Hi All,
I have this Volca FM and, before I MIDI mod it, I wanted to try simply saving the contents to an audio file. So I recorded the output on the SYNC OUT jack port when CLONE exporting. That gave me a data-like, eardrum-shredding waveform. Now when I test the import and play this waveform into the SYNC IN port of the Volca, the 7-segment display on the Volca goes "PGM1", then "PGM2", and then I get an export error message. The whole thing takes a few seconds before going haywire like this.
Why is that? It should be the exact same situation when doing it from a Volca to another Volca.
Note that my wave is 16-bit, 44100Hz. As the first two programs are "grasped" by the Volca when importing, could it be that I should use a better resolution on the sample?
Is what I'm trying completely silly?
Volca contents export via audio
Moderators: Sharp, X-Trade, Pepperpotty, karmathanever
Hi,
What you are doing is not silly at all.
Only it is intended to do cloning from one volca to another... I have only one, so I can not try it, but I believe that that would go smoother than what you try to do.
The main reason why it is not really working error free via audio is that the signal is a digital signal (the ear-drum shredding waveform) instead of an audio signal. The digital signal is pulsing between 0 and some positive voltage, having a clear DC component, which is something most audio interfaces can not handle properly. So probably the recording does not really correspond one-to-one on the output signal of the Volca. In the next step you try to play it back, again this (less) digital signal will probably further distorted, causing the error.
The best you can try is to record and replay using different devices, until you find one which is working better. The used resolution and sampling rate are more than sufficient. Because it is a +/-4kHz signal, basically toggling between 0 and full range. Or do the recording program per program and so on instead of the cloning.
For your info, Korg posted a software update for the FM, which is working as well via that mechanism. In the manual they themself suggest that the update may go wrong and you need to try another playback device...
And I had it actually at hand... I tried with different volumes to do the update using my laptop. No way, after 1 sec, I got always the error. It did work when I tried it with a 4 year old smartphone from the first time...
Good luck
What you are doing is not silly at all.
Only it is intended to do cloning from one volca to another... I have only one, so I can not try it, but I believe that that would go smoother than what you try to do.
The main reason why it is not really working error free via audio is that the signal is a digital signal (the ear-drum shredding waveform) instead of an audio signal. The digital signal is pulsing between 0 and some positive voltage, having a clear DC component, which is something most audio interfaces can not handle properly. So probably the recording does not really correspond one-to-one on the output signal of the Volca. In the next step you try to play it back, again this (less) digital signal will probably further distorted, causing the error.
The best you can try is to record and replay using different devices, until you find one which is working better. The used resolution and sampling rate are more than sufficient. Because it is a +/-4kHz signal, basically toggling between 0 and full range. Or do the recording program per program and so on instead of the cloning.
For your info, Korg posted a software update for the FM, which is working as well via that mechanism. In the manual they themself suggest that the update may go wrong and you need to try another playback device...
And I had it actually at hand... I tried with different volumes to do the update using my laptop. No way, after 1 sec, I got always the error. It did work when I tried it with a 4 year old smartphone from the first time...
Good luck
microKORGXL, Kaossilator Pro, monotribe, SQ-1, volca fm, Kross 88 BK
Alesis SR18, Akai Miniak, Fender Strat, Line 6 Spider II 112, Zoom MS-50G
Alesis SR18, Akai Miniak, Fender Strat, Line 6 Spider II 112, Zoom MS-50G
Hey OpAmp, thanks for your informed reply.
The thing is, I was quite confident my "audio saving" technique would work, because I used the same hardware to do the firmware update you're referring to, and it worked first time.
Anyway I understand your details about digital to analog conversion and back. I use software on my computer to record and playback the data-bearing sample and it is true that, when I zoom in on the waveform, I can see how the voltage peaks are not "perfect".
But even so; it worked for Korg's 2-part firmware update, so: Mind Still Boggled.
EDIT: okay I could understand this if someone told me that Korg's update waveforms are "profiled" to not lose data integrity when passed through an audio interface; which I haven't checked because the computer is now off. But theoretically I could zoom in on Korg's update files and see if the timing in the pulses is different or more "generous" than that in the Volca's export waveform.
The thing is, I was quite confident my "audio saving" technique would work, because I used the same hardware to do the firmware update you're referring to, and it worked first time.
Anyway I understand your details about digital to analog conversion and back. I use software on my computer to record and playback the data-bearing sample and it is true that, when I zoom in on the waveform, I can see how the voltage peaks are not "perfect".
But even so; it worked for Korg's 2-part firmware update, so: Mind Still Boggled.
EDIT: okay I could understand this if someone told me that Korg's update waveforms are "profiled" to not lose data integrity when passed through an audio interface; which I haven't checked because the computer is now off. But theoretically I could zoom in on Korg's update files and see if the timing in the pulses is different or more "generous" than that in the Volca's export waveform.
Hi Eamoex.
You're right in your correction
The difference is that you first recorded the export, while the upgrade wave file is probably generated in the ideal way (meaning not recorded, but calculated by some piece of software.
Any new insights in the meantime?
Bye.
You're right in your correction
The difference is that you first recorded the export, while the upgrade wave file is probably generated in the ideal way (meaning not recorded, but calculated by some piece of software.Any new insights in the meantime?
Bye.
microKORGXL, Kaossilator Pro, monotribe, SQ-1, volca fm, Kross 88 BK
Alesis SR18, Akai Miniak, Fender Strat, Line 6 Spider II 112, Zoom MS-50G
Alesis SR18, Akai Miniak, Fender Strat, Line 6 Spider II 112, Zoom MS-50G
Yeah, well, I'm giving up. Looking at Korg's update WAV amplitude, I've tried several recording levels. Also several sample resolutions up to 88200Hz. To no avail. It always fails in a few seconds.
Either it's impossible to accomplish or I miss something. Anyway if someone manages to do this, please let us know, because it would be very handy (at least to me) to be able to save the Volca contents like this.
Either it's impossible to accomplish or I miss something. Anyway if someone manages to do this, please let us know, because it would be very handy (at least to me) to be able to save the Volca contents like this.