Speaking from experience and a similar love of electronic music albeit an earlier vintage: Yazoo, Depeche Mode, Gary Numan, Kraftwerk etc..

I would advise you to go for it trickydisco.

And as somebody said, buy used from eBay or similar and you will probably get your outlay back minus a bit for postage. You could even make a few quid if the audience is keen.

I would recommend the Volca Keys which I still have.

With the Keys you get all you need to learn how to synthesise sounds using analogue circuits. The device is self contained and has a tiny footprint so you can use it anywhere. It is also well supported by tutorials on YT so you can really benefit from other users’ experiences, advice and skills.

The Keys is the perfect device for learning the theory of subtractive synthesis. This is the basis for any future endeavours and acquisitions in this field. You need to understand the oscillator(s), lowpass filter and associated envelopes, ADSR for amplitude and filter intensity. The Keys also has a low frequency oscillator with three waveforms. The inaudible LFO has many interesting influences on sounds along with feedback and associated timers.

It is basic of course. The membrane keyboard isn’t great but for a learning tool it’s fine – you won’t go on stage with a Volca!. Once you understand how to create voices (or patches) you can upgrade to a synth that has a patch memory where you can store and recall your favourite voices and a weighted keyboard for more tactile playing experience.  There will also be more oscillators to use and blend but by this time, you will fully understand there function.

Go for it tricky – what better way to while away the imminent winter evenings?

Plugged my genelecs 8020/7040 in this morning. Everything sounds better through those

I would advise you to go for it trickydisco.

I’ve gone and bought a volca beats 2nd hand and now on the lookout for a volca bass.

Saw this incredible video earlier showing off whats possible with volcas

I’ve gone and bought a 2nd hand n, and now on the lookout for a n+1.

Oh dear – this is how it starts 😂

Have fun! 🙂

https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:1120/1*5QhRolKeDY9qTKSgIX5WUw.png

Behringer Edge incoming

ooh nice

I’ve got a DFAM – it’s a lot of fun but I never feel like I get as much out of it as I could!

I do love the sound though, I’ve sampled a few bass notes off it just to use as sampler instruments in Logic

I thought that each kind of volca was pretty much interchangeable;

they each cover a similar sonic spectrum…the ‘bass’ can be used as a drum machine, etc?

Pretty much spot-on old-skool Berlin:

https://youtu.be/BpLbLKfOnsE?si=EWT-KhZRucrG-lnJ

These are handy:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/303718856375?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=TfG15T65Taq&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=gwW0qHEeSsW&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

Other colours (white), are available. Particularly useful if you get the versions with the padded arms. Then you can sit your monitor speakers on them, with less vibration.

Then it’s all about the mixing console and distortion pedals.

I hear that behringers modded-out ‘devil fish’ version of the 303 is an absolute beast of a machine for the money.

I’m wondering how it would work as guitar fx.

I thought that each kind of volca was pretty much interchangeable

not exactly but I do think you make a valid point over noise making machines in general

@Trickydisco

Is it here yet?

Is it here yet?

Yes 👍 woohoo! Came yesterday evening. Haven’t had any proper time to mess about with it yet. PLugged in some headphones and sounded great. The kick drum was cool.As it;s 2nd hand there seems to be some beat tracks already saved.

need to follow some youtube vids to really work out what i need to do

I envy your voyage of discovery TD

It’s something I’ve wanted to do for a long time. Mostly for making stuff like this

But generally speaking I’m too lazy so I’ll just enjoy other people’s creative journeys 🙂

So i’ve been playing with the volca beats for a week or so and got to say it’s great to mess around with and get some great sounds. The kick sound is great. Yes the snare isn’t that great but i. understand you can get it modded

I’m now toying with pairing it with an NTS 1

from 7.25 the arpeggiator looks awesome

You can also add more effects/mods to this by downloading patches

https://www.sinevibes.com/korg/

and even a drum machine!

@TD

There no end to how far you can take this

Ask me how I know 🙂

@plumber

Did you understand music theory before looking at synths? How long have you been playing with synths?

Found this gem recently from a guy called gerald

To me this sound so good

@trickydisco

(Did you understand music theory before looking at synths?) When I got my first synth around 86 didn’t know any theory really but already played guitar a bit so just worked things from there at that point

I had 4 years of guitar lesson off and on where my teacher insisted I understood what I was doing not just the ability to play something. The single best thing I have ever done re music

When I got back into synths around 2001 with DX200 and AN200 I had all my theory in place from a guitar point of view so I just transfer that. I will never be as fluent or competent on keys but it a different brain muscle that I enjoy more these days than picking up a guitar

Add to that the beautiful world of midi, sequencers, effects and you can really just start pressing knobs until you’re happy