I bought the Volca Beats and I love it! What next?

Bopogamel · Post by **Bopogamel** » Tue Oct 28, 2014 12:58 pm

Hi everyone,

I'm new to this forum and synths in general, so please excuse any dumbness.

I play drums, so enthusiastically picked up the Volca Beats a few days ago after watching some videos on YouTube. Man - I'm having crazy amounts of fun with it. So much fun that I'm going to invest in another Volca in an attempt to make something a bit more fleshed out.

But which one? The Bass or the Keys? I like the idea of learning something about synths rather than just fluffing around with the knobs until I like the sound, so maybe the Bass would be an easier place to start? Or maybe it would be simpler for me to create a tune that I can keep track on the keys? I'll probably get both at some point in the future, but want to get to grips with them one at a time.

Any advice would be appreciated, along with any recommendations of an easy to digest guide on synth theory.

Thanks for any help and the awesome forum!

todtechno · Post by **todtechno** » Tue Oct 28, 2014 3:39 pm

It depends on what you are looking to do with your Volcas. The bass is a very acidy sounding bass (in my opinion). Although I own all three, I bought the beats and bass before buying the keys. In hindsight I would have personally bought the keys before the bass but I knew I was going to buy all three so I wasn't overly concerned.

Butterfingersbeck · Post by **Butterfingersbeck** » Tue Oct 28, 2014 6:28 pm

The Volca Keys is much closer in architecture to a traditional monosynth than the Bass. If you want to learn the basics of subtractive (so-called "analogue") synthesis, the Keys is a great starting point, and one that will grow with you as you learn. If one day you are ever fortunate enough to get your hands on something like a Minimoog, ARP Odyssey or Korg MS-20, you'll be able to use it straight away.

The Volca Bass is (as I understand it, not actually owning one) also a great subtractive synth, but lacks certain facilities (e.g. an envelope capable of sustained sounds), and is primarily (but not exclusively) intended to be used as a bass synth. If you learn subtractive synthesis only using the Bass, you will have an incomplete view of what is possible. But that's just my opinion.

Summary:

If you get the Keys, you will have a synth which is based on the design of most of the classic monosynths of the past 45 years.

If you buy the Bass, you will have an unconventional synth loosely inspired by the Roland TB-303, but with two extra oscillators. You choose...

Bopogamel · Post by **Bopogamel** » Wed Oct 29, 2014 12:41 am

Thanks for the informed responses, both. I think I'll go for the Keys.

Cheers!

Headphonesdude1973 · Post by **Headphonesdude1973** » Sun Oct 02, 2016 6:04 pm

Now there's Volca Sample, Volca FM, & Volca Kick to choose from! I've already ordered my Volca FM & Volca Kick. Needless to say, Volcas are more fun when you have more than one.

I decided to wait on Volca Keys, but I'm sure sooner or later I'll bring it home & have the whole family of Volcas.