Dude you put so much work into these, seriously I am thankful. There is more editing in your videos than in videos 20 times longer and it adds to the chaotic comedy flow. The predator menu diving got me this week as well as the Backrooms montage. Clap clap.
I mean, a lot of the "videos 20 times longer" are deliberately slow-paced and if you watched a two-hour video essay edited in the AudioPilz Signature Style your eyeballs would start bleeding. That's not a criticism, I've been watching Bad Gear since it started, but different formats work in different ways.
That probability mode is great for helping to compensate for the four-bar limitation. I use that feature combined with slice on my hi-hat type sounds and it makes the beats seem far less repetitive.
agree it is a great feature. I often used it with two hi-hat channels in a choke-group, each panned left/right so the probability randomises the panning. make one track's sequence a different length and there's a "never"-repeating stereo hi-hat track!
Every track or jam I’ve recorded with the drum stands a mile apart from the ones with usual Roland sounds. It sounds unlike anything else. I think it’s amazing. And the polyrhythm, random probability potential takes it to another level
Unlike anything else is also how i would describe the Korg Minilogue. it's amazing how they actually pull this up by releasing actually affordable new gear that really sounds like nothing you hear elsewhere. I'm still tempted to get a few of the Volcas. Especially the Sample and newly released revision of the volca FM appeal to me.
@@KRAFTWERK2K6 these things are great. I got the beats like 2 years ago, didn’t mess with it much, then recently picked up the FM and bass, and keys, and I started diving in a bit. These things are great. Just got the drum on Amazon a few mins ago haha.
I bought my kids volcas for their Easter 🐣 present. They r both in piano and school band. I think these r great learning tools for kids on composing measures
Volca Drum is amazing. Not often you get drum synth capable of huge noise sounds and industrial like textures. For real. Not beafy enough? Maybe. But huge. I love mine and want bigger version of it
At 6:24, I emphatically yelled "YES!" out loud. And if this hasn't already been answered: You have to set the Volca Drum to multi-channel mode to play a single sound chromatically.
@@AudioPilz Yeah Korg put a sneaky option in there to use it either as a single channel drum machine or a multi-timbral synth. I friggin' love the Volca Drum so much. You're dead on about it needing a MIDI Dump. I hadn't even considered it until you mentioned it.
@@eighteenfiftynine It does, indeed. cdn.korg.com/us/support/download/files/aa0a404eb2b0fa59873677d825cc272e.pdf?response-content-disposition=inline%3Bfilename%2A%3DUTF-8%27%27volca_drum_split_ch_MIDI_Chart_E1.pdf&response-content-type=application%2Fpdf%3B
I traded in my Volca Beats for the Drum and I'm pretty glad I did. The fact I can make a decent snare drum on it is enough to justify it. Still some inconveniences for a drum machine but overall there's a lot going for it.
@@finonomastropiero4261 no, it's still limited even after modding. I'm hoping for a Beats v2 with a better snare, swing, individual outs, 64 steps, etc
@@AudioPilz True, I had a Beats (modded myself) but it didn't click for me - like a 808 on tranquilizers or thereabouts. The Bass I liked kinda, but sold it anyway together with the Beats, no regrets... Eyeing the FM2 right now, just for kicks (lol) and giggles ;)
I still like my beats. I love the wet rag hitting a symbol sound, love turning the snare into another tom. The wood block can be really mangled into fun sounds. The only issue I have with the beats is the limited kick.
This could be the best Volca if it wasn't put in Volca format. Also - its sound, while being something quite original, wears off rather quickly. Florian, you nailed this box in 110%. Yes, it's somewhat lost tribe of Electribe and yes, it totally sucks in live jam situations. Other than that - a stand out for some, a curio for the other.
@@TheSciHi i mean the syntakt is 900 bucks, it's sort of the reason I don't have one and maybe never will. But it's the Elektron box for the lovers of the Cycles, and I am a lover of the Cycles T-T
Picked this one up recently, easily the best drum machine I’ve ever used. I like getting more melodic with the sounds and resampling into Ableton for basses and chords
NOOO MY GEAR IS ON BAD GEAR!!! The drum is my first drum machine and while I do like it, the headphone out and the small knobs really do break my heart. But it's still fun to play and learn how to make some funky drums. Great episode Florian!
More versatile than I thought. Enjoyed the review. Thanks for sharing! You really have something here on your TH-cam channel. The videos are top notch (full of useful info, verdict, and continuous popular culture references, cool sounding music) and there is no GAS-inducing affiliate marketing with cautions against GAS. Perfect!
Where on earth did you find that pic at 9:32 of the toy synth setup? Please let me know as I've tried googling numerous terms and string and can't find it for the life of me!
you can play free hand step jump on deactivated steps outside of a shortened pattern length down to even 1 step...ie, they won't play unless you touch them, but they're always on standby. you can play step loops with slices in them and in real time change swing while holding step jump and the slices all shift relative to each other fluidly. you can't do that shit with anything else...surely not with your FINGER TIPS
You nailed it. It’s good for making samples and I love recording mine through the DAW to edit and beef up the sounds but the interface is not as fun as the electribe. I am also hoping they throw the synth engine in the drumlogue cause it sounds great. I prefer using oscillatorsink's free Synthmata tool to program the kits quickly.
I quite like these tiny instruments, both the Volcas and the Boutiques (though I must admit Roland lost me with the last few Boutiques). Honestly, a drum machine of this size, at this price that is this versatile is just magic.
Great vid, huge fan! Next to the FM 2, the Drum is the best volca to use as a sound module tethered to an editor or more capable sequencer. Editors are especially helpful for overcoming that limitation on saving patterns and kits. As long as you do all of your sound design and editing within the editor (or you're willing to go back and manually program all the parameters of a kit or a pattern into the editor), you can keep things backed up well enough. I think pajen figured out a way to dump the patterns and kits over sysex if you've done the MIDI out mod, but I've not tried it. The drum isn't able to cover all the bases (as you said, beefy kicks and aggressive snares are a weak point) so I usually reserve it for glitchy and retro sounding hat and ride/crash sounds, and then pitched percussive boops like cheesy toms, cowbell and woodblock esque stuff. Hard panning and using a Y splitter lets me process my cymbals and my boops through entirely different signal chains - a great feature that I believe is unique to the sample and the drum.
Man. This machine had so much potential. For the price it’s crazy how much you’re getting. But the sounds just aren’t my favorite. I know the sounds are customizable but after listening to pretty much all TH-cam videos featuring it , I came to the conclusion I’m not a fan of the sound.
It's not a do everything machine. What it does it does very well. For me, that's evolving hats and the like. Nothing beats it frankly, save for something like a machinedrum. That's how I think of it, a mini machinedrum.
It helps if you start to think about it as a sound generator rather than a drum machine. Don't be fooled by what you see on TH-cam. It's like trying to find videos about guitar pedals processing other signals besides electric guitars or other string instruments. Sometimes you have to try it yourself, if possible. Reading the manual helps to understand what its capabilities are and trying to recreate it with what you have. But of course it has to have appeal to you. Know what you need. Have fun ;) Cheers
@@Francisco12G yup. Like I was trying to find someone, anyone, demonstrating the moog moogerfooger murf pedal on synths, barely found anything, but once I got one in my hands to get it to do what I though it could do for me, eureka!!! Most people by far are demoing the Volca Drum are trying to use it as a standalone drum machine, which it CAN do, but it's a sound design machine really, meant to be used with other gear. When the Volca Drum is freed up to concentrate on what it does well, rather than covering all the drum parts, it shines in a mix. Even pairing it with a Volca Sample adds sonics that the Volca Sample simply can't do. I've got a ton of high-end gear, but the little Volca Drum sees a lot of use.
I don't think you can make a decision on an instrument just by watching TH-cam videos. Too many people on YT just go for the obvious sounds and presets. To find an instrument's potential you really must own it and explore its full potential.
hey dude I love this review. I'm a long time user of the volca but pretty surface level. I have a quick question for you, I'm wondering if you can sync time and trigger volca patters via midi in from an SP404 MK2. Do you have any insight on this?
I've got a suggestion for bad gear - Akai MPK-49. Here's the thing with it - it's a great MIDI controller when it works. Problem is it kinda makes you jump through hoops to get it to work. Out of the box it doesn't come with a power supply, you can only power it via USB. Which is great for using it with a PC. Problem is when you start trying to use it on its own. If you try to power it by USB, if it's not connected to a PC it just flat-out won't turn on - no "power only" USB hubs allowed. Which means to use it in standalone mode you need a power supply for it. And that power supply has to be 6v and rated for 1A or better which, while not proprietary, isn't that common of a power supply size. You can get them easily enough but you have to order them. But let's say you decided to hook the controller up to your PC. Turns out the damn thing won't send MIDI signals on its own. In fact, when connected to a PC, the MIDI functions and controller are completely isolated from each other and only the PC can send MIDI signals through the controller. If you want to control a synth with it directly while it's connected to a PC, it won't let you unless you route it through a DAW. Which is weird because the controller can easily do that when powered via a power supply and not connected to a PC. So, yeah... great MIDI controller once you get it to work, but a lot of hoops to jump through. Also the knobs and pads are garbage.
This is by far my favourite Volca, produces the weird and wacky sounds that can make a recording so much more interesting. I usually have mine hooked up to a Korg Kaoss Pad Quad to provide added oddness, and the Wave Guide (the 3 knob flux capacitor) should be standard on all Volca's... wait standard on every electronic musical device, everywhere for everyone :-) very nice episode.
@@knob_agency I am not clued up on VSTs as I have a dawless set-up. IMHO the Korg Kaoss Pad is a really great addition to any set up as it is tactile, easy to integrate and produces wacky results with ease.
the editing is getting out of hand man, you either have stronger ADHD than me or just way too much time on your hands lol keep em coming, easily the most underrated music channel on youtube right now!!
Couldn't agree more that this synth voice in a more back-up capable, fleshed out interface a la Drumlogue would be awesome. The Volca drum actually sounds amazing, and the physical modeling section is niiiice
Always held off on the volca line for fear of falling into all analog gear is great trap, now with time and perspective the ones that interest me most are the drum, sample and fm just occurred to me their all digital. To be fair though I have got a subsequent 37 so slightly spoilt in the analog department and would happily use any of the volca line.
6:18 totally agree - it's a lot of drum power in a small box, some clear compromising here. I like mine for synthesising kicks and snares - for some reason I can always dial in something I like quite quickly rather than in a DAW.
Kicks and snares is all I like out of the Drum most of the time. I always felt that I couldn't do much with it and the sounds that can be had are too often not my cup of tea. Or I just never learned to get along with it, I don't know. I sold it after over a year with it.
People that complain about lack of storage on these things are kind of missing the point. Volcas come off as intentionally "game-ified" and meant to keep you in a space of ephemeral movement. Goof off, or see something all the way through and delete it. I love them.
That Liminal Spaces Backrooms jam was awesome, and the video editing on it was totally on point. Smile on my face the whole time. That last jam is something I anticipate with every one of your videos.
Man, I was thinking this would be a great industrial groovebox with a bsp to control it until you said it couldn't be played chromatically over midi... I'll probably spend another hundred bucks on a used model cycles instead, since it can also do the weird sounds and some chromatic bass
That's the only Volca I own. Got it just to mess around with the CC on the Digitakt and there is so many things you can do with it. Pure delight. Great video as usual
Chip shortage or Bad Gear effect? Either way Volca Drum has been In and out of stock lately. Got mine last week finally 😍. Perhaps the best Volca, truly love it.
I’ve got one of these and I love it. Your review is pretty accurate as far as all the pros and cons. My main use for it is to make “weird glitchy bloody unpredictable sequence layers”. I just record them all into Logic and save them as loops. I’ve got a pretty big library now. Great to just sneak them in wherever to fill out a track. For the price, you really can’t beat it.
I have one of these and I mostly control using this software: korg-volca-drum-editor.jimdofree.com. It's a little bit a pain to setup though as you have to deal with Midi Ox if you want to share it with your DAW (there's also a VST version, but it didn't play nicely with Cakewalk and so I just use it externally). The nice thing about the software is that it can save and load sounds so hypothetically you could send your sounds and kits to the Volca and then save it locally on the Volca if you want to then use the kit away from the computer. Unfortunately this is still one way so this workflow only works if you create your sounds using the software and not the Volca's own interface. The Drumlouge looks cool, but as far as Volcas are concerned I think this needs the same update treatment the FM and the Sample got.
finally a piece of gear that I own showcased in this channel... sounds very punchy but sometimes a bit sterile, I found that treating it with some plugs on the way in does wonders (saturation, filter)... the sequencer is very creative and flexible. I think it's a great unit.
At this point there needs to be a music genre called memepop electronic music with memes sampled in the tracks. Maybe meme house music lol Audiopilz make that music a reality original tracks and all lol.
I think the Volca Drum is suppossed to be an Elektron Machinedrum hommage. Which is crazy, because I always wanted one as a kid, but years later I bought the Volca Drum as my first Volca unaware of that. Still somehow I was instantly drawn to it as the most interesting Volca to me. And it has not disappointed. One interessting feature is actually the combination of Slice and Choke Groups, which allows you to have for example a simple 4 on the floor beat on one step of the sequencer and other variations with triples or other polyrhythmic stuff from the Slice Menu on other steps. This will effectively extend the sequencer to 16 bars, but reduces your options to more simple beats. You just need to reduce the tempo drasticaly to make it work. :D But with a clock divider this might be a good way to get some more variation from its 16 step sequencer.
I run mine through a RAT distortion medal and sounds means as hell. I recommend running it through some kind of distortion/overdrive effect of some kind to make it sound BEEFED up.
Damn, you often give me something to think about. I've been tentatively looking for some easy and quick way of getting some weirder queaky percussive bits to add to my current drum machines and synths. Being lazy I hadn't found anything suitable, but I'd completely overlooked this. I think it may just be what I'm looking for.
Definitely give it a try! You can always get rid of it out into the used market if you don't like it. But it is a tool for eccentric drums. And it syncs over MIDI or clock sync so it's great for modular too, with its whacky sounds and per-step trigger chance.
the volca drum is the only volca I still use to this day. it's so easy to morph sounds between surprisingly good kicks snares hats toms etc -- and all on the fly. the delay is sick. FAT kicks. And the step jump mode is perhaps one of the best live performance features on a drum machine I've ever seen, and can't fathom why it's not utilized on more machines. You simply press any steps you want and they are played in time with the sequencer, which meanwhile keeps its place in the sequence. This can work with steps which aren't active steps, or are rolls, etc. So much possibility in this thing. Best volca hands down.
@@AudioPilz that is awesome, thanks! love how a 80s Australian school computer ends up in a 2015 Swedish film set in 80s Miami then chopped into volca bad gear :) love your channel thanks - one of my few yt subscriptions I watch as soon as it's released!
Looks like its really not the baddest Volca in this series. I’d say very useful and practical one. It’s digital, but sounds better then Volca Drums and with level of noise in volca’s 3.5mm output almost doesn’t matter analog or digital. P.s. I’ve sold all my volcas collection long time ago before “the drum” and “modular” came out.
By the way....If you want a pretty damn decent 808-type drum machine, get a Volca Beats, take it to your tech, have him bridge those two points with the correct capacitor. (Look it ip, but make sure to use the BIG version of the capacitor...don't ask me why, just do it) That fixes the snare. And then get individual outputs added. Though none of this seems hard I DO NOT recommend doing it yourself....SMT is VERY hard to work with....but with these two mods, you'll find yourself the proud owner of a drum machine WAAAAY better than the one you thought you were getting.
It is Volca, but it is not BG material. While Beats absolutely suck, Drum is very interesting take on wavefolding percussion, plus you can hear familiar Korgish drums. I love it since I got it, and quite often sample it into Analog Rytm/Octatrack, as well as there is smt super awesome string thingy - i really love this little box. Kudos to Mr. Oscillator Sync for midi page for patches. Description of rezonator control is absolutelty accurate lol.
@@AudioPilz oh lord no. Its terrible. One thing that pops in mind is Vermona DRM mk3 and that “snare” - ofc its not the same level of instrument but you see where I am going with this. It is supposed to be smt snappy 808ish but it just falls on its ass in any mix. There is a guy who modded it though, made it really gnarly. But to mod a volca beat snare - takes lots of mod love:))
2 ปีที่แล้ว +1
I watch it lie seventh time, and also I bought it - well worth the price
Your final jam where you beef it up in the DAW may have convinced me to keep mine. Pros: Hefty sine wave sub-basses, natural-sounding wave guide resonance (like striking something in a room), parameter automation. Cons: "Dinky" upper mid-range and unnatural, not-very-pleasing, "wispy" high end (IMO).
I own one but still have to use it in anger. That is however my fault and not that of this nifty little box. It's perfect for weird 'n spacey improvisations. I do however also agree with your critique. It could be more flexible to improve detailed control. But would it then cost the same? Never! I am however also wondering if asking for such bells and whistles isn't missing the whole point. This thing was born to beat, hum, splatter and sizzle, then edit the output and add other stuff on a more flexible platform. It's not a recording tool for control freaks. It's a natural selection conduit for emulating strange loud percussion beings! Be warned! One day I will probably unintentionally reprogram our universe on it! And the time of BOOM! shall come to pass!
Audiopilz: *slaps roof of YT channel*
Full Tracks, Extended Jams, Sample Packs: www.patreon.com/audiopilz
Dude you put so much work into these, seriously I am thankful. There is more editing in your videos than in videos 20 times longer and it adds to the chaotic comedy flow. The predator menu diving got me this week as well as the Backrooms montage. Clap clap.
Thank you so much!!!
I mean, a lot of the "videos 20 times longer" are deliberately slow-paced and if you watched a two-hour video essay edited in the AudioPilz Signature Style your eyeballs would start bleeding. That's not a criticism, I've been watching Bad Gear since it started, but different formats work in different ways.
@@AudioPilz The fact that you went an extra layer and grabbed the pottery clip from The Naked Gun… respect once again
Well since all I own are Volcas and a Microfreak, you've covered my collection.
Nothing to be ashamed of;)
I love that volca only version at 6:25
Thank you!!!
Best and most useful of the bunch. Love it. Deeeep base and polyrhythm. 🤩🤩🤩🥳🥳🥳 Thanks for the reminder.
👍
That’s a hell of machine for little money. Never knew it existed
Worth a try!
haha just bought one! can't wait to learn everything about it so i can forget it all & make the same junk every time i turn it on.
I know that so well, lol!
i want this but a bit bigger and a bit better... go korg. do it
We're waiting...
That "Backrooms" video montage is fantastic on every level
Thank you!!! That's quite a rabbit hole to go down!
@@AudioPilz you mean... to no-clip into ;)
I agree!! It was crazy cool.
Awesome 👍
When you're so early that TH-cam says "1 view". :D I liked the Drum when I played with it, let's see how it goes. :)
No "last time I was so early" jokes please;)
Lol mine still says 1 view yet there's 25 comments.
@@AudioPilz The last time I was this early, my parents... *explodes*
@@hiding_my_name You're right, guess TH-cam is borked again. :D
One of my favourite features in Volca Drum, not mentioned in this vid - is that you can set per-step probability in sequencer.
Thanks for the clarification!
That probability mode is great for helping to compensate for the four-bar limitation. I use that feature combined with slice on my hi-hat type sounds and it makes the beats seem far less repetitive.
Thats cool :)
Drumologue !!
Yes , please 🙏
agree it is a great feature. I often used it with two hi-hat channels in a choke-group, each panned left/right so the probability randomises the panning. make one track's sequence a different length and there's a "never"-repeating stereo hi-hat track!
Every track or jam I’ve recorded with the drum stands a mile apart from the ones with usual Roland sounds. It sounds unlike anything else. I think it’s amazing. And the polyrhythm, random probability potential takes it to another level
Unlike anything else is also how i would describe the Korg Minilogue. it's amazing how they actually pull this up by releasing actually affordable new gear that really sounds like nothing you hear elsewhere. I'm still tempted to get a few of the Volcas. Especially the Sample and newly released revision of the volca FM appeal to me.
Why not combine it with classic sounds?
@@KRAFTWERK2K6 these things are great. I got the beats like 2 years ago, didn’t mess with it much, then recently picked up the FM and bass, and keys, and I started diving in a bit. These things are great. Just got the drum on Amazon a few mins ago haha.
I bought my kids volcas for their Easter 🐣 present. They r both in piano and school band. I think these r great learning tools for kids on composing measures
I’ve wanted one of these since they came out. It’s not so much a drum machine as it is a drum synth, and those aren’t so common.
Agreed!
Volca Drum is amazing. Not often you get drum synth capable of huge noise sounds and industrial like textures. For real. Not beafy enough? Maybe. But huge. I love mine and want bigger version of it
I like beef;)
At 6:24, I emphatically yelled "YES!" out loud.
And if this hasn't already been answered: You have to set the Volca Drum to multi-channel mode to play a single sound chromatically.
Interesting, I managed to play them in one channel but not tonally with a midi keyboard. Thanks!
@@AudioPilz Yeah Korg put a sneaky option in there to use it either as a single channel drum machine or a multi-timbral synth. I friggin' love the Volca Drum so much.
You're dead on about it needing a MIDI Dump. I hadn't even considered it until you mentioned it.
@@timbrechopper eh? That doesn't work, does it?!
@@eighteenfiftynine It does, indeed. cdn.korg.com/us/support/download/files/aa0a404eb2b0fa59873677d825cc272e.pdf?response-content-disposition=inline%3Bfilename%2A%3DUTF-8%27%27volca_drum_split_ch_MIDI_Chart_E1.pdf&response-content-type=application%2Fpdf%3B
I traded in my Volca Beats for the Drum and I'm pretty glad I did. The fact I can make a decent snare drum on it is enough to justify it. Still some inconveniences for a drum machine but overall there's a lot going for it.
The Beats is really limited
@@AudioPilz unless modded?
@@finonomastropiero4261 no, it's still limited even after modding. I'm hoping for a Beats v2 with a better snare, swing, individual outs, 64 steps, etc
@@AudioPilz True, I had a Beats (modded myself) but it didn't click for me - like a 808 on tranquilizers or thereabouts. The Bass I liked kinda, but sold it anyway together with the Beats, no regrets... Eyeing the FM2 right now, just for kicks (lol) and giggles ;)
I still like my beats. I love the wet rag hitting a symbol sound, love turning the snare into another tom. The wood block can be really mangled into fun sounds.
The only issue I have with the beats is the limited kick.
This could be the best Volca if it wasn't put in Volca format. Also - its sound, while being something quite original, wears off rather quickly.
Florian, you nailed this box in 110%. Yes, it's somewhat lost tribe of Electribe and yes, it totally sucks in live jam situations. Other than that - a stand out for some, a curio for the other.
Thanks! Waiting for the Drumlogue;)
@@AudioPilz Korg's already late to the party, all courtesy of Syntakt. But I still hope that the Drumlogue will see the light od the day...one day ;)
@@TheSciHi i mean the syntakt is 900 bucks, it's sort of the reason I don't have one and maybe never will. But it's the Elektron box for the lovers of the Cycles, and I am a lover of the Cycles T-T
@@jonpatchmodular Yeah, but it's what the Drumlogue will compete with now, if it will be released that is
The grooves you make while demonstrating each of its parameters are all song worthy.
Thank you!!!
This one is in stereo ?
Picked this one up recently, easily the best drum machine I’ve ever used. I like getting more melodic with the sounds and resampling into Ableton for basses and chords
Great for tonal stuff!!!
NOOO MY GEAR IS ON BAD GEAR!!! The drum is my first drum machine and while I do like it, the headphone out and the small knobs really do break my heart. But it's still fun to play and learn how to make some funky drums. Great episode Florian!
Thank you!!!
More versatile than I thought. Enjoyed the review. Thanks for sharing!
You really have something here on your TH-cam channel.
The videos are top notch (full of useful info, verdict, and continuous popular culture references, cool sounding music) and there is no GAS-inducing affiliate marketing with cautions against GAS.
Perfect!
Thank you so much!!!
Not my secret weapon for making drum layers and samples!?
I love the V Drum also as an all in one IDM groove box. Such a useful synth.
Great for all kinds of IDM!
Where on earth did you find that pic at 9:32 of the toy synth setup? Please let me know as I've tried googling numerous terms and string and can't find it for the life of me!
Synth Memes! on FB
Volca Drum is one of the best low budget devices on the market. To me it is essential gear.
Very affordable given the feature set!
you can play free hand step jump on deactivated steps outside of a shortened pattern length down to even 1 step...ie, they won't play unless you touch them, but they're always on standby. you can play step loops with slices in them and in real time change swing while holding step jump and the slices all shift relative to each other fluidly. you can't do that shit with anything else...surely not with your FINGER TIPS
Nice technique!
You nailed it. It’s good for making samples and I love recording mine through the DAW to edit and beef up the sounds but the interface is not as fun as the electribe. I am also hoping they throw the synth engine in the drumlogue cause it sounds great. I prefer using oscillatorsink's free Synthmata tool to program the kits quickly.
Thanks! I'd love to see that engine in the Drumlogue!
Has there been any new info on the drumlogue?
Leaving a comment just for support: Awes0me vids wiz a super-duper le montage!
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Is this entire series based on every synthesizer that I own and love? Yes, apparently it is 😂
I quite like these tiny instruments, both the Volcas and the Boutiques (though I must admit Roland lost me with the last few Boutiques).
Honestly, a drum machine of this size, at this price that is this versatile is just magic.
You should've put it through the metal zone for extra beef)
Way to go!!!
Great vid, huge fan! Next to the FM 2, the Drum is the best volca to use as a sound module tethered to an editor or more capable sequencer. Editors are especially helpful for overcoming that limitation on saving patterns and kits. As long as you do all of your sound design and editing within the editor (or you're willing to go back and manually program all the parameters of a kit or a pattern into the editor), you can keep things backed up well enough. I think pajen figured out a way to dump the patterns and kits over sysex if you've done the MIDI out mod, but I've not tried it.
The drum isn't able to cover all the bases (as you said, beefy kicks and aggressive snares are a weak point) so I usually reserve it for glitchy and retro sounding hat and ride/crash sounds, and then pitched percussive boops like cheesy toms, cowbell and woodblock esque stuff. Hard panning and using a Y splitter lets me process my cymbals and my boops through entirely different signal chains - a great feature that I believe is unique to the sample and the drum.
Interesting to hear about the Pajen hack!!!
Damn I never thought of that panning trick, that's genius!
I had one of these, don't know why I sold it! Its a really weird little box of experimental joy, and I mean that in the best possible way!
Love my volca drum. No clue what I'm doing with it and I can't make it sound like drums but god is it fun
Way to go!!!
sounds like how I'd be 😂 can't decide whether to take the chance ! How are you finding it now ?
I need that "Woman yelling at cat" fx pedal! I don't care what it does!
Man. This machine had so much potential. For the price it’s crazy how much you’re getting. But the sounds just aren’t my favorite. I know the sounds are customizable but after listening to pretty much all TH-cam videos featuring it , I came to the conclusion I’m not a fan of the sound.
Even the ER-1 is more or less a love/hate thing
It's not a do everything machine. What it does it does very well. For me, that's evolving hats and the like. Nothing beats it frankly, save for something like a machinedrum. That's how I think of it, a mini machinedrum.
It helps if you start to think about it as a sound generator rather than a drum machine. Don't be fooled by what you see on TH-cam. It's like trying to find videos about guitar pedals processing other signals besides electric guitars or other string instruments. Sometimes you have to try it yourself, if possible. Reading the manual helps to understand what its capabilities are and trying to recreate it with what you have. But of course it has to have appeal to you. Know what you need. Have fun ;) Cheers
@@Francisco12G yup. Like I was trying to find someone, anyone, demonstrating the moog moogerfooger murf pedal on synths, barely found anything, but once I got one in my hands to get it to do what I though it could do for me, eureka!!! Most people by far are demoing the Volca Drum are trying to use it as a standalone drum machine, which it CAN do, but it's a sound design machine really, meant to be used with other gear. When the Volca Drum is freed up to concentrate on what it does well, rather than covering all the drum parts, it shines in a mix. Even pairing it with a Volca Sample adds sonics that the Volca Sample simply can't do. I've got a ton of high-end gear, but the little Volca Drum sees a lot of use.
I don't think you can make a decision on an instrument just by watching TH-cam videos. Too many people on YT just go for the obvious sounds and presets. To find an instrument's potential you really must own it and explore its full potential.
I really need of a Volca Bagpipe !!! is it sound warm and fat, or thin and digital ? Directly in my wish list with the Volca Cowbell !
I really liked Jam 2, very groovy rhythm.
Thank you!!!
Love mine but a more detailed control interface would certainly make it better!
Agreed!
Noooooo. Not again. You're definitely picking on me 😭
Predator doing menu diving... afraid of blowing the whole machine up. Just pure genius, man!
Thank you!!!
hey dude I love this review. I'm a long time user of the volca but pretty surface level. I have a quick question for you, I'm wondering if you can sync time and trigger volca patters via midi in from an SP404 MK2. Do you have any insight on this?
I'd like to know too
The volca drum is so good when you make things at a slower tempo. You can really bring out some trippy sounds.
Agreed!
I've got a suggestion for bad gear - Akai MPK-49. Here's the thing with it - it's a great MIDI controller when it works. Problem is it kinda makes you jump through hoops to get it to work. Out of the box it doesn't come with a power supply, you can only power it via USB. Which is great for using it with a PC. Problem is when you start trying to use it on its own. If you try to power it by USB, if it's not connected to a PC it just flat-out won't turn on - no "power only" USB hubs allowed. Which means to use it in standalone mode you need a power supply for it. And that power supply has to be 6v and rated for 1A or better which, while not proprietary, isn't that common of a power supply size. You can get them easily enough but you have to order them. But let's say you decided to hook the controller up to your PC. Turns out the damn thing won't send MIDI signals on its own. In fact, when connected to a PC, the MIDI functions and controller are completely isolated from each other and only the PC can send MIDI signals through the controller. If you want to control a synth with it directly while it's connected to a PC, it won't let you unless you route it through a DAW. Which is weird because the controller can easily do that when powered via a power supply and not connected to a PC. So, yeah... great MIDI controller once you get it to work, but a lot of hoops to jump through.
Also the knobs and pads are garbage.
👍👍👍
This is by far my favourite Volca, produces the weird and wacky sounds that can make a recording so much more interesting. I usually have mine hooked up to a Korg Kaoss Pad Quad to provide added oddness, and the Wave Guide (the 3 knob flux capacitor) should be standard on all Volca's... wait standard on every electronic musical device, everywhere for everyone :-) very nice episode.
Thanks! Certainly goes well with a Kaoss Pad!
Wave Guide is my favorite effect too. Do know you know something similar in other pedals/FX/VST?
@@knob_agency I am not clued up on VSTs as I have a dawless set-up. IMHO the Korg Kaoss Pad is a really great addition to any set up as it is tactile, easy to integrate and produces wacky results with ease.
Only the penitent man can play the volca drum.
Back rooms? You chose...wisely.
Thanks!
the editing is getting out of hand man, you either have stronger ADHD than me or just way too much time on your hands lol
keep em coming, easily the most underrated music channel on youtube right now!!
Thank you so much! The answer is: YES!
Couldn't agree more that this synth voice in a more back-up capable, fleshed out interface a la Drumlogue would be awesome. The Volca drum actually sounds amazing, and the physical modeling section is niiiice
Yeah, I would have loved to have this engine in the drumlogue
Always held off on the volca line for fear of falling into all analog gear is great trap, now with time and perspective the ones that interest me most are the drum, sample and fm just occurred to me their all digital.
To be fair though I have got a subsequent 37 so slightly spoilt in the analog department and would happily use any of the volca line.
👍👍👍
6:18 totally agree - it's a lot of drum power in a small box, some clear compromising here. I like mine for synthesising kicks and snares - for some reason I can always dial in something I like quite quickly rather than in a DAW.
Yeah, I'd love to have an ER-1 plugin in Live
Kicks and snares is all I like out of the Drum most of the time. I always felt that I couldn't do much with it and the sounds that can be had are too often not my cup of tea. Or I just never learned to get along with it, I don't know. I sold it after over a year with it.
People that complain about lack of storage on these things are kind of missing the point. Volcas come off as intentionally "game-ified" and meant to keep you in a space of ephemeral movement. Goof off, or see something all the way through and delete it. I love them.
There's some truth to that!
That Liminal Spaces Backrooms jam was awesome, and the video editing on it was totally on point. Smile on my face the whole time. That last jam is something I anticipate with every one of your videos.
Thank you!!!
Stretching the definition of "bad" with this one
This is my favorite volca, combined with the kick, it's a powerhouse.
Agreed!
No no no ,you completely making This up. Tellme are you out off badgear????
I like your content though keep IT up👍
I'll never be;)
I'm a 61 year's old musician and a big fan
of your deep analyzing and speedy flow of honest creative criticism.
Love your videos - Very helpful 🤗
Thank you so much!!!
Man, I was thinking this would be a great industrial groovebox with a bsp to control it until you said it couldn't be played chromatically over midi... I'll probably spend another hundred bucks on a used model cycles instead, since it can also do the weird sounds and some chromatic bass
Model Cycles is probably better suited for that application
That's the only Volca I own. Got it just to mess around with the CC on the Digitakt and there is so many things you can do with it. Pure delight. Great video as usual
Thanks!
Chip shortage or Bad Gear effect? Either way Volca Drum has been In and out of stock lately. Got mine last week finally 😍. Perhaps the best Volca, truly love it.
Really liked that one too!
Finale track is a jam. Any chance of a longer version?
Thanks! Full tracks on Patreon (end of plug;)
the year is 1969...
neil armstrong reports weird alien beings gawking at him from another world...on a crater on the moon...
Do they play a Volca?
The ultimate minimal techno drum machine
Agreed!
What's with all the toy drum machines, along with the knobs designed for hobbits?
People buy these a lot...
I’ve got one of these and I love it. Your review is pretty accurate as far as all the pros and cons. My main use for it is to make “weird glitchy bloody unpredictable sequence layers”. I just record them all into Logic and save them as loops. I’ve got a pretty big library now. Great to just sneak them in wherever to fill out a track. For the price, you really can’t beat it.
Sounds very similar to the old ER-1 mk2 I had about 10 years ago. Not a compliment imho
That one's a love/hate thing too
The videoclip of the finale jam is one of the coolest of all times. Really great!
Thank you!!!
How about a Better gear episode with the modded/upgreaded Volcas? (I'm getting one.)
Great idea, thanks!!!
This looks surprisingly fun for a device i dismissed purely because of the volca branding
Yes, this one is fun!
Same.
I have one of these and I mostly control using this software: korg-volca-drum-editor.jimdofree.com. It's a little bit a pain to setup though as you have to deal with Midi Ox if you want to share it with your DAW (there's also a VST version, but it didn't play nicely with Cakewalk and so I just use it externally). The nice thing about the software is that it can save and load sounds so hypothetically you could send your sounds and kits to the Volca and then save it locally on the Volca if you want to then use the kit away from the computer. Unfortunately this is still one way so this workflow only works if you create your sounds using the software and not the Volca's own interface. The Drumlouge looks cool, but as far as Volcas are concerned I think this needs the same update treatment the FM and the Sample got.
Thanks for posting!!!
finally a piece of gear that I own showcased in this channel... sounds very punchy but sometimes a bit sterile, I found that treating it with some plugs on the way in does wonders (saturation, filter)... the sequencer is very creative and flexible. I think it's a great unit.
Additional processing really does wonders!
hiii make avideo about de electribe emx1!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Danger zone!!!
I love the volcas for their simplicity - but like you said, I really wish they had a way to backup/restore.
That'd be great;)
There's someone who made solderless midi out kits for a couple of volcas, maybe there's one for this?
It's USB tribe, they have it for multiple other volcas but not the drum 😥
At this point there needs to be a music genre called memepop electronic music with memes sampled in the tracks.
Maybe meme house music lol Audiopilz make that music a reality original tracks and all lol.
I'm pretty sure it already exists;)
Sonically, its closest comparison is probably Korg’s classic Electribes, but feel like a new instrument in its own right
Agreed!
I think the Volca Drum is suppossed to be an Elektron Machinedrum hommage.
Which is crazy, because I always wanted one as a kid, but years later I bought the Volca Drum as my first Volca unaware of that. Still somehow I was instantly drawn to it as the most interesting Volca to me.
And it has not disappointed.
One interessting feature is actually the combination of Slice and Choke Groups, which allows you to have for example a simple 4 on the floor beat on one step of the sequencer and other variations with triples or other polyrhythmic stuff from the Slice Menu on other steps. This will effectively extend the sequencer to 16 bars, but reduces your options to more simple beats. You just need to reduce the tempo drasticaly to make it work. :D But with a clock divider this might be a good way to get some more variation from its 16 step sequencer.
Out of curiousity what are folks favourite Volcas?
Keys all the way!
The school desk drum machine, hell yes. Need that pen cap for the sharp snare.
...and that nice vocal samples when you hit one of the other students;)
I run mine through a RAT distortion medal and sounds means as hell. I recommend running it through some kind of distortion/overdrive effect of some kind to make it sound BEEFED up.
Nice! I like RAT!
you can make some nasty 808 sub-bass drums with this bad boy lol
True that!
Bless you child for including Modular Jesus.
🧔🎛
Our Lord and Saviour!!!
Well I now regret selling mine. I clearly did not know how to use that thing. At least I have a Mk 2 Electribe.
Mmmmmh, Electribes...
Man, you keep pumping these videos out, with great quality too, and I seem to keep watching them :-)
Thank you!!!
Wait, is the impressive Finale video an original creation for this video or an adaptation of something that exists out there?
Check out The Backrooms and be prepared to go down a VERY deep rabbit hole
Damn, you often give me something to think about. I've been tentatively looking for some easy and quick way of getting some weirder queaky percussive bits to add to my current drum machines and synths. Being lazy I hadn't found anything suitable, but I'd completely overlooked this. I think it may just be what I'm looking for.
Thanks! Time stretching acoustic sounds helps a lot too;)
@@AudioPilz Yeah I like that too. I use an Elektron Samples for a lot of the work on that one. Seems an easy way to use them on the fly.
Definitely give it a try! You can always get rid of it out into the used market if you don't like it. But it is a tool for eccentric drums. And it syncs over MIDI or clock sync so it's great for modular too, with its whacky sounds and per-step trigger chance.
All the volcas are lame tbh, but in all fairness theyre only toys really.
Check out the Kick - that one's beefy
finally, all my synth are now covered by your show ❤️
Congrats!!!
AudioPilz please don't stop! LMAO!
💪 💪 💪 💪 💪 💪 💪 💪
the volca drum is the only volca I still use to this day. it's so easy to morph sounds between surprisingly good kicks snares hats toms etc -- and all on the fly. the delay is sick. FAT kicks.
And the step jump mode is perhaps one of the best live performance features on a drum machine I've ever seen, and can't fathom why it's not utilized on more machines. You simply press any steps you want and they are played in time with the sequencer, which meanwhile keeps its place in the sequence. This can work with steps which aren't active steps, or are rolls, etc. So much possibility in this thing. Best volca hands down.
I'd love to have the extra sequencer features in the Sample
I just got one! How do I play it!?😅
With dignity;)
First
Beat me to it
Nice!!!
Only because you didn't watch the whole thing... err... first? ;-) lol
love my Volca Drum! Can anyone tell me where the meme @ 5:59 comes from? looks like an Microbee computer from my (distant) childhood!
Kung Fury!!!
@@AudioPilz that is awesome, thanks! love how a 80s Australian school computer ends up in a 2015 Swedish film set in 80s Miami then chopped into volca bad gear :) love your channel thanks - one of my few yt subscriptions I watch as soon as it's released!
"bad gear pokemons" lol, the wit on this guy.
😀😀😀
Looks like its really not the baddest Volca in this series. I’d say very useful and practical one. It’s digital, but sounds better then Volca Drums and with level of noise in volca’s 3.5mm output almost doesn’t matter analog or digital. P.s. I’ve sold all my volcas collection long time ago before “the drum” and “modular” came out.
The Beats and Mix are probably the worst
@@AudioPilz true (:
By the way....If you want a pretty damn decent 808-type drum machine, get a Volca Beats, take it to your tech, have him bridge those two points with the correct capacitor. (Look it ip, but make sure to use the BIG version of the capacitor...don't ask me why, just do it) That fixes the snare. And then get individual outputs added. Though none of this seems hard I DO NOT recommend doing it yourself....SMT is VERY hard to work with....but with these two mods, you'll find yourself the proud owner of a drum machine WAAAAY better than the one you thought you were getting.
Great mod!!!
lol the subliminal spaces video is like a good version of my bad dreams
😀😀😀
It is Volca, but it is not BG material. While Beats absolutely suck, Drum is very interesting take on wavefolding percussion, plus you can hear familiar Korgish drums. I love it since I got it, and quite often sample it into Analog Rytm/Octatrack, as well as there is smt super awesome string thingy - i really love this little box. Kudos to Mr. Oscillator Sync for midi page for patches. Description of rezonator control is absolutelty accurate lol.
The Beats snare will be legendary;)
@@AudioPilz oh lord no. Its terrible. One thing that pops in mind is Vermona DRM mk3 and that “snare” - ofc its not the same level of instrument but you see where I am going with this. It is supposed to be smt snappy 808ish but it just falls on its ass in any mix. There is a guy who modded it though, made it really gnarly. But to mod a volca beat snare - takes lots of mod love:))
I watch it lie seventh time, and also I bought it - well worth the price
Thanks!
Your final jam where you beef it up in the DAW may have convinced me to keep mine. Pros: Hefty sine wave sub-basses, natural-sounding wave guide resonance (like striking something in a room), parameter automation. Cons: "Dinky" upper mid-range and unnatural, not-very-pleasing, "wispy" high end (IMO).
Agreed!
Sheeeeit, this is a lot better than I thought. And 16 steps is all you need. No backup? No problem, I'd just make beats and then sample them.
Word!
As a standalone unit more usefull than the DFAM.
That's probably true!
I own one but still have to use it in anger. That is however my fault and not that of this nifty little box. It's perfect for weird 'n spacey improvisations. I do however also agree with your critique. It could be more flexible to improve detailed control. But would it then cost the same? Never! I am however also wondering if asking for such bells and whistles isn't missing the whole point. This thing was born to beat, hum, splatter and sizzle, then edit the output and add other stuff on a more flexible platform. It's not a recording tool for control freaks. It's a natural selection conduit for emulating strange loud percussion beings! Be warned! One day I will probably unintentionally reprogram our universe on it! And the time of BOOM! shall come to pass!
I try to program the Drum with mathematical precision!!!;)
@@AudioPilz Your problem, not the instrument's! :-)
Try install a music tracker on a retro computer and attempt to make a beat with it. Like Jeskola Buzz running on Windows 98
Isn't that supposed to work just fine?
@@AudioPilz It is very challenging to use.