Hard to beat: KORG volca drum - review & jam
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- Опубліковано 30 вер 2024
- A surprising new volca with a possibly record-breaking number of features per volume. But not only the feature density, also the sound of the implemented drum synthesizer is amazing. In fact, this little box not only competes with established plugins, it also challenges hardware instruments that live in a completely different price range. After the review, starting at 7:55, you'll find an explorative jam, where I tried to demonstrate most of the sound shaping possibilities while playing one of the factory patterns. The volca drum sound you hear is pure, no external EQ, compression or FX, and also no limiter. So you may need to dial the volume knob to your preferences. And if you like what you hear and see, don't forget to subscribe!
Thank you for learning the instrument and producing a highly musical demo, unlike some other reviewers who play aimlessly with the controls and expect us to endure a cacaphony of screeches and howling noises.
Many thanks for the great feedback! 😊
Yeah I hate that shit gives me a head ache practically not sure why they even have that option like who the fk can listen to that?
@@teatime2595 nice way of saying you dont understand how synthesis works
@@teatime2595 what "option" or options are you talking about exactly?
Dude that end jam was crazy
Many thanks!
Best review and demo of this unit I have seen. Thanks for being concise and no-nonsense. Oh I just subscribed.
Great that you like it, thank you so much!
Being able to actually accomplish an informative concise review is most often a sign of having in-depth knowledge of the subject. I appreciate these types of reviews as much as in-depth ones; sometimes more.
This is a very great and informative review. Subscribed and hope to see more great content from you :)
Thank you so much!
Finally a demo of this unit that actually utilizes the synth aspect adequately. Think you just convinced me to pick one up. Thanks.
Thanks for the nice feedback! 😊
Great work Korg. You managed to fit NIN, Prodigy and Aphex Twin inside a tiny box!
Omg these were exactly my thoughts lol. They KILLED it with the drum, from what I'm seeing.
Amazing, great review and the jam at the end makes me want to get one.
Thanks a lot!
Would be nice if say you are using primarily a Behringer RD-8, to have one or more channels set to trigger sounds from the Korg Drum via midi.. just turn down the volume for internal sound mapped to that channel and have it send hte midi note that corresponse to the sound in the Korg. That way I could use just once sequencer.
Quite possibly the best and most exciting review of the Volca Drum. Loved the jam. Thank you, Pete! 😊
Thank you so much! 😊
Looks like Korg fixed at least one complaint sometime after this video was made. Korg's system update (2019.09.10) release notes: "Fixed single channel MIDI handling of note events."
I got a Volca Drum two weeks ago as my first hardware synth after many years of audio engineering mainly in the box. I love it!! It has a lot of potential as a sound design tool as well. Additionally, I really appreciate your thoughtful and direct analysis. Looking forward to enjoying more of your content.
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Great jam, thanks for the video!
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I got one on the strength of this review. I wasn’t disappointed. AWESOME box. Highly recommended.
Thanks for the feedback!
Yours is easily the best review so far of this amazing little instrument, thank you!
I was actually ready to splash out on the nord drum two weeks ago when this little guy suddenly came into view. I am blown away by what it can do in the short time I´ve been experimenting with it. I´m still very tempted by the nord drum as I´m more of an old-school type of musician than a beatmaker and I´m in love with the Nord´s tone and expressiveness from the videos I´ve seen. Care to share any further thoughts on how the two compare?
Many thanks! The Nord is great for its velocity control of the sound. This is completely missing with the volca which comes to life through the sequencer. Therefore, I think the main difference is , how you would exploit the full potential of these two machines: expressive live playing vs. elaborate sequencing.
@Hedonicus Have you seen the Nord drum video from Red Means Recording? To me, it sounds way nicer and it’s got pads to play, for some of that unquantized mojo, but it doesn’t have sequencer, so it pairs well with one(Beatstep, Digitakt..). But for the money, the Volca Drum is not that bad either. They’re just different leagues I suppose. Here’s that Nord Drum video: ua-cam.com/video/tQSN9ZTB0nc/v-deo.html
‘I had a dream’ - haha, man, you’re hilarious!
But I appreciate your great technical skills, thank you for all you share.
Thanks! 😊
Please blink. You don’t blink. Other than that, very informative!
Thanks for the feedback! I will do my best ;)
Pete Midi and I should have said, your jam at the end was really cool!
Thank you so much!
I looked at the comments about a minute in, now I have to pay attention to the video more closely to see if he really does blink......... I watched another minute and he didn't so far... :-O
EDIT: Ok, I saw him blink at least once. I feel better now about it. :-D Although yes his eye doctor would probably advise him the same if he or she saw this video... lol
maybe he blinked when you blinked so you never saw him blinking because you were blinking. otherwise, to know he never blinks you must also never blink.
Great review, and the only person to notice the huge step forward into stereo. So important, probably the feature which sold it to me finally. Thanks.
Many thanks for the nice feedback!
hello pete midi ! i hope you re alright and hope to see you soon on youtube for another great video !!
Killer demo. Had no idea these could sound so good. Now I’m a subscriber
Thanks a lot! 😊
You are my favorite reviewer, I just got one of these and it's as much fun to use as i thought it would be 😀
Thank you so much! 😊
Great demo. I bought an Arturia Drumbrute Impact a few weeks ago, and while it makes a change from using 909 / 808 sounds (or my poor man's 808 the 606) it's not quite as 'left-field' as the volca drum which I hoped to purchase and use it in tandem with the drumbrute impact. Demos like yours - not to mention being a G.A.S. sufferer - mean I will be making that investment. Thank you for your excellent work consider yourself liked and subbed.
Thanks a lot! Drumbrute & volca drum: excellent combination!
Crazy beats, oh my dear! Just ordered one after THIS Demojam :-D
Many thanks! ☺️
Hard to beat but it beats the beats.
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My word...You really know what you are talking about and put it all over so exactly how it is.
I have just bought one.
You are totally convincing and you have the gift to make people listen to you even out of your own mother tongue.
And.....it's all technical jargon too.
You are extremely clever.
I have subscribed so as to learn from you.
Thank you!
BTW..Volcaniced here on you tube also goes for the Volcas before any other synth!!!
Many thanks for the great feedback, very encouraging! 😊
Very awesome! Thank you🥰 check out my new volca studio video🥰
My dude.... This was amazing!
Many thanks! 😊
E xcellent tutorial, but it does sound a bit screechy.....
Nobody else has made this thing sound so hard!!! Good session!
Thanks a lot!
it's like the perfect idm/electro drum machine i think
This is really exciting because it s a new way of producing drum sounds. Everything else either uses analog , samples or virtual analog but they are all trying to recreate the sounds of the past, this is really making use of new power in modern micro-controller processors to try a new way of making drum sounds.
The po32 is still basically virtual analog in a tiny form factor.
Yes, exactly that's also my opinion, volca drum as a nice device for fresh sounds.
agreed, although elektron machindrum did this about 20 years ago, it has analog modeling, fm, physical modeling, and a few other kinds of synthesis if i recall. i see volca drum as an affordable machinedrum-lite
@@NS-pj8dr Yeah physical modeling has been around for a while I think the thing here is how cheap and tweakable it is, its always been a feature only on very high end machines, like the korg oasys had it but it cost as much as a honda civic. Although my psychoflute series of android apps has had free physical modeling since 2007. So yeah its not new here just cheap enough to be do-able for those of us on a low budget.
Yeah, also for me the machinedrum was too expensive and I did not like the user interface ...
this thing seems unable to create any decent snare sounds
I love this guy's jams, and I want to trust him, but...I'm pretty sure I saw Mike kill him on Breaking Bad 10 years ago. I can't trust that, man.
hey pete can you show us how to get a decent hi hat closed hat sound your the only one that i know can do this
Love your channel so far, and really love my Volca Drum, even if it is twitchy, and finicky in the para pots.
Thanks a lot!
Hey! Pete are you still using your Volca Drum?
Yes, I really like the sound. But due to memory and user interface limitations I'm more and more turning to model cycles as an alternative...
Easy on alcohol mate ! 😀
Nice demo btw ! 👍
Many thanks!
These volca machines are just banging...
10:00 omg i´m buying it now thanks for the video Danke !
Thanks a lot for the nice feedback! 😀
Best demo I've seen so far! 💥
Many thanks!!
Hi Pete. I am taking my Drum to the open mike tonight. Looking forward to it. Have lots of questions for you about MIDI. Will send you a note tomorrow. Thanks for all your help and videos. They are really good and helpful. AL
Thanks AL, you can also reach me via email, you find it on my bioseq.de website.
I have a feeling that the dream of your implementation in hardware was at least partially realized... by Korg.. in the year 1999 with the Korg ER-1 Electribe.
There are many partial realizations, the ER-1 Electribe was not my favourite ...
I really love my ER-1 Electribe. So fun to mess with gating the audio input. 👍👍
Yes, processing of the external audio ins is a great feature! Also like this on my TR-8.
One of the features that interested me the most about the TR-8 was the per-part reverb setting, if I remember the correctly. Very powerful.
Can you please elaborate the accent function can't get my head around it
@Leoo Pokat As far as I can see and hear the accent function just increases the volume/gain of a part on a particular step.
@@PeteMidi thanks brother I appreciate your help and support
I too have been using Microtonic for years, and after going back to hardware was waiting for a hardware version. Was stoked at the PO-32, but have been relectant to buy it for the reasons you have stated. Im hoping Modal will come up with a a drum machine based on their CRAFT rhythm, much like their much anticipated Craft 2 has done for wavetable synthesis.
Thanks for the feedback! I also came across the CRAFT rhythm, as a potential replacement of my volca sample. But then decided for the Model:Samples ... Yes, a nicer design (like Craft 2) would make the rhythm way more attractive.
and it grooves with pete
Does the sync work with behringer TD3 and RD6..? is it the same pulse/clock..?
I did not try, because I use midi clock sync, but from specification it should work.
when you defied the mainstream and then I listened to you jam is when I decided to get this piece. Thanks for the honest thoughts :)
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Hey Korg! Fire your lazy MIDI engineers, that have limited your products since the 80’s, and hire some people that will do their job. Korg products - now and into the future, featuring 1981 MIDI...
PS: great review and jam, Pete!
Many thanks! Yes, the Volca MIDI implementations do definitely not realize the full potential of these machines.
Hi Pete, great review! Now that LXR-02 has been released, any thoughts on Volca Drum vs LXR-02? Which has more features/sound designs possibilities?
LXR-02 kit morphing seems pretty cool but I don't think it has a resonator. Do you still think LXR-02 has a much steeper learning curve? Appreciate your insights!
Many thanks for the feedback! The lxr-2 has a simplified user interface, in particular the sequencer is more straight forward now. Sound possibilities are still superior to volca. Because of the different engines learning the lxr is still more complicated but morphing is great!
sounds very er-1 to me
Interesting, may be KORG reused some of their algorithms, possibly with a little more precision ;)
Pete Midi yeah, it's probably the same analog modeling algorithm or something.
I agree, albeit this has two layers whereas the ER1 had only one per voice. I think with the Volca Drum you'd be able to make sounds with more depth, likely better snares than possible on the ER1
@Tim Wilson Good point, two layers really make a difference!
I'm not really looking for this sort of thing, and possibly don't need it either, but bloody hell I want one now!
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Great demo... convinced me to get one! It really is instant fun. Can't believe how good it is for the money!
Yes, absolutely - many thanks for the feedback!
Thanks Pete :-) FINEST and informative review
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Excellent demonstration and explanation, thank you
Thanks a lot! 😊
and again he does it i looked at loads of tutorials the bass drum sounded awful pete touches it and it sounds amazing
Many thanks! 😊
great review but I have a question:
is it easy to use for beginner?
Thanks, I think it's not an easy volca, unlike bass or kick. As a beginner you really need some time to create your own kits...
Thanks, you helped my decision. Just ordered one.
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include photos of mentioned gear - great vid as always
Many thanks for the feedback!
they should include this video in the package. Great Job!
Thanks a lot! 😊
That Jam was so cool! Now Im glad I had just ordered one
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I'm just about to buy one of these! Thanks from wales! :)
Thanks for the nice feedback!
Great vid. When you save a kit, can you name it on the LCD?
Thanks, no names for drum kits...
great performance bro, volca masterclass
Thanks a lot! 😊
Finaly some good demo!
Thanks!
Some of the best demo beats I've heard. Have a subscription!
Thank you so much!
Yep.
i dont even have any instruments but i still subscribed !!
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Interesting review and great jam, subbed.
Thanks a lot!
wow! best review of volca drum that i saw. thank you!
Many thanks for the great feedback!
Snappy.
I'd love see you do a video on the LXR Drum synth.
It's on my (long) to-do list 😉
Interested to see if you are gonna pick up the new cycles
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Thanks for your good focused review. This is the first Volca that really caught my attention. And your jam is the best I’ve heard. I wonder how useful this midi (or sync out?) can work as a master sequencer in a minimal set up?
Many thanks for the nice feedback - and, good question: many devices would actually understand the KORG sync out signal, but I guess the most common way is to use the volca as slave. Then you have the choice between midi and sync in ....
@@PeteMidi I'm a brand newby to the synth world. I bought a Novation Circuit and Volca Drum with the Volca as the slave like you mentioned. I've been able to get some surprisingly good jams out of this setup, especially since I have almost no idea what I'm doing. The Volca is becoming a little more understandable with help from videos like this one and Cuckoo's, but it is still difficult understanding how all the pieces of the puzzle fit together.
Gerald, many thanks for this great feedback!
Best review and best jam on the bestest volca yet. Thanks, keep up the good work.
Thank you so much for this great feedback!
You did a fantastic job... It does remind me of the Toniq but with more... girth? The best drum machine.
Many thanks!
Subtitles: the coke vodka drum
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By the way I heard some really gorgeous sounds in your jam. Very very nice
@DetroitMicroSound Thank you so much! And I fully agree on what you say about the knobs/pots ;)
Awesome review. Such a good quality. I wish you more subscribers.
Thank you so much!
@@PeteMidi Subscribed!
So weird that today of all days I was looking for someone to prove the value of my volca drum to me and also I was considering buying micro tonic for my little tonic.
Yeah I don’t know, maybe just an eq in the chain, I can’t find a full sounding demo of this thing anywhere and it just sounds like modulated pops and clicks, really enjoyed your presentation though!!
Thanks for the feedback!
Wow... great jam! Very Carpenter movie style! I can see Snake running from the cannibals 😎
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Has korg fixed the firmware yet ?
A bit of velocity sens.: yes, backup function like in volca fm: no
Wow a german with good english accent
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Your voice sounds like king diamond
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Your jam is better than anyone else's of this product. Sold. Were you applying any external fx?
Many thanks! No external fx, it's the direct signal from the vd stereo out.
is it better than the volca nub ass?
Completely different machines, focus on electronic drums (v. drum) vs. tight acid bass spectrum (nubass)
Nice
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wtf this is crazy, somethign new that just can be expected from all...not same shity 808s clone :D
Thanks - I can agree 100% to your conclusion ;)
Has Korg now implemented a parameter catch mode?
No, unfortunately not...
@@PeteMidi well, that might be the deciding factor between this and the Roland T-8 for me.
Came here just after watching your Electron Model: Cycles video and in both cases it is most apparent that it is always really about the man/woman behind the machine(s). Good work Pete.
Thanks a lot! 😊
MachineDrum owner here. This sounds like home.
Is there any way around to seperate the outputs of each instrument for a recording session? Im still hesitant to buy it because of this reason. Although Id still be very happy to jam with it live.. Still figuring out purchasing This, volca FM or a TD-3
Not possible, you can just distribute the parts in the stereo image...
Hi!
It's crazy... this little machine...
I have a question ... what quality have the stereo output? The Signal noise ratio is good?
Can you send me a little part from a raw sample?
Thank your demonstration.
Best regards, Attila
Pákozdi Attila i have one. Volca drum is cero noise machine
Awesome, I just bought this amazing little device because of your video! I love the jam at the end.
Many thanks for the feedback! 😊
Just my 2 cents...I think that Midi Pete would be more catchy. Anyway...thanks for the review!
Thanks, you may be right 😉
Great demo
Thanks!
Great review
Im a novice
Can i get a fat and punchy kick sound out of this?
Kind of 909 type sounds??
Cheers
Many thanks! The VD kick can be very punchy, but not the same as 909, so I like it for the variation
Thanks for the great review.
I noticed that Korg released a firmware update on 9/2019, after this video was released. I'm curious what, if any, faults have been addressed in the update. It appears that individual notes can now be triggered (allowing the machine to be used to play bass notes). I'm curious how well this works.
Release notes for firmware Version 1.14
- Support for external clock synced delay.
- Added a new edit parameter to enable pitch quantization.
- Fixed single channel MIDI handling of note events.
- Fixed MIDI Song Position Pointer.
Many thanks! Yes the delay sync and pitch quantization work, very useful!
18k views and I guess, 18k sold Volcas for Korg...great review & even better jam!!! BRAVO
Thanks a lot! 😊
It's a brilliant drum machine it's a shame if wasn't on sale.in tht 80s . The other volcas drums ect are just toys I wouldn't use them on stage. I like the way you can make your own distinctive drum sounds
Yes absolutely, in many regards an exceptional volca!
Just discovered your channel. Like your styles of reviews and jams.
Cheers.
Many thanks!
imma be straight on this
When I want an honest opinion on any electronic instrument, I only come here.
Thnks for the reviews:)
Thanks for the great feedback! 😊