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Korg's Volca FM 2 synth adds more voices, reverb and randomization
The portable and loving tribute to an iconic '80s synth is now even more compelling.
Korg's Volca Sample 2 is a huge upgrade in almost every way
Korg’s Volca Sample is one of the most beloved members of beloved family of affordable and portable instruments. The Volca Sample 2 is visually almost indistinguishable from the original. That USB port is definitely the biggest upgrade here.
Korg Volca Modular synth review: As weird as it is affordable
This review is a little different. Normally when Engadget reviews something, we're bringing years of experience and expertise to the table. But not here. The Volca Modular is a semimodular, West Coast-style synthesizer. And until I received this review unit, I had zero experience with either modular or West Coast-style synths. I am coming at this device from the perspective of a novice. And that's exactly the target audience. The Volca Modular is an affordable entry point to two worlds typically priced out of the range of the casual hobbyist. So the real question isn't "what do modular experts and West Coast veterans think about it?" It's "what can a beginner like myself learn from it?"
Korg's Volca Nubass is a vacuum tube analog synthesizer
Korg debuted its Nutube tech a couple years back, but so far the tiny vacuum tubes have only surfaced in select products. Nutubes have been used in a distortion pedal and a mini guitar amplifier head, one of which was made by another company. Now Korg is putting the tiny Nutubes to work in its line of compact analog synthesizers with the $200 Volca Nubass.
Korg introduces Volca Modular and Volca Drum synths
Korg's popular Volca line is getting larger and weirder with two additions: Modular and Drum. The affordable and portable line of battery powered synths has covered a lot of ground since first being introduced in 2013. There's a drum machine, a pair of analog synths, an FM-flavored love letter to the '80s, a mixer and even a model dedicated entirely to the kick drum. But for 2019 Korg is reaching much farther afield.
Korg finally has a mixer to link up those tiny Volca synths
Korg has been producing a ton of little synths in its Volca series over the last several years. Announced back in 2013, the initial Volca Beat, Bass and Keys started a run that eventually included an OK Go sample box, an '80s-style FM synth and an oscillator-driven drum sequencer, the Volca Kick. Now the company wants you to be able to chain a few of these tiny devices together for live performance with a new four channel mixer, the Volca Mix, announced at NAMM this year. According to FactMag, the Mix will run $170 and will release later this month.
Korg adds drums to its line of tiny Volca synths
Korg continues to expand its Volca series of sub-$200 synths. Today it announced the Volca Kick, a drum machine with a 16 step sequencer and analog oscillator. To keep it all in the family, it links up to the rest of the Volca line and minilogue, electribe and SQ-1 step sequencer.
Relive the '80s with the Korg Volca FM synthesizer
Synths are great. You push a key, turn a few knobs and suddenly you're making "music." So when keyboard maker Korg realized it had a hit with its low-cost, entry-level Monotron series, it was only natural to follow it up with something that had a little more bite. Enter the Volca line keyboards. At $160, they're not in the same impulse-purchase range as the $50 Monotrons, but at least one of these synthesizers is a welcome addition for would-be Kraftwerk disciples workings toward converting their garage into sprawling mess of wires and flashing lights.
Korg's OK Go Volca Sample is pre-loaded with sounds from 'Hungry Ghosts'
Last fall, OK Go released their latest album Hungry Ghosts. If you happen to enjoy the samples the band used on it, you can employ those sounds yourself thanks to Korg. The audio company revealed a limited-edition of its Volca Sample emblazoned with OK Go art and loaded with clips the band used to make the aforementioned release. In fact, there's 100 different sounds total that are all available for use. This version of the Volca Sample features the same multi-touch keyboard, 16-step sequencer and can run on six AA batteries for mobile music making. It's part of the larger Volca line that includes the Volca Keys, Volca Bass and Volca Beat compact synths. And the original Volca Sample, of course. If all of that sounds too good to pass up, you'll be able to sang one for yourself this month after parting with $160.
Korg announces Volca analog synth series, we go eyes-on
Korg's love of the mini-analog synth clearly remains strong as it's added three more new ones to the fold -- the Volca Beat, Volca Bass and Volca Keys (the clue to what they do is in the names). While some firms take a pro product and work down, making cheaper versions, Korg seems to take a different approach. It did the stripping-back thing when it launched its popular Monotron synth. Since then, it's incrementally developed it back up into a whole category of its own, the latest iteration of which we apparently see before us here. The trio of mini-synths clearly take inspiration from the Monotribe groovebox that came before them, but are a step up in terms of design. Brushed metal finishes give them a vintage, almost Stylophone feel. The Volca Bass, in particular, looks almost too much like the legendary Roland TB-303 to be coincidence, and if we didn't know better, we'd say the color scheme of the Beat echoes the TR-808. As we happened to be in Frankfurt, we couldn't resist getting out hands on them, or as you'll see past the break, at least trying to. %Gallery-185299%
