You probably already know this from the instruction sheet that comes with it but there are programmable system parameters. I think you hold function when you turn on the power and I think it’s the fifth key it will toggle to either going to a fine control which is it’s default of about 40-200 BPM, or a course which goes from 20 to 600 bpm. Something tells me you had it set to this wider ranger for much faster clock. THANKS AGAIN FOR SHARING ALL YOUR EXPERIMENTS AND DISCOVERIES! Great explanations through your language!
Hey, you're welcome and thank you very much for the feedback🙏! Yes, I don't do it very often but there have been a couple of cases where I needed to change the tempo range. The second video on this channel, with the Kick, I needed the high range to basically turn the sequencer into an audio rate LFO. And then on the second Volca Drum video that I did - for the intro to that video I tried to find a precise tempo setting. I think you're right that I also did it here, but I am not remembering the details. Thanks again for checking out the videos👍!
dude. really smart problem solving - i just put together my first eurorack system & while waiting for the components to arrive thought I'd dive back in to the volca to see if there was any functionality I hadn't tried. This gave me tons of insight as well as a jolt of extra excitement to attempt fishing extra LFOs and function out of the modules I've ordered on the big board. Cheers!
That's great to hear! Eurorack is very exciting. It's kind of a meditative experience to put it together, can really get into it (although I put the power backwards on a module last month, thankfully no harm done). Be safe! And thanks very much for checking out the video🙏
By far the best VM tutorial on the inter-webs. I spun my wheels for a long time trying to figure out how to create different sounds, and the Korg manual is terrible at explaining much at all. You've upped my game. Bravo!
Wow, another amazingly educational and idea-generating video! You highlight some functions and possibilities I've never considered or seen anyone else think of (in particular running the Sync Out to the CV!!!). Also, I really enjoy the presentation and your super chill way of talking/describing what you're doing. You're like the Mr. Rogers of modular synthesis videos. :) Keep up the amazing work!
Christian Reeb That is all great to hear! Glad to share the sync2cv thing - feel like it gives some cool sounds! Mr. Rogers, lol, that’s high praise (I guess I don’t have enough hair to be in the Bob Ross category 🎨).
You can get the first envelope to trigger from the oscillator output, so the start of each cycle triggers the function, so they are related in pitch, with some extra routing you can do the same with the second function, all related, so you could in theory get 4 oscillators, noise and maybe another from the woggle.
wul01 I just broke out the Volca Modular and did this - super cool! I sort of “crossed” the oscillators (osc 1 gating osc 2 and vice versa), and also merged the noise with osc 2 before the gating. Very rich sounds with a lot of wild FM behavior! Always something more inside the VM. Thanks a lot for sharing👍🏻. - Nim
hey thank u for the educational video. i just bought my volca modular a week ago and need help to get better with it.................and here ya go teachin' me everything.
Really have enjoyed the Korg modular videos. Just getting started on west coast synthesis. Spent a considerable amount of time, creating a library of sounds and patches for my Korg DSS-1. I have been active in synthesis since the 70's. Love your channel, Great content my friend, just subbed! Expanding Knowledge 🌎
Expanding Knowledge Thank you very much! I feel like the Volca Modular has a lot to offer (and the West Coast aspect is also historically interesting). ps Make sure to check out the patches that Chris Lody has come up with (either his RUclips channel or Instagram). Very clear diagrams and a lot of fundamental concepts for extending the range of possible sounds.
@@undulations Thank you for your comment and all your great information. I did check out Chris's channel, great information and videos just like your channel. I never thought of creating a channel, seems a lot of time and effort. But I do enjoy synthesis, and certainly fine humans such as yourself, sharing information, once again thank you! Expanding Knowledge.
Merill Overturf You are welcome! Thanks for watching. I think you’ll really enjoy it! ps make sure to take a look at Chris Lody’s youtube channel - a lot of really cool patches on there, diagrams on his Instagram.👍🏻
Have only had my Volca Modular for less than a week and loving it! I have mine chromatically controlled by an MS-20Kit USB out to Kenton2Midi then to CV OCD to generate the pitch CV, Gate CV, and Trigger (Synch In) CV. I also tested it in a more conventional manner with the CV and Gate Out of a Vermona '14. Normally for an ASR envelope you connect the Gate from the CV In on the Modular to the Gate In on EG1 and the Pitch CV to the corresponding Note Input next to Ratio Input. However, you can also use the keybed CV with random note set (Function 7) to control items such as Fold. You have to have the Modular in Play mode for this to work, along with the Woggle, but if the Modular has the Gate disconnected at EG1 then the Envelope behaves as an AR as the Trigger (Sync In) takes over the duty of timing. So as you play, you see the Pattern Buttons move with each keypress. I like to use the Function 12 (STOCH.) to shake up the random Modular keybed generated CV. I have also taken the CV from the woggle and a) controlled the Filter Cutoff on the MS-20Kit b) controlled the filter cutoff of a Montribe (with the Filter Cutoff mod) I am not brave enough to experiment with incoming CVs yet, as the Modular probably won't like more than 3.3V present at its CV inputs. Got lots of great ideas from watching your videos! Playing with the Modular reminds me of the 200-in-1 Archer Electronics Kit I had in the mid 70s!.....Lots of experimental fun!
I missed this comment somehow? It sounds like you are really doing things right! Not sure if you follow Chris Lody on RUclips or IG, but he has posted some very cool patches for some nice sounds. Best of luck with it! ps I still have one of those electronics kits (mine is a Realistic).
@@undulations Thanks! I did about a month of experiments with the VM, but have got back to my modded Montribes with what I learned from the VM. Space is limited so I rotate my gear. And yes, I love the square waves that Chris Lody created. Very creative. I will come back to the VM after I build a MIDI IN for it! Cheers, and keep up the great videos!
hi i'm pretty new to hardware synthesis. i just got the volca modular and i' wondering do you know of a way i can get midi information from a daw into it or at the very least have it clocked from my daw. i do have a volca keys which has midi in so would sync out from that into the sync in on the modular do the job? you sound like you know what you're talking about
david cunningham Hey, I think you hit the nail on the head with the syncing. Not 100% sure that it will work exactly the way you want (mostly in terms of the daw initiating and everything being on the correct step). Try it, see what it does. Keep in mind that there are some sync settings (in the Global Parameters section of manual) for Volcas that might matter. I tend to always use a “dummy” sync cable into Volca 1, then Volca 1 out to Volca 2 in, then hit play on them both, and then lastly pull out the “dummy” to start things synced. It’s clunky but I’ve not heard of another way. The daw/midi will (might?) change this, but worth keeping that hack in mind if you are just using the 2 Volcas alone. Lastly, one very affordable and useful item to consider is a Korg SQ-1 sequencer. Around $100, possibly less, battery or usb powered, great/different way to control either of Volcas - the Keys by midi, but the Modular by CV/Gate. The important thing in your case is that the daw can see the SQ-1 via USB, send midi to it that _also_ gets passed on as CV/gate - allowing nice control of the Modular. Moreover, I should mention that sending midi to the Keys, via SQ-1 or otherwise, also allows CC data to be send, so the Keys parameters can be varied/set by the daw (Keys “midi implementation chart” is at korg website). Anyway, thanks for checking out the channel!
Another great Volca Modular video, thanks 😄 Great idea about using the sync out as a trigger for function 1. Did you know if you change the global settings for sync you can have it trigger once every step rather than two? Useful for all sorts of tricks that
ChrisLody Wow! I guess I knew that you could change the syncing - but I’ve never really thought about it in this context🤯. Thanks for watching and thanks for sharing👍🏻!
milingo sutera Thank you! I’m glad you got something out of it. I have done a little bit of BitRanger and SoftPop (there’s a short clip on Instagram @dr_nim2014) but I want to do more. I also want to do SoftPop and Volca Modular!
Hey, thank you and thanks for checking them out! I don't know about another dedicated VM video but maybe at some point? Meanwhile, quite a bit of it on my IG account (dr_nim2014), and also - it shows up a lot in other videos on here. I think one of the Dela Waves videos pairs it with the Volca Drum, and you might be interested in the second Kastle Drum video where I use the VM to sequence (and motion-sequence) the Kastle Drum. Thanks again for watching🙏🏼!
excellent video. Have you noticed any issues on the volca modular where the fm modulation sounds pure in the upper range of the ribbon controller, but when you drop down to the lower range it gets wobbly and out of tune?
barnabycross You’re welcome🙏🏼! The tempo range is a “Global” setting/parameter. Hold down the FUNC button and turn the Volca on, Key number 5 (on keyboard) is probably unlit (off = default narrow tempo range), press it to make it turn on (wide tempo range), and then press REC to save the change (and start up). Should have full tempo range now. Good luck with it!
@@undulations Just did what you advised and it worked! thanks so much. I am relatively new to modular synthesis and its still quite difficult for me to work out new and interesting patches, I am gradually working some things out but mainly through trial and error but thats the fun of the volca modular. For a hand held device it packs a serious punch thats for sure! Thanks again Dr Nim! I have a Microbrute too which I very much like...you mentioned some ways of using the MB with the volca but I think the possibilities of connection are a bit tricky?
barnabycross Glad that worked! Well, two good ways to connect to the MicroBrute just come down to cables/adapters. One is simply sending the Volca audio out through the MicroBrute filter (via the MB audio input). The other is to use a “Y” cable (single 3.5mm stereo plug on one side, dual 3.5mm mono plugs on the other) - or an equivalent adapter (but not a typical headphone splitter, which is all stereo). You hook the mono cables to the cv/pitch and gate output on the MB and the stereo into the VM’s CV-in plug. Then you use the tiny patch cables to send the pitch (from CV-in) over to the pitch in socket (far left of VM) and then the gate (from CV-in) to the middle socket of LPG1. This allows you to play/sequence/arpeggiate the VM using the MB keyboard👍🏻 (note: if it doesn’t sound right the first time then switch the mono plugs on the MB). Once you set this up you can try a lot of other stuff, so lmk. Good luck!
I think noticed your Volume Knob seems rather low in your videos. My volca modular clips like crazy whenever my volume is set past like 10%. I was curious if your unit was also like this? it clips even worst if the reverb is on and the volume isn't set to extremely low. Do I have a bad unit or is this just the volcas way? Clipping...
I don't think mine has that problem, but I will test tomorrow and get back to you. I will see how it does in the default patch and then try some other stuff including the space fx.
@@undulations Thank you so much! I never really noticed it until I started running it through ableton. The Signal is always peaking unless my volume is set to extremely low. Even when not patched. Makes me wonder if I should try to mod a Mono Output upon it for a cleaner signal. Anyway Thx for your research // sharing!
Hey, sorry, took me a while to get to it, but I really can't make mine clip - at all - in the normal mode, or with folding, or with the modulation up, with space fx on/off, or the secondary oscillator, or both oscillators, ratio up and down, up and down octaves - ALL of that with the volume at MAX. I ran the output through the Bastl Dude mixer to attenuate it some (but that wouldn't hide any clipping) and then captured it in my field recorder (same one I use for videos). I looked at all of the traces from this in Audacity - closely🧐 - and all I see is the proper waveshape. So, I just had a thought. Do you HEAR the clipping straight out of the VM? If you patch the secondary oscillator (5th socket from the left) over to the space fx input (space fx off) - in a reasonable speaker you should just hear a mellow bass tone (triangle wave) that you can change the pitch of with the ratio knob. It should keep that mellow sound at any volume setting - if it clips it will go harsher like a square wave. If you don't hear that timbral change straight out of the VM then it might be something further down the line. You could compare that to what you're seeing inside Live. Anyway, sorry it's a problem. I hope this helps somehow.
@@undulations Thx for your effort! Ya mine seems ok if the volume is set really low, but then starts to distort when I raise the knob a bit. Then it clips pretty bad about halfway after that. Perhaps I need to replace the Vol Pot. Despite this issue I recently added Midi IN to the Volca, and Man it is wonderful controlling her with other synths in better tuning than the CV, // Gate Input. Though not perfect it seems. For my Volca Modular seems to be just a hair out of perfect tune full scale. Which brings me to one last question Good Sir. Is there anyway to tune the volca to a better pitch without Patching to OSC? Some Hidden Function Perhaps?
@@michaelmarsmusic Well, there is a MicroTuning feature on the VM, but I'm thinking that may only apply to the native keyboard notes, not incoming notes? Some other things that come to mind: for a constant offset you could use the secondary oscillator and try to fix it with the ratio knob (or a Utility output into the ratio patchpoint? For a linear correction might you could route the pitch out (up by the clock) through the Utility and then into the pitch in (over on the left) or to the Ratio input - so, a correction to the Ratio that's scaled by what key is being played🤔 Anyway, just some guesses? I also wonder about routing through an autotune audio fx in Live? Regardless, best of luck with it👍🏻!
Gabriele Ferraro Thank you for the feedback! So, I’ve stared at that opening patch for a while (this was one I didn’t take good notes on...) and it looks to me like I even have the PO signal getting amplified by the a+bc, with the c turned all the way up. So, I think having the PO maxed is fine, and you may even want to boost it that way. (but always start everything low, as I’m sure you already know!) ps the next video in this set talks a lot about hooking the VM to other stuff and fyi I have a different PO-32+VM clip over on Instagram (@dr_nim2014)
READY2fly Oh, happy to share👍🏻 This is kind of from memory, but what I think I did was (1) use a Y-cable, stereo side into the PO’s out (the PO instructions have stuff about sync modes), then plug the PO sync signal (one of the Y’s mono plugs) into the Volca sync-in jack, and plug the PO audio (the other mono plug on the Y) into the Volca CV-in jack. NOTE: if you are not syncing you can just do PO audio out to Volca CV-in with a regular aux cable. and then (2) you use a pin cable to tap the PO signal from the TOP socket on the CV-in module (the bottom socket gets a 1V/oct treatment, so avoid that for audio) BUT that signal is weak so you need to amplify it with the Utility module (i.e. top socket of cv-in to b on the utility), and then from c on the Utility to the audio input of one of the LPG’s or even directly into the Space Out module. Lastly, make sure the Utility knob is up. I hope this helps! Let me know if this isn’t clear or doesn’t work; I could try setting it up myself to see🧐.
READY2fly I have wondered that myself. I know the specs and such for the Moog but I have only fiddled around with one at Moogfest, so I can’t say for sure - but I assume that they would be a great combo!
thanks a lot, very useful!
Thanks for checking it out!
Definitively, this channel is the Handpan of electronic music
I own a couple of those, so I'd say the shoe fits👍 Thanks for checking out the video!
You probably already know this from the instruction sheet that comes with it but there are programmable system parameters. I think you hold function when you turn on the power and I think it’s the fifth key it will toggle to either going to a fine control which is it’s default of about 40-200 BPM, or a course which goes from 20 to 600 bpm. Something tells me you had it set to this wider ranger for much faster clock. THANKS AGAIN FOR SHARING ALL YOUR EXPERIMENTS AND DISCOVERIES! Great explanations through your language!
Hey, you're welcome and thank you very much for the feedback🙏! Yes, I don't do it very often but there have been a couple of cases where I needed to change the tempo range. The second video on this channel, with the Kick, I needed the high range to basically turn the sequencer into an audio rate LFO. And then on the second Volca Drum video that I did - for the intro to that video I tried to find a precise tempo setting. I think you're right that I also did it here, but I am not remembering the details. Thanks again for checking out the videos👍!
dude. really smart problem solving - i just put together my first eurorack system & while waiting for the components to arrive thought I'd dive back in to the volca to see if there was any functionality I hadn't tried. This gave me tons of insight as well as a jolt of extra excitement to attempt fishing extra LFOs and function out of the modules I've ordered on the big board. Cheers!
That's great to hear! Eurorack is very exciting. It's kind of a meditative experience to put it together, can really get into it (although I put the power backwards on a module last month, thankfully no harm done). Be safe! And thanks very much for checking out the video🙏
By far the best VM tutorial on the inter-webs. I spun my wheels for a long time trying to figure out how to create different sounds, and the Korg manual is terrible at explaining much at all. You've upped my game. Bravo!
Horrid Gamer I am really glad to hear that. This sort of feedback means a lot to me. Enjoy your VM explorations!
Wow, another amazingly educational and idea-generating video! You highlight some functions and possibilities I've never considered or seen anyone else think of (in particular running the Sync Out to the CV!!!). Also, I really enjoy the presentation and your super chill way of talking/describing what you're doing. You're like the Mr. Rogers of modular synthesis videos. :) Keep up the amazing work!
Christian Reeb That is all great to hear! Glad to share the sync2cv thing - feel like it gives some cool sounds! Mr. Rogers, lol, that’s high praise (I guess I don’t have enough hair to be in the Bob Ross category 🎨).
You nailed it, so I won't try and top that haha. I love you brotha. all you, cheers to volca modular!
OCEANSINSPACE Thanks🙏🏼! Glad you liked it. The VM is such a cool piece of gear🏆!
Thanks so much. Your patches opened up new worlds on the VM for me.
jgrzinich Awesome, I’m really glad to hear that! Thanks for the feedback!
Great tutorial, thank you! Now on to your Volca Drum videos.
Tenis Dimants Cool, I appreciate the feedback!
your videos are very informative, best volca modular guide on YT I've ever seen so far. Great channel, thanks for your uploads!
MeTokyo Thanks so much for the feedback! I’m glad to hear that the videos are helpful👍🏻.
You can get the first envelope to trigger from the oscillator output, so the start of each cycle triggers the function, so they are related in pitch, with some extra routing you can do the same with the second function, all related, so you could in theory get 4 oscillators, noise and maybe another from the woggle.
wul01 I just broke out the Volca Modular and did this - super cool! I sort of “crossed” the oscillators (osc 1 gating osc 2 and vice versa), and also merged the noise with osc 2 before the gating. Very rich sounds with a lot of wild FM behavior! Always something more inside the VM. Thanks a lot for sharing👍🏻.
- Nim
hey thank u for the educational video. i just bought my volca modular a week ago and need help to get better with it.................and here ya go teachin' me everything.
Awesome! That is great to hear👍🏻
Thanks for watching and enjoy that new Volca Modular!
Really have enjoyed the Korg modular videos. Just getting started on west coast synthesis. Spent a considerable amount of time, creating a library of sounds and patches for my Korg DSS-1. I have been active in synthesis since the 70's. Love your channel, Great content my friend, just subbed! Expanding Knowledge 🌎
Expanding Knowledge Thank you very much! I feel like the Volca Modular has a lot to offer (and the West Coast aspect is also historically interesting).
ps Make sure to check out the patches that Chris Lody has come up with (either his RUclips channel or Instagram). Very clear diagrams and a lot of fundamental concepts for extending the range of possible sounds.
@@undulations Thank you for your comment and all your great information. I did check out Chris's channel, great information and videos just like your channel. I never thought of creating a channel, seems a lot of time and effort. But I do enjoy synthesis, and certainly fine humans such as yourself, sharing information, once again thank you! Expanding Knowledge.
🙏🏼
Nicely done! Thank you. Very Helpful.
Ondřej Jurčík Glad you liked it! Thanks for the feedback🙏🏼.
So good, thx for the extremely detailed video! With my next paycheck a volca modular will be MINE 🤩🤩🤩 🦇🦇🦇
Merill Overturf You are welcome! Thanks for watching. I think you’ll really enjoy it!
ps make sure to take a look at Chris Lody’s youtube channel - a lot of really cool patches on there, diagrams on his Instagram.👍🏻
Undulations thx, I already follow his youtube and insta account, really cool and inspiring 😻
Have only had my Volca Modular for less than a week and loving it! I have mine chromatically controlled by an MS-20Kit USB out to Kenton2Midi then to CV OCD to generate the pitch CV, Gate CV, and Trigger (Synch In) CV.
I also tested it in a more conventional manner with the CV and Gate Out of a Vermona '14.
Normally for an ASR envelope you connect the Gate from the CV In on the Modular to the Gate In on EG1 and the Pitch CV to the corresponding Note Input next to Ratio Input.
However, you can also use the keybed CV with random note set (Function 7) to control items such as Fold.
You have to have the Modular in Play mode for this to work, along with the Woggle, but if the Modular has the Gate disconnected at EG1 then the Envelope behaves as an AR as the Trigger (Sync In) takes over the duty of timing.
So as you play, you see the Pattern Buttons move with each keypress. I like to use the Function 12 (STOCH.) to shake up the random Modular keybed generated CV.
I have also taken the CV from the woggle and
a) controlled the Filter Cutoff on the MS-20Kit
b) controlled the filter cutoff of a Montribe (with the Filter Cutoff mod)
I am not brave enough to experiment with incoming CVs yet, as the Modular probably won't like more than 3.3V present at its CV inputs.
Got lots of great ideas from watching your videos! Playing with the Modular reminds me of the 200-in-1 Archer Electronics Kit I had in the mid 70s!.....Lots of experimental fun!
I missed this comment somehow? It sounds like you are really doing things right! Not sure if you follow Chris Lody on RUclips or IG, but he has posted some very cool patches for some nice sounds. Best of luck with it!
ps I still have one of those electronics kits (mine is a Realistic).
@@undulations Thanks! I did about a month of experiments with the VM, but have got back to my modded Montribes with what I learned from the VM. Space is limited so I rotate my gear. And yes, I love the square waves that Chris Lody created. Very creative. I will come back to the VM after I build a MIDI IN for it! Cheers, and keep up the great videos!
Mark Pigott Excellent!
hi i'm pretty new to hardware synthesis. i just got the volca modular and i' wondering do you know of a way i can get midi information from a daw into it or at the very least have it clocked from my daw. i do have a volca keys which has midi in so would sync out from that into the sync in on the modular do the job? you sound like you know what you're talking about
david cunningham Hey, I think you hit the nail on the head with the syncing. Not 100% sure that it will work exactly the way you want (mostly in terms of the daw initiating and everything being on the correct step). Try it, see what it does. Keep in mind that there are some sync settings (in the Global Parameters section of manual) for Volcas that might matter. I tend to always use a “dummy” sync cable into Volca 1, then Volca 1 out to Volca 2 in, then hit play on them both, and then lastly pull out the “dummy” to start things synced. It’s clunky but I’ve not heard of another way. The daw/midi will (might?) change this, but worth keeping that hack in mind if you are just using the 2 Volcas alone. Lastly, one very affordable and useful item to consider is a Korg SQ-1 sequencer. Around $100, possibly less, battery or usb powered, great/different way to control either of Volcas - the Keys by midi, but the Modular by CV/Gate. The important thing in your case is that the daw can see the SQ-1 via USB, send midi to it that _also_ gets passed on as CV/gate - allowing nice control of the Modular. Moreover, I should mention that sending midi to the Keys, via SQ-1 or otherwise, also allows CC data to be send, so the Keys parameters can be varied/set by the daw (Keys “midi implementation chart” is at korg website). Anyway, thanks for checking out the channel!
Another great Volca Modular video, thanks 😄 Great idea about using the sync out as a trigger for function 1. Did you know if you change the global settings for sync you can have it trigger once every step rather than two? Useful for all sorts of tricks that
ChrisLody Wow! I guess I knew that you could change the syncing - but I’ve never really thought about it in this context🤯. Thanks for watching and thanks for sharing👍🏻!
Undulations No worries. If there was ever a Volca that needs us to share tips with each other then this is it I reckon 😄
I'm really enjoying your videos! Thanks.
Jack Jackdaw Awesome! Thank you for the feedback😀!
This is sooooooo awesome,
thank U very Much Sir!!!
Keep up that great work and say Hello to your Kitty
truly jours,
Jan Van Leyden
You bet! Thanks for the feedback :)
incredible, thank you for this
christdolphin69 Absolutely! Thanks for the feedback and thanks for watching!
Very deep tutorial, and so usefull. I see also you play the bitranger with volca, did you tried the bastl softpop? It is an amazing duet
milingo sutera Thank you! I’m glad you got something out of it. I have done a little bit of BitRanger and SoftPop (there’s a short clip on Instagram @dr_nim2014) but I want to do more. I also want to do SoftPop and Volca Modular!
고마워요
COZMIC OWL You’re welcome🙏🏼!
when is the next volca modular tips ant tricks video? First 2 were super interesting.
Hey, thank you and thanks for checking them out! I don't know about another dedicated VM video but maybe at some point? Meanwhile, quite a bit of it on my IG account (dr_nim2014), and also - it shows up a lot in other videos on here. I think one of the Dela Waves videos pairs it with the Volca Drum, and you might be interested in the second Kastle Drum video where I use the VM to sequence (and motion-sequence) the Kastle Drum. Thanks again for watching🙏🏼!
excellent video. Have you noticed any issues on the volca modular where the fm modulation sounds pure in the upper range of the ribbon controller, but when you drop down to the lower range it gets wobbly and out of tune?
thx man!
You're welcome!
Im interested in slowing dowing the clock to 10 bpm as you mentioned in your videos. How do you do that? By the way thanks for great videos!!
barnabycross You’re welcome🙏🏼! The tempo range is a “Global” setting/parameter. Hold down the FUNC button and turn the Volca on, Key number 5 (on keyboard) is probably unlit (off = default narrow tempo range), press it to make it turn on (wide tempo range), and then press REC to save the change (and start up). Should have full tempo range now. Good luck with it!
@@undulations Just did what you advised and it worked! thanks so much. I am relatively new to modular synthesis and its still quite difficult for me to work out new and interesting patches, I am gradually working some things out but mainly through trial and error but thats the fun of the volca modular. For a hand held device it packs a serious punch thats for sure! Thanks again Dr Nim! I have a Microbrute too which I very much like...you mentioned some ways of using the MB with the volca but I think the possibilities of connection are a bit tricky?
barnabycross Glad that worked! Well, two good ways to connect to the MicroBrute just come down to cables/adapters. One is simply sending the Volca audio out through the MicroBrute filter (via the MB audio input). The other is to use a “Y” cable (single 3.5mm stereo plug on one side, dual 3.5mm mono plugs on the other) - or an equivalent adapter (but not a typical headphone splitter, which is all stereo). You hook the mono cables to the cv/pitch and gate output on the MB and the stereo into the VM’s CV-in plug. Then you use the tiny patch cables to send the pitch (from CV-in) over to the pitch in socket (far left of VM) and then the gate (from CV-in) to the middle socket of LPG1. This allows you to play/sequence/arpeggiate the VM using the MB keyboard👍🏻 (note: if it doesn’t sound right the first time then switch the mono plugs on the MB). Once you set this up you can try a lot of other stuff, so lmk. Good luck!
I think noticed your Volume Knob seems rather low in your videos. My volca modular clips like crazy whenever my volume is set past like 10%. I was curious if your unit was also like this? it clips even worst if the reverb is on and the volume isn't set to extremely low. Do I have a bad unit or is this just the volcas way? Clipping...
I don't think mine has that problem, but I will test tomorrow and get back to you. I will see how it does in the default patch and then try some other stuff including the space fx.
@@undulations Thank you so much! I never really noticed it until I started running it through ableton. The Signal is always peaking unless my volume is set to extremely low. Even when not patched. Makes me wonder if I should try to mod a Mono Output upon it for a cleaner signal. Anyway Thx for your research // sharing!
Hey, sorry, took me a while to get to it, but I really can't make mine clip - at all - in the normal mode, or with folding, or with the modulation up, with space fx on/off, or the secondary oscillator, or both oscillators, ratio up and down, up and down octaves - ALL of that with the volume at MAX. I ran the output through the Bastl Dude mixer to attenuate it some (but that wouldn't hide any clipping) and then captured it in my field recorder (same one I use for videos). I looked at all of the traces from this in Audacity - closely🧐 - and all I see is the proper waveshape. So, I just had a thought. Do you HEAR the clipping straight out of the VM? If you patch the secondary oscillator (5th socket from the left) over to the space fx input (space fx off) - in a reasonable speaker you should just hear a mellow bass tone (triangle wave) that you can change the pitch of with the ratio knob. It should keep that mellow sound at any volume setting - if it clips it will go harsher like a square wave. If you don't hear that timbral change straight out of the VM then it might be something further down the line. You could compare that to what you're seeing inside Live. Anyway, sorry it's a problem. I hope this helps somehow.
@@undulations Thx for your effort! Ya mine seems ok if the volume is set really low, but then starts to distort when I raise the knob a bit. Then it clips pretty bad about halfway after that. Perhaps I need to replace the Vol Pot. Despite this issue I recently added Midi IN to the Volca, and Man it is wonderful controlling her with other synths in better tuning than the CV, // Gate Input. Though not perfect it seems. For my Volca Modular seems to be just a hair out of perfect tune full scale. Which brings me to one last question Good Sir. Is there anyway to tune the volca to a better pitch without Patching to OSC? Some Hidden Function Perhaps?
@@michaelmarsmusic Well, there is a MicroTuning feature on the VM, but I'm thinking that may only apply to the native keyboard notes, not incoming notes? Some other things that come to mind: for a constant offset you could use the secondary oscillator and try to fix it with the ratio knob (or a Utility output into the ratio patchpoint? For a linear correction might you could route the pitch out (up by the clock) through the Utility and then into the pitch in (over on the left) or to the Ratio input - so, a correction to the Ratio that's scaled by what key is being played🤔 Anyway, just some guesses? I also wonder about routing through an autotune audio fx in Live? Regardless, best of luck with it👍🏻!
Indirect lighting would be nicer, also for your eyes ;-) Anyway thanks for your detailed explanations.
That's great stuff! Thank you! Can you have the po-32 going in at full level or is it better not to?
Gabriele Ferraro Thank you for the feedback! So, I’ve stared at that opening patch for a while (this was one I didn’t take good notes on...) and it looks to me like I even have the PO signal getting amplified by the a+bc, with the c turned all the way up. So, I think having the PO maxed is fine, and you may even want to boost it that way. (but always start everything low, as I’m sure you already know!)
ps the next video in this set talks a lot about hooking the VM to other stuff and fyi I have a different PO-32+VM clip over on Instagram (@dr_nim2014)
how did you get the pocket operator to play thru the reverb if you don't mind me asking
READY2fly Oh, happy to share👍🏻 This is kind of from memory, but what I think I did was (1) use a Y-cable, stereo side into the PO’s out (the PO instructions have stuff about sync modes), then plug the PO sync signal (one of the Y’s mono plugs) into the Volca sync-in jack, and plug the PO audio (the other mono plug on the Y) into the Volca CV-in jack. NOTE: if you are not syncing you can just do PO audio out to Volca CV-in with a regular aux cable. and then (2) you use a pin cable to tap the PO signal from the TOP socket on the CV-in module (the bottom socket gets a 1V/oct treatment, so avoid that for audio) BUT that signal is weak so you need to amplify it with the Utility module (i.e. top socket of cv-in to b on the utility), and then from c on the Utility to the audio input of one of the LPG’s or even directly into the Space Out module. Lastly, make sure the Utility knob is up. I hope this helps! Let me know if this isn’t clear or doesn’t work; I could try setting it up myself to see🧐.
@@undulations thank you very much most def looking forward to more videos from you!!!! ill let you know if i can figure it out
also wondering if you think the moog werkstatt would be as good as a companion as the bastl 1.5
READY2fly I have wondered that myself. I know the specs and such for the Moog but I have only fiddled around with one at Moogfest, so I can’t say for sure - but I assume that they would be a great combo!
@@undulationswithout sync i can not seem to get the part about boosting the audio signal i can hear it ever so slightly