C
Great drum machine, but a little bit flimsy.
The volca drum offers a lot of possibilities and is one of the few from the series that has such depth in the synth engine. If you get yourself familiar with the machine and utilise its limitations effectively, it can do drum, synth and effect sounds pretty well. The sequencer is good and perhaps one of the better from the series. With a little practice, you can perform just fine with it.
What bothers me about the volca drum is programming sounds. There's a lot of menu diving involved and in some cases you'll have to dial in settings with one knob while looking at its tiny OLED screen. The buttons lack a pleasing "click" that makes fine-tuning specific values difficult.
If you don't mind taking time for programming drums and you're fine with working with a tiny (but perfectly legible) screen, the volca drum is a great little machine for what it offers. It's just not that accessible and immediate as other volcas in the range.
What bothers me about the volca drum is programming sounds. There's a lot of menu diving involved and in some cases you'll have to dial in settings with one knob while looking at its tiny OLED screen. The buttons lack a pleasing "click" that makes fine-tuning specific values difficult.
If you don't mind taking time for programming drums and you're fine with working with a tiny (but perfectly legible) screen, the volca drum is a great little machine for what it offers. It's just not that accessible and immediate as other volcas in the range.
2
0
Report
T
A solid first analog synth.
One of the first three original volcas and maybe the best one; the three paraphonic oscillators pack such wonderful sounds with great range for experimentation and controls are solid. My only gripe is with the sequencer , it could use more that just the 16 steps but then again at in this price range anything more than the engine could be seen as an added extra. Solid build, would recomend to anyone as an intro to dawless and as a nice piece of hardware for experimenting on the go.
1
6
Report
Z
Too much machine?
The Volca Drum is a lot of power in a little box, ridiculous sound-shaping capabilities so that it can certainly be used as a groovebox rather than simply a drum machine.
But getting the sounds you want takes time and patience, with one parameter knob doing a lot of the work.
If you've got time to spend, maybe on a long trip or while waiting for something, it's a great way to entertain yourself. And if you're new to synths, it's a good educational tool, learning how things work to create specific sounds.
But I take a star away for the fact that it's not usually 'instant fun' for me, it takes a little while before the 'chore' element passes. Maybe I'm too impatient!
But getting the sounds you want takes time and patience, with one parameter knob doing a lot of the work.
If you've got time to spend, maybe on a long trip or while waiting for something, it's a great way to entertain yourself. And if you're new to synths, it's a good educational tool, learning how things work to create specific sounds.
But I take a star away for the fact that it's not usually 'instant fun' for me, it takes a little while before the 'chore' element passes. Maybe I'm too impatient!
0
0
Report
DL
A lot of bang for your buck..
Undoubtedly a huge amount of versatility, and amazing spectrum of options for percussive sound design.
But,, I think the knobs could be better, I realise the Volca form factor is limiting, but there is space on the unit to use chunkier, more accurate dial knobs
But,, I think the knobs could be better, I realise the Volca form factor is limiting, but there is space on the unit to use chunkier, more accurate dial knobs
0
0
Report
TI
A wonderful little drum synth
This little thing sounds way better than it has any right to. I haven't heard anything quite like it anywhere else. If you want your traditional 808-style drums you will want to look somewhere else, but for metallic stuff and spacey beats this is your best friend.
It's also just so **** fun to play with. From the first moment it screams "play with me!" and you'll be making interesting sounds in no time.
It's a one-trick pony (like the other Volcas, really), but it fills a niche that no other synth at that price point does.
It's also just so **** fun to play with. From the first moment it screams "play with me!" and you'll be making interesting sounds in no time.
It's a one-trick pony (like the other Volcas, really), but it fills a niche that no other synth at that price point does.
0
0
Report
MB
Fun toy, not the best audio quality.
Fun as a toy or for just noodling away. The interface is fiddly and all the knobs are small, but when you get hang of it its quite intuitive.
The sound quality is rather bad with a lot of background noise. However, just like all the other Volcas, you can spend hours just playing with the machine.
For the price it's a no-brainer. Buy it and have fun!
The sound quality is rather bad with a lot of background noise. However, just like all the other Volcas, you can spend hours just playing with the machine.
For the price it's a no-brainer. Buy it and have fun!
0
0
Report
yi
mixed feelings
great capabilities for a small drum synth.
0
0
Report
g
Easy drum machine for beginners.
Ease of use, rather wide range of sounds, comfortable size.
Great tool for beginners!
Great tool for beginners!
0
0
Report