Volca +midi controller

Discussion relating to the Korg Volca Series.

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ammanuel
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Post by ammanuel »

it will defiantly give it a dynamic dimension to the output, folks like you can push the apps. hopefully, they are listening.
volcaPaul
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Post by volcaPaul »

The app developer, Laurent, came back:
A fixed note for line is already in the feature to add list, can not tell you when it will be added, but it is already planned.
so it's looking good for StepPolyArp becoming more useful for the volcas.

Interestingly, the volca sample works differently to the beats. Each part is assigned to it's respective midi channel - so part 1 is midi channel 1, part 2 is midi channel 2 etc. Any midi note sent to the vSample simply plays the sample assigned to the midi channel of the note.

As the vSample doesn't transpose the sample based on the note, that does work when using all the arpeggiator features in connection with the vBass.
ammanuel
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Post by ammanuel »

That's good news and rather quick response. It must be soon.

So, on SPA transpose, for VBass, there is no need midi note translation besides assigning channel 10? Or is that for
ammanuel
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Post by ammanuel »

It's a shame we can't set the base note for some of the rows in steppolyarp independently of the played note.

I get it now.
ammanuel
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Post by ammanuel »

It's a shame we can't set the base note for some of the rows in steppolyarp independently of the played note.

I understand now:)
volcaPaul
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Post by volcaPaul »

So, on SPA transpose, for VBass, there is no need midi note translation besides assigning channel 10? Or is that for
Not sure I understand the question. On the vBass, to play anything other than the played note in a pattern, you have to have transposed rows.

if you're using SPA to play the vBeats at the same time, that means you have to use the same played note, as all of the vBeats parts are transposed relative to C3 (60). Any other note will break the relationship between the played note and the fixed midi note that corresponds to each part eg 36 for kick.

If it had fixed base notes for the vBeats rows, we could play different keys (including chords) to transpose the arpeggio/pattern - and use the octave patterns too.

If you've not tried it yet, it's worth having a go with just the vBass controlled by SPA - enter a pattern, try the different octave ranges and arpeggio directions. Even a single row pattern can sound good bouncing up and down the octaves.

Even without a splitter, you could run MidiBus on the ipad to provide the midi clock sync, run SPA synced to the midibus clock, run a midi cable from the ipad to the vBass midi in, and use the 3.5mm sync jack from the out of the vBass to the in on the vBeats and then kick off an internal pattern on the vBeats manually, which would then be in time to the vBass/SPA/MidiBus.
ammanuel
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Post by ammanuel »

I recalled the conversation after I posted the question. The change Enables to enter notes for Vbass independent of the VBeats.



I have been practicing on the keys and beats independently since I spent most of the day yesterday on SPA.

I will download Minibus. Another learning opportunity:) do you have a recommendation regarding the splitter? Is Midi Solution thru box a reliable line?

Thank you, VolcaPaul. Much appreciated.
volcaPaul
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Post by volcaPaul »

I bought a 1-to-3 way Philip Rees thru box/splitter, but the midi solutions boxes seem to get good reviews.

If you get stuck with anything on the midibus/SPA setup, just ask and I'll help if I can.
ammanuel
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Post by ammanuel »

It's was quiet the trip toggling btn the vco123 and running up and down the notes on the SPR!! I used 0 , -2 , -5, -7 row cells for pattern. I guess I used the (-) value for the deeper sound(?)

Regarding the sync btn midibus and STP, wouldn't the Vbass synch with the app since the bum is set eg 120? Or is clock sync different that bum count?
ammanuel
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Post by ammanuel »

This is what I did for the SPA and Midibus

SPA

midi out > VBass

Midibus

Destination Transport = enabled STA and Minibus = and pressed play

Midi source , monitor = enabled both and disabled the network option
ammanuel
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Post by ammanuel »

Edit previous message to bpm not bum :)
ammanuel
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Post by ammanuel »

Thank you, I think I will settle for the midi solution. Philip Rees is not available from the commerce oracle aka Amazon.... And the Also USB Hub for connecting the Casio keyboard to the Volca Keys. I find myself struggling to use the keys. I tend to overlap when I play the notes.
volcaPaul
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Post by volcaPaul »

I used 0 , -2 , -5, -7 row cells for pattern. I guess I used the (-) value for the deeper sound(?)
those transpose values are all relative to the played note(s) - so when they're negative, they play a lower (deeper) note than the played note(s).
Regarding the sync btn midibus and STP, wouldn't the Vbass synch with the app since the bum is set eg 120? Or is clock sync different that bum count?
You can have 2 things running at the same tempo (bpm), but not necessarily in sync - the beats could be triggering up to half a second out from the vBass+SPA - which would be noticeable. Using midibus to generate the sync means each beat of SPA matches each beat going to the vBass, which then sends sync to the vBeats if you're using the 3.5mm jack.

If you're just using vBass controlled via SPA then there's nothing else to be synced to - the app is sending the notes as per the bpm set in the app. Sync is only an issue when you're got more than one thing playing eg playing a vBeats internal sequence pattern in time with a vBass pattern controlled by SPA.
And the Also USB Hub for connecting the Casio keyboard to the Volca Keys. I find myself struggling to use the keys. I tend to overlap when I play the notes.
same here. I find that using a controller keyboard really opens things up, but I get lazy and don't bother as often as I should.
ammanuel
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Post by ammanuel »

Eg. By assigning 0 for a row and playing the pattern at C3 (60 midi note) and since SPA transpose tops at 24, 60-24 = 36 (?)

Yes, I used both volcas and SPA + midibus.
volcaPaul
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Post by volcaPaul »

If you assign 0 for a row then it doesn't transpose and all the hits on that row will play the same note as the note you played - or if you played a chord, then it will play each individual note of the chord in sequence (that being what an arpeggio actually is).

If you have the octaves set to more than 1 (which is just the current octave) then it will play the same note(s) in higher octaves, in the arpeggio pattern you've specified - eg up/down or random.

So if you've set octaves to 3, have the up ramp pattern ("/") selected, and play C3, then a row with transpose of 0 will play notes C3 C4 C5 C3 C4 C5 and so on, for each hit in the row.

If you had the up/down pattern selected ("/\") , octaves set to 4, and played C3, it would play C3 C4 C5 C6 C5 C4 C3 C4 C5 C6 and so on for each hit in a row with transpose set to 0.

The max transpose is 24 notes, which is 2 octaves - so if you had a row with -24 instead of 0, up ramp ("/"), 3 octaves, and played C3, that row would output C1 C2 C3 C1 C2 C3 etc for each hit on that row.
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