Overdriving Filter Causes Skipped Steps and Sync Loss.

[Jonzey]

Hey everyone, happy to have encountered a Volca forum!

I noticed something rather annoying and I'm wondering if anyone else has encountered the same issue?

Here is the setup: Beats SYNC OUT to bass SYNC IN (or Keys SYNC IN)

Cutoff is set above 50%, so more than half way clockwise (or anywhere past half really.)
Then, with "peak" fully clockwise (all the way open to the right) the Bass sequence begins sporadically skipping past steps and falls out of sync with Beats. Sometimes this even happens before peak is fully open.

I thought this was maybe an issue with my Bass, like perhaps I got a lemon, but the exact same thing is also happening with my Keys.

Has anyone else experienced this issue?
Could someone try to recreate this with their Volca's and let me know?

That would be helpful, thanks!

[Phabius]

I've been experimenting sync loss with all three volcas since last week.
Tried to exchange positions in the sync chain and it got it better with Bass>Beats>Keys. Volca Bass seems to be the most problematic in receiving sync from Beats or Keys.
I can say the thin wires which come with the units are crap.
So I'm using better cables, but from time to time they loose sync anyway.
Careful with those jacks as well (I'm afraid some of mine may have problems already).
Gonna make the test with the bass filter and see what happens.

[Phabius]

I've just made the test with Filter Peak at max, tweaking the Cutoff Knob and it was ok. Bass was in sync all the time. Connection - Beats>Bass>Keys.
I've played for about half an hour with no issues.

Strange enough, like I said, last week I had odd sync problems. To be more detailed, sometimes I had problems only when connecting the third device in the chain. Beats with Bass, ok; Bass with Keys, ok... When connecting all three, sometimes one or two of them would skip steps.
I've exchanged cables in any possible combination. Today, I've just turned them on and they're still there, playing in sync... Oh well...

[systemist]

I haven't tried reproducing what you guys are saying but at first I had sync issues. I had mono 3.5 to 1/4" in the volca headphone outs and with some moderately stringent testing worked out that was the difference. Using stereo 3.5 to mono 1/4" with korg's sync cables going beats -> bass -> keys and never losing sync.

[Jonzey]

I thought I should update my findings here.

I finally updated my Volca Beats the other day. After updating to the latest firmware (1.02), the problem seems to have been fixed. I am no longer experiencing skipped steps no matter how nasty the filter gets. I'm even still using those crappy stock cables too..

Beats must have been the culprit behind the mystery. I will conduct a few more tests with different configurations, but as of now, All is good!

Cheers.

[darenager]

Just a heads up, make sure you are using TRS (stereo) cables for the sync jacks or you will get intermittent sync.

[Trig242]

Good Morning,

New to the forum, first post. Very happy to see a Volca forum available.

I noticed this morning that my Bass was falling out of sync with my beats. My chain is; Beats -> Bass [each unit has a headphone output mini to mini with a 1/4" adapter to my mixer]

I find that the bass is [as described] wildly skipping steps, even when i stop and try to restart on the top beat.

I have confirmed that my beats firmware is at 1.02, and that i am using stereo [TRS] mini-plugs. I am using the ones provided, I am guessing my first step should be to try a better cable.

Please let me know if I am missing something. its odd I used them together for some time a couple of nights ago with no issue, and now today its all wonky.

Appreciate any/all assistance and advice

[Trig242]

I haven't tried reproducing what you guys are saying but at first I had sync issues. I had mono 3.5 to 1/4" in the volca headphone outs and with some moderately stringent testing worked out that was the difference. Using stereo 3.5 to mono 1/4" with korg's sync cables going beats -> bass -> keys and never losing sync.

Sorry to double post so quickly, it turns out THIS may have been my issue. I ran a test not connected to my mixer and the units were running like champs. I then started connecting each unit individually to my mixer and having the other use the internal speaker and checking their sync while playing and changing patterns. It turns out one of my mini to 1/4" adapters was bad.

Just to confirm I am looking for 3.5 stereo to MONO 1/4"?

So now my question is; why/how would the headphone out jacks on the units affect the sync? I've noticed a few other posts and youtube comments that mention this. I am just having trouble seeing why it has that affect.

Thanks so much!

[fant0mas]

my best guess would be the close proximity of the sync and headphone out jacks.

maybe there is some scenario where there is more "cross-talk" between the two outputs when the headphone out does not have two lines of audio (dual mono) leaving the unit, and then it bleeds over into the sync signal, causing it to drop a beat here and there.

again, this is pure, uneducated speculation!
(but makes sense to me)

[Phabius]

I also had that experience last week.

As I said, sync loss is random in my case. Most of the time it's ok, with the pro TRS cables both for sync and audio output, but I also had them going ok with no audio conected and suddenly they went crazy when I plugged the last audio cable in the Volca Beats output.

My setup works better with Bass>Keys>Beats, but the problem happened with this setup as well. I was wondering if power could cause it (I use three separate power adaptors, the Korg original ones). Who knows, but I believe in the crosstalk theory.