Korg Volca Beats versus Korg Volca Drum - and the winner is ...
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- Опубліковано 5 лют 2025
- I'm not gonna spoil the video, but we have a very clear winner in this duel of the Korg pocket drum machines. Well, one of them I wouldn't even call a drum machine, but rather a mini-groovebox. And let me repeat: I am not bashing either instrument. I'm just saying that one them isn't worth its money, but would be, if it was under 100 bucks.
If you are into synths, music & fun, I'd invite you to my little blog: / synthesaurus
Gotta pair them together. That's where the fun starts.
Amazing thank you. You trimmed the fat off a very deep question and made it super easy.
I had no idea the beats is so different/limited in comparison. Thanks for the video!
Well, the Beats is limited - in comparison. But it's still good for what it is - a straight little drummer with no compromises. And sometimes, that's all you need 😁
The vdrum is really something special, its more than a drum machine, its a true drum synth. Nice video comparison, i like seeing just how different these two are in this format. Subbed
Thanks for subbing! The VBeats really is for the hiphop enthusiasts amongst us, who just want that TR-808 kind of sounds, and are not interested in creating retro analog drum sounds on their own. And that's fine.
Volca beats sounds thicker and warmer on the lows, my opinion
Thank you, Daan. You are comparing the KVB sounds - to what exactly? The KVD factory sounds? Don't you think that's a little unfair? The KVD is a drum synthesizer - you are supposed to create your own sounds with it, while the KVB is "just" a drum machine, supposed to play factory sounds only. I'm not saying that's a bad thing. I'm just saying if you want hiphop-style drums and nothing else, get the KVB. If you want ANY style of analog drum sounds, get the KVD.
@@SynthesaurusRex I see what you mean, the only thing is the korg volca beats is analog and the volca drum is digital. So, I think the sound of the volca beats sounds warmer and thicker because of that. But they are both great! So I’m not sure yet.
✌🏻
No BS video, straight to the point, thx ❤
Great video! Finally I understand , thanks
Funny, during that first part of the video I was like, “OK the beats is a drum machine and drum is a synth. I don’t need weird percussion sounds, just some drums.” I guess it depends on what you’re looking for. Nice direct to-the-point video. Thanks. 😊
Thanks, Peter, not everyone got what you got: I am not saying that X is better than Y. My point was: this is what X can do, and this is what Y can do. And I like X better. Some Beats fans reacted quite pissed.
That for posting - the best comparison video I’ll found!
Great video bro. I bought a beats when i first got back into working and enjoyed it but found it very limited aswel but was great for learning basics of a drum machine then like 2 months later bought a brand new sample2 online for cheap price and found it was more creative, and im still only using factory samples
Hey, the Beats is great when you ... you know ... need a quick beat 😁. But exactly like you say: sooner or later, there will come the day, when you have used the Beats sounds a thousand times, you are sick of them, and you crave for more sound flexibility. And then you will either need a Volca Sample - or a Drum. 😄
I'm surprised how rude some of these comments are. I absolutely love both machines and would eventually get a volca beats, because tis got it's own charm. The volca drum got me into synths from guitar and that little thing gets some amazing sounds for IDM and ambient. I'd see myself using the volca beats for lofi or krautrock. Glad you cleared up their capabilities.
The Beats is great. And it's simple to create patterns. I like my Beats.
Thank you, I really appreciate that, but I don't think of the comments as rude. They are just a little defensive, and I can understand that, because my video is clearly biased. As a synth guy I of course like the KVD better than the KVB, but if you're not interested in creating your own drum sounds, why wouldn't you like the KVB? It's totally fine.
Let's not discuss the fact that the KVD can easily do the very same identical sounds the KVB can do. Because that's the point: On the KVB, you don't have to learn and find out how those sounds are done - they are just pre-set. The learning-find-out-part is only for: us synth guys. 🙂
Like I said: I have a KVB, I often use it, and I'm happy to have it. It has the classic sounds, and I don't have to worry about how to "synthesize" them. But when I want to have similar, but different analog drum sounds, I can create them on my KVD. Both are very fine. I just don't understand why the KVB is more expensive than the KVD, although it has way less features. THAT's the point I would want you to protest against - addressing Korg. Not me.
The volca drum also has the stutter option? I want to create my own sounds but i also want to alter them and change the patterns live, i ve seen people doing that with the kvb, do you know of any function that the kvb has that the kvd doesnt ? Or the difference is just that the kvb has preset sounds? I understand your point i do not own any of yhem and i want to purchase one, but i also want to know the things the kvb can do that the kvd doesnt
Really good review, mate! Now I'm decided which one to buy
Jeezaz, there is no question! Get the KVD! It can easily do ALL of the KVB's sounds, while the KVB can only do KVB sounds! Is my video too vague abou that??
Volca DRUM is better, more for the money,
but the Volca Beats has a cool old school sound.
Sometimes limits are useful.
That's what I'm saying. If you want that oldschool sound without having to bother how to create it, the Volca Beats is the right thing for you.
Thanks for the great review
Thank you for the summary, very cool
I am always glad to be of help when it comes to make the right purchase-decision. 😎
Thank you very much for this! Awesome video
Glad you liked it! 😁
Thank you!
You're welcome!
no contest really, ones a groovebox ones a synth, both together works very well.
thanks dude!
Congrats on your new gear, dude. I think both boxes do their job right. And don't forget: Analog(ue) is better is fatter is doper, so it must be more expensive 😂😂😂 Seriously, I was trying to decide between the two volca drum machines until I heard (about) the Roland AIRA Compact T-8 for which I finally went. I think that the volca drums is by far the most easy to tweak while the volca drum gets you a plethora of sound options. The T-8 can do a crazy amount of things (including ratchet probability!) and has a decent 303-style instrument in addition to the (few) drum pieces, but is shift-/menu-heavy. The choice is not easy when it comes to mini drum machines. Consdering their price range, you can give each of them a low-costly try buying and maybe re-selling the them 2nd hand on *Bay.
I especially like your comment saying "I think that the VOLCA DRUMS is by far the most easy to tweak while the VOLCA DRUM gets you a plethora of sound options". But its not your fault. We should have a serious talk with the Korg marketing department. About naming products.
I agree that the beats should be cheaper than the drum though you neglected to show off it's most interesting feature. The stutter effect makes it a unique drum machine and more worth while of an instrument. It can be motion recorded and played live in interesting ways. The volca drum is a beast though, probably the best volca
You are right saying that I did not mention the Beats' stutter feature, and the motion record and all. I didn't, because the VDrum has the same features. And like I said: The VBeats isn't a bad piece of gear at all. But comparing it to similar devices, like the VDrums, it makes you wonder if it's worth its retail price.
@@SynthesaurusRex Wouldn't say the drum's wave guide is much like the stutter at all besides being kind of a delay. I also think the beats needs its effect more than the drum does.
The best volkas are the drun and nu bass, in my opinion.
Okay, you are right: the effects section of the Drum is not the same as the stutter function of the Beats. If a stutter function is important to you, the Beats wins.
Are there any bigger drum machines similar to features like volca drum (non fixated voices/samples and such)?
Lots. It depends on what kind of sound you are looking for? Is it the 808-sound (the classic hiphop sound)?
If you only have a Ferrari without wheels and a simple children bike to go somewhere, you'll choose the bike ! Each and every feature needs attention. Already made opinions always find appropriate arguments. I don't know the Volca Beats nor the Volca Drum, I only have a Volca Keys, but I do know it, and I am able to exploit every little (or not) feature it delivers me. Maybe you're right because there are about 10 years between the two market releases.
Thank you for your comment, Daisies, but I can not answer your question if you like the delay. Or the spring reverb. If you do, I'd say, of course you do like those effects! Everybody does! And thank you: I understand that you are not a super-fan of 10-minutes jam, but you wanna encourage me to do them. Thank you, that's very nice of you to say! 😊
@@SynthesaurusRex Wrong post
the exact video i was looking for 👍
Seriously? Well, if you are unsure whether to spend your hard-earned money on this or that gear, remember that the Synthesaurus (that's my avatar) is on the internet to help people make that kind of decision. If you find the time, I invite you to visit www.patreon.com/synthesaurus
Thanks for the video! : ) Can the Korg Volca Drum be used as a sequencer ... for Behringer Neutron for example?
Well, I am not a Volca expert, but there are two things that makes this very difficult: 1. The Volca Drum does not have a MIDI out, 2. It can only play 6 different tones/keys in one pattern. There might be better Volcas out there to be used as sequencers (the Volca FM2 for example has a MIDI out and can play multiple keys in one pattern).
@@SynthesaurusRex Thanks!
I prefer Volca Beats just coz of analog warmth. I already have Electribe so i don't need another digital drums, but analog drums blends very well with some dry and cold digital Electribe sound. But if i were to buy my first ever drum machine of course i would by Drums!
Fair enough!
so, you had 1 day to test the volca drums and already you know, that it is better in every way?
i would say, learn to play them both as performance tools and you will know why the volca beats is preferred by many people. also, the kick on the beats sounds really good. i can make you lead and bass sounds, changing in pitch with the pcm samples on the volca beats, no problem. and you can make really crazy stuff with stutter, too. the drum does have its advantages, for sure, but as a performance tool, i like the beats much better. both are cool and interesting, though, and very much worth the price.
Thank you very much, sebastian, for 1. not getting too mad at me for being very biased, 2. for providing helpful information for the "performance-guys". I am a synth guy, and I rate the two Volcas from my perspective. But I do understand that depending on the purpose and the style of music, aka. "performance tool", the Beats has it advantages. As a synth guy, sound flexibility and variety always is top prio. I forgot that there are other people out there with different priorities. I humbly apologize. Still, to me the question remains: what can the Beats do in terms of performance that the Drums can't do?
@ thx for the answer. tbh i was just a bit triggered, that you made the judgement after just a day and that you presented the beats as if there is no possibility to make it sound different. you can make it sound like utter chaos, if you know how. but, of course, you are entitled to your opinion and i kinda regret the tone of my comment. i apologize for that. i have more fun with the beats, you with the drums, cool. would make a perfect jam then ;)
i really like the stutter function and i have lots of practice with it. so i can jam on it quite freely (which i want to do on a portable device). the performance effects on the drums are different and i do not quite get the same control as with the beats. probably because they are more complex and less predictable to me. that is all. different things for different goals and different people. that is what makes it interesting.
No big deal, sebastian, like I said, I'm the one who has to apologize for being so biased. Probably I didn't stress enough that I love the Beats and I am using it all the time - it depends on what I wanna do. For a quick 808-like drum pattern, I use the Beats. When I want more fancy, crazy analog drum sounds, maybe even with a simple bassline in it, the Drums is perfect.
Can make rhythm beats of original Barbie by Aqua?
No.
You convinced me the beats is the way to go
I completely understand, multiple Steven. You just want to eat the fish, and don't want to learn how to catch it. I'm fine with that, I mean that un-ironically. But from my point of view, trying to teach people to catch their own fish (making their own sounds) and as a synth guy, I have to take sides for the Drum. But I'm happy learning that my video at least helped you make the right choice for yourself. 😊
Thank you so much for this video !! I was very confused about which one i should buy, now i know im going for the Volca Drum. Thank you !!!❤
Thank you! Comments like yours motivate me to go on with my channel. It always helps me to learn that my vids actually help people to make the right decision. 😊
Which one can play slower?
Why is that important?
I didn't say it was important. I just want to know which one can play slower. Stretch your imagination😂@@SynthesaurusRex
When it's not important, then why are you bothering me with this?
@@SynthesaurusRex Your video is very important.
“thank you synthesaurus rex” we all say in unison
Thank you for that, I am always glad to hear that my stuff helped people! 😊
The 2013 Volcas (Keys/Beats/Bass) kinda suck because they can't pattern chain and they're stuck in 2 ppqn sync (8 steps/bar) so you can't use a trigger to play one note at a time. But you gotta appreciate that if someone's into Volcas, the Keys is the 'normal' analog synth and the Beats is the 'normal' drum machine. That said, the Sample might actually be better for regular drums.
Presonally I only have the Nubass/Bass/Drum/FM2. I like how the Bass can run a separate pattern on each oscillator, but I would totally trade the Bass for a 2nd Drum or Nubass, because the Nubass has pattern chaining, 4 ppqn sync, and a better filter, and the Drum is a magic minimal techno box and it'd be nice to have one to use for normal drums and a 2nd one for weird shit. 😃
I totally agree, Ms Foster: All Volcas should have some kind of pattern-chain function. It's not that hard to program into the software. Thinking of that: every old retro drum computer from the 1980s had that pattern-chain-function. Enabling you to chain your patterns into a song. Question: We are 40 years later - and our modern devices CAN'T? We should discuss this!
@@SynthesaurusRex LOL that's one of my most common nerd rants! The TR-606/TR-707/TR-727 can pattern chain. They're all pretty awesome, and I'm surprised how often I still see them for $500-ish in good shape. But the 707/727 can't switch between write/play without stopping the sequencer, so you have to decide if you want to switch patterns live (play mode) or edit patterns live (write mode). The TR-606 doesn't have that limitation and you can have insanely long pattern sequences in track mode. And the TR-606 isn't really all that. I'm not buying a 2nd one, and I'm not jumping on a TR-06 when I see them for under $250. But the 606 has great hi-hats and a great sequencer and two trigger outs (which you can use to clock a Volca Drum and kinda turn it into a DFAM). It just drives me crazy that the 606 was 1981 or '82, and 42 years later most things have a much worse sequencer. I thought a Polyend Play would be an awesome sequencer, and it's SO BAD. It's a clunkier workflow than anything. It doesn't have a default instrument/sample per track. If you have a row of hi-hats and you want to change one, you first need to long-press one of them to copy it into the buffer. If you don't press long enough it'll just delete it. It's so bad. And it doesn't work with an external keyboard. I mean it kinda does, but ... Pressing a key on the keyboard isn't going to put that into the buffer so that the next thing you press places that note. And it's monophonic. And Polyend still puts TRS MIDI type B on all their stuff. It's just SO bad. There's a lot of bad things I can say about Roland Boutiques, but the JX-08 has a totally decent poly sequencer that can record live stuff or you can hold down a step and play a chord on a keyboard and it'll record what you played to that step. Seems super intuitive. It's just mind blowing how unintuitive most other stuff is.
Well, thank you Ms Foster. Seems you own a lot of stuff. I own a bit less stuff, but our complaints are the same. And you make a very good point: "intuitive". We should make an online petition about that! "MANUFACTURERS, GIVE US BACK CLASSIC PATTERN CHAINING! ONBOARD & INTUITIVE! LIKE ON THE CLASSIC DRUMCOMPUTERS!"
If you want a 808 style drum machine the beats is better. If you want to create your own custom drums the drum is better. I find the drum sounds a bit plasticky or metallic, and usually prefer the beats sounds. Theres another option the po32 tonic.
Thanks for your comment, nuno, but in the interest of potential, undecided buyers I must intervene here. The Volca Drum can do, amongst many other styles, ALSO the 808 sound. Easily. I hope I find the time to finish my tutorial on this. The Beats can ONLY do 808, nothing else. The Drum can do the 808, in any variety you want, plus many, many other styles.
But its the sound the power and sub bass is much better on the beats, the sound is much warmer its proper analog, together though they go great @SynthesaurusRex
If there was "fun factor" category by which one would judge the Volcas, drum, IMO, has the highest score of all of them. For any Electribe R and/or wavedrum fans, Volca drum is the closest thing which combines the two for the least amount of money - even if you buy it new. Having said that, I think that for strictly beat makers or solo musos seeking rhythm accompaniment for their sessions, volca beat is a fine choice. Plus it has got the analogue cred, cos, y'know, it's analogue (6 part). Although the snare sound, by now, has aquired mediocrity cred for its contribution to set - and it's deserved too.
Pricing is a regional matter - in my area, the drum has always been more expensive than the beats, however I still think it is a better value Volca. I think it goes something like this: beat makers will go for immediacy of V beats, synthesists will go for tweakability of V drum.
...better get both, just in case 😜
I can only (mostly) agree on that, macks. The Volca Beats is for people who need the classical 808-like sound, and don't want to bother about actually creating new sounds. The Volca Drum is for dudes who want that 808-sound, but also want to go from that analog sound to NEW types of sounds.
thanks for convincing me to buy a drum machine instead of the synthesizer.
That's what I made this video for - giving you the information to decide what to get. I am a synth guy and of course prefer the synthesizer thing, but I am aware that not everybody is. So I'm happy I could help you decide on what's the right thing for you! 😁
Nice
I find the Drum exhausting. Maybe when I've read the whole manual it will make sense.
I understand why you may find it exhausting. To operate it correctly, and to get the max out of it, you will need some analog drum synth lessons. Which I am preparing, but don't find the time to do.
Thx. Really helpfull! :D
I think I just had a Korg-asm
I hope it wasn't as painful as mine usually are.
Drum is just instant Kraftwerk!
Isn't it? I didn't mention that in my video, because young folks won't understand, but messing around on the KVD makes me feel like the Kraftwerk boys creating drum sounds on their selfmade devices back in the days, creating sounds from scratch. In other words: Like a pioneer! 😁
Volca Drum it is then!
I would suggest so. 😁
Digital vs Analogic.
volca drum is the hardware equivalent of the microtonic plugin (more or less).
Well, I don't know what that means, DrAudioBot who uses Tommy Wiseau as an avatar, but thanks for your input 😁
volca beat i think was to see if anyone would actually buy one
I wouldn't be so harsh. The Beats is just for people who are not that much into creating their own drum sounds. That's fine.
Hello.. as i know, thé volca beats is a kind of clone of tr 808. Thé volca drum is a bit liké er1 (Korg)....i have the volca drum and its a WONNDERFULL machine..
If you already have the Volca Drum, you don't need the Volca Beats, because the Drum can do any sound the Beats has.
Volca Drum is feature packed but suffers from this as its limitless, and takes ages to learn.
That's true, it takes a bit of learning to program the KVD, but either you are a synth guy, intersted in making your own sounds, or you are not. If you are not, get the Beats. If you are, get the Drums.
@@SynthesaurusRex I suppose its because its more difficult to improvise with as sometimes you have no idea how a tiny small tweak might mess things up.
Yeah I'm not trying to make a $h!+-&y hip-hop album from the late 80's, volca beats, ur out. Volca drum, your in.
Thing is: The Volca Drum can EASILY emulate the Volca Beats sounds, because it's a drum SYNTH. The Volca Beats can only do that hiphop sound. So you are better off with the DRUM anyways, even if you would want grandpa's hiphop sound. 😁
I think the volka beats is the weakest of the volkas
I haven't tested all Volcas, so I can't say if it's actually the weakest. All I can say is that the "Volca Samples" is a straightout lie, because it can't sample anything.
you want us to put on headphones so you can show us something?! you know that show means to make visible to the eye,right?
I am glad you bring that up. I was never happy with the way to put that. And I would be happy to if you have better ideas to say the thing I'm trying to say. I use the word "show" not by its literal meaning "look at it", but rather by its meaning "demonstrate a thing". In the future, I will use the expression "demonstrate". Would that be alright with you?
Volca drum sucks 😂
Gasp! How dare you! Volca Drum is the greatest thing in the world! 😂