Volca Bass

Powerful analogue bass sound creation and an Electribe-inspired sequencer for the ultimate bass lines

Aggressive sounds that stand up to the drums; fat sounds that support the rhythm; funky sounds that generate a groove - the Volca Bass is an analogue bass line groove box that has what you need for a wide range of bass lines.
Although simple in structure, the analogue sound engine has an unmistakable presence with subtle nuances that cannot be reproduced by a digital simulation; it's a great choice for acid house and many other styles of music. The step sequencer distilled from the Electribe is not only visually intuitive; it's also a powerful way to generate "free form" bass loops that will stimulate your inspiration.

 

Three true-analogue synthesizers with built-in sequencers to generate the ultimate analogue leads, basses, or rhythms

Following in the footsteps of the Monotron, Monotribe, and MS-20 Mini analogue synthesizers, Korg announces the Volca series. Volca is a new lineup of EDM production tools comprised of three distinct models: the Volca Keys lead synthesizer, the Volca Bass synthesizer, and the Volca Beats rhythm machine. These powerful and fun-to-use true-analogue devices deliver a diverse array of fat sounds that can be obtained only from an analogue synthesizer. Each is also equipped with sequencing/recording capabilities for intuitively generating performances. Multiple Volcas can be used in tandem via the vintage-style sync in/out, and with your favourite DAW software or MIDI keyboard via MIDI In. Battery operation and built-in speakers mean that you can conveniently play anywhere and anytime. These are the next-generation analogue synthesizers, bringing you the ultimate sounds and grooves with ease and depth. Whether used together or by themselves, the Volca series is poised to inject true analogue power into any performance or studio setup!

 

Analogue bass sounds with awesome presence

Three oscillators generate a variety of bass sounds

Generating the thick and modulated sounds that you expect from an analogue synthesizer, the three oscillators can be used in a variety of ways from one-part unison to three-part chords, giving you an incredible diversity of bass sounds.
By creating a sequence that uses each oscillator individually, you can create a complex pattern in which three different phrases are woven together. Using the oscillators in a 2+1 combination lets you place one set of oscillators at a low pitch and the other at a higher pitch, producing a bass line and melody simultaneously. When using the three oscillators together, you can slightly detune their pitch to generate thick unison sounds; alternatively, setting their pitch to 0, +3, and +7 will produce a chord.

Bright, crisp sound from Korg's legendary analogue filter

The analogue filter has been fine-tuned specifically for the Volca Bass. Turning the Cutoff knob to open the filter will make the sound brighter and more expansive; closing the filter produces a rounder and milder sound. Using the Peak knob to raise the resonance will initially produce a clean peak, and further increases will create great-sounding distortion. The resonance distortion that's so important for acid music has been tuned especially to accommodate bass sounds.

Simple structure with a single VCF, VCA, LFO, and EG

In addition to the three VCOs, the Volca Bass provides a carefully selected parameter structure consisting of a single VCF, VCA, LFO, and EG, ensuring that the sound that you want can be created intuitively. This is also the standard structure of a synthesizer, making the Volca Bass an ideal introductory instrument for learning the fundamentals of synthesizers - the enjoyment of creating your own sounds.

 

Loop sequencer distilled from the Electribe

The Electribe's step sequencer

This step sequencer is designed to make editing easy and to let you add or remove parts in an improvisational way. You can use the 16 step keys to intuitively enter notes while visually monitoring the timing of the notes within the measure. You can also enter completely different phrases for each of the three oscillators, and play the touch panel keyboard to record in real time, and up to eight sequence patterns can be stored in internal memory.

Slide function that’s indispensable for EDM

With its distinctively "sticky” sounding pitch and filter, acid bass is an indispensable type of sound for an analogue synthesizer. The Volca Bass provides a Slide function that creates the impression of connected steps, making it easy for anyone to produce acid sounds. The slide can be specified for each step.

Active Step function generates new bass lines by removing or inserting steps

Active Step is a function that lets you skip a step during sequence playback. It can create effects similar to a short loop or unexpectedly irregular rhythms, allowing dynamic performances just as though you were performing the sequence itself.

 

Convenient functions for ease of use

Self-tuning function overcomes pitch drift

Until now, the problem with analogue synthesizers has been that the pitch would drift with changes in temperature or the passage of time. The 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 stabilise after turning the power on.

SYNC jack and MIDI IN connector allow synchronised performances with multiple units or with your DAW

By using the sync jack you can enjoy synchronised playback with multiple Volcas or with a Monotribe. You can also use the "SyncKontrol" iPhone app to wirelessly control tap tempo, swing settings, and synchronised playback with iOS music apps via WIST.

The MIDI IN connector lets you synchronise with other devices as well as play the Volca from your MIDI keyboard. You can also send note messages from your DAW and use the Volca as an analogue sound module.

Compact size, battery-powered operation, and built-in speaker for enjoyment anywhere

With its compact size, battery operation, and built-in speaker, it's easy to take the volca anywhere and perform any time.