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Korg Volca Drum Physical Modeling Drum Synthesizer

Drum Machine with 16-step Sequencer, 6 Dual-layer Drum Parts, MIDI Input, and Sync I/O
$159.99

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Korg Volca Drum Physical Modeling Drum Synthesizer
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Your Never-ending Source for Unique Drum and Percussion Sounds

Why search for the perfect electronic drum sounds when you can create your own with the Korg Volca Drum physical-modeling drum synthesizer? This powerful percussion synth offers six dual-layered parts for you to create everything from commanding kicks and snappy snares to all manner of booms and blasts. In typical Volca fashion, the Volca Drum features an impressive sequencer and 16 motion sequencer parameters to make grooves that move. And each sequencer part can have a different sequencer, making it easy to create complex polyrhythms with the Korg Volca Drum percussion synthesizer.

Custom DSP engine for deep creative potential

Each of the six drum parts in the Korg Volca Drum features two layers with five types of oscillator waveform per layer. Choose from sine wave, saw wave, or highpass-filtered noise, then choose from three types of pitch modulation and amplifier envelope. Complete with bit reduction when you want to get rough, Volca Drum allows you to create everything from deep bass booms and snappy snares to all manner of experimental percussion tones.

Rich, resonant effects from the waveguide resonator

The effects section in Volca Drum offers a waveguide resonator based on physical modeling, and synthesists at Sweetwater are impressed by the complex tones you can conjure here. Its Tube mode applies the resonance of a cylindrical object like a drum body or a long pipe. The Strings mode generates the metallic resonance of a string.

An evolved Volca sequencer

Volca Drum’s 16-step sequencer offers a ton of performance potential. Record in real time or via step recording, then chain patterns to play multiple sequences consecutively. In addition to your patterns, you can use the motion sequencer to control up to 69 different parameters. Another much appreciated addition is the ability to subdivide any sequence step into shorter slices to create drumrolls.

Korg Volca Drum Physical Modeling Drum Synthesizer Module Features:

  • 6-part drum synth module with 2 layers per part
  • Each layer offers 3 types of oscillator and 3 types of pitch modulator and amp EG
  • Waveguide resonator creates complex tones based on physically modeled resonance
  • 16-step sequencer supports different step lengths for creating complex polyrhythms
  • Slice function for adding drumrolls to any pattern step
  • 16-level accent function for nuanced drum patterns
  • Choke function allows you to group parts
  • Powerful randomize function allows you to randomize either the drum layers or the part sequence
  • MIDI In and Sync I/O for integrating with your synth rig and other Volcas

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Tech Specs

  • Type: Drum Synthesizer with Sequencer
  • Pads: 16 x Multi-touch Keys
  • Sounds: 6-parts, Dual Layered
  • Polyphony: 6 Notes
  • Kits: 16 (10 factory)
  • Patterns: 16
  • Sequencer: 16-steps, 6-parts, Realtime Recording, Motion Sequences
  • Effects: Overdrive, Resonator
  • Headphones: 1 x 1/8"
  • MIDI I/O: In
  • Other I/O: 2 x 1/8" (sync in/out)
  • Power Source: 9V DC power supply (sold separately) / 6 x AA batteries (Alkaline, NiMH)
  • Height: 1.54"
  • Width: 7.61"
  • Depth: 4.54"
  • Weight: 0.75 lbs.
  • Manufacturer Part Number: VOLCADRUM

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Customer Reviews

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Rated 5/5

Amazing

Wow. this thing is awesome. this is my personal introduction to the volca lineup, and after watching Cuckoo's tutorial on what it does and why it's awesome (check it out if you haven't. you can find it by searching 'cuckoo volca drum' on youtube), i went for it. Absolutely no regrets. For $... this thing gets more use than my Maschine. It's so fun to make random bleeps and bloops. I'm sure it's not for everyone, but for those who are interested in creating percussion sections that aren't tried and true (808, 909, etc), this can be a really useful instrument. One thing to note, that nowhere i've seen has really touched on, is that it has a 16 step sequencer, BUT you can chain the sequences together, so basically you can have up to a 256 step sequence. Also, it has a build in speaker which is goofy and weird. I didn't even know that when i bought it.
Rated 5/5

Most Unique Drum Machine

Small, but powerful. This thing sounds amazing. More of a rhythm synth because you can program all the sounds yourself. Drum kits can be swapped in and out. Amazed at the grooves possible. I call it the budget Perkons.
Rated 5/5

A Fantastic & Creative Percussion Synth

The Korg Volca Drum is a super fun & creative percussion synthesizer. This Volca definitely is unique. It offers six parts each with layers of two individual sounds per part that can be edited separately or together. Programming is very immediate and the controls invite tweaking without having read the manual. However there are a few settings that aren't immediately intuitive which are accessed with the edit/step button and then scrolled through by the select/parameter knob. These potentially overlooked settings really do add to the sound giving bit reduction, wave folding, overdrive, panning, and gain adjustment. The three distortions here add a bit of grit to the sound and in my experience don't degrade the sound too much either, being mostly consistently useable at maximum settings. The motion record opens up the sound design potential quite a bit even if it is a shame that motion recording isn't available for the resonator parameters. I especially enjoy motion recording the rate of the LFO modifier. So many types of synthetic percussion can be made with this synth and, with choke groups, you can treat multiple sounds as a single instrument set. Programming on the Volca Drum is a joy. I plan on holding onto mine probably forever.
Music background: Electronic Music
Rated 5/5

Korg Vulca Drum

Great little drum machine! You can get some unique dub sounds and the interface is easy to use. Good little drum synth for electronic music!
Rated 5/5

Fantastic and original sounding

It takes a bit to learn the multiple button meanings, but it's worth spending a little time to get to know this drum machine. It has a lot of capabilities. Do not be fooled by its diminutive size (thank you auto-correct). This thing can sound big.
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