The Korg Volca Bass is an Electribe-inspired analogue bass sequencer, offered in a compact size.
Drawing inspiration from the Korg Monotron and Monotribe range, the Volca Bass takes care of the low end duties of the new Volca series of analogue synthesizer grooveboxes. Featuring three oscillators, an envelope generator, a newly designed filter, a VCA and an LFO, the Volca Bass uses a simple architecture with plenty of options for crafting a unique tone. The Volca Bass can also be connected and controlled by your DAW via MIDI.
The three analogue oscillators can be used in unison to generate fat, modulated sounds or each of the oscillators can be pitched to make three note chords, of which each note can be independently sequenced to make complex and evolving phrases. When used together, the three oscillators can be slightly detuned for thick unison sounds.
The Volca Bass utilises a new filter circuit that has been developed specifically for bass frequencies offering a brighter, crisper sound when completely open, to wide and round as the cut off is reduced. Korg has also included a resonance control for making the sound wet and squelchy as well as driving the filter into distortion – perfect for acid bass lines.
The sequencer section of the Korg Volca Bass is a direct descendant of the Electribe making it easy to add or remove notation on the fly to really enhance your performance. There are 16 easy to use step keys that allow you to enter individual notes whilst getting LED feedback from the position in the sequence. You can also input notes in real time using the touch panel keyboard and up to eight sequence patterns can be stored in the internal memory.
The main functions of the Korg Volca Bass include:
I really enjoyed this synth, my only complaint is that the sequencer is a bit short...
Its not noisy, the knobs are way better than the Volca Keys. It would be nice if the keyboard was longer but with the quantity of parameters available in such a little space it is understandable.
This volca has an LCD indicator with the tempo (the Keys does not have one) so you can control the VOlca Keys tempo with a Volca Bass.
Good little machine, but emphasis is on little.
It sounds OK but do not get it if you are after a TB-303 sound.
It does not sound like a real TB-303.
You might be better off getting a cheap clone or using a controller with a VST.
Nevertheless the Volca Bass sounds good for the money and can produce some good squelching sounds.
Nice little machine for the price.
Great UNIT, deep bass line, hands on control and vintage filter are key elements here,...try to feed it via MIDI...... plenty of possibilities. Not possible to have this analog sound engine for better price...just amazing.
First off you have to consider the price, and that this is "Analog". It is no TB-303 Killer but it does have its own character and can get a lot of those modulated, sequenced basslines. You wont get that 303 screeching/resonance in the filters but it does things in a slightly different way. Make no mistake you are getting an analog sound.
On a Big PA it will kick out some serious tones that if you learn how to use will not be mistaken. Why I marked this only Semi- Pro is because it comes down to automation (none) and the limited sequencing. Still if you have skills you can use it as the sound quality does not lack. Second part is the connections are a little poorly though out. As it is a dual mono output if you try to plug into a typical TRS balanced connection there will be some issues. You have to work around this.
Overall great sound at a great price so you cant argue the value. If you want to take a dip into what Analog sounds like over digital then this is a no brainer.