Volca was the first hardware synth I owned since the 80s. And although I have 8 synthesizers now (and owned and sold a few more), the Volca Keys is here to stay. I play it in almost all of my jams. I run the audio of mine through a Specular Tempus and it sounds epic.
8 Synths?? Man i'm still trying to figure out the first one to get and you're already on 8!!! Is there any particular reason you have that many? Or do you just like to collect them?
@@Spacegoat92 He probably has GAS. I sure do. I have a rolling a 90 I have a Hammond XK-2 I have a Korg Triton tactile one of my favorites is the general music S2 synthesizer I have two old school Hammond organs m111 and the M3 I have an Alesis sq8 I have a roland go keys Thinking about getting Yamaha Reface Cp and the korg poly 6
@@crnkmnky No idea at all hey, my last experience with a synth was my cousins Roland D-10. Haha. But I want something that does a good version of various instruments and sound effects.
Great video, as ever. I recently bought a pre-owned Arturia Microbrute and I really get what you say about the immediacy of having a truly analogue synth with direct control from each knob. You can generate fantastic sounds in seconds with no menu diving. Love it.
Bit more gnarly sounding though isn't it? Great if you're making techno or noise (I think there's a vid of Codex Empire using the MiniBrute in a live set) but a world apart from the Keys in sound.
One mistake a lot of people make with Volcas (and POs too) is to judge them before they’ve run them through a decent interface and studio monitors. Just because it has an internal speaker doesn’t mean you’re restricted to it. Add a few iOS fx and hey- a great poly synth!
That is an understatement right there Wally. Try washing your final signal through a Source Audio Nemesis pedal and you will have tears of joy flowing in no time.
Wooow, incredible surprise for this synth! I think I might add it to the arsenal, I'm thuroughly impressed! Great video thanks for posting, will definitely subscribe.
as an owner of two of these, theyre super useful for rough drafting stuff, they have enough tweak and play to really seed ideas to expand on. Ive translated patterns from the keys to be bigger/more ambient/etc, that i probably wouldnt have found without it. not a bad piece of hardware by any means
Every sound is top, even that pad is simple and sweet. Volca keys is good enough that I've often dreamed of ones with a keyboard of the size of the keystep 37 for instance. Imagine if it also included the volca sample and volca mix. That would be a badass little concert box.
Can't believe this was uploaded today. I'm this close to getting the Volca keys I have the money set aside but for some reason i keep doing a double think on whether i should go with the keys or bass. This is going to be my first analog synth.
Thank you so much for replying! I'm going to take ur advice and go with the keys. What you said was really helpful and the push I needed to stop going back and forth in my head haha
Hi. I had the same problem trying to decide which one to get. The more vids I watched and learnt about this fantastic Volca series the more I got fired ....Then you know what I did? ...I bought all three!!! Keys, Beats and Bass. I am flat broke now but he'll I am going to have some fun.
A year of subscription and you still inspire me man, even with my total lack of talent your content some how manages to squeeze blood from a stone and I have actually made some music! Thank you 👊
Don't pressure yourself. Talent is much less important than what you do with what you have. Beyond that, talent is cultivated, rather than being something you're born with. Those cases, I'd imagine, are somewhere between very rare to non-existent.
@@mikeexits thank you, it's nice to meet folk that have a kind and encouraging word online. Most of the time it's all negative. Watching Freebeat, and reading kind words like this has helped me in more ways than you know.
@@SpeedStar76 I understand, it's why I do what I can to balance out the parts of the internet I participate in haha. I'm glad it had a positive impact here. :) The world needs more colorful, warm, curvy, creative energy (it's got too much grey, cold, angular, hard energy, if you will) so it's very important that we help each other cultivate that within ourselves where we reasonably can, I feel.
Behringer Crave is another really good option that also has a surprisingly good patch bay, all things considered. Check it out! I'm sure you could find it for around $200. I just checked Reverb and there's a mint condition one for $220
I have enough analog mono and poly synths but still want this little guy, hence why I’m on here looking at it. The small battery powered form factor is what interest me the most. I have a Volca FM so I know I’ll like it. I guess I’ll have to get one eventually just to feed my desires lol. Life is short, there’s no shame in what makes you happy as long as it doesn’t hurt some one else.
Great content as always. 😊 I love the Keys. Such a versatile little synth. So many features in such a small package, and the sounds it produces are incredible at this price point.
Pads, leads, bass, drums....you name it. And that's just a beginning. Any DAW with CC out capabilities extends the modulation options. Ableton's users can even save patches with a free max device.
Cool review! I'm in between getting the Keys or the Bass. The only thing that kinda puts me off from Keys is the filter. Even though it is supposedly the same filter as the Bass's, it sounds very flat and with zero character. It almost has noticeable "steps" in its movement. Like when you do a filter sweep with a DAW stock filter. From most online demos I've seen, the Volca Bass's filter sounds so much richer and with higher resolution and musicality. What do you think having used the Keys so much?
The Keys filter can definitely sound steppy, but only if you've got the resonance cranked to basically max. It's not my favorite filter, but I still think it sounds pretty good!
@@FreeBeat I just got the Keys and it's awesome, no problems with the filter! I actually really love its ribbon keyboard because it lets you do so much with the portamento/slides/vibrato. Especially useful for performing basslines or leads! With some practice, it gives an organic feel, almost like a guitar string, that not many keyboards have (Roli Seaboard comes to mind but that's 10x its price lol). If only it was a little bit bigger...
Keys was my very first synth and I think I won't ever sell it. It's so much fun. Spent 14 day quarantine with the Keys, looper and reverb and it was almost too short haha.
1:50 when you mentioned Styx I instantly hit Like (if I may add that when I think analogue synths, I also hear sweet and luscious pads, kinda like those on Jean-Michel Jarre’s late 70s records)
To anyone reading this: You can "hack" this Zoom pedal (and others) to put all the effects from all the other Zoom pedals onto one unit. If you want links, I will provide. But you should be able to find it by inputting appropriate text into the YT search bar. Good luck! I've yet to get one of these but I do plan to! Not before I get my first Eurorack case and a few modules though... Shit, I may never actually get that pedal.
@@mikeexits that's not quite how the hack works IIRC, the hack allows you to switch out the firmware to the MS-50G, and vice versa if you have the MS-50G One thing to note is that the MS-70CDR had a stereo input, the MS-50G only has a mono input
Is it possible to explain how your midi keyboard and volca keys synth are connected to the computer. What plugs into where? Does the volca plug straight in to the computer, and the same with the midi keyboard, or do they both plug into another piece of hardware?
Nothing in this setup is connected to the computer actually haha. The Keystep and Volca both have their own separate power cables that just go to wall power. Then, a 5 pin MIDI cable goes from the MIDI out of the Keystep into the MIDI in of the Volca Keys. Then, the audio out of the volca keys goes into my audio recorder, which is the Zoom Livetrak L-12. Thanks for watching!
True! I got all those first Volca's years ago. The Keys is still my favorite, because it does everything I want it to do, with excellent sound. The only reason I'm still looking at other synths is that I'm secretly wishing for a Volca Keys with more than one oscillator, and maybe a few patch options on the side :)
Buy a second, get MIDI splitting box - even one that only runs via a USB input... You only need to get power in . A power pack and a USB "printer" cable will work... Then all the input/output stuff is done via MIDI Happy days!
I think it really depends on what kind of sounds you're after. The Volca Keys is an actual analog synth, and can cover those classic sounds really well. The S1 is a digital synth, but from what I've heard it is an absolutely monster at what it does. The Volca Keys also has most of it's functions as knobs on the face, whereas I know that the S1 does require button shortcuts and a lot of menu diving. They both rock!
I highly doubt it's the only synth you'll ever need I mean I really love mine especially the more I figure it out it sounds so amazing and with the delay so good with that blade runner and stranger things vibes to dub style 👻🧙🕉️🌻🐦 but definitely not the only one it's like the gate way synth! It's also 180$ with the plug in now too !
You’ve also gotta consider the Uno synth, pretty much all the same features but with some great presets and you can store patches! The sequencer so easy to use as well.
The Volca Keys very much has its own sound, which I personally love. Aside from the Monotron, my other anologues are the Monologue and the Dreadbox Typhon, which although are technically more powerful than the Keys, I don't think they sound better as such. Yes they can do more and create more varied sounds, but there's just something about the raw tone of Keys that's really up my street. And running it through the NTS-1 is bloody brilliant!
@@FreeBeat Very true and well put. It must be that rawness that appeals to me. It's probably why I love the Monotron and have always lusted after the MS20.
For a budget synth, it keeps all the promises except very few rough edges, like steppy filter in treble register (only while reso/peak is at max)... In poly mode reseting an envelope produces artifact in below fundamental part of spectra. That can be easily filtered out, but in DAW-less setup, you'll need a keyfollow hi pass filter. I miss, call it, "mono mode". Ability to turn off other two oscs that would allow me to play legato notes like in unison mode but without chorusing/flanging. I like those "thin" r'n'b leads. Decent instrument, decent midi CC implementation is making it best choice for me compared to 2-3 times more expencive ones.
Absolutely! All of its faults are perfectly excusable at its price point, and at the end of the day you can still get a killer analog lead or bass out of it with little to no effort. Thanks for watching!
You’ve mentioned that in the poly mode, we can play three note chords. Stupid question, but what’s going to happen if I play a four note chord (Am7, for instance)?
I went with the FM. I do love the ability to just load sysex patches but creating your own sound is like rocket science... My setup is hurting for something like the Keys but my wallet is just plain hurting, xD
With this box, could i set up a repeatig loop of sounds that automatically plays so a band can play on top of it? Further , can you have several loops set up so in a gig situation, I could just press a button and the correct sound loop would play? Thanks Joe
Technically you could, but I wouldn't really recommend using the Volca Keys as a "backing track" player like that. The sequencer can be glitchy, programming it can be a pain, and you're pretty limited in terms of available patterns and pattern length. I'd look into something more along the lines of a sample player. You can create your backing stuff on a computer with free software, then load those loops into a sample player and trigger them that way. Much more reliable. I personally use a Roland SPD-SX for that. Thanks for watching!
hey I'm new to synths, and I'm trying to figure out what it means if there's a knob for decay/release. does it mean that you can't control them separately?
I'm using this with a computer sequencer. Do you know how to stop the built-in volca sequencer from playing when I play my computer patterns? It's annoying.
Hey Mr. Freebeat! If you are ever in the market for an analog mono synth...check out the monologue ;) Doesn't cost much more than a Volca, but has some real nice tricks up its sleeve!!! By the way congrats to your continuing success on the tube!
I'll probably snag a monologue at some point in the near future just to have one haha. I'm also strongly considering the polybrute. But the volca keys and model d are getting me by for now haha. Thanks for stopping by, I love your content!
I have one and I love it but I can't get the midi control to work with either of my midi keyboards for some reason. It's really disappointing because I've tried changing the midi channels and still nothing works for me.
hi. i dont have a volca, but i have fought with MIDI control a lot. I have other korg and i have talked with korg support several times. i have a couple things you may want to check. 1)on the input side(the volca) make sure midi in is set to "external" or "auto". 2)check that midi cable is well seated at both ends 3)on the midi out side, set the global midi channel same as the volca input channel. 4)on the output side, make sure the midi out is enabled if that feature exists. HTH, maybe u get lucky and it is one of these EZ fixes.
@@FreeBeat curious, are the MIDI channels on the NTS1 in HEX so they only burn 1 digit in the display? (0-15 base10 = 0-F base16 ) just trying to figure why they would start with a zero offset. zero offset is computer stuff, not human stuff like 1 is the first channel.
The Keys can store 128 presets and have additional, any-shape LFOs. It's all about combining the motion sequence and the active step functions. 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 found your channel. Both of my computers died so I'm looking for a dawless setup while repairing/saving for a new PC. PO33 and my phone should get me started - then I might grab volca key or something similar 🤔 regardless gotta keep creatin
It can sound incredibly big considering its size and price. Just add some reverb and you're good to go. Volca Keys, original Keystep and NTS1 makes for a very nice beginner/budget setup. Videos never do justice to how good the Volca Keys sounds in person.
I thought it was just me, but you're right. Watching videos of the volca keys is a completely different experience than listening to it on headphones or a nice set of monitors.
as somebody who owns vintage synths I completely agree. I got one of these when they first released. Kind of wish I grabbed the rest of the volca pack. The only one I really need is this one though. Also mine kind of is a little out of tune after me banging it around more than a handful of times so it has it's own sound now.
its my first synth, as you can hear at 5 56, that is the typical volca keys sound, very raw, a bit ugly dirty and too much in your face sometimes, I think it really needs compressor and eq....
For 150 US dollars I think it sounds pretty darn good. Usually I just throw it through the NTS-1 for a little reverb and I'm pretty happy with how it sounds. Thanks for watching!
If you look at my channel you'll see I actually have owned a Behringer Model D for quite some time :) This video is just talking about how the Volca Keys might be enough for some folks out there!
More closeups on the volca & a side camera angle too see the knobs & a graphic breakdown on knob positions based on final sounds at each stage But yes great video
I made the...interesting choice of starting my hardware life with the Deepmind 12. It's wonderful, but a strange place to begin using a synthesizer. Great video, thinking of getting one.
@@tonyhill2318 mostly the menu system, etc and and sequencer. The sequencer is strange. I am flabbergasted as to why they went that route with it. If it works for your needs that's awesome.... Oh, it is also pretty obnoxious to set up as a mono- or para-phonic box.... Or to get any real grit out of the filters... How's that help your sight?
If I'd known better 3 years ago, I would have went with a volca. I already had a basic keyboard that had a midi out... But instead I bought A DX7 which is quite a bit more expensive than, say the Volca FM or Keys. I think I would have made better use out of a volca than the DX7. I'm not even a musician so I don't need the big guns!
Volca was the first hardware synth I owned since the 80s. And although I have 8 synthesizers now (and owned and sold a few more), the Volca Keys is here to stay. I play it in almost all of my jams. I run the audio of mine through a Specular Tempus and it sounds epic.
Yeah, it's absolutely fantastic! Thanks for watching :)
8 Synths?? Man i'm still trying to figure out the first one to get and you're already on 8!!! Is there any particular reason you have that many? Or do you just like to collect them?
@@Spacegoat92 He probably has GAS. I sure do. I have a rolling a 90 I have a Hammond XK-2 I have a Korg Triton tactile one of my favorites is the general music S2 synthesizer I have two old school Hammond organs m111 and the M3
I have an Alesis sq8 I have a roland go keys
Thinking about getting Yamaha Reface Cp and the korg poly 6
@@Spacegoat92 Do you have an idea what kind of synth you want?
@@crnkmnky No idea at all hey, my last experience with a synth was my cousins Roland D-10. Haha. But I want something that does a good version of various instruments and sound effects.
Great video, as ever. I recently bought a pre-owned Arturia Microbrute and I really get what you say about the immediacy of having a truly analogue synth with direct control from each knob. You can generate fantastic sounds in seconds with no menu diving. Love it.
Bit more gnarly sounding though isn't it? Great if you're making techno or noise (I think there's a vid of Codex Empire using the MiniBrute in a live set) but a world apart from the Keys in sound.
@@AllaMortify totally agree. Mainly using it to teach myself synthesis.
The microbrute is a great synth, glad you're enjoying it!
This is one of the most informative videos I’ve seen in a long time. My Volca Keys is about to come out of the dark corner in my studio! Thank you!
Thanks so much for the kind words, have fun!
One mistake a lot of people make with Volcas (and POs too) is to judge them before they’ve run them through a decent interface and studio monitors. Just because it has an internal speaker doesn’t mean you’re restricted to it. Add a few iOS fx and hey- a great poly synth!
I totally agree. Volca keys, nts-1 for effects, a decent set of speakers, and you're in for a world of fun!
That is an understatement right there Wally. Try washing your final signal through a Source Audio Nemesis pedal and you will have tears of joy flowing in no time.
didn't even imagine that volca keys could make a rave stab like prodigy 4:00. awesome work.
It's got quite a bit up it's sleeves honestly. Thanks for watching!
Wooow, incredible surprise for this synth! I think I might add it to the arsenal, I'm thuroughly impressed! Great video thanks for posting, will definitely subscribe.
This is exactly the video I have been looking for, for years!
Glad I could help!
as an owner of two of these, theyre super useful for rough drafting stuff, they have enough tweak and play to really seed ideas to expand on. Ive translated patterns from the keys to be bigger/more ambient/etc, that i probably wouldnt have found without it. not a bad piece of hardware by any means
Every sound is top, even that pad is simple and sweet. Volca keys is good enough that I've often dreamed of ones with a keyboard of the size of the keystep 37 for instance. Imagine if it also included the volca sample and volca mix. That would be a badass little concert box.
That'd be a great piece of gear for sure. Thanks for watching!
For the similar price (Volca keys + KS37), you may want to check out Minilogue OG. 4 voice polyphonic with keystep features (aftertouch, sequencer).
@@grouponspeam9236does the mininova have aftertouch?
Can't believe this was uploaded today. I'm this close to getting the Volca keys I have the money set aside but for some reason i keep doing a double think on whether i should go with the keys or bass. This is going to be my first analog synth.
Thank you so much for replying! I'm going to take ur advice and go with the keys. What you said was really helpful and the push I needed to stop going back and forth in my head haha
So glad you're going for the keys, you'll love it!
Hi.
I had the same problem trying to decide which one to get.
The more vids I watched and learnt about this fantastic Volca series the more I got fired ....Then you know what I did? ...I bought all three!!!
Keys, Beats and Bass.
I am flat broke now but he'll I am going to have some fun.
A year of subscription and you still inspire me man, even with my total lack of talent your content some how manages to squeeze blood from a stone and I have actually made some music!
Thank you 👊
Thank you so much for the kind words :) I hope you continue on your musical journey for as long as you can!
Don't pressure yourself. Talent is much less important than what you do with what you have. Beyond that, talent is cultivated, rather than being something you're born with. Those cases, I'd imagine, are somewhere between very rare to non-existent.
@@mikeexits thank you, it's nice to meet folk that have a kind and encouraging word online. Most of the time it's all negative. Watching Freebeat, and reading kind words like this has helped me in more ways than you know.
@@SpeedStar76 I understand, it's why I do what I can to balance out the parts of the internet I participate in haha. I'm glad it had a positive impact here. :)
The world needs more colorful, warm, curvy, creative energy (it's got too much grey, cold, angular, hard energy, if you will) so it's very important that we help each other cultivate that within ourselves where we reasonably can, I feel.
@@mikeexits absolutely, more orange and green less grey. You do excellent work, I'll do my best to play it forward 👍
Free the Mr Free Beat and quality & good mood content you get! Really great, greetings from Finland!
Thanks you so much!
The best synth is the one you have (or can afford in my case 🤣)
Hahaha so true!
Behringer Crave is another really good option that also has a surprisingly good patch bay, all things considered. Check it out! I'm sure you could find it for around $200. I just checked Reverb and there's a mint condition one for $220
I have enough analog mono and poly synths but still want this little guy, hence why I’m on here looking at it. The small battery powered form factor is what interest me the most. I have a Volca FM so I know I’ll like it. I guess I’ll have to get one eventually just to feed my desires lol. Life is short, there’s no shame in what makes you happy as long as it doesn’t hurt some one else.
It's also incredible for ambient pad sounds
Yeah it is, especially if you get down and dirty with the EG!
Haha. Shoutout was awesome. Thanks!
Thank YOU for the support!
Great content as always. 😊
I love the Keys. Such a versatile little synth. So many features in such a small package, and the sounds it produces are incredible at this price point.
The price point is the big factor for me. It edges out so many other synths in the slightly higher $200-300 price range. Thanks for watching!
Pads, leads, bass, drums....you name it. And that's just a beginning. Any DAW with CC out capabilities extends the modulation options.
Ableton's users can even save patches with a free max device.
Cool review! I'm in between getting the Keys or the Bass. The only thing that kinda puts me off from Keys is the filter. Even though it is supposedly the same filter as the Bass's, it sounds very flat and with zero character. It almost has noticeable "steps" in its movement. Like when you do a filter sweep with a DAW stock filter. From most online demos I've seen, the Volca Bass's filter sounds so much richer and with higher resolution and musicality. What do you think having used the Keys so much?
The Keys filter can definitely sound steppy, but only if you've got the resonance cranked to basically max. It's not my favorite filter, but I still think it sounds pretty good!
@@FreeBeat I just got the Keys and it's awesome, no problems with the filter! I actually really love its ribbon keyboard because it lets you do so much with the portamento/slides/vibrato. Especially useful for performing basslines or leads! With some practice, it gives an organic feel, almost like a guitar string, that not many keyboards have (Roli Seaboard comes to mind but that's 10x its price lol). If only it was a little bit bigger...
the Volca Keys is a winner! imo best of the Volca series.
It's an amazing little synth for sure!
I love my Volca Keys, that with the Volca Bass & NTS-1 makes a great combination. Thx FB, Great video.
Thanks for watching!
Love your videos, brother, thank you
Thanks so much!
I use the Bass with the Keystep 37...Amazing controller is the KS37
Yeah the Keystep 37 really has a lot going for it! Thanks for watching :)
Keys was my very first synth and I think I won't ever sell it. It's so much fun. Spent 14 day quarantine with the Keys, looper and reverb and it was almost too short haha.
I own one. It's exactly as good as it's said in this video. This synth sounds great!
Thanks for watching!
1:50 when you mentioned Styx I instantly hit Like (if I may add that when I think analogue synths, I also hear sweet and luscious pads, kinda like those on Jean-Michel Jarre’s late 70s records)
Thanks so much for watching!
Sold defo getting some volcas and a keystep Pro.
Great vid and work fella keep it up!
Peace
Thanks so much, happy jamming!
Add the wallet-friendly Zoom MS-70CDR pedal and you've definitely got a lot going for you.
Yes, that pedal can take the Volca Keys into a whole new dimension of sonic possibilities!
I bought a Keeley Caverns v2 and it sounds heavenly with the keys
I need to grab one of those haha, I just use the nts-1 for all of my effects!
To anyone reading this: You can "hack" this Zoom pedal (and others) to put all the effects from all the other Zoom pedals onto one unit. If you want links, I will provide. But you should be able to find it by inputting appropriate text into the YT search bar. Good luck!
I've yet to get one of these but I do plan to! Not before I get my first Eurorack case and a few modules though...
Shit, I may never actually get that pedal.
@@mikeexits that's not quite how the hack works IIRC, the hack allows you to switch out the firmware to the MS-50G, and vice versa if you have the MS-50G
One thing to note is that the MS-70CDR had a stereo input, the MS-50G only has a mono input
Is it possible to explain how your midi keyboard and volca keys synth are connected to the computer. What plugs into where? Does the volca plug straight in to the computer, and the same with the midi keyboard, or do they both plug into another piece of hardware?
Nothing in this setup is connected to the computer actually haha. The Keystep and Volca both have their own separate power cables that just go to wall power. Then, a 5 pin MIDI cable goes from the MIDI out of the Keystep into the MIDI in of the Volca Keys. Then, the audio out of the volca keys goes into my audio recorder, which is the Zoom Livetrak L-12. Thanks for watching!
@@FreeBeat Thanks for spending the time to reply and explain - much appreciated.
Very cool - thank you
Absolutely, thanks for watching!
This is all you need but I would control it with a large modular system.
Whatever helps you create!
True! I got all those first Volca's years ago. The Keys is still my favorite, because it does everything I want it to do, with excellent sound. The only reason I'm still looking at other synths is that I'm secretly wishing for a Volca Keys with more than one oscillator, and maybe a few patch options on the side :)
Haha a few patching options on the keys and I don't think it costs $150 anymore though!
Buy a second, get MIDI splitting box - even one that only runs via a USB input... You only need to get power in . A power pack and a USB "printer" cable will work... Then all the input/output stuff is done via MIDI
Happy days!
Will you get the volca keys over the Roland s1?
Thanks for the video btw
I think it really depends on what kind of sounds you're after. The Volca Keys is an actual analog synth, and can cover those classic sounds really well. The S1 is a digital synth, but from what I've heard it is an absolutely monster at what it does. The Volca Keys also has most of it's functions as knobs on the face, whereas I know that the S1 does require button shortcuts and a lot of menu diving. They both rock!
I highly doubt it's the only synth you'll ever need I mean I really love mine especially the more I figure it out it sounds so amazing and with the delay so good with that blade runner and stranger things vibes to dub style 👻🧙🕉️🌻🐦 but definitely not the only one it's like the gate way synth! It's also 180$ with the plug in now too !
You’ve also gotta consider the Uno synth, pretty much all the same features but with some great presets and you can store patches! The sequencer so easy to use as well.
I need to look more into those, they seem awesome!
It’s a great synth but one major difference is the Uno is monophonic. I don’t really like the build myself but it sounds REALLY good
The Volca Keys very much has its own sound, which I personally love. Aside from the Monotron, my other anologues are the Monologue and the Dreadbox Typhon, which although are technically more powerful than the Keys, I don't think they sound better as such. Yes they can do more and create more varied sounds, but there's just something about the raw tone of Keys that's really up my street. And running it through the NTS-1 is bloody brilliant!
The keys sound is very raw, and it's pretty unapologetic about it haha. Adding in the nts-1 takes it to insane levels. Thanks for watching!
@@FreeBeat Very true and well put. It must be that rawness that appeals to me. It's probably why I love the Monotron and have always lusted after the MS20.
@@matthewtunnicliffe201
M S 20 !!!!!
is super dooopa !!!
🐂💨 💨 💨 💨
@@zorbanongreco It's next on my list.
@@matthewtunnicliffe201 😀👍🏼
You'll have great fun !
Cool.. x nice one bud x
Thanks for watching!
Great video, thanks.
How would a Korg monologue compare to this setup?
Thats my first Projekt maker. This synth make universe sound create.
Thanks for watching!
Hello, can I use the Arturia KeyStep 430201 32-key Compact Keyboard for my Volca Keys and Beats?
For a budget synth, it keeps all the promises except very few rough edges, like steppy filter in treble register (only while reso/peak is at max)... In poly mode reseting an envelope produces artifact in below fundamental part of spectra. That can be easily filtered out, but in DAW-less setup, you'll need a keyfollow hi pass filter.
I miss, call it, "mono mode". Ability to turn off other two oscs that would allow me to play legato notes like in unison mode but without chorusing/flanging. I like those "thin" r'n'b leads.
Decent instrument, decent midi CC implementation is making it best choice for me compared to 2-3 times more expencive ones.
Absolutely! All of its faults are perfectly excusable at its price point, and at the end of the day you can still get a killer analog lead or bass out of it with little to no effort. Thanks for watching!
Thank you
Your video helped a lot!
8:26 I was recommended this video after watching your latest (MicroFreak + distortion), where you also had a spontaneous Eruption. 🌋
Awesome haha, thanks for watching!
Can it save presets?
Is there still a noise issue with the Keys? I seem to recall widespread reports of some units having a hum that is impossible to remove.
I haven't noticed anything, I bought my new during summer of last year.
I had that when I was using a cheap daisy chain power supply, but it disappeared when I used something better.
You’ve mentioned that in the poly mode, we can play three note chords. Stupid question, but what’s going to happen if I play a four note chord (Am7, for instance)?
It will cut out whatever the first note played was.
Wait... MIDI out from the Arturia controller and MIDI into the Korg Volca?
Correct
Great video, very entertaining
Thanks!
1st synth I owned and several synths later I just bought a 2nd volca keys.
Nice! How often do you find yourself using them together?
2nd one JUST arrived today, power supply tomorrow, shoulda thought ahead. I’ll bet a bunch! Can’t wait to put them both in unison mode!@@FreeBeat
I went with the FM. I do love the ability to just load sysex patches but creating your own sound is like rocket science... My setup is hurting for something like the Keys but my wallet is just plain hurting, xD
My first was the FM as well. I returned it a few days later as I had no idea what I was doing lol. It's a complicated box to say the least!
Thanks, that's great!
Nice video, simple, informative and useful!
Thanks so much for watching!
With this box, could i set up a repeatig loop of sounds that automatically plays so a band can play on top of it? Further , can you have several loops set up so in a gig situation, I could just press a button and the correct sound loop would play? Thanks Joe
Yes you can sequence notes and knob turns, and save them to 8 different memories. I use an external sequencer so it's not limited to 8 memories.
Technically you could, but I wouldn't really recommend using the Volca Keys as a "backing track" player like that. The sequencer can be glitchy, programming it can be a pain, and you're pretty limited in terms of available patterns and pattern length. I'd look into something more along the lines of a sample player. You can create your backing stuff on a computer with free software, then load those loops into a sample player and trigger them that way. Much more reliable. I personally use a Roland SPD-SX for that. Thanks for watching!
7:08
I was thinking Tony Carey.
You play nice melodies ad hoc :)
Thank you very much!
It might be the only analog synth you need!
But we all know that you need more!
This is the truest comment ever posted 😂
Was thinking the same lol after buying so many there's still so many I want 😂
So i can connect the volca keys to any midi keyboard??
Any keyboard with 5 pin MIDI, yes :)
.. "some Judy Garland for some reason" and a bit of Eruption love it
hey I'm new to synths, and I'm trying to figure out what it means if there's a knob for decay/release. does it mean that you can't control them separately?
I'm using this with a computer sequencer. Do you know how to stop the built-in volca sequencer from playing when I play my computer patterns? It's annoying.
I believe there is a setting in the midi menu!
Whats the last thing he does?
Hey Mr. Freebeat! If you are ever in the market for an analog mono synth...check out the monologue ;) Doesn't cost much more than a Volca, but has some real nice tricks up its sleeve!!! By the way congrats to your continuing success on the tube!
I'll probably snag a monologue at some point in the near future just to have one haha. I'm also strongly considering the polybrute. But the volca keys and model d are getting me by for now haha. Thanks for stopping by, I love your content!
@@FreeBeat You won't regret it ;)
Can you save presets?
You cannot :(
I have one and I love it but I can't get the midi control to work with either of my midi keyboards for some reason. It's really disappointing because I've tried changing the midi channels and still nothing works for me.
hi. i dont have a volca, but i have fought with MIDI control a lot. I have other korg and i have talked with korg support several times. i have a couple things you may want to check. 1)on the input side(the volca) make sure midi in is set to "external" or "auto". 2)check that midi cable is well seated at both ends 3)on the midi out side, set the global midi channel same as the volca input channel. 4)on the output side, make sure the midi out is enabled if that feature exists. HTH, maybe u get lucky and it is one of these EZ fixes.
JJ pretty much covered it all. Aside from taking note that the nts-1 labels channel 1 as channel 0. Hope you can figure it out!
@@FreeBeat curious, are the MIDI channels on the NTS1 in HEX so they only burn 1 digit in the display? (0-15 base10 = 0-F base16 ) just trying to figure why they would start with a zero offset. zero offset is computer stuff, not human stuff like 1 is the first channel.
For me when I think of analogue I think of soft rich sounding nostalgic chords and cute melodies. That's just me, I might be weird
The keys can do that as well :) not as good as other synthesizers, but the option is certainly there. Thanks for watching!
Bro. Citing Rush and Styx in 2021? :-)
Absolutely!
Microfreak vs volka keys?
Too different to compare in my opinion!
But when i play, in record mode it's sounds always different as in live mode. What i do wrong bro?
Sounds like you might need to clear out your motion sequencing!
The Keys can store 128 presets and have additional, any-shape LFOs. It's all about combining the motion sequence and the active step functions.
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!
Woah, fantastic advice! Thanks so much for sharing :)
I don't have the Volca Keys yet, but this is truly brilliant dude. One more reason to finally get it :D
@@OmenAhead Thanks! Volcas in general are more powerful than they seem but the Keys is the strongest example of that.
I am buying this :-)
Awesome, I hope you love it!
Bought this a few years ago, tried it a bit, put it up for sale a few weeks ago, took it back down after the first 2 minutes of this video 😂
Oh that's awesome, I'm honored to have saved your Volca Keys haha. It's actually quite the awesome little synth! Thanks for watching :)
Just found your channel. Both of my computers died so I'm looking for a dawless setup while repairing/saving for a new PC. PO33 and my phone should get me started - then I might grab volca key or something similar 🤔 regardless gotta keep creatin
That's honestly going to be a fantastic setup! Happy jamming!
Well, I’ve bought a lot since that one.
As long as you're having fun!
It can sound incredibly big considering its size and price. Just add some reverb and you're good to go. Volca Keys, original Keystep and NTS1 makes for a very nice beginner/budget setup. Videos never do justice to how good the Volca Keys sounds in person.
I thought it was just me, but you're right. Watching videos of the volca keys is a completely different experience than listening to it on headphones or a nice set of monitors.
The arturia is a midi controller???
Yes it is!
as somebody who owns vintage synths I completely agree. I got one of these when they first released. Kind of wish I grabbed the rest of the volca pack. The only one I really need is this one though. Also mine kind of is a little out of tune after me banging it around more than a handful of times so it has it's own sound now.
Thanks so much for watching!
Still my favorite of the Volca series.
It's the only one I've ever really used, but I can't see anything else beating it haha.
Is it the one Volca that works without loading software?
As far as I know the Volca Sample is the only volca that actually Needs any sort of software, and I believe that's just for loading samples.
4:07, doesn't get any more 70s than that.
Thanks for watching!
cheers
Thanks for watching :)
8:45 That's so casio
Thanks for watching!
Pretty impressive.
its my first synth, as you can hear at 5 56, that is the typical volca keys sound, very raw, a bit ugly dirty and too much in your face sometimes, I think it really needs compressor and eq....
For 150 US dollars I think it sounds pretty darn good. Usually I just throw it through the NTS-1 for a little reverb and I'm pretty happy with how it sounds. Thanks for watching!
To say that, you've never tried a Mini Moog (or the Behringer clone Model D)
If you look at my channel you'll see I actually have owned a Behringer Model D for quite some time :) This video is just talking about how the Volca Keys might be enough for some folks out there!
@@FreeBeat ok I didn't see it , cheers :)
More closeups on the volca & a side camera angle too see the knobs & a graphic breakdown on knob positions based on final sounds at each stage
But yes great video
Thanks so much for watching!
You're Dope!
Some Judy Garland for the Rush fans out there
Someone been tweaking the gesticulation filter..😶
My hands are unstoppable lol
I made the...interesting choice of starting my hardware life with the Deepmind 12. It's wonderful, but a strange place to begin using a synthesizer.
Great video, thinking of getting one.
Wow you really jumped right in haha. Such a powerful synth though, I hope you love it!
DM12 is an excellent choice for a first or tenth synth...don't see what's strange about it at all.
@@tonyhill2318 mostly the menu system, etc and and sequencer. The sequencer is strange. I am flabbergasted as to why they went that route with it. If it works for your needs that's awesome.... Oh, it is also pretty obnoxious to set up as a mono- or para-phonic box.... Or to get any real grit out of the filters...
How's that help your sight?
If I'd known better 3 years ago, I would have went with a volca. I already had a basic keyboard that had a midi out... But instead I bought A DX7 which is quite a bit more expensive than, say the Volca FM or Keys. I think I would have made better use out of a volca than the DX7. I'm not even a musician so I don't need the big guns!
Oh wow you went in with one of the hardest synths to program out there!
@@FreeBeat yeah lol
❤️ *RUSH*. your keyboard playing suddenly erupted…🙄😬
Rush is the best :)
Im not a keyboard player, then kills it lol
Hahaha hardly!
Ehh for me analog is more than just deep bass and screaming leads so..
(Powers up eurorack case)
Fair enough, eurorack away my friend! :D
Your "If" as in "if that describes you" - is bigger than your entire video. ))
Thanks for the feedback, sorry to disappoint.
Behinger makes a micro polyphonic synth for 50 bucks
Tbh if I can’t put it on my modular rack I’m not gonna buy it
That's a very nice position to be in! Thanks for watching :)
1.33 omg 😳 now I’m deaf 😂
Hahaha sorry about that!
Run it through a distortion pedal and you have even more edgy sound
Definitely!
I got my volca keys synth for 84$. somehow. On a ebay bid.
Welcome to hand gesture theatre… 😉
Always! 👋👐✋