what to add to volca set up

orionb · Post by **orionb** » Fri May 29, 2015 12:06 am

hi guys,

im new to the world of music making, and after spending months reading, watching, and lusting over volcas i got all 3, and the sample shortly after. ive also gotten the monotron duo and delay. for a mixer i ended up with Alto ZMX122FX so it has some built in FX and Send/return connectivity.

also i have an Alesis photonX25 just through MIDI to my Keys, and korg K25 just through MIDI to my Bass. (i found PC + controllers to be too cumbersome).

i want to know some suggestions for things to add to my setup- so far, i want to get a basic sturdy mic, and something for vocoder effects - kaoss pad 3? mini kaoss pad 2 has built in mic and effects, and also records. i need a recorder too and the zoom recorders seemed nice, but miniKP2 could do? as you can tell im kind of leaning towards a stable of korg products. theres various effects pedals out there, and also powerbook + garageband, etc..

i think a looper/sampler wouuld be really great, which again makes me look at the KP3....

in reality i need to get better at mastering the features of the volcas, but this is a long love affair and i want to get wild too.

chris-korg · Post by **chris-korg** » Fri May 29, 2015 7:52 am

You need 4 (four) Volcas

Spheric El · Post by **Spheric El** » Fri May 29, 2015 10:50 pm

The Audio loops on KP3 sample pads can be sloppy sync when combining with other gear.I have two and love them but this is something to bear in mind-it may or may not effect your work flow.If I need stable clock I sample a sync(click)signal into the KP3 looper then play that back at the (KPs) tempo for rock solid sync of KPs loops with other sequencers.I have two so its easier.(you can also use another audio playback device to play this sync signal into Volcas-as long as originally recorded off a akP3 loop).Its still a pain that they don't work so well like this because other wise they would be the most ultimate writing tool for a hardware studio.They still rock.
Have a look at the OP-1 and see if you can afford a 2nd hand one.I just payed £450 for one.
Monotribe rocks and TB-3 compliments Volca too.

Spheric El · Post by **Spheric El** » Fri May 29, 2015 10:56 pm

Also not all vocoders are equal.KP3s is ok but limited.A dedicated VA synth will be better.Consider that new roland synth -JD-Xi or MicroKorg XL or MiniNova.- Or if its just a good vocoder you want have a look at Roland's VT-3.

Spheric El · Post by **Spheric El** » Fri May 29, 2015 11:18 pm

If you do go for software DAW ,then i will recommend Ableton.Dont waist time with garage band..unless price and (non)complexity are your deciding factors ,in which case consider Audacity also,for basic recording.

orionb · Post by **orionb** » Sat May 30, 2015 9:33 pm

hey thanks for the info

chris, i bought the volca sample shortly after i had gotten the others

im not really looking to get into computer composition etc.... so avoiding. software as much as possible

one thing i have on my mind is that i dont have a synth that can produce strings/pads... there's not much in the way of sine waves on most of the small synths ive looked at... is that just normal for the field?
it woukd be nice to be able to make some clean sounding sine generated tones that i could sweep out in really long spans and stuff

Mk2 NL · Post by **Mk2 NL** » Sun May 31, 2015 9:18 am

i dont have a synth that can produce strings/pads

Have you looked into the Waldorf Streichfett?

chris-korg · Post by **chris-korg** » Sun May 31, 2015 11:44 am

Yes - Waldorf Streichfett is great (I have it, too) !!

orionb · Post by **orionb** » Sat Jul 11, 2015 7:20 am

well that seems pretty nice, and maybeit is in my future...

i think i found something more along the lines of crazy things i want, that being the jomox t-resonator ... wow what a beast.... i must have one