Korg Volca Modular - The Expert Guide

Book excerpt: Korg Volca Modular - The Expert Guide is a goldmine of patches, tutorials, information and inspiration. World-renowned Volca expert Tony Horgan unravels the mysteries of the Volca Modular with mind-blowing patches, clear concept visuals and straight-talking text. Across more than 200 pages, every patch point, module, button and feature is explored and explained in detail, with the help of over 60 patches for you to recreate and adapt yourself. Learn how to create musical sounds, sound effects, drones, rhythms, process other instruments with the Volca Modular reverb effect, pass another instrument through the Volca Modular, control the Volca Modular from other instruments, create random self-generating sounds, connect to audio devices, add swing effects, master the sequencer, transpose patterns, play in different scales and so much more. 218 Pages, 61 patches Contents 01 About this book * About the author, ways to make contact 02 About the Volca Modular * About the Volca Modular * Patch cables * Front panel patch point inputs and outputs * Front panel connecting lines * What is CV (Control Voltage)? 03 Patches and sounds * Talking Droid * Space Out Feedback Loop * Correct Answer * Low Frequency Sweep * Buzz Bass * Automatic Bassline * Automatic Player * Tuned Kick Bass * Brain 04 Quick-start guides * Tips and hacks * Make a "patch" * Select and play a pattern * Select and play a pattern chain * Keyboard notes * Record a pattern * Save a pattern * Record a motion sequence * Synchronise timing with other Volcas * Connect to audio devices 05 Source * About the Source module * Source Pitch Input * Trampoline Bounce - Source Pitch Input example * Source Ratio Input * 2-Tone Hooter - Source Ratio Input example * Source Fold Input * Throb - Source Fold Input example * Source Mod Input * Space Oboe - Source Mod Input example 1 * Simple Drone - Source Mod Input example 2 * Source Modulator Wave Output * Sub-bass - Source Modulator Wave Output example * Source Carrier Output * Throat Singing - Source Carrier Output example 06 Functions * About the Functions * Function 1: Attack, Hold, Release generator * Function 1 Gate Input * Self-generating Random Gate - Function 1 Gate Input example * Function 1 Attack Input * Function 1 Release Input * Function 1 Positive Output * Brass Bugle - Function 1 Positive Output example * Function 1 Inverted Output * Slow, Fast, Slow - Function 1 Inverted Output example * Function 1 End Trigger Output * Bounce Back - Function 1 End Trigger Output example * Function 2: Rise, Fall generator * Function 2: Rise, Fall generator "LFO" * Function 2 Trigger Input * Function 2 Shape Input * Release Shape-Shifter - Function 2 Shape Input example * Function 2 Time Input * Alien Visit - Function 2 Time Input example * Function 2 Positive Output * Metallic Bounce - Function 2 Positive Output example * Function 2 Inverted Output * Function 2 End Trigger Output * Computer Processing - Function 2 End Trigger Output example 07 Clock / Sequences * Clock and Sequences * Slow, Faster, Slower - Clock Offset Input example * Sequences 1/4, 1/3, 1/2 Gate Output * Accents and Polyrhythms - Sequences 1/4, 1/3, 1/2 Gate Output example * Sequences Gate Output * Sequences Gate Output example * Sequences Pitch Output * Reverb On High Notes - Sequences Pitch Output example * Portamento - Sequences Pitch Output example 2 08 Dual LPG * Dual LPG explained * LPG 1 Signal Input * Easy sub-bass - LPG 1 Signal Input example * LPG 1 Level Input * Amplitude Modulation - LPG 1 Level Input example * LPG 1 Signal Output * Pitch Explosion - LPG 1 Signal Output example * Play It Louder - LPG 1 Signal Output example 2 * LPG 2 Signal Input * Organ Bass - LPG 2 Signal Input example * LPG 2 Level Input * Time Machine - LPG 2 Level Input example * LPG 2 Signal Output * Fuzz Bass - LPG 2 Signal Output example * Cutoff 09 Split * About the Split module * Split Input 1 / Output 1-A, Output 1-B * Split Input 2 / Output 2-A, Output 2-B * Power Station - Split example * Split mixer * Lift Off - Split mixer example * Lift Off (Extra Bass) - Split mixer example 10 Utility a, b, c * Utility a, b, c * Signal Input a * Signal Input b * Signal Input c * c knob * Intensity Control - c knob example * Volume Fluctuation - Utility a, b, c example * a+bxc Output * Self-generating Sound - a+bxc Output example 1 * Basic Wave Mixer - a+bxc Output example 2 * a-bxc Output * Pulse Width Modulation - a-bxc Output example 1 * If I Was A Pitch Man - a-bxc Output example 2 11 Woggle * About the Woggle * Woggle Sample Input * Video Game Jump - Woggle Sample Input example * Noisy Reverb - Woggle Sample Output example * Woggle Trigger Input * Simple 4th Note Trigger - Woggle Trigger Input * Woggle Stepped Output * Random Release - Woggle Stepped Output example * Woggle Smooth Output * Space Bee - Woggle Smooth Output example 12 Space Out, Microtune * About the Space Out module * Space Out Signal Input * Add reverb to an external sound source * Carrier Wave Always Audible - Space Out Signal Input example * Space Out Amount knob * Space Out Amount Input * Dry / Wet Foghorn - Space Out Amount Input example * Space Out Signal Output * Rocket Explode - Space Out Signal Output example * Microtune 13 CV In, Gate In, Sync * CV Input, Gate Input * Using CV and Gate to play notes * Calibrating (tuning) the CV Input * CV Output 1 * CV Output 2 * CV Input mixer example * Sync In / Out * Sync connections * Receive swing from another Volca * Sync problems 14 Volume, audio out, headphones * Volume * Headphones Output (audio output) 15 Buttons * Play, Active Step * Record (live recording) * Step Record * Memory, Write * Func 16 Keyboard * About the keyboard * Scale * Tonic * Microtuning * Microtuning keys * Octave keys * Randomize keys * Gate * Sequencer mode: Bounce * Sequence mode: Stoch. * Motion sequence keys * Clear keys 17 Power * Power options 18 Global parameters * Global parameters * System update (firmware update) 19 Module circuit diagrams * Source circuit diagram * Clock / Sequences circuit diagram * Functions circuit diagram * Split circuit diagram * LGP circuit diagram * Utility a, b, c circuit diagram * Woggle circuit diagram * Space Out circuit diagram