For anyone who had issues with only 2 Volcas working with this method: I bought the BELKIN and and the INSIGNIA stereo 5-way splitters. The Insignia would play 2 volcas OK, but the 3rd would either not play at all, or else play random/stuttered notes. Then I switched to the BELKIN and it worked like a charm (just like the video above), my BEATS, BASS, and FM were all playing perfectly!
The Beatstep Pro is a God send. It has enabled my elaborate midi hardware Synths setup to totally break with the need to use the main computer and DAW ( apart from recording albums etc of course ) I already have a complex array of Midi merge and thru boxes to achieve that and only need to make a small midi cable routing change to use all of it with the DAW again if need be. This little trick is only gonna give me even more options if I need them. BRAVO !
Without scrolling too far down and breaking the spell, I'd just like to point out that this is one of the more positive and helpful comment sections I've seen in awhile
For anyone going through the headache I just did: this really only works with 2 devices reliably. Anything more than that and the signal is too weak/muddled for it to be accurate. You'll get misfired notes or no signal to some of your devices if you try to add more.
Just a heads up that you might want to be careful with this method depending on what you're connecting/disconnecting on the fly. Something like the Volca Sample using Retrokits RK002 cable can get messed up if you connect/disconnect while the BSP is playing/sending info. The nature of the 3.5mm jack is such that the tip will pass through the ground and sleeve connections on it's way in, meaning you could accidentally send MIDI voltage to a pin that doesn't want it. Safest to power off before connecting/disconnecting.
Yes I blew my mum's stereo up by connecting another turntable to her stack system. .... joined powered speaker wires blew the transformer ...she went mad lol.....you need a cheap beringer mixer think it has 8 inputs for headphone devides
I think I have this problem. Tried to use 3 volcas with BSP and things went crazy. Volca Bass would have a “stuck” note. The Volca FM would not even respond to BSP. Only the Volca sample will still talk to the BSP. I hope I didn’t permanently damage anything.
Not sure if anyone cares but if you guys are stoned like me during the covid times then you can watch all of the latest series on InstaFlixxer. I've been binge watching with my gf during the lockdown xD
Thank you Soniclab for the video but it doesn't explain the connection to the DAW and how is the interface setup?!!! Which is very important for the recording workflow . Hope for another video with the best interface chioce for the volca's sent and received data.
1:15 - that sso IMPORTANT to note. It took me several days and basically I was blaming my Keystep for being broken because I didn't know Novation's cable is different to Korg's (I used Novation blue cable to connect to electribe2 blue so they'd be color coded). And a side rant: not only do we have to deal with 3.5mm TRS to 5-pin DIN MIDI adapters, we also HAVE TO remember which bl00dy cable brand standard goes into which split - I wish one MIDI standard over 3.5mm TRS was adopted across the industry.
The only problem with this solution is that you are splitting the voltage between all three jacks. With only 3 of them it seems the devices are still able to interpret the digital signal, despite the voltage being dropped, but there is a chance that with 4 or 5 devices they would begin having trouble identifying the peaks and troughs of the digital pulses. Another cheap option that basically does the same thing, but with actual 5-pin MIDI din, is the MIDISolutions quadra thru box; The best $50 I've spent on my sequencing setup! But in my experience, with 4 devices some synths will get "hung" notes, so I usually keep it to only 3.
Like @inthefade said, this is potentially a risky endeavor as the voltage drop on several optocouplers in parallel on the recieving end might be a cause of information loss. The transciever circuit simply isn't designed to supply enough current for a parallel circuit of this type.
This setup is what I've been looking for! As a volca user I've always wanted more than 16 steps, especially for the beats. And the triple midi controller! The beatstep pro will be my next purchase. Thank you for the video!
+Anachronistic Complex Because I'm a mean and cranky person... Well that, and I really like when companies adhere to standards. But because there IS a benefit to the mini MIDI, I guess it's OK. However, I do like it when all cables of a particular purpose are use the same type of plug... I've got too many converter cables and plugs as it is!
+Anachronistic Complex Because I'm a mean and cranky person... Well that, and I really like when companies adhere to standards. But because there IS a benefit to the mini MIDI, I guess it's OK. However, I do like it when all cables of a particular purpose are use the same type of plug... I've got too many converter cables and plugs as it is!
Wow. Really happy to learn about this. I have all this hardware save the $10 headphone splitter and I was looking for a midi thru. This works a treat instead. Thanks!
interesting .. but missing the explanation of the settings on the pro beatstep, since the 3 volca are directly controlled by the pro beatstep using the keys DRUM, SEQ1 and SEQ2 ... does anyone know the settings?
fabrizio serino I’m assuming they’ve set the different devices to different midi channels and then set the sequencers and drum sequencer on the bsp to those channels
So because of this video, and the pandemic, I decided to venture into DAWless jamming, and get the BeatStep pro. But instead of Volcas, I got a drumbrute impact, an ik UNO Synth, and for now using my AudioKit Synth One app with the Korg plug key for poly synth (hope to get the skulpt) that will hook up to a mixer. I’m hoping this trick you guys have works with it: I want the BSP to be the brain!
i have the same issue to connect it whit my mx-1,on one way of another it wil not work dawles(no computer)becous this is wat i like,but i am afraid i must send it back,it dissapointing me so much bla bla about the bsp but i can not find my self in it,i have also drumbrute of aturia ,but to let it play ?the splitter thing dosn t work eather at my set up,think a good quality midi splitter has more potential,maby i do somthing wrong ?
You mean I've just spent £37 on a 4way MIDI splitter when I could've gotten away with a headphone splitter from Mapplin? Grrrrr! A very useful video. Thank you. Can anyone recommend a good video tutorial for connecting Volca Bass/Beats/Keys up with the Beatstep Pro and a controller keyboard? Also, I'm thinking of purchasing a Volca Sample but how does the Beatstep Pro cope with each of the KVS's 10 samples being on separate channels?
Just a heads up on the splitter -- I tried this and my BSP isn't able to drive three Volcas, but can do two. Saw a guy on Reddit experiencing the same thing. So, if this doesn't work for you, in part or in full, you probs just need a proper midi thru box.
Cool, but why so much attention to these Volca groove boxes and so little attention to modular gear, cool gear like Erica Synth Pico System, Bastl BitRanger, desktop synths like the Make Noise 0-Coast and Pittsburgh Modular Lifeforms, and some of the newer polysynths like the OB6 and Yamaha Montage?
***** Any one of the above vendors would love to have Sonic State demo their new releases but if they don't ask, I guess it will be more Volca FM demos. Korg has only shipped a tiny number of Volca FMs, nobody has them in stock, so an entire series on the Volca FM might be premature. It's kind of like a video series on a Buchla Sound Canvas or Moog Modular that nobody can afford. You can't buy a Volca FM, so who cares? :-)
I found that only 3 of the outputs on the Belikn splitter will work at most on my Novation Circuit. Connecting a 4th disrupts the others. Also MIDI start/stop messages did not always transmit. YMMV.
I have a really dumb question, but I can't dig up the answer anywhere. At 2:42 in this video, when you start the sequence on the BSP, it does not start the internal sequencers on the Volcas. For the life of me, I cannot find what setting this is on the BSP or Volca side. I have the Beats, Bass and FM set up on the 3 separate channels on the BSP, and they trigger fine. But whenever I start the sequence on the BSP it starts the internal play on the Volcas as well. How can I stop that from happening? Thank you in advance for any guidance you can offer!
i think you cannot stop the internal sequencer on volcas, just clear the pattern imo. edit: so you can stop it, but will always start again when bsp starts.
I don't know if you can disable midi clock out on the beat step pro but the easy solution is to have a blank pattern on the Volcas. All mine have blank patterns in memory slot one!
Hi every time I connect the Beatstep Pro to my Volca Keys and press play on the Beatstep it starts the Volca Keys own sequencer. Anyone know where I am going wrong. Thanks for the demo, cheers.
Hold the func button when you power up your volca and deselect the internal clock, if i remember right no 10 key should not have the light on. Check the manual. The the volcas sequencer wont start
Hello I'm using that stereo splitter but the kick drum if sample sounds in every note of the volca bass, any thoughts on how to play 100% separate channels in the beatstep?
Hello I'm using that stereo splitter but the kick drum if sample sounds in every note of the volca bass, any thoughts on how to play 100% separate channels in the beatstep?
Oh wow. I was just about to purchase a Midi Solutions Quadra but this will do fine. Also, what's the difference between the Korg and Arturia/Novation midi jack? I have an Elektribe Sampler 2 and a couple of these Korg 1/8 to Midi jacks.
just schearching for midi split 39~49 euros the cheaper. and i try my dual audio split on electribe 2. only one midi out for 16 midi channel/tracks. Oooops! works very fine. thanks again nick. all whas under my hands for free.
Ok but once it's all plugged in and ready to go, how do you separate the signal so the only the drum module plays through the drum channel and each synth plays separately through each synth channel? Right now I've got a vermona drm1 and moog minitaur going via midi on the beatstep pro but they're both playing together on each channel
Weird question: If I have my BeatStep connected to a PC with USB and also connected to a Volca via MIDI, whatever I play on BeatStep ->Volca will be represented and recorded into my DAW?
i tried the exact same setup (also with tr 8 instead of beats) , 2 arturia, 1 novation cable, but if i have 3 of them connected sequencer 2 doesnt sends anything. any combination of 2 works fine tho. any tips?
thanks for inspiration, does somebody know if the same thing would work on any other midi device if i just use the 3.5 to midi adaptors for IN and OUT ?
Thx for the video, actually a few years old but still useful to confirm what I was asking myself. I see you're powering everything through a battery bank, how do you manage to not get ground noise if you are using the same source of power ?
each device is set to read only one midi channel so all midi info is split amongst the 5 outputs of the belkin spliter you have to specify within each of the volcas or whatever midi gear you use what channel it responds to
Thanks... I didn't know the volca's could have the midi channel changed (or how.. but do now). This all got me thinking/searching... createdigitalmusic.com/2015/08/used-stereo-minijack-cables-midi/
Yes, if you turn the unit on while holding memory button then press one of the 16 step buttons to specify which channel, then hit record to save setting.
@@JohnAlchemy thanks, when I asked the question 4 years ago this wasn’t possible, the 2ppq option was added later in a firmware update... now I don’t even have a Beatstep Pro anymore 😅
Would love to see a mini video about a good way to run the audio signal for 5 Volcas at once. Perhaps using a mixer along with the correct cables to use for each Volca etc
Tried this method with the Volca sample with RK2 cable and a Korg MS2000, as soon as I plug in the sample it doesn't let the ms2000 run through? ANY HELP PLEASE. and the settings for the rk2 keep becoming messed up for the arturia beatstep pro
Hello guys, I have the same set but with volca sample in the drums, with 2 simultaneous tracks it works perfect but if I put 3 tracks it does not work the drums track goes crazy, the selected midi input are different between the tracks but it does not work, some can you help me with this?
I bought the BELKIN and and the INSIGNIA. The Insignia would play 2 volcas OK, but the 3rd would either not play at all, or else play random/stuttered notes. Then I switched to the BELKIN and it worked like a charm (just like the video above), my BEATS, BASS, and FM were all playing perfectly!
What should I look into if I plug the BSP into my two Volcas correctly and on the correct midi channels and I get audio from Volcas but not from BSP? I don't know what else to check, my wiring hasn't changed.
@@sonicstate Yes, that's what I meant, no audio is triggered via midi. I unplugged the Sample and tried just the FM but it didn't work, it was still through the splitter at the time though so I will try again without. Both are connected to Retrokits midi cables with their respective firmware installed. I have also never been able to use a standard midi cable to control my Volca Kick or Drum. It was previously working with the FM and Sample though.
Thank you very much, they helped me a lot. I have a question, and the audio output? Is it for each individual machine? do I need another multi audio connector?
This solution is nothing to do with audio. You can’t merge multiple audio outputs into one signal using just cables; you will damage something. You need a mixer.
this isn't working for me. I have the same exact setup, and I just get little fuzz noises when I hit the pads or start the sequencer. someone help please...
BeatStep Pro midi config will be comfortably adjustetd with its software MidiControlCenter (downlowdable from Arturias website). Volca synths are set to ch 1 on default and can be configured by holding memory while powering up. That will open a global config menue where the midi channel can be picked. The Volca Sample uses channels 1 to 10 (a channel for each of the parts) that can't be changed. You may assign the first 10 channels to the BeatStep Pros drum section to and all your other stuff should be set to 11 and up to make ist work properly. Search "BeatStep Pro Volca Midi" to see videos of how to do it.
honestly the more i look at the beatstep pro the more i feel like it's a no brainer for what im trying to acomplish.... ive been avoiding buying it for the longest time thinking i get away with using my laptop or my ipad but honestly i think the beatstep pro for the performance side of things (which is mostly what im aiming for having a pure performance based setup) gives you unparalleled control.... im probably going to be returning my volca beats and replacing it with a beatstep pro and instead running drums from my ipad using ielectribe which has the most fun sounding drums (and the fattest as far as i can tell from all other apps) until i can afford something like an MFB or something for drums....
I'm trying to connect volca sample and volca keys. It works with normal midi cables but when I connect the retro kits cable it stops working. So I think you can't use this method with rk.
Guys, please tell me more about this 5 volt to 9 volt adapter. Also could you post a link to "router video" you talking about at 3:39? I can't find it by name. Thanks!
You probably need to set the MIDI receive channels for each of the 3 Volcas. From the BSP, sequencer 1 sends on channel 1, sequencer 2 sends on channel 2, and the drum sequencer sends on channel 10 by default. You can either do the mapping from the Volca side, or the BSP side.
One MIDI cable carries 16 channels of MIDI data. The BSP sends all 16 channels at once, however only three of the channels contain MIDI data. Each receiving piece of hardware should be set to receive a channel corresponding to each BSP sequencer.
Ok so now....question. Can you use this in conjunction with that other device Nick was showing the other day that enables you to send Velocity data to the Volca FM? The Beatstep Pro has a Velocity parameter for each step as well.....I'm really starting to see some nice potential here....
interessante .. ma manca la spiegazione dei settaggi sul beatstep pro , visto che i 3 volca vengono comandati direttamente dal beatstep pro usando i tasti DRUM , SEQ1 e SEQ2 ... qualcuno conosce i settaggi ?
I have two separate monosynths connected using this method but cannot get them to play individually. I would like my Dreadbox running off Sequencer 1 and my Pittsburgh Modular on Sequencer 2. Can anyone here tell me how to do this? Is it something to do with changing the midi channels within the Beatstep Pro? Thanks!
Don't know the Pittspurgh Modular but - if you can, which isn't sure, it depends of the synth - you have to change the Midi channel within your synth so they are different, like one Pittspurgh responds to channel 1 and the other one to channel 2. Check the Synth manual and online doc.
orbitalchiller thanks! I have now realised that there is something wrong with my Beatstep Pro. The midi channel sends will notchange when I try to assign them.
You can change the MIDI channel of either of those (well on the Bass at least) by holding down the FUNC button while turning the device on. The step which MIDI channel the device uses will have the light on (1 == MIDI Channel 1, 2 == Midi Channel 2 etc). So select another MIDI channel, press REC then the device will start. Now you can also select which sequencer sends to what MIDI Channel with the BeatStep program on your PC. Connect the BeatStep via USB for this, and if you don't have it download the program from the Arturia website. You can assign knobs and stuff there too, so it's worth having it.
For anyone who had issues with only 2 Volcas working with this method: I bought the BELKIN and and the INSIGNIA stereo 5-way splitters. The Insignia would play 2 volcas OK, but the 3rd would either not play at all, or else play random/stuttered notes. Then I switched to the BELKIN and it worked like a charm (just like the video above), my BEATS, BASS, and FM were all playing perfectly!
The Beatstep Pro is a God send. It has enabled my elaborate midi hardware Synths setup to totally break with the need to use the main computer and DAW ( apart from recording albums etc of course ) I already have a complex array of Midi merge and thru boxes to achieve that and only need to make a small midi cable routing change to use all of it with the DAW again if need be. This little trick is only gonna give me even more options if I need them. BRAVO !
Without scrolling too far down and breaking the spell, I'd just like to point out that this is one of the more positive and helpful comment sections I've seen in awhile
For anyone going through the headache I just did: this really only works with 2 devices reliably. Anything more than that and the signal is too weak/muddled for it to be accurate. You'll get misfired notes or no signal to some of your devices if you try to add more.
In your experience would a powered MIDI splitter solve this?
Just a heads up that you might want to be careful with this method depending on what you're connecting/disconnecting on the fly. Something like the Volca Sample using Retrokits RK002 cable can get messed up if you connect/disconnect while the BSP is playing/sending info. The nature of the 3.5mm jack is such that the tip will pass through the ground and sleeve connections on it's way in, meaning you could accidentally send MIDI voltage to a pin that doesn't want it. Safest to power off before connecting/disconnecting.
Yes I blew my mum's stereo up by connecting another turntable to her stack system. .... joined powered speaker wires blew the transformer ...she went mad lol.....you need a cheap beringer mixer think it has 8 inputs for headphone devides
I think I have this problem. Tried to use 3 volcas with BSP and things went crazy. Volca Bass would have a “stuck” note. The Volca FM would not even respond to BSP. Only the Volca sample will still talk to the BSP. I hope I didn’t permanently damage anything.
Posting this in the DAWless Jamming group on Facebook. Perfect for what we do in there. Thanks!!
Not sure if anyone cares but if you guys are stoned like me during the covid times then you can watch all of the latest series on InstaFlixxer. I've been binge watching with my gf during the lockdown xD
@Lincoln Amari Definitely, have been using instaflixxer for years myself =)
@@rudykade2784 can you both use these nuts tho?
Thank you Soniclab for the video but it doesn't explain the connection to the DAW and how is the interface setup?!!! Which is very important for the recording workflow .
Hope for another video with the best interface chioce for the volca's sent and received data.
1:15 - that sso IMPORTANT to note. It took me several days and basically I was blaming my Keystep for being broken because I didn't know Novation's cable is different to Korg's (I used Novation blue cable to connect to electribe2 blue so they'd be color coded).
And a side rant: not only do we have to deal with 3.5mm TRS to 5-pin DIN MIDI adapters, we also HAVE TO remember which bl00dy cable brand standard goes into which split - I wish one MIDI standard over 3.5mm TRS was adopted across the industry.
loving the "Top Tips"!
I recently got the whole Volca set (5x) and these bits of information help immensely.
Many thanks!!!
Might just add, I'm still waiting for the FM, New Zealand hasn't received our shipment yet. Can't wait to god them all going together.
This is amazeing that simple ninja audio splitter did the job with all midi out from my keyboard.
The only problem with this solution is that you are splitting the voltage between all three jacks. With only 3 of them it seems the devices are still able to interpret the digital signal, despite the voltage being dropped, but there is a chance that with 4 or 5 devices they would begin having trouble identifying the peaks and troughs of the digital pulses.
Another cheap option that basically does the same thing, but with actual 5-pin MIDI din, is the MIDISolutions quadra thru box; The best $50 I've spent on my sequencing setup! But in my experience, with 4 devices some synths will get "hung" notes, so I usually keep it to only 3.
*****
I think you're right? The voltage should stay the same, but the amperage will be split. I always get confused by this stuff.
This can explain why my Volca Bass goes nuts when using this splitter.
so you can record automation into ableton using the quadra thru box no problems?
But this is MIDI information. Just zeros and ones no? Or am I misunderstanding something
These 5 min cleared quite a lot of questions, thanks a lot!
Like @inthefade said, this is potentially a risky endeavor as the voltage drop on several optocouplers in parallel on the recieving end might be a cause of information loss. The transciever circuit simply isn't designed to supply enough current for a parallel circuit of this type.
This setup is what I've been looking for! As a volca user I've always wanted more than 16 steps, especially for the beats. And the triple midi controller! The beatstep pro will be my next purchase. Thank you for the video!
Hey guys, terrific demo for us newbies. More using the Beatstep and multiple integration.
BTW the cable kit from Arturia actually costs about $63 because they charge $48 for shipping a $16 product.
yeah and its a sneaky product becous a nother don t work,better buy a true box,than this problem is solved.
nice work guys! I suddenly don't hate the mini MIDI connectors anymore haha!
why did you hate them?
+Anachronistic Complex Because I'm a mean and cranky person... Well that, and I really like when companies adhere to standards. But because there IS a benefit to the mini MIDI, I guess it's OK. However, I do like it when all cables of a particular purpose are use the same type of plug... I've got too many converter cables and plugs as it is!
+Anachronistic Complex Because I'm a mean and cranky person... Well that, and I really like when companies adhere to standards. But because there IS a benefit to the mini MIDI, I guess it's OK. However, I do like it when all cables of a particular purpose are use the same type of plug... I've got too many converter cables and plugs as it is!
We Need MIDI DIN. Too many great toys are out there without MIDI DIN.
You guys are great. Thanks for this run through.
Wow. Really happy to learn about this. I have all this hardware save the $10 headphone splitter and I was looking for a midi thru. This works a treat instead. Thanks!
There's something so characteristic about the timbre of this guy's voice. Like there's a kazoo stuck in his throat or something
This is freaking awesome!! I’m absolutely going to try this hah! Thanks for the tip!
interesting .. but missing the explanation of the settings on the pro beatstep, since the 3 volca are directly controlled by the pro beatstep using the keys DRUM, SEQ1 and SEQ2 ... does anyone know the settings?
fabrizio serino I’m assuming they’ve set the different devices to different midi channels and then set the sequencers and drum sequencer on the bsp to those channels
Same question.
So because of this video, and the pandemic, I decided to venture into DAWless jamming, and get the BeatStep pro. But instead of Volcas, I got a drumbrute impact, an ik UNO Synth, and for now using my AudioKit Synth One app with the Korg plug key for poly synth (hope to get the skulpt) that will hook up to a mixer. I’m hoping this trick you guys have works with it: I want the BSP to be the brain!
i have the same issue to connect it whit my mx-1,on one way of another it wil not work dawles(no computer)becous this is wat i like,but i am afraid i must send it back,it dissapointing me so much bla bla about the bsp but i can not find my self in it,i have also drumbrute of aturia ,but to let it play ?the splitter thing dosn t work eather at my set up,think a good quality midi splitter has more potential,maby i do somthing wrong ?
I have a bunch of quadra thru boxes chained together. So, I have 1 midi in/20 midi outs to all my gear. Kenton, in UK, now makes a Thru-25 also.
You mean I've just spent £37 on a 4way MIDI splitter when I could've gotten away with a headphone splitter from Mapplin? Grrrrr! A very useful video. Thank you. Can anyone recommend a good video tutorial for connecting Volca Bass/Beats/Keys up with the Beatstep Pro and a controller keyboard? Also, I'm thinking of purchasing a Volca Sample but how does the Beatstep Pro cope with each of the KVS's 10 samples being on separate channels?
The RK-002 smart midi cable can put them all on one midi channel. Just make sure to order it with the Volca Sample firmware installed.
Just a heads up on the splitter -- I tried this and my BSP isn't able to drive three Volcas, but can do two. Saw a guy on Reddit experiencing the same thing.
So, if this doesn't work for you, in part or in full, you probs just need a proper midi thru box.
Is there any further settings that need to be done on either the Volcas or Beatstep Pro to make this work or should it just work with plug and play?
I was just wondering a couple of days ago if this would work :D Thanks for this great tip!
Still cool as hell and fantastic
Cool, but why so much attention to these Volca groove boxes and so little attention to modular gear, cool gear like Erica Synth Pico System, Bastl BitRanger, desktop synths like the Make Noise 0-Coast and Pittsburgh Modular Lifeforms, and some of the newer polysynths like the OB6 and Yamaha Montage?
***** Any one of the above vendors would love to have Sonic State demo their new releases but if they don't ask, I guess it will be more Volca FM demos. Korg has only shipped a tiny number of Volca FMs, nobody has them in stock, so an entire series on the Volca FM might be premature. It's kind of like a video series on a Buchla Sound Canvas or Moog Modular that nobody can afford. You can't buy a Volca FM, so who cares? :-)
+Markus Arike I hear ya bro! I've been looking for a FM for months now in Philly and nobody has them WTF!
Confused, so which midi to mini jack do I get for my 3 volcas to the beatstep pro, the korg type or the arturia novation type, helppppp
I found that only 3 of the outputs on the Belikn splitter will work at most on my Novation Circuit. Connecting a 4th disrupts the others. Also MIDI start/stop messages did not always transmit. YMMV.
The thing is. I have that star thingy but the pads trigger every volca on any sequencer. How do I assign a sequencer to a volca. Help me pls
I have a really dumb question, but I can't dig up the answer anywhere. At 2:42 in this video, when you start the sequence on the BSP, it does not start the internal sequencers on the Volcas. For the life of me, I cannot find what setting this is on the BSP or Volca side. I have the Beats, Bass and FM set up on the 3 separate channels on the BSP, and they trigger fine. But whenever I start the sequence on the BSP it starts the internal play on the Volcas as well. How can I stop that from happening? Thank you in advance for any guidance you can offer!
i think you cannot stop the internal sequencer on volcas, just clear the pattern imo. edit: so you can stop it, but will always start again when bsp starts.
I don't know if you can disable midi clock out on the beat step pro but the easy solution is to have a blank pattern on the Volcas. All mine have blank patterns in memory slot one!
Hold func when powering up your volca and deselect the internal clock. Check the manual for the correct button to uncheck.
Been doing this with my Novation Circuit for months. Keep up chaps! :)
Thank you for this awesome discovery!
Hi every time I connect the Beatstep Pro to my Volca Keys and press play on the Beatstep it starts the Volca Keys own sequencer. Anyone know where I am going wrong. Thanks for the demo, cheers.
did you try erasing the internal patch first?
Hold the func button when you power up your volca and deselect the internal clock, if i remember right no 10 key should not have the light on. Check the manual. The the volcas sequencer wont start
works with a simple minijack stereo splitter as well :)
Hello I'm using that stereo splitter but the kick drum if sample sounds in every note of the volca bass, any thoughts on how to play 100% separate channels in the beatstep?
Hello I'm using that stereo splitter but the kick drum if sample sounds in every note of the volca bass, any thoughts on how to play 100% separate channels in the beatstep?
@@shnapabeat8110 sample uses channel 1-10 so set the bass to channel 11+ i think, not tried it myself yet
Oh wow. I was just about to purchase a Midi Solutions Quadra but this will do fine. Also, what's the difference between the Korg and Arturia/Novation midi jack? I have an Elektribe Sampler 2 and a couple of these Korg 1/8 to Midi jacks.
just schearching for midi split 39~49 euros the cheaper. and i try my dual audio split on electribe 2. only one midi out for 16 midi channel/tracks. Oooops! works very fine. thanks again nick.
all whas under my hands for free.
How about drawing the routing on a whiteboard or something?
Ok but once it's all plugged in and ready to go, how do you separate the signal so the only the drum module plays through the drum channel and each synth plays separately through each synth channel? Right now I've got a vermona drm1 and moog minitaur going via midi on the beatstep pro but they're both playing together on each channel
Weird question: If I have my BeatStep connected to a PC with USB and also connected to a Volca via MIDI, whatever I play on BeatStep ->Volca will be represented and recorded into my DAW?
Can I use a MIDI splitter to do this with other hardware synths?
Can you guys post a link to the video you mentioned that talks about the battery and 9v adapter?
I think this is it: ua-cam.com/video/Mzo8l5GBQ3E/v-deo.html
i tried the exact same setup (also with tr 8 instead of beats) , 2 arturia, 1 novation cable, but if i have 3 of them connected sequencer 2 doesnt sends anything. any combination of 2 works fine tho. any tips?
Will be doing this soon with my Novation Circuit and MeeBlip Anode and Triode. :)
thanks for inspiration, does somebody know if the same thing would work on any other midi device if i just use the 3.5 to midi adaptors for IN and OUT ?
Thx for the video, actually a few years old but still useful to confirm what I was asking myself.
I see you're powering everything through a battery bank, how do you manage to not get ground noise if you are using the same source of power ?
Great job! Just wondering if we could adapt this idea to the new electribe product line which uses the similar mini jack to MIDI adapter?
Will try in few days, my thought yes, just dont combine two different types of satandart cables, korg vs novation/arturia
cool! but how do you set up/know what plug is controlling what?!?
using MIDI channels set each Volca to a different one and corresponding channel on the Beatsteap, MIDI clock goes to all of them
each device is set to read only one midi channel so all midi info is split amongst the 5 outputs of the belkin spliter
you have to specify within each of the volcas or whatever midi gear you use what channel it responds to
Thanks... I didn't know the volca's could have the midi channel changed (or how.. but do now). This all got me thinking/searching...
createdigitalmusic.com/2015/08/used-stereo-minijack-cables-midi/
Yes, if you turn the unit on while holding memory button then press one of the 16 step buttons to specify which channel, then hit record to save setting.
where I can find that MIDI hub???
I've tried using the same splitter but it won't work with 3 outs, only 2
would this work well for midi sync to each volka midi input?
seems to work with 2 volcas but not 3 . The 3rd gets jumbled notes :(
I have the same issue, I can only link 2, once I plug in the third nothing works
so ... Can I use this simple way to split midi for example with my MPC 500 to volcas/Roland JU06..?
Is there a way to sync a Volca to the Beatstep Pro using the clock output?
Connect the clock out from your bsp to the in on your volca
@@JohnAlchemy thanks, when I asked the question 4 years ago this wasn’t possible, the 2ppq option was added later in a firmware update... now I don’t even have a Beatstep Pro anymore 😅
Where does the little 3 tier shelf in the background come from?
That IS really cool! The bel kin isn't ideal for audio since it does seem to degrade the quality. But I guess that's not an issue with midi?
Would love to see a mini video about a good way to run the audio signal for 5 Volcas at once. Perhaps using a mixer along with the correct cables to use for each Volca etc
any thoughts on how responsive the pads are for finger drumming with it connected to a drum machine like the Volca Beats or Sample?
Tried this method with the Volca sample with RK2 cable and a Korg MS2000, as soon as I plug in the sample it doesn't let the ms2000 run through? ANY HELP PLEASE. and the settings for the rk2 keep becoming messed up for the arturia beatstep pro
Hello guys, I have the same set but with volca sample in the drums, with 2 simultaneous tracks it works perfect but if I put 3 tracks it does not work the drums track goes crazy, the selected midi input are different between the tracks but it does not work, some can you help me with this?
Has anyone tried this with a different brand splitter(INSIGNIA) and is there a MIDI setup?
I bought the BELKIN and and the INSIGNIA. The Insignia would play 2 volcas OK, but the 3rd would either not play at all, or else play random/stuttered notes. Then I switched to the BELKIN and it worked like a charm (just like the video above), my BEATS, BASS, and FM were all playing perfectly!
Great tips. Love it
What is the power pack called ... a Juice Pack? Are these still available/a good option for powering this type of small setup?
What should I look into if I plug the BSP into my two Volcas correctly and on the correct midi channels and I get audio from Volcas but not from BSP? I don't know what else to check, my wiring hasn't changed.
I'm not sure I understand. Your bsp doesn't have any audio. Presume you mean Midi? Does it work one device at a time (no splitter)
@@sonicstate Yes, that's what I meant, no audio is triggered via midi. I unplugged the Sample and tried just the FM but it didn't work, it was still through the splitter at the time though so I will try again without. Both are connected to Retrokits midi cables with their respective firmware installed. I have also never been able to use a standard midi cable to control my Volca Kick or Drum. It was previously working with the FM and Sample though.
Thank you very much, they helped me a lot. I have a question, and the audio output? Is it for each individual machine? do I need another multi audio connector?
This solution is nothing to do with audio. You can’t merge multiple audio outputs into one signal using just cables; you will damage something. You need a mixer.
hi i have a vodka keys and a bsp, and im having problems to connect them pls help me
can you connect only volca with this method or even other machines with midi input?
Hi, Does anyone know how do i have to setup beatstep and volca beats to pair them and play with no problems?
Thanks
this isn't working for me. I have the same exact setup, and I just get little fuzz noises when I hit the pads or start the sequencer. someone help please...
Could this work for midi merge too?
the three work simultaneously??? 3 5-pin on a splitter???
Nice one guys!
How do I do this? At the software and hardware level? I need manual! There is no guide anywhere on the Internet!
BeatStep Pro midi config will be comfortably adjustetd with its software MidiControlCenter (downlowdable from Arturias website). Volca synths are set to ch 1 on default and can be configured by holding memory while powering up. That will open a global config menue where the midi channel can be picked. The Volca Sample uses channels 1 to 10 (a channel for each of the parts) that can't be changed. You may assign the first 10 channels to the BeatStep Pros drum section to and all your other stuff should be set to 11 and up to make ist work properly. Search "BeatStep Pro Volca Midi" to see videos of how to do it.
honestly the more i look at the beatstep pro the more i feel like it's a no brainer for what im trying to acomplish.... ive been avoiding buying it for the longest time thinking i get away with using my laptop or my ipad but honestly i think the beatstep pro for the performance side of things (which is mostly what im aiming for having a pure performance based setup) gives you unparalleled control.... im probably going to be returning my volca beats and replacing it with a beatstep pro and instead running drums from my ipad using ielectribe which has the most fun sounding drums (and the fattest as far as i can tell from all other apps) until i can afford something like an MFB or something for drums....
midi signal is to weak to manage midi connection, from beatstep pro midi output, with four volcas, any ideas?
Yeah f4 might be pushing it. Does it work with 3?
+sonicstate yes, with three is great, but volca fm sometimes act up, in configuration bass, keys, sample no problem
How does it go using the Retro Kits cables on the FM and Sample Volcas?
I'm trying to connect volca sample and volca keys. It works with normal midi cables but when I connect the retro kits cable it stops working. So I think you can't use this method with rk.
Guys, please tell me more about this 5 volt to 9 volt adapter. Also could you post a link to "router video" you talking about at 3:39? I can't find it by name. Thanks!
they go deeper into the 9 volt adapter cable for the volca series in this video ua-cam.com/video/Mzo8l5GBQ3E/v-deo.html
How does the Beatstep Pro send out two different sequencer signal and one drum signal to the three volcas? Just bought the Beatstep Pro.
You probably need to set the MIDI receive channels for each of the 3 Volcas. From the BSP, sequencer 1 sends on channel 1, sequencer 2 sends on channel 2, and the drum sequencer sends on channel 10 by default. You can either do the mapping from the Volca side, or the BSP side.
One MIDI cable carries 16 channels of MIDI data. The BSP sends all 16 channels at once, however only three of the channels contain MIDI data. Each receiving piece of hardware should be set to receive a channel corresponding to each BSP sequencer.
Ok so now....question. Can you use this in conjunction with that other device Nick was showing the other day that enables you to send Velocity data to the Volca FM? The Beatstep Pro has a Velocity parameter for each step as well.....I'm really starting to see some nice potential here....
+Earmonkey Music unfortunateno. It messes with the midi power I think. You would need a powered through
Wow. That just made my christmas list. Would that work with other devices as well, like a Korg SQ-1?
You can not connect connect different midi standards, without going through an adapter first.
anyone now where i can buy 3.5mm to midi cables that work with the beat step pro? Arturia are out of stock till july/august.
and postage to the UK is 38 euro for them
this could be used with a Novation CIRCUIT, right?
I guess the CIRCUIT only has two Synth\MIDI channels, but you could also use Channel 10 from the Drums.. Still limiting I guess.
With the Beatstep pro you get two minijack to midi converters, one black and one gray. Can you use both with the splitter ?
yes you can im assuming
Yes thats what we did, I dont think there's a physical difference between them other than colour
sonicstate there's no difference at all tbh ☺
+sonicstate great, thanks
+sonicstate isn't the black one din sync? You used both grey midi cables (you get two, for in and out, not one as stated by OP).
thanks for the (3.5) tip
interessante .. ma manca la spiegazione dei settaggi sul beatstep pro , visto che i 3 volca vengono comandati direttamente dal beatstep pro usando i tasti DRUM , SEQ1 e SEQ2 ... qualcuno conosce i settaggi ?
This is really clever
good work lads. I'm off busking....
Would this work in the same way replacing the beatstep with a novation circuit?
I'm assuming this would work with any midi gear which is the beauty of it.
What battery is that?
So could you run this to a MIDI-to-USB into an iPad then?
Would probably be easier to run a USB cable out of the BSP and into the iPad using a Camera Connect Kit.
how did you pre map configure the beat step pro with volca beats? the keys already mapped?
I have two separate monosynths connected using this method but cannot get them to play individually. I would like my Dreadbox running off Sequencer 1 and my Pittsburgh Modular on Sequencer 2. Can anyone here tell me how to do this? Is it something to do with changing the midi channels within the Beatstep Pro? Thanks!
Don't know the Pittspurgh Modular but - if you can, which isn't sure, it depends of the synth - you have to change the Midi channel within your synth so they are different, like one Pittspurgh responds to channel 1 and the other one to channel 2. Check the Synth manual and online doc.
orbitalchiller thanks! I have now realised that there is something wrong with my Beatstep Pro. The midi channel sends will notchange when I try to assign them.
I have the same issue with Volca Bass and Volca Keys. They only plays together. Please Help us...
Hey Marco ... I was able to get it to work .. did you change the midi channels on the Volcas?
You can change the MIDI channel of either of those (well on the Bass at least) by holding down the FUNC button while turning the device on. The step which MIDI channel the device uses will have the light on (1 == MIDI Channel 1, 2 == Midi Channel 2 etc). So select another MIDI channel, press REC then the device will start.
Now you can also select which sequencer sends to what MIDI Channel with the BeatStep program on your PC. Connect the BeatStep via USB for this, and if you don't have it download the program from the Arturia website. You can assign knobs and stuff there too, so it's worth having it.
anyone tell me how many steps you can chain on the beatstep pro?
64
Fifty quid or fifteen?
The bell in this is very cheap, about $10
battery powered... finally, we can all start that volca marching band!!
very cool!
Thank u for this!