Volca Keys waveforms

[Cybearg]

Ive been doing all the research I can on this subject and even got this question asked on a youtube stream with a Korg spokesperson demoing the Volca series. Sadly my question want very clear so I did not get the answer I wanted.

The real question is this. Can I switch between sawtooth and square VCO waveforms?

Here is what I know -

Korg lists the keys as having:
VCO Waves:
Sawtooth, Square
Which it does.....BUT only in certain voice modes.
Sawtooth: POLY, UNISON, OCTAVE, FIFTH
Square: UNISON RING, POLY RING

This means the only way (that I know of) to get an un-ring modulated square wave is playing monophonically in POLY RING mode so the ring mod doesn't kick in.

Is the lack of choice between waveforms because they ran out of buttons (whatever you call a space on a ribbon)? The Volca Bass has the waveform option and it takes up 2 buttons.

It seems like we should be able to freely switch waveforms, so if its not on the controls on the machine maybe it is in the MIDI options.

Volca Keys MIDI implementation chart
http://www.korg.com/uploads/Support/USA ... hart_E.pdf

There is only one control on that list that can only be used vie MIDI and that is expression. I assume that has to do with velocity sensitivity... I don't really know. "Consult your local Korg distributor for more information on MIDI IMPLEMENTATION."

So if Korg isn't going to make it super easy for me to choose waveforms maybe they made is semi-easy by marking patch points on the circuit. I haven't found and pictures only yet of the keys circuits yet.

Can anyone mod Volca Keys to choose VCO waveforms yet?

[robosardine]

I don't know the answer (I think it is -no-I had thought it had only one waveform anyway)- but I do know there is going to be a lot of things it can't do. I am fully intent on not even thinking about what it can't do and focussing totally on what it CAN do!............... well for a few weeks anyway.

[DrHoo]

Yeah, i think it's a case of 'buy one & find out' because at this price point we can i guess.
I don't mean that to be a negative though, these are perfectly reasonable questions. There will be plenty of people opening these up to mod them anyway whatever they are like.The answers will soon be here as will the volcas.
I have a volca beats & i fully intend on opening it soon to see what's what. It's begging for a tinkering. It's a bit uninspiring on its own.

[robosardine]

Yes- I was kind of thinking that would be the case with the Beats. I have the Bass and the Keys on pre-order but the Beats has been of no interest to me (the old ER-1's were analogue were they not....-sort of or whatever?)- it seems very lightweight on features and spec to me for a drum machine these days. The ESX takes care of all my drumming needs- and I am expecting it to for a long time to come- but there is nothing to compare to the functionality and features of the Bass & Keys I don't think. COME ON!.... BRING THEM ON!! (massive roar erupts from crowd : whole building seems to shake a little).

[X-Trade]

no interest to me (the old ER-1's were analogue were they not....-sort of or whatever?)

None of the original electribes are considered by any definition 'analog'. The ER-1 and EA-1 are however analog-modelling, which means it uses digital DSP to approximate the traditional 'analog' subtractive synthesis method.

[DrHoo]

Yes- I was kind of thinking that would be the case with the Beats. I have the Bass and the Keys on pre-order but the Beats has been of no interest to me (the old ER-1's were analogue were they not....-sort of or whatever?)- it seems very lightweight on features and spec to me for a drum machine these days. The ESX takes care of all my drumming needs

Sort of or whatever , haha. That's good enough for me, doesn't matter which it is, analogue or otherwise. Does it do the job ? That' the relevant question. I have the volca beats along side my esx1 but i keep turning it off because it's making annoying sounds at me & the esx1 slays it ! lol. I think you're right about the other two though, they look to be proper noisy.
The volca beats is firmly stuck in the grid as it is & i think would benefit from an update like the one that the monotribe got when they doubled its steps.

[Hugo]

Mostly agree on the Beats, although Nick Batt's review made it a bit more interesting. But the Keys and the Bass are definately coming my way. I will be interesting, however, to see how people will mod the Beats, maybe some decent modding will make it more appealing

[robosardine]

X-Trade- The ER1 is referred to as being analogue by many- (even though strictly it isn't) as it does such a good job of imitating one.

Vintage Synth Explorer- describes the ER1 as being analogue- 'Korg has created the ultimate analog beat machine'- in the very first line of it's review- so their considered opinion is that it can be defined as analogue.

For these reasons I would say that the ER1 can regarded as analogue with at least some definition, and that my 'sort of or whatever' description is entirely valid

[X-Trade]

I've owned an ER-1 and EA1.

Yeah, it has the sounds, but the sound character itself is far from analog. afaik the downfall of the original electribe boxes is their relatively low sample rate.

However that also gives them a unique sound character of their own. Still definitely digital but don't get me wrong - I'd never say that was necessarily a bad thing.

[robosardine]

Yes- I have had them both as well- I would say undoubtedly that the EA1 is the furthest away from the real analogue sound, but the ER1 did a fairly decent job.
Having said that- I don't think either of them are highly sought after by many- I'm sure for the reasons you stated- so for me that probably says it all