The biggest draw to the TR-8s is its uniquely hands-on feel that makes it perfect for playing it in live settings. However, to get the best out of a performance/ sequence (and particularly when playing chords on the Keys) we advise connecting an external MIDI keyboard. The Beats doesn't respond to velocity over MIDI, but all the Volcas react reliably to MIDI note input. Each unit can also have its own MIDI channel but there's no multi-timbrality on any Volca. Hats - There are both closed and open hats on the Volca Beats. Each has an individual decay but shares a Grain control, which controls pitch. [4]

The traditional TR step sequencer is included, but there’s also real-time recording and various other enhancements. You’ll find built-in effects, and the TR-6S can be used as a USB audio/MIDI interface. Its Active Step is great in that departures from the ubiquitous “4 on the floor” time signature and rhythm of virtually all modern electronic music are 1) easy to implement and 2) easy to understand what’s happening, and 3) easy to revert.

The best drum machines at a glance:

As with Digitone, Model:Cycles is based around a polyphonic FM (frequency modulation) synth engine paired with a 64-step sequencer. Unlike Model:Samples, which could be described as essentially the same as Digitakt with a few features removed, Model:Cycles isn’t simply a trimmed-down version of the Digitone. Despite using the same underlying four-operator engine, the way sound editing is presented means that the two are noticeably different in use. Connectivity abounds in the Drumlogue, outfitted as it is with six individual and routable outputs and a headphone output for good measure. These sit alongside an audio input, analogue sync input and output, MIDI in/out and two USB ports, meaning the drum machine will play nice with any and all external gear you may want to pair it with.

The Volca Drum loses the analog vibe but gains a torrential downpour of sophistication, versatility, depth, and fresh new sounds – not to mention a much-improved user interface via the LCD. The snare drum Pros: 8 channels (2 of them stereo), mutes, panning, 2 aux sends, separate phones and main outs, power for 4 Volcas, same size as Volca. The Korg Mix and KVgear Vixen (discontinued) have daisy chain power hubs. Cables must have 4.75 x 1.7 plugs on each end. The KVgear CBL-VV cable is designed for this purpose and it's longer than the ones provided with the Mix. Analog synths’ sonic character inspires me with joy even if the benefit is inconsequential to the listeners of my music – but the vBeats’ analog circuitry barely produces any magic that can’t digital can’t do just as well. It’s a reminder that at budget prices, digital is usually far better than (inexpensive) analog – Behringer’s newest analog offerings are a surprising exception to this rule of thumb! AC adapter “KA-350” (optional) Others Accessories AA alkaline battery ×6 (for verifying operation) Options AC adapter “KA-350” Dimensions

Getting Personal With One of the Best Budget Samplers

Also, in conjunction with the Func button, the keys double as function buttons to access secondary functions and this system works well and is easy to learn. The balance between functionality, ease of use and playability is great and it's amazing how much has been crammed in for the money. Please note that this extended warranty is currently only available on products sold within the UK, EU or EEA, and is subject to the terms and conditions as detailed on the extended warranty certificate provided. The small four-character display is helpful for indicating the current mode and for dialling in a specific tempo. The Mute button is equally obvious, it temporarily turns each step key into an instrument mute. With a smooth finger-slide across the ribbon, you can mute a range of voices with flourish. For added performance consistency, mutes are maintained across pattern changes and it transpires that Func + Mute engages the Solo function, a detail omitted from the brief owner's manual. Three true-analogue synthesizers with built-in sequencers to generate the ultimate analogue leads, basses, or rhythms Based on 'common analogue vintage circuits' (and sounding similar to a Roland TR606), the Beats has six analogue and four PCM sounds.

A good drum machine should have a compelling engine that allows you to tweak parameters and sculpt a cool sound.

The compact Volca range gains a digital beat machine

Until now, the problem with analog synthesizers has been that the pitch would drift over time, or because of changes in temperature. Volca solves this by providing a Self-tuning function that constantly tunes the oscillators. You'll never need to tune during a performance, or wait for the pitch to stabilize after turning the power on. The Volca Beats is a hybrid drum machine produced by the Japanese music technology manufacturer Korg. It was released in April 2013 along with the Volca Keys and Volca Bass. [1] The Beats uses both analogue synthesis and PCM samples to produce drum sounds.

a b c Nov 19, G. W. Childs IV on; comments, 2013 in Review 0. "Review: Korg Volca Beats". ask.audio . Retrieved 2022-11-16. {{ cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list ( link)Pros: 8 channels (2 of them stereo), mutes, panning, 2 aux sends, separate phones and main outs, power for 8 Volcas, battery powered, same size as Volca Like the Monotron and Monotribe, Volcas can be modified and expanded even if you lose your warranty. People are already customizing them for MIDI output and CV control, and you can add individual audio outputs for drum sounds in Beats. Unlike Stutter on the Volca Beats, the Keys' delay is a real digital delay. It's less noisy than that of the Monotron Delay but presumably the hiss is filtered or gated because the delays are duller than its predecessor but similar in quality otherwise. Still, even though it's dirty and imperfect it could be useful in certain situations. Tempo sync is provided too but the delay loses some range and versatility when this is active. The Motion Recording on this Volca is the most extensive of the range. Practically every knob bar resonance (the Korg 700 filter does not have voltage-controlled resonance) can be tweaked and those tweaks captured in a pattern. To remind you when motion recordings are present, each affected knob flashes as the pattern loops. Recorded motions can be quantised to the step or replayed smoothly and naturally, or even muted, all without disrupting recorded notes. Unlike the Volca Bass you can externally control the filter cutoff over MIDI, but if you do, any subsequent manual knobbing risks giving the poor mite a headache. The Keys' LFO has the most waveforms of all: sawtooth, square and triangle. It offers selectable trigger sync so you can control whether it restarts each time a note is played. It also delivers independent pitch and filter modulation amounts and the fastest LFO speeds indicate yet another route to uncharted strangeness.