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Hello everyone, i'm a proud owner of the Volcas Sample, Bass and Keys.
Now i would like to add some new synth, or whatever, to my setup.
I have a 400euros budget. Any advice?

Thanks

I'm setting some money aside for Volca FM.

clacortese wrote:Hello everyone, i'm a proud owner of the Volcas Sample, Bass and Keys.
Now i would like to add some new synth, or whatever, to my setup.
I have a 400euros budget. Any advice?

Thanks

The question is: what do you want to do?

a) play live
b) recording & composing
c) something else

For a) you need a mixer and some live FX like Korg Kaoss, for example. And some cables. Don't be cheap on cables, buy some brand and you won't have weird problems. Don't use audio splitters, get a proper mixer.

For b) you need a audio interface and some DAW software for this job. You could use a existing Mac, PC or iOS device of yours for arranging your next absolute amazing musical masterpiece.

For c) if you want to complete your Volca collection buy the Volca Beats and the Volca FM (when it arrives later this year). Spend the rest 100€ on good wine and buy a present for your girlfriend.

I recently got a Roland Botique JU-06, I've found it to be a really nice little companion to my Volca family. Really great piece of kit and in line with your budget.

Xanadu wrote:I'm setting some money aside for Volca FM.

just saw it and it's amazing!!! later this year I'll buy it for sure. Thanks [/quote]

Dragan wrote:

clacortese wrote:Hello everyone, i'm a proud owner of the Volcas Sample, Bass and Keys.
Now i would like to add some new synth, or whatever, to my setup.
I have a 400euros budget. Any advice?

Thanks

The question is: what do you want to do?

a) play live
b) recording & composing
c) something else

For a) you need a mixer and some live FX like Korg Kaoss, for example. And some cables. Don't be cheap on cables, buy some brand and you won't have weird problems. Don't use audio splitters, get a proper mixer.

For b) you need a audio interface and some DAW software for this job. You could use a existing Mac, PC or iOS device of yours for arranging your next absolute amazing musical masterpiece.

For c) if you want to complete your Volca collection buy the Volca Beats and the Volca FM (when it arrives later this year). Spend the rest 100€ on good wine and buy a present for your girlfriend.

Really precise answer. Thank you.
Actually I already own those stuff for your B proposal, maybe I'll buy a Roland Boutique (don't know what!) to keep on playing live! Any advice on other "little equipment" like this?

P.S. the other proposal was to buy an Ableton Push and just work with Ableton, it's more versatile and allows me to don't get bored easily.. maybe..

clacortese wrote: Actually I already own those stuff for your B proposal, maybe I'll buy a Roland Boutique (don't know what!) to keep on playing live! Any advice on other "little equipment" like this?

Compared to the Volcas I find the Roland Boutiques totally overpriced. They are sure nice bits of equipment but IMO are just not worth that amount of cash. I've also heard some weird stories about bad MIDI implementation on the Boutiques.

You have Volca Sample but no dedicated drum machine in your set. I like to use both for live, a sampler and hardware drumbox. It's a nice choice to have between polished drumtracks (sampler) and some raw live improvisation (drumbox).

P.S. the other proposal was to buy an Ableton Push and just work with Ableton, it's more versatile and allows me to don't get bored easily.. maybe..

Push is great to have but there you get away from the real world knobs and enter the virtual worlds. Maybe you like to work like that. I work on a computer on a daily basis, so having a computer free setup is a revelation to me. Push2 is rather expensive but maybe you can get Push (v.1) used and cheaper.

Dragan wrote:Compared to the Volcas I find the Roland Boutiques totally overpriced. They are sure nice bits of equipment but IMO are just not worth that amount of cash. I've also heard some weird stories about bad MIDI implementation on the Boutiques.

It's all relative, opinions and all that, but my JU-06 is worth every penny I paid for it. Great sounding, fun piece of gear. I've had no issues at all with midi either. Highly recommend it.

Recommended little equipment.

Shruthi: DIY but eBay often has assembled new or secondhand (at least in UK)
Electribe
Novation Circuit
Preen FM - same situation as circuit

The circuit and electribe would give you drums as well as synths. The electribe would be easier to sync with the volcas

In the UK at least I've seen a lot of DSI Mophos going cheap on eBay as well