volca Keys about a week ago, and so far it seems amazing! My only issue so far is that I find it difficult to tweak, then again I'm still learning subtractive synthesis, so its probably a me-problem lol. I will say that it is very good in the bass department, and can create some killer leads. Overall, I feel that its an amazing synth! If you are a beginner, I recommend spending the money and getting it! Another alternative that is nice is the Stylophone Gen X-1 (although that has no polyphony).
Once you spend some more time with it, the tweaking process gets a lot easier :) Thanks for watching!
Along with Moog Werkstatt, Volca Keys is one of my favorite synths and they both compliment each other very well. Had them both for 5 years. I also own NTS-1, Volca Kick and Drum.
That sounds like an awesome collection of gear, thanks for watching!
Thanks for the vid. To me, it's useful to hear the opinion of someone who has owned one for a couple of years. I'm trying to decide between one of these and the FM version. I may go with the FM. I wish they had more than 3-voice poly!
Glad you liked the video, thanks for watching!
Hi Freebeat! I am currently checking for midi keyboards.
Do you think the Arturia Keystep you have there is excellent for the Volca Keys? Or should I go for the Arturia Keystep 37?
Also, someone said that the Volca Keys is Paraphonic and it's not good for Keystep or Keystep 37. Hence I should go for the Keystep Pro.
What are your thoughts?
The Volca Keys is indeed paraphonic, but that has nothing to do with the controller. So upgrading to the Keystep Pro won't change anything. I actually really like pairing the Keystep 37 with the Volca Keys, you can get some pretty cool strummed chords!
@@FreeBeat Alright. I'll go for Keystep 37. Thanks, Free Beat!
I love it for short blippy/plucky sounds and feeding it with MIDI arps. Does nice basses and leads too.
Yeah it's excellent for those!
I really want to know how difficult the volca fm is to play? I've been thinking about that for my next one or the drum or save up longer and get a dread box
I've found that it's good at the limited things that it does, but you can get everything from fat to reedy sounds and make them as dirty or clipped or saturated as you like. I have a larger Korg digital polyphic that I use when I need more than a couple voices at the same time or if I need a tune to express a specific preset in mind... and it does that well, but I can get lost in it and forget what I'm trying to accomplish. For me, the keys are great for either a more distinct analog melody or harmonic support or specific bass tones or drones. I think I'm up to four volcas at this point, but the keys are handy for puzzling out little ditties in isolation and the limitations help me to focus because my choices are restricted a bit, and then I can shape what I end up with and layer that into what the other bits of kit are offering.
Thanks for watching!
From a technical perspective, the keyboard of the Volca Keys isn’t a resistive strip like on the Monotron, but a capacitive button array, so the tones are at least quantized in frequency.
Yes they are :)
I think the Volca keys is pretty much perfect- I wish they’d make one with more polyphony.
That would definitely be awesome! At least a 4th note so we could get some decent extensions in there. Thanks for watching :)
Hopefully they will seeing as they just released the Volca FM 2 with 6 note polyphony.
@@malcolmlee1841 The only bad thing that I heard was that it doesnt support sutain pedal !!
I’m wondering if I could use this with my Orba 2? I just really want to add effects and layer sounds over existing loops on the Orba in real time. For a live campsite performance lol
Honestly not sure if they would pair up that well, but I'm pretty inexperienced on the orba
@@FreeBeat thanks for the reply!
The sequencer is meh, this is true, but it can do just enough to be useful. I have been feeding mine through a shimmer reverb pedal lately and it can sound epic. Honestly, for basic synth sounds, this, an NTS1, and the Monotron Delay and Duo...that'll do you. The combos are amazing.
I need to give the sequencer another shot haha. Thanks for watching!
I got one and it’s so awesome when I use it connected with midi to my circuit tracks on midi 1 and the nts1 on midi 2!
Oh yeah it's great with the Circuit Tracks!
The sound is not stereo. Why?
And what is the difference betwin the Volca FM ?
There are quite a few, but the big one is that the Keys is a true analog synth, whereas the FM is an FM synth!
you made a playlist about the nts-1. how about making playlists for the volca keys and the microfreak?
on a pc the search function is available for each channel, but on an ipad this is missing, so a playlist would be helpful.
It's on my to do list haha, I'll get it done soon!
I think the Keys are one of the best Volcas to get just becauz of the simplicity of it. I think the biggest problems the other Volcas have is that they have great features that are bottlenecked by their limitations. But becauz the Volca Keys are so simple and straightforward, you don't feel constrained like you would with the other machines. The only limits are no MIDI out and a sequencer that can only loop one bar, but it's easy to get around that with an external sequencer. The other synths have the same constraints in addition to other constraints. Out of all the limitations, the Volca Keys just seem to hav the least. It's versitile as well, it can create a variety of sounds and has just enough to work with to get nice sounds. It doesn't have complexity outside of it's capabilities.
Definitely, thanks for watching!
Random question, but I figure if anybody knows the answer to it, it’s you. Have you had any issues with the Volca keys getting stuck playing a note nonstop, when controlling it with an external controller? I’m using an oxygen pro mini and it has happened twice now where a note stays “on” and I can’t get it to stop unless I restart the Keys. Thanks!
Interesting, I haven't had that issue before. Have you tried with a different controller?
I got a VK, and love it, but i always feel the need to pair it with a Keystep to really squeeze its potential. ;)
Yeah haha, it's basically begging for an external controller! Thanks for watching :)
what speaker do you have that connected to?
None. This was recorded by my zoom Livetrak L-12.
If you have to choose between the Volca Keys and the Bheringer Model D as your only sinth, which one you choose? Thanks!
Honestly I'd probably choose the Volca Keys for the ability to play basic chords. Although the Model D sounds much better in my opinion!
@@FreeBeat I think my question was incomplete. I have a Arturia Keystep, which I plan to use it to play either the Volca Keys or the Bheringer D. Now, what do you think? Thanks again for your reply!
@@bisiesto29 My answer is the same haha. The Volca Keys has 3 note paraphony but the Model D is strictly monophonic.
@@FreeBeat Ahá! I didn't knew that. Of course, polyphony (or paraphony in this case) always win! Thanks, man!
it sounded great. there is always a song in the air, just gotta catch it.
Thanks for watching!
I'm certain the "VCO" is actually a DCO, because it never needs tuning. The "Detune" knob is to detune voices not a global frequency control.
I'm happy with this because it means I just switch VK on and play in concert pitch without needing to warm it up and use a tuner which VCO synths require.
Thanks for watching!
if you see the red light inside the machine seemingly randomly going on and off - it is autotuning - does this basically continuously.. (not sure if covered in video)
Midigate! Awesome.
I got a good chuckle out of that one lol
Would you ever get a Volca Bass. I Got one and I'm having a little difficulty figuring it out
I'm in the same situation as you with Volca Bass. The 3 oscillators (like Keys) are kind of tricky, but that's a unique feature that lets you do a different sequence with each oscillator. The filter, resonance (Peak I think they call it) and LFO can be lots of fun, but it doesn't do acid type (303) music as easily as I was hoping. I was also disappointed that you can only have 8 programs total, and no accents (there are videos on doing accents, I haven't tried them out yet).
I'm not sure if I'd buy one new, but if I ever find a deal on a used one I'd probably scoop it up!
@@FreeBeat let's hope you find that deal
is an NTS-11 as capable in the basic analog synth department? Especially since it includes nice effects and you can add custom oscillators?
I have an NTS-1, I don't have a Keys but have watched lots of videos on it and own other Volcas (Bass, Drum). NTS-1 is worth looking into, for the reasons you mention, but Keys has about twice the number of knobs, speaking to FB's point about 1 knob per function. You have some button/knob combinations to learn with NTS-1 which are probably not necessary with Keys. NTS-1 doesn't have a sequencer and its keystrip is even worse than Keys, totally unplayable without a Keystep. So depending on your experience level and requirements one or the other might be better. Personally I feel like NTS-1 is a lot of fun, teaches you about synthesis, and the added bonus of using it as an effects box makes it a no-brainer purchase, but your mileage may vary. Good luck!
NTS-1 was my overall best synth purchase of last year, hands down. It not only gives you basic, tuneable synthesis, but it also has so many free (and paid) oscillators and effects, that you'll have fun creating something new every time you use it. Highly recommended.
The NTS-1 is awesome, however it is 100% digital, nothing analog about it.
@@FreeBeat good point... that totally slipped my mind. Although I am really only concerned about the sound not whether it's analog or digital. Thx
@@mojophonic it sounds great IMO. Very capable. Worth every penny.
do you need some kind of software to play them?
Nope! The Volcas are all self contained units :)
@@FreeBeat thanks alot!
Sounds like the older mini moog, i like a piano and music box sounds on keyboards, am i thick or is that FM.
Thanks for watching!
The Volca Keys is really great. Especielly for beginners in the synth world.
As someone who had this as a first synth, I found it a really poor beginner synth and I'm surprised it gets recommended so often. The controls aren't logically laid out and are poorly labeled so it's hard to really understand what is going on, the sequencer is terrible, the sounds are super basic, it has very limited sweet spots and it's actually pretty hard to just fiddle around and get something usable. And, for me, it doesn't sound good at all without external fx. And it's much too expensive for what it is. When you look at what else this money can buy you these days, there's far better out there. I see them for sale all the time in my local classifieds for £70 and down and they don't sell.
I'm so glad I got it as my introduction to analog synthesis. Of course everyone is different, but it was perfect for me!
I wish I could find one, I can’t even figure out how to order one from Korg...
Are you in the US? Looks like all of the major retailers have them in stock :)
Yeah I’m in Sonoma County California.
The Korg website keeps directing me to east coast locations.
I was thinking Guitar Center on Van Ness in San Francisco might have one but I haven’t called yet...
@@theoneandonlyoni Oh I see, you mean in person haha. All of the online retailers seem to have them in stock :)
Yeah I’m seeing it now across the country online, my only concern is it potentially getting damaged during delivery.
It would also be nice to have it to play around with immediately after purchase, but none of my local music shops have a keys specifically..
I love mine
Glad to hear it!
You only have mono pulse wave on the poly ring mod and you cant turn off ring mod.
No hack to do poly square...It sound good, but you will buy another later too.
And all key related volcas like FM2 using the same sequencer, no step record and like a looper.
Thanks for watching!
20 seconds it took me.. + this lol
Thanks for watching!
MIDI-gated😂 just like that!
Use some patch notes like this one! There's another one as well you can find pretty easy with a Volca Keys Patch Sheet and a google search :)
bracket-three.com/wp-content/uploads/1/cfile6.uf.2609763D532276772C488D.pdf