Let's take a look at the new Volca range from Korg, featuring these three compact and affordable
analogue synthesizers. First up we have the Volca Beats which is a semi analogue drum
machine complete with 16 step sequencer. Beats features 6 analogue drum channels which have
got an assortment of controls like click, pitch for most of them, decay controls for
the kick and snare, grain controls for the hi-hat. There's also 4 pcm parts with pcm
speed controls that you can change the sound and pitch of each. Aside from the step sequencer
and the controls for each sound, the most obvious feature on the Beats is the stutter
delay effect along here, which has got 2 big knobs for time and depth. Both of which can
be applied globally to the entire beat, or you can use them to mess around with individual
drum parts. Next up is the Volca Bass which is a 3 channel bass line synthesizer with
a noticable 303 vibe to it. The Volca Bass' main controls are an octo controller, the
filter which is probably the main feature here with cut off controls, peak controls, then
there's an LFO which can be used to control various different things like the filter cut
off and the amp, the pitch of each synth line. There's pitch controls for each 3 synth parts
which can be selected along here. And then there's the basic envelope control up the top.
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Finally we have the Volca Keys which is a 3 note polyphonic analogue synth. In terms
of the controls on the Volca Keys, controls the synth itself over here. you can change
the octave, change the synth mode between polyphonic, unison, octave, fifth, unison
ring and poly ring for ring modulation effects. You've got VCO controls, filter controls,
LFO, again a simple envelope, and then a really nice simple delay effect along here.
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In terms of audio outputs, all 3 Volcas have a built-in speaker round the back. The only
other audio output is a 3.5mm headphone jack. There's a midi in connection on all 3 so all 3
units can accept midi information from anything that pumps it out. There's also these in and
out sync connections, which means that 2 Volca units can be connected using a 3.5mm patch
cable. Simply plug one into the other and they're immediately tempo synced. Volcas are
battery powered and they come with the 6 necessary AA batteries. There's also a connection for
a 9 vault power supply, but this has to be purchased seperately. All 3 Volcas also have
built-in memories for saving your work, plus a host of performance features such as active
step. But we'll look at those properly later in the full review. So let's link all 3 up
and see them in action.
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