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Korg Volca

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A Korg Volca FM synthesiser (first-generation version)

Korg Volca (stylised as volca) is a series of electronic musical instruments and accessories released by the Japanese manufacturer Korg. The various units in the range are noted for their inexpensive price and compact dimensions.[1]

The series bridges both digital and analogue synthesis; synthesisers and drum machines, with many different types of noise generation represented in the 10 models available as of January 2024.[2]

The range was initially launched in 2013 with the Volca Keys, Volca Beats and Volca Bass, all initially at £119.99 each.[3][1] These models all featured MIDI-in for external control,[4] as do most of the later releases with the exception of the Volca Modular.[5]

Models

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Current

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As of January 2024 the range includes:[2][6]

  • Volca Bass - Analogue synthesiser intended for bass sounds
  • Volca Beats - Hybrid rhythm machine with analog and digital sound source
  • Volca Drum - Digital percussion synthesiser
  • Volca FM (second generation, AKA "fm2" and "next-gen volca fm")[7] - Polyphonic digital synthesiser based around FM synthesis with 6 operators, 6 voice polyphony and 32 algorithms.[7] Promoted as able to reproduce the sound of the Yamaha DX7 and completely compatible with DX-7 SYS-EX patches.[7]
  • Volca Keys - Analogue loop synthesiser[6]
  • Volca Kick - Analogue kick generator for kick drums and kick basses
  • Volca Mix - Four channel analogue mixer featuring a built-in speaker
  • Volca Modular - Semi-modular analogue synthesiser
  • Volca Sample[8] (second generation, AKA "sample2"[6]) - Sample sequencer. (Slightly upgraded replacement for the original Volca Sample).[9]

Other

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As of January 2024, the following models are no longer listed in the current lineup at the Korg Volca website.[2]

  • Volca FM (first generation) - Polyphonic digital synthesiser based around FM synthesis with 6 operators and 3 voices polyphony, and 32 algorithms[10] based on the Yamaha DX7's engine.
  • Volca Sample (first generation) - Sample sequencer.[11] (Superseded by second generation Volca Sample/Sample2)[9]
  • Volca Keys
    Volca Keys
  • Volca Modular
    Volca Modular
  • Korg Volca Bass
    Korg Volca Bass
  • Volca Beats
    Volca Beats
  • Second-generation Volca FM
    Second-generation Volca FM
  • Korg Volca Keys looped sequence demo. Further effects/adjustments were applied live during playback using only the built-in controls and no further processing.
  • Korg Volca FM 2nd Gen Demo, demonstrating patches transferred from the original Yamaha DX7- "E.PIANO 1", "KOTO", "TUB BELLS" and "BASS 1"

References

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  1. ^ a b Simon Truss (9 September 2019). "What is the best Korg Volca? Every drum machine and synth ranked". Music Radar. Archived from the original on 11 September 2019. Ever since the launch of the Bass, Beats and Keys models in 2013, Korg's Volca range has become a byword for affordable and compact synths and drum machines.
  2. ^ a b c "KORG VOLCA". Korg. Archived from the original on 21 January 2024. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
  3. ^ "MusicTech.net" (28 September 2013). "Korg Volcas Review – The Power Of Three". MusicTech. Archived from the original on 10 May 2019. Price £119.99 each (optional power adaptor approx £10) [..] A few years on [from the Monotron range] and Korg is back with its latest mini masterpieces, the Volcas.
  4. ^ Jono Buchanan (16 October 2013). "Korg - Volca Series". Archived from the original on 4 June 2021. Each of the [original three 2013 model] Volcas features MIDI-in
  5. ^ Rory Dow (February 2019). "Korg Volca Modular [Review]". Sound on Sound. Archived from the original on 28 April 2019. The Volca Modular [..] lacks the MIDI input found on other models.
  6. ^ a b c "DJ & Production Tools : Volca". Archived from the original on 24 January 2024. Retrieved 24 January 2024. volca keys [..] volca sample2
  7. ^ a b c "volca fm2 - DIGITAL FM SYNTHESIZER - KORG (U.K.)". KORG Inc. Archived from the original on 2023-07-31. Retrieved 2023-10-29. The next-gen volca fm is a powerful 6-voice, 6-Operator FM synthesizer with all 32 classic algorithms [..] perfectly reproduces the sound of the classic Yamaha DX7 [and] completely compatible with SYS-EX patches for the DX7 [image of synthesiser alongside text indicates simply "KORG volca fm" on top surface]
  8. ^ "volca sample - DIGITAL SAMPLE SEQUENCER - KORG (U.K.)". Archived from the original on 2024-01-27. Retrieved 2024-02-18. volca sample [..] a new generation
  9. ^ a b Simon Truss (10 February 2021). "Korg Volca Sample 2 review". Music Radar. Archived from the original on 23 March 2021. the Sample is the first Volca to get a direct version 2 follow-up. In actuality, this is more a subtle refinement of the original design, rather than a true fresh version.
  10. ^ "volca fm - DIGITAL FM SYNTHESIZER - KORG (USA)". Archived from the original on 2021-06-04. 3-voice polyphonic FM synthesizer [..] Its six operators and 32 algorithms provide complete compatibility
  11. ^ "volca sample - DIGITAL SAMPLE SEQUENCER - KORG (USA)". Archived from the original on 2019-05-02.
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