What an excellent tutorial series! I have watched many on YT, but this, along with the written documentation on your website are by far the best aid I’ve found! I just bought one used and downloaded the manual, (which is useless). Thank you very much for taking the time to do this. Very appreciated!
I just bought the Volca Kick. I bought the Volca Sample earlier this year and I haven't even opened it yet. Now that I've seen you video tutorial I think I'll be able to use it. Thanks for the upload. I appreciate it. I'm subscribed. Take care, Sam.
Hi! Thank you for visiting and subscribing! I'm quite happy with the feedback I've been receiving from these videos, despite being among the first I ever made... hopefully I'm getting better at this and hope to make a new Volca Sample tutorial with some updates in the future. Cheers Philip
God that Babbyyy sample is a killer on the ears. I was in despair when you hit it. Thanks for muting it!! Also, thanks for the simple layout tutorial, too many I've watched jump around from switch to button to keypad leaving me confused. Finally, I can figure out how to programme this thing.
Thanks. I always thought that for entry-level machines, the documentation on the volca is too sparse. I think this is my way of giving back to the community all the support it was given to me when I started out. I'm planing to release one tutorial per week. I hope you'll enjoy them :)
This unit can't record samples, only sequence them. But you can replace the default samples with ones of your own; the process is different between the first and second versions of this unit.
is there a way to pla y like "keyboard mode" if you want to lay down some bass without it being just ONE NOTE in a sequense (like on an electribe 2)??? I would love for it to record realtime tweaking on the knobs, like if you press rec and play and mess around with the pitch knob and it records those shifts. I know it doesnt thou. oh wait....motion sequence mode??
Hi! Well. The easiest way to do is to use the retrokits cable and record both notes and motion sequence. That being, said, I'd recommend you to check out the automation/motion sequence tutorial (episode 3, I think). I hope this helps. Have fun! :)
They are really fun to play... with the new options for sync on the volcas, I think the documentation on the Pocket Operators may need some update, but it shouldn't be much of a problem. Enjoy them! :)
I always thought "Why cant something be existing which has the drum sequencer of a TR-808 but just with importing samples" I found it and it only costed 140 € and thanks to this video i finally know how to use the sequencer like the sequencer of an 808
Hi, thanks for doing these tutorials are amazing!! I have a question, by any chance, you know what are the technical specifications of the adapter that goes to the electricity?
Hi Ramirez. Thanks for your nice feedback. I'm using a 9V center positive transformer capable of at least 1A output at 9V (some models say they can output 1A or even more, but it is only for the lower voltage ouputs). As for the connection to the volca itself, the external diametre of the barrel is about 4mm, and the internal hollow is about 1.5mm. I don't know the exact specs regarding the size of the barrel, but it is commonly found on those universal adapters with multiple output jacks. I hope this helps. Cheers!
Hi Philip, so i did something i can't replicate, I used the same part (or the sound of the part) but different parameters in the sequencer. Let's say i used Part 3's sound with 20 Speed on Steps 1 and 5, but on Steps 9 and 13 I used the same sound with different pitch/speed which is 30 Speed. (I don't know at this point if i am using the same part or the sound is replicated to other part) How do I do this? I did it by accident lol
I believe yu were using automation/motion sequence. There is a video about it in this series (I believe it is episode 3: ruclips.net/video/uO_b7EWOBwk/видео.html) Cheers!
Thanks a lot for these tutorials - Korg builds nice and affordable machines these days, but their documentation imho really sucks. Great of you to fill that gap for the volca sample.
Thank you for watching +Wolfgang Steuerle Trying to make up with my own experience what korg left undone was may main objective... it also helped me systematize what I knew about this instrument (sample sequencers are different from traditional synths). I'm still planning for some new tutorial series, perhaps using the other volcas, or the microkorg (although Jacques Mongrel is the main authority on the matter), or the new FM... Who knows? :) Cheers
@@Philipplus Thanks for the lessons.I'm 64 and although a musician for decades playing live and recording but strictly anolog.I have a hard time getting my head around this technology but I don't give up.I'm from another era and trying to have fun in retirement.
Hi UrbanFilmFan. In step Mode the record button inserts a pause. the sequencer automatically advances one step when you press a key, or insert a pause. Cheers!
is there a way of creating an acoustic sounding, basic rhythm track using the volca? a track that can be used to back basic acoustic guitars and sound natural..... pretty sure there is and am getting the hang of sequencing process slowly but surely. but haven't found anyone using the volca for much other than midi loops....which are great fun but not what I need. any help or links GREATLY appreciated. cheers
+Auto69Pilot The volca sample is a sample sequencer, and what you are asking for is something along the way of an auto-accompanying or a loop station. You can load samples of individual notes from acoustic instruments and program sequences to make the background for your work, but it takes a lot of work. Even so, because you cannot change the sample on a part in the middle of a pattern, you're stuck with only 10 samples to choose from. You can sample sound loops and play them, but the memory on the volca is too limited: I can put a few 1 or 2 bar loops from my Kaossilator on it and that's it: I have to erase all other samples to make room for them. Also, the samples are downgraded to 33.1kHz sampling rate and converted from stereo to mono, so it will never sound as realistic as an acoustic instrument. What you probably need is a synth with PCM with a good sequencer. I'd say Roland's JD-Xi would probably fit your needs... check Sonicstate's review of it to get an idea of the capabilities. Hope this helps! Cheers!
Hi +Lorenzo Garofalo ! The Sample data encoder can be used at any time to change the sample of the part you are playing, but you cannot program sample changes (unless you use different sequences and change from one to the other). For chancing parts in step more, you can use the PART > and PART < buttons. I hope this helps. Cheers and thanks for watching!
Hi +Lorenzo Garofalo ! AFAIK, you cannot program changes in the Sample knob. To do what you are saying, you must have one sample on its own part and program the rhythm accordingly.
Hi Fabien. Thanks for stopping by. 9-alt-10 means that parts 9 and 10 are part of a choke group, meaning that triggering one of these parts instantly kills the sound of the other. Having a choke is useful for example for hi hats: put the open hi hat sample on part 10, put the closed hi-hat on part 9 and now you can alternate between both without the unnatural sound of a open hat superposed to a closed one. I hope this helps. ;) Cheers!
Thanks so much! Thanks to this vidéo now I can really use my volca sampler ! Just have now to watch more in order to know if it's possible to erase thé ultimate sound played in live. But really, thé most important is that I can do a lot of things Thanks to your First vidéo ! :-)
Thanks for a great tutorial series, very helpful. I was looking for a specific answer to a question when I stumbled upon the your tutorials but I still don't have the answer. Here it is: When I alter a part and change pattern it can contain a whole other setting for the part. Some times I need the altered part in another pattern but I can't figure out how to copy a part and use it in another pattern. Is that possible at all?
Hi yezdk. That is a good question. I usually edit all my parts before I start sequencing, then I just save that first setup onto different memory locations so that I can work on specific scenes. Unfortunately this is the only way the Volca can copy the settings from one memory location to the other. There is no way to copy only one part from one memory location to another. You may achieve something similar to what you are searching for by using an advanced manager for the VSample (for example Voysir), but that essentially implies that you have to program the volca using the computer. I hope this helps. Thanks for stopping by and for the nice feedback. Cheers!
Thanks for the answer. I've been all around to figure out if it was possible and tried everything in the machine to see if I was lucky to find it. I usually also copy out the patterns but when changing them to create variations in the flow of the song,it is not unusual that an alternation of any part would be better in a previous pattern. Going in to a third party software in the middle of it all will only rarely occur (or never) but I will surely focus on the software in time to come. What I've done so far is written down the settings of a sound on a good old piece of paper and gone into the parameters of the part that I want to copy to :) it's possible and works fine. But it would really have been great if it was possible to paste it directly. And there are really much more possibilities than what is found in the very poor 'manual' or any online tutorial videos I've seen so far. Anyways, thanks for your fine effort to bring knowledge to Volca newbies like me 🙂
Hi Gene. That should not happen at all. You should talk to the technical support at korg, or to your dealer. The Clear all should only clear the patter data, not the sample data. I'm sorry to hear that. (Also, sorry for the late reply).
Yeah... I agreed, but it is one of the default samples with the most varied articulation, so it is useful for these demonstration purposes... I don't recall ever using it in music, though ;) Cheers
youll learn if you have the volca in front of you. You have to pay attention, which is good i think. You learn more. "Ok, what was that he just pressed? *PAUSE/"REWIND" * aha it was the PART button.
Thanks +Hiro Protagonist ! This was one of my first experiments with youtube, but I've been learning over time. I'm now preparing the Volca FM tutorials, with a little bit of voice over (at least to explain some bits). I'll keep the text to highlight the most important ideas, as it helps a lot (specially for navigating through the video). Cheers!
Incredible. I'm impressed. Great little box.
What an excellent tutorial series! I have watched many on YT, but this, along with the written documentation on your website are by far the best aid I’ve found! I just bought one used and downloaded the manual, (which is useless). Thank you very much for taking the time to do this. Very appreciated!
I just bought the Volca Kick. I bought the Volca Sample earlier this year and I haven't even opened it yet. Now that I've seen you video tutorial I think I'll be able to use it. Thanks for the upload. I appreciate it. I'm subscribed. Take care, Sam.
Hi!
Thank you for visiting and subscribing! I'm quite happy with the feedback I've been receiving from these videos, despite being among the first I ever made... hopefully I'm getting better at this and hope to make a new Volca Sample tutorial with some updates in the future.
Cheers
Philip
Sounds great! I look forward to your new videos. Please check out my channel when you get a chance. Thanks, Sam.
I'll certainly will, Sam!
Cheers!
God that Babbyyy sample is a killer on the ears. I was in despair when you hit it. Thanks for muting it!! Also, thanks for the simple layout tutorial, too many I've watched jump around from switch to button to keypad leaving me confused. Finally, I can figure out how to programme this thing.
EXCELLENT - thank you for this. Simple and straightforward - even I can understand/follow this. Your website is excellent too. Thanx
Thanks. I always thought that for entry-level machines, the documentation on the volca is too sparse. I think this is my way of giving back to the community all the support it was given to me when I started out. I'm planing to release one tutorial per week. I hope you'll enjoy them :)
Thank you. Very easy to understand.
great tutorial Mr.!!
You're a life saver, Philip !!! :-) I'm a loyal subscriber from now on!
Thank you, Gene!
I'm glad you found these videos useful.
I hope future videos are also to your liking. :)
Cheers!
Big time beginner this helped a ton ty !
Thanks! Greetings from Brasil!
Can bass rthym amples be loaded into it
Just got one of these yesterday! Thanks for these :)
Hi Boathaus.
You're welcome. I hope they are useful to you.
Cheers!
How do you record samples?
This unit can't record samples, only sequence them. But you can replace the default samples with ones of your own; the process is different between the first and second versions of this unit.
is there a way to pla y like "keyboard mode" if you want to lay down some bass without it being just ONE NOTE in a sequense (like on an electribe 2)??? I would love for it to record realtime tweaking on the knobs, like if you press rec and play and mess around with the pitch knob and it records those shifts. I know it doesnt thou. oh wait....motion sequence mode??
Hi!
Well. The easiest way to do is to use the retrokits cable and record both notes and motion sequence. That being, said, I'd recommend you to check out the automation/motion sequence tutorial (episode 3, I think).
I hope this helps.
Have fun! :)
Nice simple tutorial! Just got the Volca, can wait to sync to my Pockets Operator!
They are really fun to play... with the new options for sync on the volcas, I think the documentation on the Pocket Operators may need some update, but it shouldn't be much of a problem. Enjoy them! :)
@@Philipplus they sync easily but the start sync do not work from the volce to the PO. I have to start the PO manually.
do you know of any tutorial vids on getting acquainted with the PO? :)
@@sk69to96 I learned most of the PO's from sonicstate's review videos... I hope this points you in the right direction.
Is there anyway to shift the entire pattern or part?
I always thought "Why cant something be existing which has the drum sequencer of a TR-808 but just with importing samples" I found it and it only costed 140 € and thanks to this video i finally know how to use the sequencer like the sequencer of an 808
Solo funciona conectado a la computadora ?
Hi, thanks for doing these tutorials are amazing!! I have a question, by any chance, you know what are the technical specifications of the adapter that goes to the electricity?
Hi Ramirez.
Thanks for your nice feedback. I'm using a 9V center positive transformer capable of at least 1A output at 9V (some models say they can output 1A or even more, but it is only for the lower voltage ouputs). As for the connection to the volca itself, the external diametre of the barrel is about 4mm, and the internal hollow is about 1.5mm. I don't know the exact specs regarding the size of the barrel, but it is commonly found on those universal adapters with multiple output jacks.
I hope this helps.
Cheers!
Hi Philip, so i did something i can't replicate, I used the same part (or the sound of the part) but different parameters in the sequencer. Let's say i used Part 3's sound with 20 Speed on Steps 1 and 5, but on Steps 9 and 13 I used the same sound with different pitch/speed which is 30 Speed. (I don't know at this point if i am using the same part or the sound is replicated to other part) How do I do this? I did it by accident lol
I believe yu were using automation/motion sequence. There is a video about it in this series (I believe it is episode 3: ruclips.net/video/uO_b7EWOBwk/видео.html)
Cheers!
Thanks for this video! love the volca series
Thank you +Liberté Music .
I'm glad you enjoy it.
Cheers! :)
Cheers Sir!
Can you play a live gig with this, using it as a drum machine? Please excuse my dumb question. 😁
yes
i've done a lot of live shows with Volca Beats and this one is similar but with even more capabilities.
Thanks a lot for these tutorials - Korg builds nice and affordable machines these days, but their documentation imho really sucks. Great of you to fill that gap for the volca sample.
Thank you for watching +Wolfgang Steuerle
Trying to make up with my own experience what korg left undone was may main objective... it also helped me systematize what I knew about this instrument (sample sequencers are different from traditional synths). I'm still planning for some new tutorial series, perhaps using the other volcas, or the microkorg (although Jacques Mongrel is the main authority on the matter), or the new FM... Who knows? :)
Cheers
@@Philipplus Thanks for the lessons.I'm 64 and although a musician for decades playing live and recording but strictly anolog.I have a hard time getting my head around this technology but I don't give up.I'm from another era and trying to have fun in retirement.
Gracias
Does step mode auto save or do you have to press record with each step or do the sequence then press record.
Hi UrbanFilmFan.
In step Mode the record button inserts a pause. the sequencer automatically advances one step when you press a key, or insert a pause.
Cheers!
is there a way of creating an acoustic sounding, basic rhythm track using the volca? a track that can be used to back basic acoustic guitars and sound natural..... pretty sure there is and am getting the hang of sequencing process slowly but surely. but haven't found anyone using the volca for much other than midi loops....which are great fun but not what I need. any help or links GREATLY appreciated. cheers
+Auto69Pilot The volca sample is a sample sequencer, and what you are asking for is something along the way of an auto-accompanying or a loop station. You can load samples of individual notes from acoustic instruments and program sequences to make the background for your work, but it takes a lot of work. Even so, because you cannot change the sample on a part in the middle of a pattern, you're stuck with only 10 samples to choose from.
You can sample sound loops and play them, but the memory on the volca is too limited: I can put a few 1 or 2 bar loops from my Kaossilator on it and that's it: I have to erase all other samples to make room for them. Also, the samples are downgraded to 33.1kHz sampling rate and converted from stereo to mono, so it will never sound as realistic as an acoustic instrument.
What you probably need is a synth with PCM with a good sequencer. I'd say Roland's JD-Xi would probably fit your needs... check Sonicstate's review of it to get an idea of the capabilities.
Hope this helps!
Cheers!
One viewing and I understand this device.
Hi HiltonKing.
Thank you for your nice feedback.
Cheers!
Alright alright no need to show off some of us are dumb 🤣🤣
Can i change the samples while i'm playing in step mode?
Hi +Lorenzo Garofalo !
The Sample data encoder can be used at any time to change the sample of the part you are playing, but you cannot program sample changes (unless you use different sequences and change from one to the other). For chancing parts in step more, you can use the PART > and PART < buttons. I hope this helps.
Cheers and thanks for watching!
So for example is it possible to make a sort of a mix?
+Lorenzo Garofalo
How do you define mix?
+Philip+ I'm playing a song and I gradually change samples in order to make another song.
Hi +Lorenzo Garofalo !
AFAIK, you cannot program changes in the Sample knob. To do what you are saying, you must have one sample on its own part and program the rhythm accordingly.
Thanks a lot for your videos ! But, what is 9-alt-10 fonction? I didn't find it anywhere... Thanks again for your help
Hi Fabien.
Thanks for stopping by. 9-alt-10 means that parts 9 and 10 are part of a choke group, meaning that triggering one of these parts instantly kills the sound of the other. Having a choke is useful for example for hi hats: put the open hi hat sample on part 10, put the closed hi-hat on part 9 and now you can alternate between both without the unnatural sound of a open hat superposed to a closed one. I hope this helps. ;)
Cheers!
Thanks so much! Thanks to this vidéo now I can really use my volca sampler ! Just have now to watch more in order to know if it's possible to erase thé ultimate sound played in live. But really, thé most important is that I can do a lot of things Thanks to your First vidéo ! :-)
Thank you CRAZYSANDY!
I'm glad you found these videos useful. Be sure to check out the rest of the series.
Cheers!
Nice one👍
Thank you!
you're genius
Nem látható az elején a határozott kézmozdulatból hogy mikor melyik gombot kell megnyomni...megtévesztő határozatlanság...direkt!?!?!?
Thanks for a great tutorial series, very helpful.
I was looking for a specific answer to a question when I stumbled upon the your tutorials but I still don't have the answer.
Here it is:
When I alter a part and change pattern it can contain a whole other setting for the part. Some times I need the altered part in another pattern but I can't figure out how to copy a part and use it in another pattern. Is that possible at all?
Hi yezdk.
That is a good question. I usually edit all my parts before I start sequencing, then I just save that first setup onto different memory locations so that I can work on specific scenes. Unfortunately this is the only way the Volca can copy the settings from one memory location to the other. There is no way to copy only one part from one memory location to another. You may achieve something similar to what you are searching for by using an advanced manager for the VSample (for example Voysir), but that essentially implies that you have to program the volca using the computer.
I hope this helps. Thanks for stopping by and for the nice feedback.
Cheers!
Thanks for the answer. I've been all around to figure out if it was possible and tried everything in the machine to see if I was lucky to find it.
I usually also copy out the patterns but when changing them to create variations in the flow of the song,it is not unusual that an alternation of any part would be better in a previous pattern. Going in to a third party software in the middle of it all will only rarely occur (or never) but I will surely focus on the software in time to come.
What I've done so far is written down the settings of a sound on a good old piece of paper and gone into the parameters of the part that I want to copy to :) it's possible and works fine. But it would really have been great if it was possible to paste it directly. And there are really much more possibilities than what is found in the very poor 'manual' or any online tutorial videos I've seen so far.
Anyways, thanks for your fine effort to bring knowledge to Volca newbies like me 🙂
I pressed Function Clear All and it erased all the samples on the machine!!! What did I do wrong?! :-(
Hi Gene.
That should not happen at all. You should talk to the technical support at korg, or to your dealer. The Clear all should only clear the patter data, not the sample data.
I'm sorry to hear that. (Also, sorry for the late reply).
Korg 1600 tutorial 2
I whatched the CRAP out of this video
That "Babyyyy" sample is obnoxious. One of the first I replaced on mine, lol.
Yeah... I agreed, but it is one of the default samples with the most varied articulation, so it is useful for these demonstration purposes... I don't recall ever using it in music, though ;)
Cheers
It would be nice if you said what the fuck you're doing each time you touch a button or turn a knob.
youll learn if you have the volca in front of you. You have to pay attention, which is good i think. You learn more. "Ok, what was that he just pressed? *PAUSE/"REWIND" * aha it was the PART button.
Thanks. Talking would be more helpful though.
Thanks +Hiro Protagonist !
This was one of my first experiments with youtube, but I've been learning over time. I'm now preparing the Volca FM tutorials, with a little bit of voice over (at least to explain some bits). I'll keep the text to highlight the most important ideas, as it helps a lot (specially for navigating through the video).
Cheers!
I know this is old, but I like hands on with the machine + informative text overlays a lot!
I would like to add that I appreciate the text overlay too, as I'm watching the video at work with no sound.
The constant "beep" sh1t is very annoying!