Korg Volca Beats - Getting started - For beginners

Some very basic info to get you started with the Volca Beats right away.

 

When you first turn on your VB , the screen will say either LIVE or StEP.

You can jump between the two by pressing the STEP MODE button.

LIVE =  live performance

StEP = Step editing mode.

Playing a pre-recorded sequence.

Stay in the Live Mode for now.

The volca can store 8 memorized sequences.

(M1 to M8)

Press MEMORY and one of the 8 step buttons to load in a sequence.

Press play.

This is really good for live performances.

While the drum is playing you can jump from one sequence to another by pressing

MEMORY & one of the 8 step buttons.

For live performance, the other button you will find useful is MUTE.

While a sequence is running you can mute a sound by pressing

MUTE and  one of the 10 step buttons corresponding to the sound you wish to silence.

The Stutter Function is quite useful for live performances.

Stutter can be Global (effects all sounds) or Individual.

To turn on/off global stutter press FUNCTION & GLOBAL Stutter (key 13).

I usually turn both stutter dials to zero when starting, then turn them up for taste.

Making a new step sequence (Step Write)

(method 1)

1. Go to STEP Mode.

2. Clear what's in the memory.

     Press FUNCTION & ALL

3. Press play.

    (the sequencer will run without any sounds)

4. Press FUNCTION & one of the 10 step buttons corresponding to the sound you wish to add.

5. add the beats by pressing the step buttons (1-16)

6. to switch to a different sound, hold the FUNCTION down and press

    one of the 10 step buttons corresponding to the sound you wish to add.

7. Saving

    Hold down Function & Press Write (memory)

    The Display will show the words SAVE.

    One of 8 LED (steps) will light. The Volca is asking where you wish to save the sequence.

8. While still holding down the FUNCTION button, press one of the 8 steps.

     The sequence is now stored.

    

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Making a new step sequence (Step Record)

(method 2)

You basically use the  (FUNC button + (REC) button)

This is the mode for inputting a pattern for each step. 

1. hold down the FUNC button & press the  (REC) button to enter step recording mode.

     The LED below the first step button will blink. 

2. Press the button for the part to be played.

     The step will record the part, then move to the next step. 

3. To play multiple parts with a single step, 

     simultaneously press the buttons for the parts to be played.

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Factory Defaults

This will return all sequence data to the factory defaults 

1. While holding down the FUNC and MEMORY buttons, turn on the volca beats.

 “LdPr” will appear on the display, and the  (REC) and  (PLAY) buttons will blink. 

2. Press the  (REC) button to return the sequences to the factory defaults and start volca beats. 

    Press the  (PLAY) button to cancel the reset operation and simply start volca beats.