Korg Volca FM

Paul Dither · « **on:** March 10, 2016, 09:04:15 AM »

The cat is out of the box: http://www.korg.com/us/products/dj/volca_fm/

The only downside is 3 voice polyphony. Other than that, this looks like it's going to be a very cool unit. It's going to be fun to automate the parameters with the step sequencer that apparently also has a slew option. The algorithms are part of the mod matrix too, which means you can automate any movement between different algorithms. That's a pretty neat feature.

chysn · « **Reply #1 on:** March 10, 2016, 02:38:43 PM »

That is a neat feature, depending on implementation. Without good control over which algorithms you're moving around between, it could just add more chaos to an already-inherently-chaotic synthesis engine.

I think the the killer app of this thing is the ability to load DX7 SysEx.

Razmo · « **Reply #2 on:** March 10, 2016, 05:55:49 PM »

I'm actualy a bit irritated about the new FM synths... the Reface DX is not DX7 patch compatible, but has eight voices at least... the Volca FM has a lousy 3 voices, but are DX7 compatible... really annoying

I'll wait... I have this feeling there might soon be a Montage Rack... I might go for that one just to have true FM synthesis in my arsenal, but if it's not DX7 compatible, I won't get that either... there are so many free presets for the DX7 it's dumb not to utilize that... many complain that the Montage does not have the TG/SY77 capabilities of using FM and Samples between each other, but I really don't care about that... for me, I'd just like the FM part of the Montage in a 1U rack with DX7 support... please...

Paul Dither · « **Reply #3 on:** March 10, 2016, 08:44:56 PM »

I think I've heard that the Montage is able to load DX presets.

BobTheDog · « **Reply #4 on:** March 10, 2016, 10:35:38 PM »

The Kronos can load DX7 patches as well.

Razmo · « **Reply #5 on:** March 10, 2016, 11:48:53 PM »

Hope thats true about the Montage and DX7 compatibility

Kronos is out of the question... I lack complete interest in workstations, as they can do way too much, and it has keys which I do not want

Most of the bigger Yamaha synths have had a rack version, so I hope they will be doing that with the Montage as well... if not... then I'll just stick with the FM capabilities of the P12. worst case scenario, and I'll find a used TX802.

DavidDever · « **Reply #6 on:** March 13, 2016, 06:57:12 AM »

I might be tempted to pick up a Volca FM - just dusted off / cleaned up / re-worked the keybed on the DX7 a few days ago and it might be interesting to see what the difference in sound would be.

I was never a fan of the four-operator FM synths, as most of the cool synthesis tricks required the six-op algorithms. The FS1R is waaay too expensive to consider at this point, and I always felt that the NI FM7 or FM8 were a bit over the top in terms of added features that obscured the real magic underneath.

Paul Dither · « **Reply #7 on:** March 13, 2016, 07:02:32 AM »

Quote from: Razmo on March 10, 2016, 11:48:53 PM

Hope thats true about the Montage and DX7 compatibility

From http://usa.yamaha.com/products/music-production/synthesizers/montage/#tab=feature:

"MONTAGE is directly compatible with Motif XF Voices. Yamaha is developing an FM converter to make it compatible with DX7 series Voices as well."

Paul Dither · « **Reply #8 on:** March 13, 2016, 07:05:21 AM »

Quote from: Razmo on March 10, 2016, 05:55:49 PM

I'm actualy a bit irritated about the new FM synths... the Reface DX is not DX7 patch compatible, but has eight voices at least... the Volca FM has a lousy 3 voices, but are DX7 compatible... really annoying

Well, although you can't polychain them (no MIDI Through), you can sync two or more units of the Volca FM via the sync ins and outs to match the settings. The rest could be done via a DAW and its MIDI configurations, just like the people did who have created a 4-voice MiniBrute that way.

Paul Dither · « **Reply #9 on:** March 14, 2016, 10:41:05 PM »

For those who are interested in an overview of the parameters.

chysn · « **Reply #10 on:** March 15, 2016, 02:43:34 AM »

Ooh! FOUR characters of 7-segment LEDs for parameter names! Feels so luxurious!

BobTheDog · « **Reply #11 on:** March 15, 2016, 03:26:31 AM »

As it reads DX7 sysex any computer based DX7 editor should work I guess, might make things a bit easier!

Razmo · « **Reply #12 on:** March 15, 2016, 04:15:49 AM »

Quote from: BobTheDog on March 15, 2016, 03:26:31 AM

As it reads DX7 sysex any computer based DX7 editor should work I guess, might make things a bit easier!

That depends ... if it's just the basic bulk dump, editors may not work... you'd have to have ALL the SysEx functionality to get there, especially single parameter edits.

Paul Dither · « **Reply #13 on:** March 15, 2016, 06:43:18 AM »

Quote from: BobTheDog on March 15, 2016, 03:26:31 AM

As it reads DX7 sysex any computer based DX7 editor should work I guess, might make things a bit easier!

Yeah. I'd suggest Dexed because it's free and seems to work quite well: http://asb2m10.github.io/dexed/

NemoSynth · « **Reply #14 on:** March 17, 2016, 05:24:18 AM »

I was thinking about the same thing. It would be exciting to edit sounds on Dexed, and have it in action with Volca FM

Paul Dither · « **Reply #15 on:** March 17, 2016, 10:46:27 AM »

Quote from: NemoSynth on March 17, 2016, 05:24:18 AM

I was thinking about the same thing. It would be exciting to edit sounds on Dexed, and have it in action with Volca FM

It works well for me and it's super easy to import all the DX7 libraries that are available online.

Paul Dither · « **Reply #16 on:** March 31, 2016, 05:06:22 PM »

Okay, I checked one out today. It's fun to play around with, but the limited polyphony and also the limited controlability via a MIDI keyboard (the FM doesn't respond to velocity or mod wheel) pretty much determine its use in conjunction with the sequencer. What is nice is that you can automate almost all parameters and that you can use the arpeggiator in combination with the sequencer, which is a feature I'd like to see in many more products. The warp function of the sequencer is also neat if you want to move towards odd rhythms instantly.

If you want to program FM sounds in an oldschool way, this won't be much easier than on the DX7 though. So it makes FM a bit more accessible, but only to play around with and hence on a surface, not really in depth. The intentional programming will still appear cumbersome to most I guess. When it was announced I thought I was sold on it. Now I'm glad I tried it out first. Although I don't have any current linear FM devices in my setup (wink, wink, Pro 2 update?), I don't think this would add enough new and significant sonic variety to justify its purchase. So I'll pass.

If nothing else in this direction comes up, I'd rather consider getting an original DX7 again at some point.

chysn · « **Reply #17 on:** March 31, 2016, 06:03:23 PM »

Thanks for the write-up!

I've been leaning away from getting one, too. TF7 for iPad is quite satisfactory when I want to make DX-style FM sounds. It's familiar, but adds a filter.

What odds do you place on linear FM for the Pro 2? What's the current barrier to it?

Paul Dither · « **Reply #18 on:** March 31, 2016, 07:13:04 PM »

Quote from: chysn on March 31, 2016, 06:03:23 PM

Thanks for the write-up!

I've been leaning away from getting one, too. TF7 for iPad is quite satisfactory when I want to make DX-style FM sounds. It's familiar, but adds a filter.

What odds do you place on linear FM for the Pro 2? What's the current barrier to it?

You're welcome. It's good to have anti-GAS moments as well.

I think the last word on implementing linear FM into the Pro 2 was that they're not quite sure whether the processor could handle it. There are still a couple of possible additional features that await confirmation and this is one of them. Others are alternative tunings, paraphonic sequencer mode, etc. As of now, there's no timeframe given for any future Pro 2 update.

proteus-ix · « **Reply #19 on:** December 08, 2016, 11:57:20 AM »

FM noob question: how does the FM in the Volca compare to the FM in the Poly Evolver and P12? Are they same, to where you can create similar patches, or too different? I'm mostly looking to do 80s FM basses and other things common to 242 Official Version / Skinny Puppy industrial. Any patch guidance?