![]() ![]() Momo Müller keeps putting out superb unofficial editors for popular gear – and the latest to get the treatment is KORG’s pint-sized FM synthesizer. ![]() And with the ability to now explore sound, while jogging through the presets, coupled with fan favorite functions like song chaining, and new a really powerful arp, I think it’s safe to say that FM is going to be showing up on a lot of stages, in various DJ booths, and more home studios around the world.Manage all that FM sound depth of your KORG volca – or dust it off, if you need – with this handy editor for one of the most unique little instruments from the past years. But, when you get your hands on it, you’ll discover it’s one of the most easy going, and best sounding volcas, of the pack. From a distance, it might sound like the rigid, antiquated DX-7. If that explanation is as difficult to pick up as it was to write, suffice to say, this is a great mode that can be used for transitioning, breaks, and new patterns with very interesting timings.īut, if things sound a little too far out there, after enabling all these cool new features, there’s another function brought over from volca keys-The metronome. In this mode, when fewer than 16 steps are selected, the pattern timing is compensated so that the pattern will still occupy the same playback time as a pattern at a 16 step resolutions. Speaking of breaks, there is a new feature called Warp Active Step. This is so welcome with the volca FM, as it’s a synth and a volca that is definitely as expressive as volca keys, and those slower resolutions make great transitions, and breaks. Like volca keys, you also have the ability to switch to half-time, and a quarter-time resolutions. So, it’s nice to see Korg continually raising the bar, technology, and the ability for an artist to write more complicated pieces for live performance, recording, and free form. As you’re probably aware, if you have more than a couple of volca devices, those 16 step patterns can become quite a limitation, over time. Where volca sample has only some of its patterns set up specifically for song chaining, with volca sample, you can chain any of the patterns, simply by holding the Memory button, and selecting the range of which patterns will play back in a chain. Though, with volca FM, chaining doesn’t work quite the same, per se, as volca sample. We initially saw the Pattern Chaining function with volca sample. I really love the way that Korg is continually upping the ante with the sequencer, as the volca line develops. I could let go of the need to wrap my head around FM synthesis, and finally have some fun with it, and have something very cool to show for all of my effort. ![]() ![]() And, to be honest, this is where the fun really began to form for me. But, honestly, I spent a lot of time simply modifying the Algorithm knob for different patches, just to see what would happen. So, you will find yourself doing some toggling. All the parameters of the DX-7 are there. What’s so nice is actually being able to see the names of the patches, save patches, and even go into EDIT mode so that you can edit patches. well, without creating a run-on sentence, I can say that have made me a true FM convert. However, after having used Korg’s more modern way of interacting with the guts of a synthesizer that is much more complicated than any other volca, as well as a synth that was really just complicated to program. Initially, this was the volca I was the least excited about. Personally, I have never exactly taken off with FM Synthesis. The fully editable Arp, which includes multiple resolutions and directions, and especially when MIDI’d to a bigger keyboard, adds a level of polish and ease of use that the other volca units just don’t have. Simply hold a key (or, two), while recording, and then go back and tweak till the night (or, show) is over. My favorite addition is the the Arpeggiator. There’s also an optional Chorus that can be enabled with FUNC+Step Button 4. And, you also have the option for Unison and Monophonic. You heard right! The volca FM is polyphonic! In Poly Mode, you can play up to three keys at once. Volca FM - makes you wish it had MIDI Out too. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |