Korg Volca Keys - Sonic Lab Review

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10 жыл бұрын

The last of the Volca reviews, be sure to check out our other reviews.
Volca Keys is a 3 voice analogue synth capable of the 3 voice poly operation. astonishing in such a small, cost effective package.
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Пікірлер: 328

@nickynocknoo 7 жыл бұрын

Loving mine. Beware that it's a total gateway drug though! You'll soon want more Volcas and other synths as you go down the rabbithole...

@GB3770 5 жыл бұрын

i mix synths with sodium bicarb in the microwave and smoke them - someone help me!

@hihan196 5 жыл бұрын

exactamente es

@daft9097 5 жыл бұрын

currently there, im fucking in love with the volca sample, not using my mpc500 anymore lol

@eljohncarajo 4 жыл бұрын

I'm not using my laptop, guitar and bass anymore since I don't remember when, but I'm happy.

@TheSheepshaver 4 жыл бұрын

Just got my 7th ! Gotta catch em all!!!!

@ilovemyhonda250ex 6 жыл бұрын

Where else can you get a 3 voice poly analog for $150? This thing is excellent.

@stack0413 9 жыл бұрын

One of the best reviews I've cam e across so far, I'm a guitar player and just started to spread my wings and this is my first synth. I'm happy with the purchase and haven't played my guitar in over a month, I think I should pick it back up before I lose my calices!

@stack0413 8 жыл бұрын

+stack0413 ST@X13 @SoundCloud

@SonicBodhi1 7 жыл бұрын

spent so much time playing music you forgot to study spelling and grammar in school! LoL!

@delta-9969 7 жыл бұрын

Yeah, takes the time to add some cunty remark to a 2 year old comment.

@rexterrocks 2 жыл бұрын

@@SonicBodhi1 That was rather callous

@freezerfawn Жыл бұрын

@@SonicBodhi1 ass

@mickypoo4622 5 жыл бұрын

Just got mine and about to have some fun playing with it. Thanks for the great review as it was most helpful and influential in making my decision to buy one. You really know your stuff, clearly explain the features and give great constructive criticism, all of which is very informative and refreshing. Please keep up the good work.

@stefangrudev8742 10 жыл бұрын

I like, I love and I adore your SonicLab reviews of synthesizers and other things. I watch them very active, very often and completely all reviews. And I watch them some of them several times. SonicLab reviews is my favorite. Wonderful!!!

@LandonBalk 7 жыл бұрын

Nick, I appreciate that you actually play something nice and melodic. Many other synth demo/reviews (especially the manufacturers) are people just jerking around with uninteresting sequences and saying all the great things it can do. I don't care of all the cool things it can do if I don't know how I can use it with the music I create.

@plentas 8 жыл бұрын

I would say these three reviews (beats, bass and keys) are the best and most informative of all that I've stumbled uppon on youtube! Thanks!

@Athlor1 10 жыл бұрын

This review was worth the wait. It hit the points I was wondering about and brought up a few issues to ponder. Excellent.

@shug6009 8 жыл бұрын

Hey Nick, was just watching your reviews of the Monotron Delay/Duo and Monotribe. The analogue synth industry (Volcas not the best example) and your channel have both come a long way in the last 5 years. Not missing the goatee at all!

@gnarlysoundscapes7210 6 жыл бұрын

The Volca Keys really is an amazing little synth. I play it every day and I'm still finding new sounds it can create. It can be a smooth polysynth, a bassy monosynth, and if you have a sampler it can even provide your analog drum sounds. Love it.

@RLreedyProductions 10 жыл бұрын

The sounds you made in the outro of this video are freaking awesome!

@crousticroc 10 жыл бұрын

The filter has more than a little bit of stepping IMO

@annother3350 4 жыл бұрын

They only need to put a tiny amount of lag on that. That would only cost them a few pennies (or yen or whatever)

@jgmusicman2281 4 жыл бұрын

I don't mind stepping in lots of cases. Sometimes it can sound cool

@rodmorrison47 3 жыл бұрын

Yeah, but it screams.

@MinimalWave1982 10 жыл бұрын

i love this dude, its so pleasing to listen to his reviews,

@cygnusvideo 10 жыл бұрын

Nick you are awesome. Thanks for doing all of these great vids, keep it up!

@Allomerus 7 жыл бұрын

Excellent Review as always. I've got one coming in the post.... Thanks!

@Omni-Kriss 5 жыл бұрын

Really informative, man.. thank you for making these videos, your knowledge helps a lot of people, seriously, thanks you very much. You are the best!

@eddygalera3706 7 жыл бұрын

THANK YOU NICK

@sonicstate 10 жыл бұрын

No, its not. Analog filters do not generally step like that, they have a smoother slope to them, the stepping is due to the lack of resolution of the control knob. This is because of two things - the MIDI controller is only 128 steps AND Korg have not done anything with the interpolation to make it smoother. Unsurprising really considering the cost, but that is why.

@chrisrowand 10 жыл бұрын

Great review as always, thanks.

@aikighost 10 жыл бұрын

Very tempted to buy a couple of these to sync with my analog 4.

@turbotimthree 10 жыл бұрын

to me, it's about the unique features. automation is very cool. you can really do things with these that you can't do with anything else. great for creativity. plus when the power went out the other day I hardly even noticed. also I like the stepped sound to the filter when the res. is high. people usually complain about this but I use it to my advantage, you can play melodies with the filter and sounds different than everything else out there. thank you korg.

@SjN7HETIK 7 жыл бұрын

not unique though... Almost all korg products have that automation thing, the older one too. As parameter locking in ALL the Elektron machines... So not only Korg ;)

@sonicultura 7 жыл бұрын

Really good review!!

@PocketUnv 10 жыл бұрын

I genuinely need all three of these.

@alexanderh.2854 8 жыл бұрын

great review. thx for your work.

@Driftless91 10 жыл бұрын

Thanks for all your reviews Nick. I watch them all the time. Going to be reviewing the Bass Station 2 soon by chance? Cheers

@carnmarth334 Жыл бұрын

Superb demo. Thank you.

@gnarlysoundscapes7210 6 жыл бұрын

Definitely the best of the Volcas. I even like it's sound more than a lot of really expensive synths. Love the gritty old school feel of it... perfect for ambient soundscapes. Having built in delay is a huge bonus too... the average delay pedal costs as much as the Volca Keys itself.

@MrVitalic85 9 жыл бұрын

To get rid of the hiss, bypass the delay witch a switch.

@KahroSynetic 6 жыл бұрын

MrVitalic85 how ? :o

@lwispe 10 жыл бұрын

Yes I saw that! Never actually got around to trying it out... thanks for the reminder.

@javiceres 10 жыл бұрын

Fantastic review and fantastic product, a true workhorse!!

@H4NDCRAFTED 10 жыл бұрын

Wow that sounded nice and big at the end there. I really like the rustic delays, if it is like the one on the monotron I will love it!

@RestaurantMariaMaria 10 жыл бұрын

that little set up is badass

@ShadowPilot 8 жыл бұрын

For the price, this thing appears quite epic.

@murph9935 10 жыл бұрын

6:21 There's a reason for that. When in either of the ring mod modes, the oscillators output square waves.

@AdamSchneiderMusic 10 жыл бұрын

Great review Nick. Given all the different features and louder noise level of the Volca Keys, would you choose the Keys or the Bass if you were to only get one?

@weirdskyreallyweird.5519 5 жыл бұрын

Seems like this might be my first synthesizer

@Braunschweiger1984 10 жыл бұрын

Great review as always! I want all three volcas. Because of Nick and Sonic State I have bought Moog, Korg and Dave Smith synths. I've also avoided buying equipment as well.

@Systemist 10 жыл бұрын

Motion recording delay time adjustments to make a chorus is such a good idea! Could do the same with detune in tandem maybe too for even thicker effects. Damn it I can't wait for these boxes!

@lwispe 10 жыл бұрын

I wasn't too convinced of its actual usefulness until you showed the tempo division feature! I'm going to try and sync it to my EMX-1 to add a few chords here and there. Thanks for yet another awesome in-depth review. PS I read somewhere the filter is steppier on the Keys due to it being digitally controlled (for automation recording) unlike the Bass.

@KWHCoaster 10 жыл бұрын

Great idea! I'd buying one of those as well.

@adamgolding5790 6 жыл бұрын

Love the camera changes. Though they should be synced with key changes ;)

@motoboy6666 10 жыл бұрын

Sounds really awesome, nice!

@H4NDCRAFTED 10 жыл бұрын

A mini portable sampler keys would be nice, they should do a mini sample player with analogue filter and delay. A little micro sd job, but make it run on batteries.

@rayderrich Жыл бұрын

It took me 9 years after this video to actually buy a Volca Keys... but hey the fun is still there!

@SendyTheEndless 10 жыл бұрын

Just a note about waveforms, the oscillator puts out a sawtooth wave, except in the ringmod modes. If you go into ringmod poly and play single notes, you'll get a square wave. Hardly earth-shattering, but it's a nice feature.

@Beatprisoner 10 жыл бұрын

Great review, as always! I loved the John Carpenter sequence at the very last end :-)

@Ayo.Ajisafe 5 жыл бұрын

Dope review.

@cygnusvideo 10 жыл бұрын

Does the other synths (bass/drums) have anything similar to the tempo 1/1 - 1/4 division? When you are using a 1/4 tempo division can you switch patterns ? Do patterns saved with tempo divide mode save with theiir respective tempo divisions?

@rg7120 10 жыл бұрын

Can you use the motion sequencing on the delay time for chorus? If so I'm definitely getting one.

@0b00010111 10 жыл бұрын

Yeah, I've been wondering about the delay as well. The monotron was using some cheap CMOS IC so my guess it's the same. Would be great to get that confirmed though.

@thefishdog 10 жыл бұрын

I purchased the volca keys and hated it on my first listen of it. Its growing on me as i play with it and learn its features. The way its designed with the sync makes you want all 3. I have now ordered the bass and beats will be no doubt on the the way soon. All i can really say is you get what you pay for. its very good for price but dont expect a awesome sounding analog. With tweaking and change of EQ through a mixer , external fx it can sound sweet.

@jasoncorganbrown 10 жыл бұрын

Only a matter of time until we have a "mini" poly 6! Congrats Korg on enhancing you analog image this year.

@annother3350 4 жыл бұрын

It sounded pretty flippin musical in your demo nick!!

@MarctheDarc 10 жыл бұрын

Excellent end to a fine series of reviews. Like how you rounded up some general notes, very thorough. Rather strange (and disappointing) how it's noisier than the 2 others, but still doesn't sound anywhere near as bad as the monotrons, so still a very tempting proposition. Also disappointing with the filter, as the filter on the bass sounds very sweet in your review of that. Btw, any1 know, is it confirmed that the delay is analogue? I believe the monotron delay was only "analogue style". GJ!

@felipefs106 10 жыл бұрын

Loved the chord progression

@TYRONEBIGGLES 10 жыл бұрын

they are here in the states!

@spade2heart 9 жыл бұрын

Just curious, what was the signal during the 6:58-7:03 marks?

@technodrone313 7 жыл бұрын

if you are watching this and still dont own one of these things, go out and buy it. you wont regret. the keys has been a solid performer in my studio.

@bakatoroi 10 жыл бұрын

So I bought the Volca Keys and I tried plugging it to my Kaossilator Pro. The only thing I managed to get with that is synched clocks. Is there something else I can control with the Kaoss? (Such as starting loops on both machines at the same time) Overall, I really like it. Yesterday I commuted to and from work while trying new sounds with it. I'm sure there's a whole lot about it I haven't discovered yet!

@RMGWT77 10 жыл бұрын

So is it necessary to have the Volca beats if you want to create a sequence? I see this, and the bass have "Step" functions, but I'm not sure if they can sequence without the beats...if so, then that's great!!!

@Chronovengers 10 жыл бұрын

Very important question (for me)! If I wanted one volca just as a analog synth module for my DAW and not for live performances which do I want? Bass or keys? Which has the bigger range use in studio work?

@KWHCoaster 10 жыл бұрын

From the retailer where I have my pre-order waiting to be filled. They checked with Korg Canada last week and just heard back from Korg today. Funny, Korg Canada already has a bug fix posted for Volca Beats and the system software 1.02 to download.

@goxdie000 7 жыл бұрын

This video made me buy one! :D

@Depuratumba 10 жыл бұрын

as a person who mainly does live improvisation, the motion-sequencing and beeing able to pre-record them really makes me wonder if I should get this one or the bass (although eventually I might get both)... I don't care for the beats at all, but I can't wait to sync them up with my good ol' Electribe ER1

@jonowise 10 жыл бұрын

try having a look at sonicstate's review of the Kaossilator Pro it goes into the midi functionality, the other thing is I think the Volca keys only excepts sync by its clock inputs and not by its midi input could be wrong tho and that could be updated later

@limeyamos 10 жыл бұрын

As far as sampling goes, I think between the Korg ESX-1 and microsampler and the Roland SP-404, there are plenty of affordable, easy to use samplers out there already. Plus samplers are not having the sort of renascence that analog synths are right now.

@cresshead 10 жыл бұрын

i'd like to see a volca sequencer come out

@slikmanp 10 жыл бұрын

I thought the same thing the first time I heard someone demo the Keys filter. If you listen closely though you'll notice that as the filter sweeps higher it starts missing harmonics. It's too bad as they probably could have dropped motion sequencing support for something that wouldn't have bee missed (like the EG or one of the mod depths) and doubled up on the cutoff's resolution.

@KMHoran 10 жыл бұрын

Slight mistake in the review: the motion controls can't be applied to the VCF Peak knob or the tempo knob. All the other white/transparent knobs can have motion control applied to them. One very positive thing to note is that the it's actually possible to play the keys on the device, unlike that sadistically tiny strip that comes on the Monotribe.

@richardscriven3750 5 жыл бұрын

Great video. Can you hook this up to a Roland tb 3? If so how?

@JabunAudio 10 жыл бұрын

Hmmm wonder if they'll release a software update like with the Monotribe :D I could go for that! I'm guessing the filter doesn't track the keyboard right?

@roro_fosho 10 жыл бұрын

theres a midi template you can get for the lemur on ipad that works as a midi LFO. that should work

@thefishdog 7 жыл бұрын

i got one when released. i like its crusty cheap sound, ran through fx its great.

@TheLittleHoffman 9 жыл бұрын

Is there a way to sync the LFO Rate to the Tempo knob/MIDI tempo???

@TheBearkat27 9 жыл бұрын

great vid got a lot of info, missed if he explained what the LFO trigger sync function did. I'd watch it again im just quite busy if anyone would explain that would be most rad.

@TheBearkat27 9 жыл бұрын

AYE found my answer so ill just post here in case anyone is equally as clueless as myself. The LFO trigger sync function when turned on restarts the sweep of your LFO with each new note you play pretty groovy

@droogsurgeon1440 7 жыл бұрын

Hey! Good interview with allesandro cortini

@dinogoldie9716 8 жыл бұрын

Can you play each of the KVK's 3 oscillators separately ala the Volca Bass?

@Some_Cat_ 4 жыл бұрын

Those chords at 9:36. Fantastic!

@Synthematix 10 жыл бұрын

Amazing little synth the bass mate, has a very unique sound and is capable of some really complicated and fresh new sounds. It's not just for bass either, you can make some amazing leads too even bass drums and percs. Most people are saying it sounds better than novations bass station II which is pretty amazing considering theyre £400.

@tomadams4053 10 жыл бұрын

Hello, thanks for the great review. I was wondering how you played it through your separate keyboard. I have a Novation MiniNova with Midi In and Out. Would that work? Thanks. Tom

@fjfrancois 9 жыл бұрын

Wow Tom Adams you have to much Ego Thanks Tom

@Synthematix 9 жыл бұрын

Fj Francois lol

@Alchemeleon 10 жыл бұрын

Yeah I think I'd buy the beats if I didn't already own an EMX-1, but the Volca Bass just has a such a great sound to it considering it's price. Can't wait...

@JimAward 9 жыл бұрын

Excellent demo!

@marcuswilespage 8 жыл бұрын

Can you go into more detail on how you got that chorus effect my modulating the delay time?

@carlosdrfx 7 жыл бұрын

Marcus Wiles Chorus IS a modulated delay! You should use short feed backs and short times and modulate the time. Another way to simulate the sound is to detune the oscillators in unison mode.

@simone3989 10 жыл бұрын

Sorry, I have a quest. Do you think that with keys ,beats and bass is possible to make sounds like daft punk? I mean old daft punk like in homework and in discovery. Another thing. Volca keys might be used to play elettronic-ambient? Or there are only dance sounds? (I think like mmoths-THNX. There is this music on youtube) thanks! (Ps I hope is possible to use not a lot the pc hahah)

@nobel11 10 жыл бұрын

I think it would be easier to do classic Daft Punk with the Volca series. But you'd need some kind of sampler, too, as the old Daft Punk stuff was very sample heavy. As for MMOTHS, you might make it work, but you'd need to do a lot of post-production to get that beautiful shimmery sound they have.

@ThePsikore 6 жыл бұрын

Alessandro Simone the TB-3 by Roland has some Daft Punk sounds, i.m.o.

@sonicstate 10 жыл бұрын

Correct some radio hash

@foodafokkarez 10 жыл бұрын

It's 8th (like good old days when clock pulse of Din sync between Korg and Roland were different).

@garygluebag 9 жыл бұрын

Sounds nice on the video. Im not too sure bout the filter stepping. I have volca bass, roland tr8, electribe em1, and a roland sh101 for playing live acid house/detroit techno. What are peoples genuine views on the keys?

@cozmiucc 9 жыл бұрын

my 2 cents on the volca series. i played with the beats. the kick is really good. not too happy about the snare and the hats are ok i guess, more on the lo-fi end of things. i found the sequencer to be limited for me, but maybe i dream too much about mpcs. bottom line the kick is great. volca bass is the best sounding of the bunch. not that much noise, great filter, brilliant subs, really nice as a monophonic synth. no gain control over different oscilators though. if you pitch it up it is nothing like the 303. also, no sine wave oscilator?! bummer. some say it sounds distorted with the peak up, but synthetis IS distortion so... have fun. the volca keys is somehow the hardest to immediately love. not too musical or playable at fiirst tests. the filter is steppy and restarts when different new notes are played. it is noisy and glitchy. BUT. It has a very nice sequencer, the best of the volcas. really good to morph the same sequences over and over and over. ironically, this might be the next 303, and not the volca bass, because it was sent on the market to do something - you know... keys. and, imho, it s not that good at this. but, on its own, without an external midi controller, its glitches and artefacts can be sequenced really well into something new. if i had to choose. bass for subs and little melodies. keys for indulgent knob turning and time away from the computer. long story short. volca bass - instant gratification. volca keys - a grower

@dianamiino7391 Жыл бұрын

I have a volca keys and I love it. It's really a minimal rig, by the way it's capable of surprisingly subtle shades. Noisy, yes, a little. Not a problem, it's too much fun for the buck.

@marcuswilespage 7 жыл бұрын

@sonicstate About modulating midi parameters like with an LFO, I know that's pretty easy to do in Reason 7 and above with virtual cv patch cables and the external midi device module. Pretty amazing stuff

@dlinnoedlinnoe 3 жыл бұрын

Year 2020 and I'm watching this review (because sonicstate reviews are really really the best!) hunting for some (additional) cheap (

@BarnacleButtock 5 жыл бұрын

That delay is the same as the Minilogue, I know realize. Wow!

@Alchemeleon 10 жыл бұрын

9:35 Wow, that 1 to 4 tempo setting really lets you put everything in its right place doesn't it!?

@els1f 10 жыл бұрын

Does anyone know what clock those things put out/accept? is it just 16th note pulses, or do they have their own standard?

@Casious_Productions 10 жыл бұрын

No noise generator on this one? I mean..if i just wants to use it as an effect sound unit..to make breezing winds an suchs?

@garcezdocarmo 10 жыл бұрын

How come there's step on the cutoff levels? Exactly which components are analog on the Volca?

@woodswalker88 4 жыл бұрын

Can you transpose the key of a sequence in realtime? I have an IK UNO which is great but I don't think it can transpose.

@dillipphunbar7924 6 жыл бұрын

I like your reviews Nick. Informative and conversational style, that gets to the centre of the subject without too much jargon. I have the volca fm (which is a superb unit) and am thinking of adding the keys to my humble setup. If only the volcas could receive midi on different channels.

@rzajc 4 жыл бұрын

They can! you can select the channel

@jasoncorganbrown 10 жыл бұрын

Does it record digital audio of your playing or is it recording performance data, then triggering the oscillators on playback?

@Chronovengers 10 жыл бұрын

According to the specs don't you get a simple square wave with a single note in poly ring mode?

@KWHCoaster 10 жыл бұрын

I picked up a portable Lithium-ION battery pack for $20 that you use to recharge smartphones, MP3 players, etc. via a USB cable. It powers the Akai MPX8 great. I haven't tried to see how long the MPX8 will run off the battery pack, but probably longer than typical 6-AAs.