All user reviews of 4/5 for the Korg Volca Beats

The Volca Beats is a small box mid-analog rhythms, mid-PCM, very simple and very compact.
It's a little back to basics with a BAR that is to be nomadic, evidenced by the batteries and the small built-in speaker, but especially affordable.

Cohabit four analog sources:
- Kick
- Snare
- Hats
- Toms
and four sources sampled (conversion output 10bits):
- Clap
- Claves
- Agogo
- Crash

One effect, assignable to a source or all: the stutter, sort of contraption whose purpose is to produce repetitions.

Battery, speaker, grafted and output sync (mini-jack), MIDI in and headphone / line mono.
No separate outputs, a change is possible but risky.

The sequencer allows 16 steps, real-time or "TR" edition.

UTILIZATION

VB is simple, no submenu twenty pages, no twisted configuration.
The manual is brief, it will be used to get an idea of ​​how the beast, but do not expect the moon.
Editing is the same taste: easy.

SOUNDS

VB has a great sound in general, and more specifically a superb kick.
The Snare is average but nowhere near as bad as some say, it's a matter of taste. For a more dynamic and broad Snare Drumulator I prefer the E-Mu, but again it's personal.

Toms are really good (I like the little toms but usually those of the VB are great), the Hats are almost perfect.

And PCM? Just the name is scary. Samples, yuck?
Absolutely not, even if we are not in the top of the wig more better, PCM VB are really well chosen and not especially feel the "color" of digital samples, may be due to 10bits DACs very low-fi .

OVERALL OPINION

I've had very little time, I enjoy a lot with.
For the price it is essential to listen and test.
If the sequencer is not that of a GPA, there is no reason to use VB as "sound module" driven by what you want.

I have some strange boxes like this: TR707 (incredibly surcotée, but it is because of its simplicity and its separate outputs), DR110 (cheap, cheap, cheap), TR505, R8, DR550, RY30 .. .
BV is part of PT. Inevitably, next to a TR808 and a 909 it's poor, but in an already rich set there is nothing to be ashamed. Better than VB in the same price range? Future Wolf Akai maybe? Not with MFB anyway.

I love this little BAR not pretentious. I have an idea to make a Vermona a few times, plus a MachineDrum, and that's for sure: I keep the VB.

No need to repeat characteristics.
Drum machines in the line of vintage 808/909 of the big time.
8 memories of 16 steps. MIDI input.

It has not and lacks:
No swing or shuffle
No accent
No flame (such as 909)
No sequence of programmable pattern
No separate outputs (possible)
No output pm (possible)
Output sync out not transmitting a pulse at every step (as described in the manual though) but not both. This makes it complicated sync with other analog instruments except for the current Korg series. Same for the in sync.

UTILIZATION

Easy to use. Once the ergonomics of the well controlled machine is an effective toy. The keyboard is very sensitive and hyper reactive which is a real plus for the active functions step steps and jump, great for real time!

SOUNDS

The sounds are not bad at all except for the snare and crash.
The snare sounds like a potato, especially when you push the snappy which gives a more digital and analogue grain, it is far from that of the 808.

General grain is nice and fishing. The output level is a little low, however.

OVERALL OPINION

This is really good news that the analog back more with a bonus really affordable price.
So far, there were 522 MFB in the genre.
This is a very good purchase I do not regret.

I will not dwell on the technical characteristics of the device have been discussed in the past and which are available on the Korg website.

UTILIZATION

At hand is to use something simple and intuitive that do not require more than 10 minutes, timed to be mastered ... Following is the creativity and inventiveness that will do the rest.

SOUNDS

The sounds are very good, the Bass Drum is Gaulé like a 808 as well as Tom (Unfortunately only 2 instead of 3), the Hats are metallic and PCM sounds are correct and have at least the merit of be there In fact the only downside is the Snare Drum that is very lo-fi but good for 139 euros I absolutely do not complain!

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for little actually (a few weeks) but Volca Beats is perfectly integrated into my setup (Octatrack, Super JV-1080, Monotribe, Mopho). What I like the most is the Bass Drum and Hats ...
I would do the same choice 10 times if he had to!
Korg is really the only manufacturer to offer the correct machines correct price for even the smallest budgets can afford them ...

Features, we not stop to read them so the wait is long, do not bother to repeat again ...
I just wish the abscence of midi out.
And I do not know how I'll sync with my electribe but I did not really thought

UTILIZATION

The general configuration is it simple?
So there for once, this is simple.Histoire that one is on the same vein, I'm the kind of guy who needed a year before his master ESX-1 yet known intuitive and easy to acces ... Well then I got my toy this morning, and I already mastered most of the functions if it is not all and this without reading the manual (flew out of curiosity to see if it was in jap or well ...)
So for the grip is VERY intuitive and quickly rewarding.

Editing sounds and effects is it easy?
An instrument that is not, it's a button. -Much less hassle than the electribe in this regard. more limited as-
Selected on the instrument and the following effects will apply.

Then the black dot jumps out at me is when even the knobs like "clamp tweezers has required" (I thought it seriously). Not because I'm the "finger piano" very kind and purpose to be honest I find it hard to turn the knobs in the middle, which makes me think that, at the very least 50% of the people there will experience severe difficulties.

So for GETTING STARTED, figuratively it's 9/10, and literally it's 4/10

Edit: and great for batteries and portability.
batteries really allow proper autonomy (6h that it will run and still no empty stack) and a weight less surreal story not to be confused with his pack of cigarettes.

SOUNDS

Okay so the sound is very hiphop I think, at least for the beat.
For realism is repasera (oupas)
Personally I quite like these sounds pretty dry and porous. The effects of the change permetant are also basic than effective

edit: I forgot, the sound of the integrated HP is chi **, but you doubt you.

OVERALL OPINION

Good in synthesis, is the toy that I would have liked at school or high school, a sort of musical tamagochi, which can linker that of friends to have fun at the playground. it fits in the binder with the taste is not too fragile to its low poids.C is especially FUN as object.

This is not a lelectribe still less electron (spelling uncertain, but if the Machinedrum has 1100th what you see) as bass and keys should not be Moogs either.
it is much cheaper and much more fun and affordable.

Maybe TOOL to introduce your children to electro analog.

Yes I would do this choice because I have it in the bag this morning and I broke out with wherever I stop.
Strongly than the other two arrive, it'll groover in the queues at the traffic lights, the safety during meetings ...