The volca sample 2 is Korg's second run at a pocket-sized PCM sampler, with more memory and more connections than the first. Ten parts, sixteen steps and a row of knobs get a beat going without a single menu page. Mains power is optional. Built to be carried At 193 x 115 x 45 mm and 372 g without cells, this unit slips into a backpack pocket. Six AA batteries run it for roughly ten hours, and nickel-metal hydride rechargeables are supported. Where a socket is handy, the optional KA-350 adapter takes over. Beat-making on a train is entirely realistic. Two hundred slots to fill Korg loads presets into 150 of the locations and leaves the rest empty, though anything can be written over. In total the memory holds 8MB, which works out at roughly 130 seconds of audio at 31.25 kHz and 16-bit. Eight voices play at once. Kicks, hats, vocal chops and one-shots bounced from your own sessions all sit in the same pool. Shaping each hit Every part gets its own edits: start point, a delay before the sound arrives, length and a hi-cut filter on the raw material. Pitch is handled with speed, EG amount, attack and decay, and the amp section adds level, pan and its own envelope. Reverse flips playback with one button. Downstream sit a digital reverb with a mix control and an analogue isolator that trims bass and treble by hand. Ten parts across the grid Ten parts share a 16-step sequencer. Sixteen patterns are on board, with 1 to 10 filled at the factory and chaining available for longer arrangements. Motion sequencing records knob moves, active step switches beats in and out, step jump throws the playhead around, and swing loosens the timing. Because the multi-touch keyboard doubles as a performance surface, none of this has to be programmed in advance. Getting samples in and out The USB port is one of the headline changes over the first volca sample. Korg's Librarian software for Mac and Windows moves audio and patterns between machine and computer, so loading a folder of your own hits takes seconds. Sample packs, DAW bounces and field recordings all travel the same route. Locking to the rest of your setup Sync in and out use 3.5 mm mono jacks, the standard fitting across the volca range and much of the pocket-gear world. In the box, Korg supplies a lead for that connection. MIDI in accepts note and clock data from a keyboard or a DAW interface. Audio leaves via a 3.5 mm stereo headphone jack, which feeds a mixer as happily as a pair of cans. See it in action Specifications Keyboard Multi touch keyboard Sampler type PCM Maximum polyphony 8 Number of samples 200 (150 presets + 50 empty slots, all slots are user overwritable) Memory size for samples 8MB, 130 seconds Sampling frequency 31.25 kHz, 16-bit Edit Sample (start point, start delay, length, hi cut), Pitch (speed, EG int, attack, decay), Amp (level, pan, attack, decay), Reverse on/off Effects Digital reverb (on/off, mix) Analogue isolator Bass, treble Sequencer parts 10 Number of steps 16 Number of recording patterns 16 (1 to 10 have presets loaded by default on factory settings. Pattern chain function) Sequencer control Motion sequence, active step, step jump, swing Output Headphones (3.5mm stereo mini jack) Sync Sync In (3.5mm monaural mini jack, maximum input level: 20V), Sync Out (3.5mm monaural mini jack, maximum output level: 5V) MIDI MIDI IN USB micro-B USB port Battery life Approximately 10 hours (using alkaline batteries) Power supply AA alkaline battery x 6, AA nickel-metal hydride battery x 6, or AC adapter KA-350 (optional) Included items Sync cable Optional accessories KA-350 AC adapter, SEQUENZ CB-4VOLCA hard shell case, SEQUENZ CC-VOLCA dedicated carrying case, SQ-CABLE-6 sync cable Dimensions (W x D x H) 193 x 115 x 45 mm (including knob height) Weight 372 g (excluding batteries) Specifications from Korg. Appearance and specifications are subject to change without notice.
