I appreciate the fail yesterday and that Kevin reached out to help. I have been trying to learn more about MIDI controlling instruments for a couple of weeks and your timing was perfect. Your material is consistently informative and understandable for a noob like me.
Fantastic! The volca drum has such interesting depth in sound but it is limited to 16 sequences of 16 steps and only has % probability so this opens a whole new world of possibilities 🎉
I've been making a dnb tune sequencing the Volca Drum with the Toraiz Squid. This opens up a whole new dimension to the Volca: longer patterns and automation of the parameters. The only thing I would have done differently is the implementation of the note / pitch: instead of having a CC for the pitch i would have loved to work directly with the notes.
Just picked up the Volca Drum today, watching your videos to get up and running, so thank you! I would suggest that the Model Samples/Cycles is a great way to sequence notes on the Volca Drum, as you've shown here. However, the Digitone/Digitakt offer even more power - you can sequence not only notes, but also MIDI CC values, which means you can p-lock the various parameters on the Volca Drum (or any Volca). Live record mode is also similar to the motion record mode on the Volcas. Finally, you can also send Program Changes, which means the Digitone/Digitakt will tell the Volca which preset/program to load up for a particular pattern. I'll admit all of this takes a fair bit of work to get it all going, but the upside is that the Elektron memory stores all the information, so you don't have to worry about remembering which Volca settings correspond to which pattern. Super helpful for building a live set or album performance! Oscillator Sink has a video called 'Digitone MIDI Tracks' which covers some of what I'm talking about here.
Im doubting about using a drumbrute impact with the volca drum, using the non used colored/uncolored chanel to send midi to the volca drum. But yes, the digi seems the best sequencer today. Im not really interested in sendind midi cc to the volca drum, just experimenting with longer patterns while i have a decent drums and I tweak the volca drum
I use mine in the same kind of way, but with using my Polyend Tracker as the sequencer. Also, I sometimes create a basic sequence using the Volca Drum that will start playing when I press play on the Tracker, and then add additional drums by sequencing it at the same time from the Tracker (so I can sequence it using the internal sequencer and the Tracker as a sequencer at the same time - if that makes any sense). I figured that out accidentally of course - hahaha
I loved the sounds of the Volca Drum, but didn't get on with the sequencer and didn't love the MIDI implementation so I wound up selling it. Elektron sequencers are great though. There's lots of interesting things you can do with them.
I hate the fact that gear doesn't come with real paper manuals anymore. You have to download them and scroll through your phone which can be convenient sometimes but i prefer to have an open booklet next to me. Also i love the Volca Drum. I think it's my favorite Volca and mostly i like to use it as a garnish on top of the TR8 or RD6 foundation. I'll have to try connecting it to my Beatstep Pro.
Man is there any way you can tell me the steps I need to take for making the cycles the master and just sync the vocals ? I'm not wanting the cycles as the sequencer for the volca, I just wanta queue the other volca in but can't get it to sync as a slave. Thanks so much !
Hey you just gave me an idea! I'm a great fan of the volca sample (as well as the po33), but, as well as it is a fun device, it's sequencer is kind of limited. But with the pajen firmware, it can do awesome things! I'll try to sequence it rythmically and melodically with the m:c and see what it does 😁
Hey, there, need some help and I feel like I’m missing something. I connected my microkorg to the Volca drum, and I’m trying to only send clock and not notes… failed to find such a function. Any help pleaaaaasse?
CAN ANYONE HELP ME?, as soon as i plug in the midi cable in my volca drum i have issues with patern chaining. When i slect e few paterns it starts playing the paterns i selected but in a random order. My midi clock is a roland tr8 then a behringer tb-3 and then my volca drum. If anyone know what causes this pls let me know.
@@FreeBeat Thanks for responding. Love your channel. Try it. I have the model samples, and the model cycles. Neither transmits CC changes out via midi from the sequencer.
Yes you can :) You don't have to do anything special for it. Just make sure that your track volume is up and you have midi output on that same track and you will hear both sounds.
## Model:Cycles as Midi Controller Config -> Midi -> Ports -> USB or MIDI, as wanted Config -> Midi -> Out Chan -> choose Track -> set out channel to same as external instrument midi in channel Config -> Midi -> Filter -> Encs set to I+E. (internal + external encoders, to enable sending Midi CC messages for knobs) For each Track used for Midi: [FUNC] + [TRACK] -> Mout must be set
You can also use the PUNCH and GATE buttons as midi switches for to toggle parameters on the synth side by sending CC data. Also the DELAY and REVERB button on the right can send CC messages on an own midi channel.
This combo is even cheaper than a used digitakt (around me anyway). It's also great if you don't want to work with samples. I can't believe how expensive the digitakt and digitone are getting though, I'd love to check them out. Thanks for watching!
Hey, here's an idea: Turn pitch quantization on volca drum ON and use midi sequencer/controller to use it as a melodic lead (the other parts can be used as percussions as usual...)
I appreciate the fail yesterday and that Kevin reached out to help. I have been trying to learn more about MIDI controlling instruments for a couple of weeks and your timing was perfect. Your material is consistently informative and understandable for a noob like me.
Thank you so much, I really appreciate that!
Fantastic! The volca drum has such interesting depth in sound but it is limited to 16 sequences of 16 steps and only has % probability so this opens a whole new world of possibilities 🎉
Heck yeah... the success video to balance out that last big question, sounds great too
Thanks so much!
I've been making a dnb tune sequencing the Volca Drum with the Toraiz Squid. This opens up a whole new dimension to the Volca: longer patterns and automation of the parameters. The only thing I would have done differently is the implementation of the note / pitch: instead of having a CC for the pitch i would have loved to work directly with the notes.
Yeah, I agree about pitch. It would be awesome to have everything laid out across a keyboard!
Free Beat on fire once again great vid !
Thank you so much!
Just picked up the Volca Drum today, watching your videos to get up and running, so thank you! I would suggest that the Model Samples/Cycles is a great way to sequence notes on the Volca Drum, as you've shown here. However, the Digitone/Digitakt offer even more power - you can sequence not only notes, but also MIDI CC values, which means you can p-lock the various parameters on the Volca Drum (or any Volca). Live record mode is also similar to the motion record mode on the Volcas. Finally, you can also send Program Changes, which means the Digitone/Digitakt will tell the Volca which preset/program to load up for a particular pattern. I'll admit all of this takes a fair bit of work to get it all going, but the upside is that the Elektron memory stores all the information, so you don't have to worry about remembering which Volca settings correspond to which pattern. Super helpful for building a live set or album performance! Oscillator Sink has a video called 'Digitone MIDI Tracks' which covers some of what I'm talking about here.
Im doubting about using a drumbrute impact with the volca drum, using the non used colored/uncolored chanel to send midi to the volca drum.
But yes, the digi seems the best sequencer today.
Im not really interested in sendind midi cc to the volca drum, just experimenting with longer patterns while i have a decent drums and I tweak the volca drum
I use mine in the same kind of way, but with using my Polyend Tracker as the sequencer. Also, I sometimes create a basic sequence using the Volca Drum that will start playing when I press play on the Tracker, and then add additional drums by sequencing it at the same time from the Tracker (so I can sequence it using the internal sequencer and the Tracker as a sequencer at the same time - if that makes any sense). I figured that out accidentally of course - hahaha
That's actually a pretty cool method to discover some interesting rhythms, thanks for sharing!
I loved the sounds of the Volca Drum, but didn't get on with the sequencer and didn't love the MIDI implementation so I wound up selling it. Elektron sequencers are great though. There's lots of interesting things you can do with them.
Yeah, this combination really has me excited to dive deeper into the volca drum. Thanks for watching!
That MIDI out setting was definitely obscure. I wish there was a way to turn that on globally.
Yeah, kind of weird that there isn't.
It has to be like having a new instrument. Nice!
Absolutely!
This is really cool! Yesterday i tried to connect my MPC One with the Roland Boutique TR-08 but i couldn't figure it out lol.
The MPC has so many different midi options that I always get confused too!
elektron has a incredible sequencer
They sure do!
I hate the fact that gear doesn't come with real paper manuals anymore. You have to download them and scroll through your phone which can be convenient sometimes but i prefer to have an open booklet next to me. Also i love the Volca Drum. I think it's my favorite Volca and mostly i like to use it as a garnish on top of the TR8 or RD6 foundation. I'll have to try connecting it to my Beatstep Pro.
Yeah, I'm definitely with you on paper instructions.
Well you can print the PDF if you want and have a paper manual.
Yeah I agree, it also makes the unboxing so much more fun lol.
Man is there any way you can tell me the steps I need to take for making the cycles the master and just sync the vocals ? I'm not wanting the cycles as the sequencer for the volca, I just wanta queue the other volca in but can't get it to sync as a slave. Thanks so much !
Hey you just gave me an idea!
I'm a great fan of the volca sample (as well as the po33), but, as well as it is a fun device, it's sequencer is kind of limited.
But with the pajen firmware, it can do awesome things!
I'll try to sequence it rythmically and melodically with the m:c and see what it does 😁
That sounds awesome, let me know how it goes!
@@FreeBeat it's SICK!
I'm putting a video out to show what those two can do together :D
@@FreeBeat i've just finished it!
It's here if you want to check this out!
ruclips.net/video/zYdG2EIcfcg/видео.html
Hey, there, need some help and I feel like I’m missing something. I connected my microkorg to the Volca drum, and I’m trying to only send clock and not notes… failed to find such a function. Any help pleaaaaasse?
Great video and I take it ...it should be the same for the samples ...👌thanks 👍
Yep, it should work the same exact way with the samples. Thanks for watching!
Correct me if i'm wrong, but you give up the parameter locks on the Drum by sequencing this way....?
Yes, that is true.
Very cool!
Yeah it's great!
CAN ANYONE HELP ME?, as soon as i plug in the midi cable in my volca drum i have issues with patern chaining. When i slect e few paterns it starts playing the paterns i selected but in a random order. My midi clock is a roland tr8 then a behringer tb-3 and then my volca drum. If anyone know what causes this pls let me know.
Do the knob movements recorded in the elektron sequencer transmit out the midi port? I think not.
I believe they can send CC messages!
@@FreeBeat Thanks for responding. Love your channel. Try it. I have the model samples, and the model cycles. Neither transmits CC changes out via midi from the sequencer.
Thanks !
Thanks for watching!
Can you use both the sound of the volca drum and the Model:Cycles at the same time, to layer the sounds?
I don’t believe you can.
Yes, I think so - I’ve done it on the Model:Samples so I’d be surprised if you couldn’t do it on the Cycles - it’s essentially the same sequencer.
Yes you can :) You don't have to do anything special for it. Just make sure that your track volume is up and you have midi output on that same track and you will hear both sounds.
Yep, as others have said it's super easy. All I would have had to do was plug in audio out from my Cycles into my audio interface :)
Layering 6 volca drum tracks under the 6 fm tracks requires effort but the results can be awesome
Yes
Thanks for watching!
## Model:Cycles as Midi Controller
Config -> Midi -> Ports -> USB or MIDI, as wanted
Config -> Midi -> Out Chan -> choose Track -> set out channel to same as external instrument midi in channel
Config -> Midi -> Filter -> Encs set to I+E. (internal + external encoders, to enable sending Midi CC messages for knobs)
For each Track used for Midi: [FUNC] + [TRACK] -> Mout must be set
You can also use the PUNCH and GATE buttons as midi switches for to toggle parameters on the synth side by sending CC data. Also the DELAY and REVERB button on the right can send CC messages on an own midi channel.
sequencer is not a problem the problem is miniencoder
I still don't really mind them haha. Thanks for watching!
From what I understand you cannot lock parameters while sequencing in this way which makes it all quite pointless to me. Nice video anyways 👍
You might be able to do it with MIDI CC, but I haven't tried. Thanks for watching!
I was wondering about this issue, I was going to try using my cycles with a volca fm, but I’m guessing it may be a pain in the butt,
First
You win!
just buy a used digitakt instead
This combo is even cheaper than a used digitakt (around me anyway). It's also great if you don't want to work with samples. I can't believe how expensive the digitakt and digitone are getting though, I'd love to check them out. Thanks for watching!
So Awesome having so many manual readers available to pick 🧠 brains with, keep on rocking Free Beat 🔊🧭
I have to agree, you all are the best!
Hey, here's an idea:
Turn pitch quantization on volca drum ON and use midi sequencer/controller to use it as a melodic lead (the other parts can be used as percussions as usual...)
I'm not sure how midi works with quantization, definitely something to play around with!