Korg Volca Sample Editing Demo

Korg today released another video preview of the Volca Sample, a new sample player/sequencer that lets you edit and sequence up to 100 sample sounds in realtime.

The video demonstrates the extensive edits possible with the Volca Sample. An electric piano sample is deformed to create all the parts necessary for a whole sequence.

Note that the Volca Sample is designed to be a tool for mangling and sequencing samples, but is not a hardware sampler. Korg says it will offer an iOS app for managing and loading samples. No word yet on whether it will be possible to do this from other platforms.

Pricing and availability for the Korg Volca Sample are to be announced. See the Korg site for details.

45 thoughts on “Korg Volca Sample Editing Demo”

    2. I was hoping they’d do that, like volca bass just with more tracks and all midi based with a midi lfo and midi envelope

      also a Volca FM and a Volca Wave would be dope
      maybe even a Volca VPM or Volca Additive (call it volca maths lol)

      could be a whole new line of them, actually if enough people spread the word I could see them making this

      1. I can already envision what they would look like
        Volca FM would be black with pastel highlights and green lines
        Volca Wave would be blue with white lines
        Volca MIDI should just be simple grey and creme (reverse of sample) maybe green leds?
        Volca VPM grey with pastel purple lines
        Volca Additive… ??? transparent with blue leds?

      1. Yeah the similarities are quite striking.

        Huge differences in functionality and price though. But yeah, if you get this and like it the obvious upgrade is the Octatrack, or perhaps the new Electribe sampler?

  3. Clever use of that sample to get those different tones. Looks like the volca provides sufficient playback rate range to get low/high enough to use samples in odd ways.

    I’m not personally that into sample mangling these days (though I did my fair share of it back in the day). But this product and this demo reminds me why it is super fun and compelling to do it. I could see how having the sequencer running while you tweak is much more satisfying than pounding on the keyboard while changing values as I did with my EPS, EPS16+, K2000, K2500, etc.

    1. I guess if they want folks to buy the whole set, they need to all fit on one table.

      But yea, I feel ya. I’m kind of mixed. Part of me likes the concept of a tiny piece of gear that does fun things– The Teenage Engineering folks are trying to scratch that itch. On the other hand, I really hate that feeling of clunking around on cramped interfaces and feeling like a giant.

  5. After all is said and done, this looks fun as hell. Maybe I wouldn’t use it in the studio but I can definitely see myself spending many happy hours playing with this.

  7. Once again, I have to put the desperate plea out there that Korg allow for some way to get samples onto this device without having to go through the iOS platform. I really like the look of this thing, but I don’t have an iPhone or iPad. If there is a way to load samples w/o iOS, I’ll definetly buy it. If we’re forced to go through iOS, I definitely won’t.

    Not sure why Korg would want to consciously limit this device’s potential demographic to exclusively Apple users. Sure, Apple has a large share of the music-making market, but Android has a massive advantage in the market overall [http://www.businessinsider.com/iphone-v-android-market-share-2014-5] and users [like me!] interested in hardware like this may not be on the iOS bandwagon.

    Why shackle your hardware instrument to a platform specifically known for its virtual instrument advantage?

    1. “Sure, Apple has a large share of the music-making market, but Android has a massive advantage in the market overall.”

      I think you just answered your own question here

      1. The point I was trying to make is that producers who choose to own iOS devices and use them in their productions often have all their sample-mangling needs met by existing iOS apps (Samplr, Borderlands, etc.). There are many musicians/producers who don’t dip their toe into the iOS waters at all (like myself) specifically because they prefer hardware or their own unique platforms.

        What I should have stated better is this: While most music-making apps exist on iOS, I don’t think it’s necessarily so that the majority of all music-makers own an iOS device – specifically those still interested in dropping $ on a hardware sampler in this day and age. Seems strange for Korg to focus on a market segment already well-served for hands-on sample manipulation (in the form of countless touchscreen apps) instead of at least making room for those who tend to choose hardware over iOS software.

        2. If you wait long enough, someone will figure out a hack that will allow the android to do the tape output thing for sample input. I can almost guarantee that. I have an iPad that I use for music in my studio…and I also have two of the volca series…I’m buying the sampler anyhow!

    2. It is especially aggravating when adding an SD slot would be fairly cheap.

      Rules for the file format could be nice & strict and folks would still be able to manage.

      1. How cheap? If you don’t have a serious analysis and added cost breakdown, it’s meaningless.
        Added cost is much more than component cost.

        1. As much as I want this to be a stand-alone device, it’s also good to see someone else standing up to the folks who are always like “IT WOULD BE EASY TO…”

          Nothing is easy. Try building products and you’ll find that out fast.

      2. creating an online app that will put the sample in the right format, and also allow samples to be cut and edited visually…on a platform that Korg is already involved heavily in? SD card doesn’t take advantage of the resources available to the manufacturer. Also? Easier updates through an app platform like iOS than if they were to take the machine full off the ‘grid.’ I like the idea. Will bet that sample packs will also be part of the process for korg as well.

  13. Let’s wait and see.

    “No word yet on whether it will be possible to do this from other platforms.” and let’s give those modding an opportunity to demonstrate their ingenuity.

    As to dropping money…hey, it’s a Volca and the price has not been announced.

    1. It looks like there are two filters. One is the HI CUT knob that affects LP cutoff on the sample. And then there is the global(?) Analogue Isolator, which can do LP, HP, BP and BR it seems.

  15. As I just posted on youtube, I think this video is brilliant!
    I am back from the days where 8 megs of memory was considered pretty good for my Emax 2. We had to make the most out of that, create whole songs just with that! It is nice to see a trend forcing musicians to get creative with a minimum. Even though I use the term minimum, this little box still has some pretty versatile editing features. This guy sure knows what he is doing!

    1. “This guy sure knows what he is doing!”

      Yes, he’s the engineer that designed it, and he’s also a musician. It’s really cool to see the designer show off how he uses the product.

  17. I don’t see the attraction here, plus the whole plan of getting one sample is kind of pointless not to mention the disappointing ending result.

  18. Fuck!!!

    Take the Volca sequencer … add some knobs.. give it some CV scaling
    3 CV outs, 2 gate outs… even a slew and let us use it with the MS20mini.

  19. That guy is a genius. I’d like to see him demoing the first sampler he designed the korg microSampler, which is seriously powerful. But a lot uglier than these little volcas. I saw Dustin Wong and Takako a Minekawa perform with a microsampler last week it was amazing.

  21. I guess some are missing the point of the Volcas.
    They are designed to be portable and for creative working on the go or in limited environments.
    what do you think is the reason, these things are able to run on batteries?!
    No need to compare it to an eg electribe, that needs a real voltage supply, it won’t stand against it.
    I really like the concept of this series, because you can be creative outside the studio.

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