Is the Volca Keys Still Relevant in 2021?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 30 ก.ค. 2024
- I discuss and show sound demos of the Korg Volca Keys, including in synthwave and progressive house jams. This synth has been around for a while, but it's still a great budget analog option, especially for beginners or people with more minimalist hardware setups.
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The Volca Keys is full of surprises. Even if you’ve had one for years there are still times when it will produce something new and unexpected. Fantastic little box.
I used in my last album in every songs, far the best volca, that timbre and the noise from the delay are unique. Just love it! I use it with fx pedals its lovely whit a good reverb. ITS DARK, NOISY LUSH, THAT FILTER WHIT THE DELAY LIKE REVERB SETTINGS ITS A BEAST!
hi Gabe Miller Music, you are Real - and that is what I like! your reviews are always contentful and I like to be informed by your videos... thank you for your Time and your Work. best regards, Frank Liebe
I got the Volca FM, you can pump out some gritty sounds that accommodate the Circuit really well.
FM definitely has a learning curve and I haven't began to unlock it's full potential, even after two years. But it sounds so damn good, and even on the surface level a novice synth player (like me) can enjoy working with it. But if you're willing to do some menu diving, and take some time to experiment, you will unleash a beast within this little synth. All that being said; I'd still love to have the Volca Keys as well for it's raw analog sound and simplicity.
These little synths are definitely not a toy, in fact the FM can easily stand toe-to-toe with many $400 digital synths, possibly even out preform them, at half the price.
The volca series was my re introduction to gear/synths so they will always hold a special place in my heart I have always vacillated back and forth between electronic based music and grungy dirty effects-laden guitar, I got my first two Volcas a few years ago, and it really caused me to dive headfirst into chasing after some of the strange glitchy sounds in my head that I have not been able to produce by other means
I'm similar musically, somewhere between techno and punk. I've got my volca keys hooked up to a digitech hot rod rock distortion pedal and a delay and can get a pretty good, dirty lead sound.
For me..the best music machine Is the electribe MX...and SX. They are beasts. But for me the volca series are Toys. In first..the sequencer are 128 steps in the electribe MX/SX. Never you will find so long...in every brand.
You answered all my questions about the Volca Keys.
Great intro jam.
I'll wait for the Volca Keys2, with features that match the FM2.
It has a huge sound for the size and price.
Just got mine today! I hope I could incorporate it on my coming albums! Last month I took the leap of faith and go with the Volca Beats. Still learning it but already put a few beats I created on it to my 4th album (unreleased).
Thanks for this, man!
Such a lovely little thing. Love mine. So powerful and easy to use. Use a keyboard with Mutate arps via midi to make wild sequences. Thanks for this Gabe.
Love it, its on my top list now.i love 💘 jamming with korg volcas....
Keep on jamming positive vibes❤💚🤩❤💛💙🧡
And with a couple of guitar pedals you can get great results, plus it's battery powered and super compact. The keys are really fun for legato leads. Thanks for the video!
Nice one, Gabe. I had the Keys first and recently got a Circuit, in large part because of your videos. Loving the circuit but was wondering about the Keys and now I know . . . hook the brothers up!
Nice review and part tutorial, too. I've not got the keys (yet) but have the bass and the Behringer Crave for some analogue warmth and grit to pair with the digital sound of the Novation Circuit. I like the sound from the keys that I've heard on TH-cam, it sounds massive and warm.
I got my Volca Keys 2 weeks ago, it is my 2nd synth after the MicroBrute (I don't count the Volca Sample among the synths now) and I think it's unbelievable what kind of sound comes out of this little box. I am really happy that I bought it and I will definitely buy the Volca FM too. I especially like it, even if it sounds a bit stupid that it has a metronome. So it is very easy to play and record something.
That song at the beginning hit so hard, love it!
Thank you for information of volca keys. I am a beginner of volca keys. And I must learn much more.
Stiiilllll!!!!! this is small one, but with some pedal can be a beast.
One of the loveliest and beloved synth ever
great video, melody and harmony.
Came here because I didn't know if I should buy it.. 3 minutes and I'm ordering
YO! SAME! LMAO! BUT! Do i need to know how to play the piano in order to make patterns? I noticed some people play that shit like the piano and i get so lost and confused...
Don't know why this one isn't a favourite one of my favourite volca's, was my first analogue synth. Got it to play with my G2M mark 2. Cool you have midi out!
I make music on the side for fun and love learning more and more about EDM/electronic music, it's a passion I have had since high school. I think the Volca Key's would do great for people who like making music but having that new sounds each time, it fits that unique flavor that producers need to have there own sound/style.
yes,and fits in everywhere,
i love this baby!👍
It's very helpful in considering buying a new piece of gear, to honestly show the pros and cons
Thanks for the video, I think it answers the question you put in a very helpful way. I used to have one, and a feature I quite enjoyed was that the motion recording capabilities work even when there are no notes recorded in a sequence. Now, you said you don't really use the sequencer at all, but I was wondering whether it is possible to motion record some knob tweaking and have that running over a sequence coming from, say, the Novation Circuit? I guess that could work, and might motivate me to get a volca keys once again.
Great video
The Keys can store 128 presets and have additional, any-shape LFOs.
128 Presets:
Think of a preset as a photography of the state of your knobs. Load an empty sequence. Create your lovely sound. Activate motion sequence, and one single step of your 16 steps sequence. That will be the photography of your preset. Push Rec and move every knob just a bit so its position gets registered. Don't record notes. Save.
To access the preset later on, just go back to that single step and press play. 16 steps x 8 sequences = 128 presests. You can freely play it with the device keyboard itself or a nice, big MIDI controller.
One LFO per Knob:
Think of an LFO as a tiny robot repeatedly moving a knob for you. Instead of an actual LFO, that could be the motion sequencer. The result is the same. Load an empty sequence. Create your lovely sound. Activate motion sequence. Record knob movements according to how you would modulate them with an LFO. You don't need to record notes but you can put something just to hear what's happening and erase it once you're done. If you want to do LFO shapes that require a lot of speed or abrupt changes, you can take advantage of either lowering the tempo or editing step by step with the Active Step funtion as in the previous operation. For the rest of the knobs, the ones you want to remain still, record moving them just a tiny bit so their position gets recorded, and allow the bar to end so their stillness is also recorded. To access the preset later on, just go back to that sequence and press play. 8 sequences = 8 presets but with complex LFOs. Save. You can freely play it with the device keyboard itself or a nice, big MIDI controller.
Interesting stuff: You can use these LFOs to modulate the actual LFO, by moving the Rate, Pitch and Cutoff Ints!
Just picked one up for £90, super excited...!
Love the set up...im choosing the arturia micro freak as the side synth ..the korg sounds great but the arturia has wayyyy more flexibility for 40 bucks more.
Cool tune!
Thanks for putting light on my favorite volca! The keys ARE definitely small, but to me, you're missing out on it's biggest strenght: the 128 step sequencer!
Yea the sound is sure nice but the 3 voice paraphony and the sequencer allows very elaborate ideas, once you dive into it 😉
Cheers!
Thats right ! No other synth has 128steps in this size !!
Isn’t it only 16?? Did i miss something?
@@adam.recording the flux function enables 128 steps
@@jaydeepalmer oh right i forgot about that
The pre sets can be saved as a blank pattern😉 I have mine with a zoom cdr70m fx pedal....next to other bigger synths because it has a definate sound.
That's nice combo tho. :)
very dope vid
Thanks for the video man, Let me ask you how loud is the audio output? cause usually minijack synths arent that loud but judging by the fact that is analog should sound loud,
Your “1 bass note used for everything” at 5:20 is known as a basso continuo in traditional historic musical terms. Ancient monks used this technique as a early form of harmony, and is somewhat the basis of modern harmony.
lmao this is not basso continuo this is pedal point
continuo is something else entirely
Shop around - I've just picked up a mint condition boxed example for £50. At that price, it's a total no brainer. It is limited and programming the onboard sequencer is never going to be fun but the basic sound is pretty good. A great lead synth once MIDId up to a playable keyboard. and pair it to a cheap stereo FX pedal like a Hardware DL-8 and is comes alive as an atmospheric mood machine.
fuck it, i’m buying it 😂
i’m thinkin about it...
Avoid the beats model. The rest are solid. The FM paired with the Sample is a fun portable combo.
Don't forget to get yourself the Volca Drum as well, as the sounds you can make from that tiny box are brilliant.
Do it! Weirdly - the Volca Keys, despite it's name implying it is brilliant for leads (it is)... It has settings on it (unison & poly ring) which are just brilliant for harsh, metallic FM percussion type sounds
Did you? I did. No regrets.😁👍
It's great. For that price is amazing. If You have more gear it blends well.
Thak you gabe
With analog gear like this, everytime I hear something I like, I sample. Its one way of getting "memory".
The call of the volca keys
I think the mixture of no presets and limited sound design make thing a great synth fundamentals machine for beginners and a fun cheap synth for experienced people who don't want to shell out big money for true analog sound
Furthermore, having everything limited like this makes me appreciate the Volca keys more as an instrument rather than a piece of gear... Just connect it to your favorite midi keyboard and start playing!
Would you suggest the volca keys or arturia microfreak as another/third synth to pair with Novation Circuit OG for newbie ?
Awesome video thanks man! Have you connected it to a novation product there? I have an Ableton push 2, would I be able to connect it and do you have a link how to do it?
I can't figure out how to use the Roland mc 101 to control the volca
I have a love hate relationship relationship with it. I use it without effects. Sometimes I love some sounds and sometimes it sounds too metallic and too harsh and when you change notes it gives a small click noise and the reverb is not usable (I remember in the beginning it was). I would advice buying the microbrute or behringer crave instead or the uno.
still one of my favourites
I like those light rings in your eyes.
Why do the knob light keep going out?
My peak was out when i nought it
Now another just went
They work but the lights dont
The Volca's are brilliant. The Bass is still one of the most fun little synths to experiment with to me. The 3 step sequencers that all can have a different length make ot a great poor mans Subharmonicon replacement. I know it's quite different, but to me it's a more practical way to experiment with interesting minimalist polymetric music. I might finally have to give the Keys a try as soon as we can go to physical music stores again.
Oh yeah... Uno Synth is now only €155 on Thomann, so it offers more bang for the buck on paper, but the batteries last like 2 hours, using power bricks it gets extremely noisy, you need the software editor to change some parameters and if you sell it you have to pay IK Multimedia 20 bucks to transfer the software license to the new owner. So yeah... Volca's are still the way to go for most people...
Yes, Excellent A+
U can save presets whit volca keys editor. My favorite is fm.
Dark and warm sounding synths are the best imo
do you know where I can find custom patches sheets ?
Yes still good! but they could make an updated "Volca Synth", "Lead" or "Chords" to match the newer volcas
my favorite Volca is Volca Bass oscillator for NTS-1 ))
I love my Volca Keys 🤘🏼❤️
Is it possibile to save your sounds on the Volca Keys?
I have one. It's still decent. But really the microbrute is the king of cheap analog.
Use the volca modular with the Korg distortion synth, and start tripping without even taking a tab.
Interesting video. It's annoying how the KVK only has 8 pattern slots. it's also annoying how not every knob (e.g. filter) is Motion-automatable. The unit seems quite noisy/dirty-sounding but I guess that's its appeal.
I might be wrong, but when you save a sequence on the Keys it also saves the sound.
it does not. However you can possibly save it through sequencer because sequencer also saves knob movement
Breh I swear it saves the presets on a pattern like I change the sound but then I can just reload the pattern and it sounds fine
looove mine but often out of tune 1 full step...not on batteries...why?
Gabe, you heard these rumours about a Novation Circuit Rhythm and Circuit Tracks? Any thoughts?
I have! I'm really excited for them, they look awesome and have some upgrades that could be absolute game changers.
In 2023 the Volca Keys is still relevant! You can really get some fat sounds from this little guy. I really feel in love with it over again connecting it to my Arturia Keystep Pro. I'm a hardware guy because hardware, to me, sounds more authentic than digital. And the Volcas' have that fat crunchy, noisy, analog sound most of us ole school producers love. Long live the original OP-1 too...
yes
Hi Gabe, for a beginner hardware synthesizer, what is the best in your opinion? For meanly futuristic neuro drum and bass, I saw the microfreak or the minilogue are good, thanks!!!
Either of those will definitely be great. The MicroFreak is a tad more experimental/chaotic, but either will serve you well for that kind of music.
@@GabeMillerMusic thanks!! I guess I will go for microfreak, is cheaper so...
Great vid but I have a newbie qu - at the end are you comparing the keys with akai mpc 1, live machine +? Doesn't seem like a realistic comparison, or another akai I've missed
I pronounced it a little weird, I said the I.K. Multimedia stuff (they also make a small, inexpensive analog synth). Although I made this was before the new ones, which look a lot better than the original Uno.
@@GabeMillerMusic ah sweet, cheers man, I'll check them out
Would you compare that to the Nuetron synth by Behringer. ? Can u save patches on there ?
The neutron is really oldschool with no patch saving at all
"You can't save presets" *laughs in guitar tube amp*
the sound lvl es to low, is so limit in control midi, i change for a volca fm and i very happy with it
Can I eprom with this?
This was gonna be My first synth, but i'm thinking that getting the skulpt by modal can be a better entry synth, opinions ? 🥺🥺
I just bought 2 skulpt synths from sweetwater, love the sound and app to control, but they kept crashing, and would not sync. They were on sale for 200. Skulpt is digital, it has the sync import, but analog volca might be better choice for reliability and sync.
Ik Uno Synth is monophonic is pretty noisy with USB power
Love the keys, but the FM is my favorite.
What is it you particularly like about the FM? I've struggled to do anything with it. Just gathering dust now...
@@adamgriffiths1703 It's pretty hard to make your own patches for it, but the compatibility with DX7 patches is pretty killer and gives you a lot of options for things you can just download and load up. Some pretty great, deep bass sounds and aggressive leads available there
As a beginner fm is not an option right?
@@ItsJustEmK Wait... can I dump my Dexed presets in there?
@@adamgriffiths1703 if ur trying to get rid of it lmk!
Can anyone tell me what he means by"dal" in recording?
Hi, can you plug a microphone in it ? If you can what can you do with it ? Cheeeerz
I sold a bunch of cheaper equipment, Behringers, arturia and volca series in order to get Moogs matriarch and grandmother. The only one I regret selling is the volca keys. I had two of them and I wish I kept them.
I get it. Its not going to break the bank to get them back though dude 😁
Does have a beat setting?
I was thinking I need a cheap synth that play chord, So I choose Volca FM not the volca Key.
But then I realize that, I love knobs and faders which mean a control panel not a preset player.
I still use my vBass today, but not using the FM that much because changing the sound on the fly is fun:)
thinking of selling your fm? Cause i have a keys but id be down for an FM
@@vazqueze234 No, FM sound still useful, just not a joy to patch.
I’m looking into learning how to use synths. As a total beginner to this, would this be a great thing to purchase?
Definitely, this is a great starter synth.
@@GabeMillerMusic thanks for the reply! I recently purchased two pocket operators and been having a blast learning to use those. Now I have an itch to learn to create synth sounds!
@@cheezdue They work fairly well together. Just got the PO-33 and the Volca Bass recently.
I see people still use the volca series. I personally hate the workflow and the tiny keys, but good tones none the less
I've got one of these Volca Keys but rarely ever use it. Probably due to my own lack of knowledge and experience.
I've had one for years and have never figured out how to sequence a decent beat. I can get great tones out of it, but I have no idea how to make it do more. I find the videos on youtube confusing.
It does take some practice (and effects) to sound great. Also sequence it using a DAW or something
I have the Keys and have found the best way (for me) is to record a pattern by playing the "keyboard" live while recording, then edit in step mode.
I deleted the 1st of the 8 sequences so it was left blank. I feel your pain. lol
Hi Gabe, thank you for this. Very cool insight on the Volca Keys. Can you explain your setup here. What exactly is the Circuit doing? Are you using the sounds from Keys and letting the Circuit sequence them?
Yep, that's the setup. In some cases I programmed a melody into the Circuit, and in other cases I played a part live, but the Circuit is sequencing the Keys in both cases.
@@GabeMillerMusic Right on, thanks!
What is the best korg volca for hip hop beats???
Probably the volca bass imo
Beats? Probably the Volca Sample, but its beats are quantised, however.
What gear are you using in this video?
Novation Circuit (the original) as the sequencer.
Cannot decide between this Volca Keys n the VOLCA FM ... Any advice?? T-you 😊
I haven't used the Volca FM, but they're pretty different. Noir Et Blanc Vie did a great video comparing them that I recommended watching
@@GabeMillerMusic thanks a lot for ur reply 😊
Volcas in general are relevant and will be.
I think in like 30 years they will be worth like 1000 dollars it will be one of those overpriced synths that everybody has but don't appreciate until later
Good for trance
I sold mine and I miss it a little. Even if I have a minilogue xd now :-D no, just kidding. But the volca fm is still in use.
Why clear the built in pattern every time? Just clear it once and save the empty sequence...
get a Behringer crave, same price and its semi-modular, and its built way better
I am very tempted, I would like an analogue polysynth, how could I go past this? I have enough money in my paypal.... why wouldn't I
If you can put up with the limitations of its polyphony, then this is a good low cost option. If you need some proper poly and have more to spend, the original Korg Minilogue is definitely good to look into. I've got a dedicated video covering it coming eventually.
These things are gonna go for 4x original value in a few years, mark my words. Make the investment now and reap the rewards in the future.
Ive wanted one for years just got one on ebay for under $120.
I rarely hear anything more than bleeps on these Volca's. Long held notes with modulation silky envelopes is probably not it's strong point. So lack of versatility worries me too. AND everyone forgets it does NOT come with a power supply, so the price is closer to $200. So I have avoided them, this year I bought a MicroBrute instead, of the Volca Bass that I have wanted to try. I will probably buy a Minilogue next instead of the VolcaKeys I have wanted to try.
3 note analogue poly synth going at less the £150 GBP...... Its the best value for money analogue synth in the UK today. Still relevant - yes, on the cost . functionality ratio.........
Was it ever?
MiniKORG 700fs has the same filters as volca keys
Gabe - Have you heard anything about new Circuits? I saw this article today:
sound-economix.com/new-novation-circuit-leaked/
Huh! I get all my stuff from Muziker because I live here in Slovakia. It’s a reliable source I reckon. Hmm I half know a guy who works there, so I’ll see if I can find our more...
I Googled it though and they’ve deleted the page 😅