jiri_smolik's Electronic Synth Setup
Quick test of Volca Sample 2 paired with multiFx
More gear photos from jiri_smolik
Gear in this photo
This rig
~$280
Value by category
- Studio Equipment 46.3%
- Effects Pedals 33.7%
- Keyboards and Synthesizers 20.0%
Price mix
All 3 priced items fall in the budget range for their categories.
Avg price: $129.65
Far more powerful than you might expect from a tiny volca
I bought the Sample 2 with an intention to use it primarily as a sample-based drum machine in my DAW setup with an occasional dawless lo-fi jamming in mind. But after some experimentation, it turned out to be more than just that. With simplifed sample loading, chromatic pitch scaling (hold func button and then twist the speed knob), and midi over usb, the Sample 2 can achieve more than expected. In fact, with some tricks and DAW, you can turn the Sample 2 into fully fledged monophonic synth / chromatic sampler and create full blown songs with just this Volca.
One thing that bothers me about it (this applies to the Volca Drum as well) is a lacking manual, which does not show all features. In fact, when I tried to learn how to control it, I abandoned the manual and checked youtube tutorials instead. And I wish it could play samples chromatically with a keyboard out of a box without any DAW trickery, which is the reason why I am searching for the first iteration in order to get the pajen firmware into it.
Preferred Settings + Usage:
An example of a composition made with Logic Pro X controlling the sampler https://soundcloud.com/ji-smol-k/hovnival. All samples and melodies come from 1 instance of the Sample 2.
Avg price: $94.51
About this setup
This gear photo by jiri_smolik features 3 pieces of gear, including Korg Volca Sample 2, Korg Monotron DUO Analog Ribbon Synthesizer, and Zoom G1 Four. The setup spans Studio Equipment, Effects Pedals, and Keyboards and Synthesizers, with mostly budget pieces. Artists with this kind of gear are most often found in the Electronic, Rock, and Pop scenes.