Tutorial: How to Setup Korg Volcas

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Күн бұрын

This is a tutorial on how to setup Korg Volcas. As an experienced musician I myself had a little bit of trouble understanding how it all worked out in the beginning. There wasn't a good video that explained everything I would need and potential problems I might encounter. I had to get the right setup through trial and error, but atleast hopefully you won't have to go through that now.
The biggest and most important takeaway from the tutorial is that Korg Volcas are Mono instruments, using a stereo 1/4 to 1/8 will result in signal loss and poor quality when hearing back or recording through an interface. So do your self a solid and buy that mono cable, it solves the entire issue and sounds fantastic!
Also, people will probably wonder what the "special little adapter" is; It's a negative sleeve and positive tip. It comes with the power supply in this link which is the exact same one I'm using.
www.sweetwater.com/store/deta...
And in case you're wondering, yes the song in the background was produced using the same volca setup in the video.
EDIT: I realize they all have tempo knobs. I'd still slave them all to the sampler or drum first since most likely you're going to start a live jam with rhythms.

Пікірлер: 91

@Guitaroverkill 3 жыл бұрын

I suggest buying right angle jacks and not straight jacks. The right angle jacks will allow you to hide the cables under the Volcas instead of having a bunch of wires in your way. They should have asked a guitar player before designing these boxes.

@jjbing3 5 күн бұрын

Great video. I appreciate it. I hate that the Volcas can’t send audio to each other like the Roland Aira series 😑

@cd78 4 жыл бұрын

Thank you very much for this. The best demo on the web - succinct

@pringle-man 3 жыл бұрын

I plan on buying the volca keys, FM, and beats. i am trying to do some research on what cables to buy, mixer, etc. and was hoping you could answer a few of my questions. I have a midi controller already and I was wondering how i would go about connecting my volcas to it. The volca FM will be the head of the daisy chain, leading to the beats and the keys. I will then connect all of the volcas to a mixer like you showed in the video. So, how should i go about connecting these to a midi controller? Can i connect multiple to one controller, or do i just have to use one of them? Also what mixer do you recommend? Edit: also i am aware i’m going to need a 5-pin midi cable to connect the midi in on my controller to a midi out, but i wanted to know if there was a way i could connect multiple to one midi controller, like maybe a mixer that has a midi out? Or a split midi cable?

@SandauxBeats 3 жыл бұрын

Awesome, man! This video helped me think about the way I should connect/sync my two Volcas. Beat and Keys. By the way, I only have one monitor speakers with an aux outlet and a Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 3rd gen. How should I connect/sync my Volca Beat and Keys? Is this correct? Volca Beats sync out to Volca Keys sync in. Volca beats will be the Master. Right? And then I will connect the 3/4 to 1/4 inch cables to the ins of the interface. Each, yes?

@david81989 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much for posting this video. I have a question I hope you could help me with. In recording into a digital workstation you would have to send it through an audio interface. Would you have to send all four volcas through the interface or is there an adapter that four cables can plug in/ sending one signal to the audio interface?????

@OutworldStudios 3 жыл бұрын

Dont use a splitter it can damage your volcas. Get an interface with four channels if you want to record live with all four at the same time

@thepcgamer2169 2 жыл бұрын

@@OutworldStudios I need some help, I have the Sample2 (Master) Nubass (Slave) & Keys (Slave) ..Anyways there setup correctly but the nubass & keys play somewhat faster than the Sample2 not sure whats going on ..Any ideas? Or is it a setting im missing hidden under the Function button?

@repasonocturno5881 3 жыл бұрын

Great! And if I want to set up minilogue with Volcas what should I use?

@jaylow759 5 ай бұрын

You should use a minilogue and some Volcas.

@jonathangillis4926 Жыл бұрын

THANK YOU. Just the video I needed. Only question: will the audio for all 4 come through the master sync or do you need to plug each head phone jack in individually? Also are you able to use a singular power supply that has multiple attached cables so you’re not using 4 outlets?

@OutworldStudios Жыл бұрын

each volca needs its own channel, the audio will not come out as one on the master synced. No you cannot use 1 power supply for all 4, they need their own power supply each.

@tony1ant Жыл бұрын

I have my 4 Volcas with a 9v 3A power supply (Centre Positive) and a Right Angle or 90 degree Daisy Chain 9v cable. I also 3D printed some 45 degree brackets which clip straight into my Volcas. The brackets give it a little bit extra height as well a 45° angle to tuck the cables in underneath them. If you using a 1 amp power supply for 4 Volcas it's not enough power to run all 4 at the same time. If you don't have a 3D printer send me a message & I'll sort something out 4U. I hope this helps

@AnomieDomine 4 ай бұрын

@@tony1antcan you share the STL?

@spatialmystical Ай бұрын

la salidas de los 4 audifonos tambien se conectan entre sii o como se hacen las conexiones

@SekretSkwirral 4 жыл бұрын

I was looking at a similar set up but using a Yamaha mixer... or potentially an electribe, 2 volcas, Yamaha mixer and FL studio - would this work?

@OutworldStudios 4 жыл бұрын

You need an interface to record.

@ultramimo 4 жыл бұрын

"Also, people will probably wonder what the "special little adapter" is;" -- the link you gave us for Sweetwater is for the full power supply with the right tip, yes? I think what we're looking for is the actual little adapter tip you are using -- that way we can add it to existing power supplies, 1-Spot daisy chains, etc. Do you have a source for that? Thanks!

@OutworldStudios 4 жыл бұрын

The description of the video says the adapter tips come with the power supply.

@sam-pq8pv 4 жыл бұрын

I’m new and starting off, with these devices would you guys recommend any certain mixers or sound cards that would work best with these devices? I would also like to add a delay and relay pedal eventually, thanks :))

@sam-pq8pv 4 жыл бұрын

For example would the behringer xenyx work well? Thanks :))

@OutworldStudios 4 жыл бұрын

@@sam-pq8pv I've used Behringers before and they work well with volcas. I wouldn't advocate their product as they're a little weak signal side. Use a mono cable to get the most signal strength from a vocal.

@sam-pq8pv 4 жыл бұрын

@@OutworldStudios thanks for the reply!

@samjarvis7630 3 жыл бұрын

Probably a dumb question, but if you have 4 Volcas like this, then you’d need an interface with 4 inputs/channels to hear them all back at once right? So my scarlett 2i4 with 2 inputs would be useless???

@OutworldStudios 3 жыл бұрын

Well you dont need an interface to hear them back. You can buy a mixer and use a PA for that. But yes, you can get playback with an interface and if you only have 2 inputs you're going to have to buy an interface with 4 or more channels.

@MRH4U5 Жыл бұрын

Relatively new to this and having some issues, I am currently trying to connect three volcas. They all share the same power supply and are synced with stereo cables. Their outputs are all linked with stereo cables to a passive mixer which is then boosted by an amp to headphones. I keep getting a humming noise when all three volcas are connected to the mixer and amp. As I remove volcas from the mixer, the humming decreases. It does nit seem to be the result of one particular Volca. Is this something that would be fixed by switching to mono cables? Does anyone have any suggestions on how to get rid of the humming?

@Steph_7d7 8 ай бұрын

The humming is most likely a ground loop due to the shared power supply, easy fix is to use batteries in the volcas.

@juusojokinen8230 5 ай бұрын

Can you help me ihave micro korg syntezicer/vocoder and volca beats how to connected together do i reAlly Nerf mikser

@neoaureus 2 жыл бұрын

Why stereo for sync. .? And why Mono TRs out.?

@losalexey518 4 жыл бұрын

i am trying to sync Volca Sample and Volca bass just using one 3.5 male to 3.5 mae cable. Is it possible?

@couchcamperTM 4 жыл бұрын

yes, syncing is the same for all volcas. the difference is mono or stereo, your sample is stereo, the bass is mono

@brianodriscoll5030 Жыл бұрын

Can it be plugged in directly to a Xair18 digital mixer to play live?

@OutworldStudios Жыл бұрын

It should work with any mixer, don't see why not. I've used it to play live with a mixer before.

@nickpritchard7130 2 жыл бұрын

i thought the Volca Sample sent out a stereo signal ?? Please correct me if i am wrong..Great vid thanks.

@OutworldStudios 2 жыл бұрын

It doesn't work well with stereo, I've tried it. Mono cables worked best and gave me the best sound.

@carlosgonzalez4112 4 жыл бұрын

I have a problem where everything ends up desynced after awhile. Any tips?

@OutworldStudios 4 жыл бұрын

Make sure your sync cables are in the right order.

@Ullish1989 Жыл бұрын

so you need 1 input per volca? damn i was off the impression the sound follows through for some reason

@TheMinion666 3 жыл бұрын

So they all need their own inputs to amp? So 4 independent inputs to amp?

@OutworldStudios 3 жыл бұрын

Yes, 4 inputs to amp. Most likely you will end up using a mixer with pa and putting each audio out to a channel on the mixer, or you could also use an interface. I've seen people use audio splitters to put multiple audio inputs into one amp/channel. Don't do that because it can lead to short circuiting.

@bakerbakerbaker305 4 жыл бұрын

Please help so if i can change the tempo on the sample or any other volca will the otherr volcas change tempo, i dont get why theres a tempo on the volca mix if the tempo is already on all the other volcas

@OutworldStudios 4 жыл бұрын

If you sync multiple volcas, the sample or the beats volcas have a tempo. Which ever is the first in the sync chain controls the tempo for all. So to make it simple, make your sample your lead in the sync and whenever you change tempo on the sample, it will change the tempo for the rest. Hope this helps.

@bakerbakerbaker305 4 жыл бұрын

@@OutworldStudios yes, thanks so much

@robguitarwizard 3 жыл бұрын

All the volcas have tempo. The mix just gives you a master tempo. A bit of a marketing ploy. Better to just get a small mixer with 4, 6 or more inputs and an effects loop. Even the little Behringer 4 channel mixer for $50 is a good idea

@rensius4988 3 жыл бұрын

i dont understand the headphone/speaker situation i have two volcas and an audio interface with a stereo to headphone cable but i can only put it in 1 volca how am i gonna get the other one with sound?

@OutworldStudios 3 жыл бұрын

How many channels does your interface have.

@rensius4988 3 жыл бұрын

@@OutworldStudios ah okay i get it i thought i had to combine the Jack cables or something

@North111 4 жыл бұрын

After you plug them in to the headphone slot, where do those plug in?

@OutworldStudios 4 жыл бұрын

You should plug them into a mixer or soundboard that will take multiple quarter inch inputs. The mixer should be plugged into a PA system, that's how you would go about getting the sound amplified without needing several amps.

@North111 4 жыл бұрын

@@OutworldStudios Thank so much for the Reply!

@sam-pq8pv 4 жыл бұрын

@thayanaclasso4387 4 жыл бұрын

@@OutworldStudios which cables do I need to plug volcas into a PA?

@OutworldStudios 4 жыл бұрын

@@thayanaclasso4387 The same ones you will need to record. Quarter Inch to 1/8 (mono) and then plug the quarter inch end to your mixer or PA depending on your setup.

@fernandoortuzar1854 Жыл бұрын

im not being able to conecta a volca beat with a volca bass, i used the steps you gave and nothing... im powering them with bateries and the volca bass says low battery, may that be the problem? should i use a power supply?

@fernandoortuzar1854 Жыл бұрын

is that the sync input and output are just for tempo syncronization? bacause i get to sync the tempo but with headphones y just get the sounds from de volca connected to the phones. i need a mixer maybe? connect both volcas to it and the phones to de mixer...

@JohnnyBrewer68 8 ай бұрын

@@fernandoortuzar1854 Yes, the sync is only for sync. Audio comes from the headphones out jack. If you have a Beat and Bass, you probably need a mixer if you want to jam live. If you're recording into a daw, you can just plug one at a time into whatever interface you are using. All my gear goes through a mixer so I can just mess around at my leisure.

@gregoryschimanski7689 3 жыл бұрын

Top

@ManOfJupiterMusic 3 жыл бұрын

If I MIDI out from my TR 8 into the Volca Sample, will that make my TR 8 the main tempo maker?

@OutworldStudios 3 жыл бұрын

I highly doubt that it will.

@mrluismartinezzz 3 жыл бұрын

Where can I hear the song in the background?

@OutworldStudios 3 жыл бұрын

Its not been uploaded sadly.

@cyborgmetropolis7652 3 жыл бұрын

Do Volca's have stereo or mono outs?

@dmaxi13 3 жыл бұрын

Stereo is better, but you can use mono

@peterstean2138 4 жыл бұрын

You forgot to talk about how you deal with Midi on these devices.. How do I connect them to a software sequencer on my PC such as Ableton Live? I assume you need to connect all the Midi outputs to a USB interface with sufficient ports and then plug that into the PC, right? However would I be right in saying that you can only 'write' from the software to the Volcas but not the other way round because they don't themselves have Midi out?

@OutworldStudios 4 жыл бұрын

Yeah Midi in only.

@happyzarate22 4 жыл бұрын

can you elaborate on the “write”

@peterstean2138 4 жыл бұрын

@@happyzarate22 I mean you can't play notes on the volcas and record that midi data into your daw for editing/playback later - you can only record the audio. You'd need to mod them and add a midi out port to add that functionality I'm assuming?

@jasont.9559 4 жыл бұрын

@@peterstean2138 Check out the Volca forums, I think I read on there that some of the volcas have midi out on the pcb. You can hack it into the sync in port as a TRS midi out and still keep the functionality of the sync in. You can't use them both at once, obviously. I'm pretty sure there is a thread where someone did this to a Volca FM.

@bartoszkazek5965 2 жыл бұрын

Power suply? Does volcas not work on batteries?

@OutworldStudios 2 жыл бұрын

I mean, yes but do you want to constantly be buying new batteries?

@Coldlife565 3 жыл бұрын

Can’t you just connect the Volcas together with the syncs and then just have the audio coming out of one? meaning only using one headphone jack cable?

@OutworldStudios 3 жыл бұрын

Tbh I can't remember if that works or not with headphones but if you want control over each channel through a mixer board for live performance or when it comes to recording then you want all 4 outputs separate.

@Coldlife565 3 жыл бұрын

@@OutworldStudios what about if I use the mixer Volca? Then would the combined sound come out of just the mixer volca and then I would just have to use one headphone cable to connect to a portable speaker? And to connect to an interface for recording could I use just one of those headphone cables that split into two stereo quarter inch cables, coming out of just the volca mixer and into the interface? Like does the volca mixer combine the sound of the other 3 volcas?

@OutworldStudios 3 жыл бұрын

Dont use an audio splitter unless you want to potentially short circuit your volcas.

@jaylow759 5 ай бұрын

Sync is only for time/tempo synchronization and firmware upgrade, nothing else. It does not carry audio signal. It just sends an impulse.

@mattcero1 Жыл бұрын

All four of the Volcas have Tempo so wouldn't something else be meaningful to decide which is master?

@uait6134 4 жыл бұрын

The volca sample have a stereo output

@OutworldStudios 4 жыл бұрын

Yes they are stereo out, but the stereo signals are identical, so in reality it's mono and you're better off just using a mono cable for that.

@jasont.9559 4 жыл бұрын

@@OutworldStudios You need to sum to mono properly even though you are really summing duel mono signals from the volcas, you still need to compensate for the drop in impedance. This is why so many people have noise issues with volcas. The cable you suggest is not correct, it is mono to stereo not stereo to mono. You either need a summing cable with resistors or a breakout cable. If you use a breakout cable, only connect one of the two mono sides to the mixer unless the volca is true stereo like the the FM or Sample, then connect both outputs to the stereo channel input.

@KuliLindelani 3 ай бұрын

Let's talk about the background song

@OutworldStudios 3 ай бұрын

Made it with the volcas just for the tutorial.

@Ipsissimus 2 жыл бұрын

Makes no sense. What are the cables in the headphone jack and where are they going?

@OutworldStudios 2 жыл бұрын

The answer is literally in the video.

@Ipsissimus 2 жыл бұрын

@@OutworldStudios I didn't know what an 'interface' was since you didn't show it but have since figured it out elsewhere. It also works with AUX TRS multi splitter.

@YGRAVITY 4 жыл бұрын

Aww so clever thanks for sharing Wow! I subbed and looking forward to more volca videos🚀 Please check out my 8 KORG volca video🙏🏻

@SlightlyCrypto- 28 күн бұрын

I wouldn't have purchased Volcas if I had known the sync doesn't have audio. They should be able to link like Pocket operators. Bad design flaw. If you have 8 Volcas you have to have 8 inputs on an interface? Sheesh. Cannot find one video of how multiple volcas are connected to computer or even an interface. Selling due to this.

@OutworldStudios 28 күн бұрын

Not sure what you're talking about. I recorded the background track all in one audio track with an interface while the volcas were synced

@SlightlyCrypto- 28 күн бұрын

@@OutworldStudiosThe sync in/out do not have audio like a pocket operator. You have to connect a 3.5 to each headphone out to get sound to computer. Is this not correct?