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Hi All

Just received 2 Volcas for Xmas, a Bass & a Beats and I think both are faulty!!??

1) VOLCA BASS:
When I use VCO Group M1 for 3 seperate oscillators, and step sequence, i cannot seem to activate ALL steps for VCO2. Steps 1, 3, 5, 7 & 11 do not activate at all. ALL steps activate & light for VCO1 & 3. When using other Group modes (M2 or M3) and step sequence, ALL steps light and activate. Can someone please check this video and confirm issue
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BsCnesIANW0

2) VOCAL BEATS
When using Step Sequence, the LED Lights for steps 9, 10, 11 & 12 never light. Selecting them will turn step on or off as expected, but theres no indication as lights s tay off. This happens for all sounds. Anybody else have this issue?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_Av_tI4Qmk

REALLY disappointed with the build quality or more importantly the QA of these machines. Am i just unlucky to have received 2 duds, or are these issues widespread.

Same problem for the steps !!
I've asking korg but no answer.

Thanks for taking the time to post video's . Now i like the volca's even less.
Surely these are under warranty right ? Nobody has had one for a year yet. Can't you just return it for a new unit or a refund ?

DrHoo wrote:Thanks for taking the time to post video's . Now i like the volca's even less.
Surely these are under warranty right ? Nobody has had one for a year yet. Can't you just return it for a new unit or a refund ?

yup under warranty! only just received them for xmas. store i purchased from will replace mine this week. i was curious if the issues were widespread tho as didnt think i was that unlucky!

Keep us informed on what Korg will answer to your request.
(I cannot do it because I opened the volca to check the inside, and break the waranty )

I think the issues some people are having with them are regional. From what I remember reading, they are all manufactured in a single warehouse, but then shipped out afterward to be inspected and calibrated individually in whatever country they are to be sold at.

Either way, since they come with a warranty, you shouldn't need to email Korg about it. Just return it to the store you got it from for a replacement, or take it a Korg licensed repair shop. The warranty covers all repair costs free of charge.

Thank you for posting these videos my volca beats works fine so im relieved there...however it is significantly quieter than the other 2 volcas! is this a common issue (should I replace the unit?)

as far as bass goes (which I literally just got an hour ago) have the same problem with VCO2 also my LED (upper) on step 16 is not lighting up at all....

The Volca Beats being quieter is normal. The Volca Bass & Keys actually respond to velocity when using MIDI, so they have that extra volume range for softer and harder key strikes if you're using a MIDI controller. The touch strip, however, triggers each note at full velocity.

Re-Member wrote:The Volca Beats being quieter is normal. The Volca Bass & Keys actually respond to velocity when using MIDI, so they have that extra volume range for softer and harder key strikes if you're using a MIDI controller. The touch strip, however, triggers each note at full velocity.

thank you for your answer and info on bass and keys being velocity sensitive . - now I don't have to worry about keys being a defective unit..

I called my store about the bass though and they are ordering new one for me so that's good, this time will double check in the store if everything works..

Bought my Volca Bass mid of October 2013 from Germany, my Volca Beats end of October 2013 from Austria. For the Volca Beats I manually upgraded the firmware to the actual Version v1.02.

Tested today both - worked fine, I could not replicate the behaviour of your Volcas shown in the videos.

Still it is very strange as this in my opinion looks like beeing a software issue....

ryca wrote:

DrHoo wrote:Thanks for taking the time to post video's . Now i like the volca's even less.
Surely these are under warranty right ? Nobody has had one for a year yet. Can't you just return it for a new unit or a refund ?

yup under warranty! only just received them for xmas. store i purchased from will replace mine this week. i was curious if the issues were widespread tho as didnt think i was that unlucky!

Get the replacements. Dodgy goods as new. Not acceptable.

thanks for all replies/confirmation.

beats being sent back today

bass will follow very shortly

is it just me or have there been a lot of volcas with issues? I dunno. maybe this is normal I don't usually follow new products.

Yeah , must say they seem a bit fragile don't they.

ok update.

my Beats has been sent back and will be replaced. it seems like a common problem as I've heard from a few other Beats owners that have the same issue... LED's 9-12 not working

as for the Bass... I'm still not 100% it's a fault and think it could be user error. the user manual states for STEP MODE button:

Press this button to enter step mode (the STEP MODE button will light up). Step buttons 1 to 16 will function as step
buttons for the sequence. Pressing a step button turns that step for the selected oscillator on or off. Steps that have
been turned on will be played. However, steps with nothing recorded cannot be turned on.Pressing this button again returns the unit to keyboard mode.

The part in bold has me thinking it could be the pattern and nothings recorded in those parts. I tried CLEAR ALL for a sequence in Memory but not seeing a change.

Does anybody understand how to use Step Mode properly and may be able to shed some light?