Korg - volca Keys - Analogue Loop Synthesizer

Product Information

The Korg Volca Keys is a polphic loop synth perfect for use with Volva Beats or Volca Bass (or both! These are the next-generation analog synthesizers, bringing you the ultimate sounds and grooves with ease and depth. Although it is marketed as an "Analogue" Synthesizer in reality the control signals are generated digitally with the CPU using a 10-bit DAC giving incredible near-analogue resolution. Their sounds are notable for sharp filters and rich presence, and can be heard in many well-known songs. Built with the iconic miniKORG700S circuitry, the Keys' three-voice design lets you craft three-note chords which can be stacked or placed in unison for even bigger presence.

I like the fact that the volca keys is a one-knob-per-function synth without any hidden menus or settings. It was released in April 2013 and was at the time one of the only affordable analogue synthesizers on the market.

The filter is reputedly voiced differently to that of the Volca Bass, which is also modelled on the 700S. Starting from analog, and freely taking in all elements including FM and PCM, the volca series has also focused on this trend.

The Volca series was introduced by Korg in 2014 with a two-prong aim: offer the electronic market a serious synthesizer that comes in a fun-to-use package that will impress beginners and pros alike. Cutoff controls the cutoff point of the filter, which is also able to be controlled by the envelope generator by the EG Int control. The LFO has 3 waveforms: sawtooth, square and triangle which make for some great modulation variety.This dream has evolved and expanded throughout the development of new and unique music production devices. The Volca Keys includes a metronome, which is a real boon given that the sequencer isn’t a step sequencer and only records in real time. Unlike the Volca Bass, variation of many of the parameters on the Volca Keys can be recorded with a sequence – dubbed ‘Motion sequencing’ – including changes to the filter cutoff, detune, portamento, EG control of the oscillators, LFO rate and intensity controls and the EG controls.