Korg Volca Keys

Many features packed into a small synth. I'm sure this works for some people, but I found it to be way too limited. Although, I know, it's very cheap.

Here are some limitations that I found annoying. Some of these might be hard to guess before actually using the unit:

- It's not polyphonic, it's paraphonic. There are 3 VCO's but they share the same VCA. In practice it sounds like the held notes would be triggered again when you play a new note.
- Although the Keys receive velocity when played live, the sequencer does not record it. So the velocity of every note is 100%.
- No ability to bypass recording midi (key) notes from an external midi-keyboard.
This means that if you simultaneously play live on a keyboard and record your automations on the Volca itself, the notes you played get recorded on every loop, over and over again. You have to record the automation separately.
- Sequencer has only 16 steps. Although the scale can be adjusted: 1/1, 1/2 and 1/4.
- Peak (resonance) cannot be automated or affected through midi.
- No MIDI out. Although you can relatively easily make your own. Similarly to Arturia BeatStep, I would suggest a 1/8 TRS jack (next to the MIDI IN jack).
- Only headphones out. If you plan not to use headphones, you need (half of) an insert cable or some other special configurations.
- The scope of the sounds that you can produce with this is very limited. Although the automation helps a lot, but still.

The volca keys is a nice little box of character. It has plenty of different flavours to choose from and can sound very lo-fi if you play around with its onboard delay and aggressive filter.

I like the fact that the volca keys is a one-knob-per-function synth without any hidden menus or settings. That way you can get really hands-on with it and makes it a great synth to learn synthesis as well.

The only quirk of this volca is that its sequencer starts skipping steps once you plug in a mono TS cable. When using regular stereo TRS cables, I get a really soft and noisy signal from the Headphone OUT. When using a mono TS, it's really loud and clean. But due some technical flaw in the keys, the sequencer might skip steps because of it.

Generally it's a great little box for the money and certainly works well when jamming with other volcas!

The Korg Volca Keys is a fantastic addition to my synth collection, offering impressive analog sound in a compact and affordable package. Here's my take on it:

Pros:

Warm Analog Sound: The sound is classic, warm, and rich. Whether you’re creating lush pads, edgy basslines, or leads, the Volca Keys delivers beautifully.
Portability: Battery power and a compact design make it great for on-the-go music production or live performances.
Built-In Sequencer: The 16-step sequencer is intuitive and fun for laying down quick ideas. The motion sequencing adds a dynamic layer to your patterns.
Ease of Use: Despite its small size, the interface is straightforward. Beginners can start making music immediately, while advanced users will appreciate its depth.
MIDI Integration: It integrates well into larger setups via MIDI input, letting you control it with external gear for more precise performances.
Cons:

Limited Polyphony: With just three voices, it’s not ideal for complex chord progressions, but this limitation inspires creative workarounds.
No MIDI Out/Thru: While MIDI input is great, the lack of output options can be a minor inconvenience in larger setups.
Small Controls: The knobs are quite tiny, which might take some getting used to, especially during live tweaking.
Verdict:
The Korg Volca Keys packs a lot of analog character and functionality into a tiny and affordable unit. It’s perfect for musicians looking for a portable synth to explore rich analog sounds or expand their studio setup. As always, Thomann delivered it quickly and securely. Highly recommended for beginners and synth enthusiasts alike!

I bought this as my first step into synths thinking I should start with something basic. It's not a *bad* piece of gear, exactly. You can make some really cool sounds with it, especially if you run it through some effects. I even used it on a record! But it's got enough drawbacks that it's not really worth it in my opinion.

This is a common complaint, but the Volca Keys is not actually polyphonic, rather paraphonic. It's a big deal! If you want to play an atmospheric pad with voices coming in and out, it's a real vibe killer when it resets all notes every time you press a key.

Turning the knobs doesn't change the values smoothly but in fixed increments, which is especially noticeable on things like cutoff. By itself not a dealbreaker, but something to be aware of.

Sometimes when I turn the Volca on, the notes are a bit out of tune despite having turned the Detune knob all the way down. Turning it off and on has been a reliable fix so far.

I didn't use the sequencer all that much, I think it's fine? for what it is. The touch keybed isn't my thing but you can hook up a MIDI controller so that's easily circumvented. I like that it can run on battery power and has a built-in speaker. The speaker, by the way, can produce a really overdriven sound if you turn the volume up, which might not be what you want but I liked it!

Of course you can't expect too much at such a low price, but in the end I wish I had saved the money and made do with free VST plugins for a little while longer.