Korg Volca Drum – a digital percussion synthesizer with 6-part, 2-layer structure based on DSP-powered analog modeling, offering a 16-step sequencer with motion sequencing, 16 touch-sensitive pads, dedicated LCD screen, built-in speaker, and battery power. The system generates percussion sounds through analog modeling instead of PCM samples, utilizing oscillators (sine wave, sawtooth wave, noise), wave folder, overdrive, and Waveguide Resonator effect to create a wide palette of realistic and idiosyncratic percussion sounds.
Volca Drum is the third percussion instrument in the Volca series (after Beats and Kick), but the first fully digital one. The DSP engine design philosophy significantly differs from conventional drum machines – instead of relying on PCM samples, the system uses physical modeling with a simple trigger waveform, to which overtones and distortion are added through wave folder and overdrive, and then the sound comes to life through the Waveguide Resonator. Each of the six parts has two layers and imposes no rules – all parts have the same specifications, allowing free assignment of new sounds without conventional drum set limitations. A kit consists of six assigned parts plus Waveguide Resonator settings, and 16 such kits can be stored in memory (factory settings contain 10 preload kits).
For each layer, five oscillator types and three pitch modulator types are available. The Waveguide Resonator functions as a global send effect with String and Tube modes, each using a different model best suited for emulating those sounds. With three controls (Decay, Body, Tune), you can achieve flanging, phasing, comb-filtering, metallic reverbs, and long digital delays. Best of all, the Waveguide Resonator and send amount for each part can be automated in the sequencer. The Choke function allows specifying priorities for simultaneously sounding parts (e.g., hi-hat closed/open). Two Randomize functions allow randomly changing the sound of a selected part or randomly modifying step, slice, accent, and active step settings.
The 16-step sequencer uses Motion Sequencing to record automation from all front panel knobs – 69 different parameters can be recorded and played back. Active Step allows disabling selected steps for variations and polyrhythms on the fly. The new Slice function can add rolls to a selected sequencer step. Accent can be applied in 16 strength levels to chosen steps. Pattern chain can link up to 16 sequences creating patterns up to 256 steps. The aluminum panel is created using an etching process with delicate reliefs instead of printing. For the first time in the Volca series, a custom LCD is used with retro-styled orange fonts offering excellent visibility and graphic representation of complex settings.
KEY FEATURES
- Digital percussion synthesizer with DSP-powered analog modeling
- 6-part structure with 2 layers per part
- 5 oscillator types per layer (sine wave, sawtooth wave, highpass-filtered noise)
- 3 pitch modulation types per layer
- Amplitude envelope per layer
- Wave folder and overdrive for adding overtones and distortion
- Waveguide Resonator effect with String and Tube modes
- Resonator controls: Decay, Body, Tune
- Bit reduction, wave folding, overdrive, panning, gain adjustment
- Choke function for grouping parts (hi-hat closed/open)
- 2 Randomize functions (sound/layer and pattern parameters)
- 16 kits in memory (10 factory presets)
- 16 programs (10 factory presets)
- 16-step sequencer with 16 patterns
- Motion Sequencing with 69 recordable parameters
- Real-time recording with knob automation
- Active Step for disabling steps for variations
- Slice function for adding drum-rolls (finely divides steps)
- Accent function with 16 strength levels
- Pattern chain up to 16 sequences (up to 256 steps)
- Probability per step (0-100%)
- Individual sequence lengths per part for polyrhythms
- 16 touch-sensitive pads (trigger pads/step keys)
- Custom LCD screen with retro-styled fonts
- Aluminum panel with etching process
- Built-in speaker
- Compact design: 193 × 115 × 39 mm
- Battery power (6× AA, approx. 10 hours) or adapter
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
- Type: Digital percussion synthesizer (DSP-powered analog modeling)
- Polyphony: 6 voices
- Structure: 6 parts × 2 layers
- Oscillators: 5 types per layer
- Modulation: 3 pitch modulation types per layer
- Effect: Waveguide Resonator (String/Tube modes)
- Sequencer: 16 steps
- Pattern Chain: Up to 16 sequences (256 steps)
- Patterns: 16 (recording patterns)
- Kits: 16 (10 factory presets)
- Programs: 16 (10 factory presets)
- Motion Sequencing: 69 parameters
- Touch Pads: 16× velocity-sensitive
- Display: Custom LCD
- Audio Output: 3.5 mm stereo jack (headphones)
- Sync In: 3.5 mm mono jack (max 20V input level)
- Sync Out: 3.5 mm mono jack (max 5V output level)
- MIDI: MIDI IN (5-pin DIN)
- Speaker: Built-in
- Power: 6× AA alkaline or NiMH, or KA-350 adapter (sold separately)
- Battery Life: Approx. 10 hours (alkaline)
- Dimensions: 193 × 115 × 39 mm (7.61" × 4.54" × 1.54")
- Weight: 370 g (0.75 lbs) excluding batteries
- Included: 6× AA alkaline batteries (for verification), sync cable
- Accessories (sold separately): KA-350 AC adapter, SEQUENZ CB-4VOLCA hard shell case, SEQUENZ CC-VOLCA soft shell case, SQ-CABLE-6 sync cable
- Software Bundle: iZotope Ozone Elements, Skoove, Reason Lite, KORG software synths
