Let’s be honest: it’s a bit of a mystery why KORG has’t already shipped a mixer. KORG volca series customers seem to snap up every single volca model the Japanese maker can cook up. That leaves them with a bunch of toys with stereo minijacks and no way to mix them together other than buying compact mixers by the likes of Behringer and Mackie.
So, what we’re looking at here is either an actual leaked image of an upcoming KORG volca mix, or someone’s mock-up of what they wish that would be. Either way, same result: yeah, you probably kind of want this. (As spotted on the unofficial volca Facebook group, which is a great resource. KORG, if this is real, apologies, but… yeah, on the Internet, once things have leaked, it’s done.)
Stereo minijack ins
Effects controls and per-track routing
Tempo-synced effects (with MIDI in)
3-band EQ
A KAOSS-style X/Y pad
Knob for level; mute switch
Full disclosure: I have a conflict of interest in that as the manufacturer of the MeeBlip, I want one to exist for that, too!
It’s certainly possible this is a mock-up made by someone outside KORG. Making good-looking renders is something anyone with some basic technical background can do, and there are a lot of talented people out there. There’s no way to know until there’s an official announcement. I’ll leave it to you to speculate.
If this isn’t what KORG is planning, it sure seems to be a no-brainer set of features that would fit perfectly with the company’s DNA and its volca line. I kind of think it is a genuine leak. But… if it’s not, KORG, go make this, please, and apparently you can have yet more of our money.
Update: yes, this is a mock-up posted in January. Thanks to commenters for pointing that out; we didn’t have the original reference. It’s the work of German KORG fan Chris Johannes, who built this in 3D Studio Max. But that raises the question – why isn’t there something like this on the market, from KORG or elsewhere?
My suspicion: because no one is quite sure exactly how to make it, what features to include and what to leave out. (See the immediate discussion here on CDM of pan.) So I’m very curious to hear how people use mixers in these hardware setups, if you make performances with them.
No pan? 75% of the Volcas are mono output. BLAH.
You don’t understand stereo.
Or I misunderstood and you would want panning.
3/4 volcas do dual mono on a stero jack. The L and R are the same signal. Run them into a mixer without a pan/balance control, and they’ll be centred in your sound field. So the lack of that control on this mixer is a bit disappointing.
2 mono synths, in panned left, one right = true stereo signal
But you can’t pan them if the mixer doesn’t have a pan knob.
Exactly.
he’s talking about mixing technique here. a slight push on your pans to either side separates the sounds a bit better, it’s a classic move an necessary for these.
No pan? 75% of the Volcas are mono output. BLAH.
You don’t understand stereo.
Or I misunderstood and you would want panning.
3/4 volcas do dual mono on a stero jack. The L and R are the same signal. Run them into a mixer without a pan/balance control, and they’ll be centred in your sound field. So the lack of that control on this mixer is a bit disappointing.
2 mono synths, in panned left, one right = true stereo signal
But you can’t pan them if the mixer doesn’t have a pan knob.
Exactly.
he’s talking about mixing technique here. a slight push on your pans to either side separates the sounds a bit better, it’s a classic move an necessary for these.
No pan? 75% of the Volcas are mono output. BLAH.
You don’t understand stereo.
Or I misunderstood and you would want panning.
3/4 volcas do dual mono on a stero jack. The L and R are the same signal. Run them into a mixer without a pan/balance control, and they’ll be centred in your sound field. So the lack of that control on this mixer is a bit disappointing.
2 mono synths, in panned left, one right = true stereo signal
But you can’t pan them if the mixer doesn’t have a pan knob.
Exactly.
he’s talking about mixing technique here. a slight push on your pans to either side separates the sounds a bit better, it’s a classic move an necessary for these.
funny there’s a discussion on the new monome forum that suddenly turned to the desire for a small format mixer designed for electronics (after the hint that Brian is *possibly* interested in making one.. and you know a small monome analogue mixer would be painfully desirable 😉 http://llllllll.co/t/the-current-state-of-grid-sound/987/20
(also the thread in general has some really interesting perspectives on electronic performance)
funny there’s a discussion on the new monome forum that suddenly turned to the desire for a small format mixer designed for electronics (after the hint that Brian is *possibly* interested in making one.. and you know a small monome analogue mixer would be painfully desirable 😉 http://llllllll.co/t/the-current-state-of-grid-sound/987/20
(also the thread in general has some really interesting perspectives on electronic performance)
funny there’s a discussion on the new monome forum that suddenly turned to the desire for a small format mixer designed for electronics (after the hint that Brian is *possibly* interested in making one.. and you know a small monome analogue mixer would be painfully desirable 😉 http://llllllll.co/t/the-current-state-of-grid-sound/987/20
(also the thread in general has some really interesting perspectives on electronic performance)
It’s not an official leak. Two members of the aforementioned volca Facebook group came up with it but yes, everyone wants this to happen. I’ve wanted this since I got my first volca.
It’s not an official leak. Two members of the aforementioned volca Facebook group came up with it but yes, everyone wants this to happen. I’ve wanted this since I got my first volca.
It’s not an official leak. Two members of the aforementioned volca Facebook group came up with it but yes, everyone wants this to happen. I’ve wanted this since I got my first volca.
Does Mackie or Behringer make an 1/8″ based mixer? I couldn’t find one and have been looking for a tiny (battery powered a bonus) mixer with 1/8″ inputs for a while. Every once in a while I will Google it and see nothing appealing. Seems like something that would have been made by now.
Does Mackie or Behringer make an 1/8″ based mixer? I couldn’t find one and have been looking for a tiny (battery powered a bonus) mixer with 1/8″ inputs for a while. Every once in a while I will Google it and see nothing appealing. Seems like something that would have been made by now.
Does Mackie or Behringer make an 1/8″ based mixer? I couldn’t find one and have been looking for a tiny (battery powered a bonus) mixer with 1/8″ inputs for a while. Every once in a while I will Google it and see nothing appealing. Seems like something that would have been made by now.
Also would be nice to have a way to distribute power to the other volcas.
You should check out http://kvgear.com/t/power
I bought an adapter and two daisy chain extenders. It powers all the volcas and Monotribe with one wall wart just fine.
Cheers Yermom, I just purchased one. No more rechargable batteries!
Also would be nice to have a way to distribute power to the other volcas.
You should check out http://kvgear.com/t/power
I bought an adapter and two daisy chain extenders. It powers all the volcas and Monotribe with one wall wart just fine.
Cheers Yermom, I just purchased one. No more rechargable batteries!
Also would be nice to have a way to distribute power to the other volcas.
You should check out http://kvgear.com/t/power
I bought an adapter and two daisy chain extenders. It powers all the volcas and Monotribe with one wall wart just fine.
Cheers Yermom, I just purchased one. No more rechargable batteries!
Looks so nice. but….. why is there a FUNC button? hmm
Looks so nice. but….. why is there a FUNC button? hmm
Looks so nice. but….. why is there a FUNC button? hmm
It does look tempting and sadly probably fake – if I could tweak one thing, I’d swap out the “mid” eq for a pan knob and just have hi/low shelving EQs.
It does look tempting and sadly probably fake – if I could tweak one thing, I’d swap out the “mid” eq for a pan knob and just have hi/low shelving EQs.
It does look tempting and sadly probably fake – if I could tweak one thing, I’d swap out the “mid” eq for a pan knob and just have hi/low shelving EQs.
The Volcas are precisely why I picked up the Edirol M-10MX battery powered mixer. The little devil is great, unfortunately it’s been discontinued for a few years, so I had to patiently hunt on eBay & Craigslist until I found a reasonable deal. Definitely a sorely lacking corner of the industry.
That looks kind of dreamy. Do you have to mult the inputs when using a mono source or does it do the ‘left only = dual mono output’ thing?
Yeah, it falls back to mono if there’s only left input. It’s actually an awesome mixer, has 1/4″ and RCA inputs, and balanced TRS outs. It even even has an ADC with 24/96 digital out, but I’ve never actually used that. I keep the digital off to conserve power.
The Volcas are precisely why I picked up the Edirol M-10MX battery powered mixer. The little devil is great, unfortunately it’s been discontinued for a few years, so I had to patiently hunt on eBay & Craigslist until I found a reasonable deal. Definitely a sorely lacking corner of the industry.
That looks kind of dreamy. Do you have to mult the inputs when using a mono source or does it do the ‘left only = dual mono output’ thing?
Yeah, it falls back to mono if there’s only left input. It’s actually an awesome mixer, has 1/4″ and RCA inputs, and balanced TRS outs. It even even has an ADC with 24/96 digital out, but I’ve never actually used that. I keep the digital off to conserve power.
The Volcas are precisely why I picked up the Edirol M-10MX battery powered mixer. The little devil is great, unfortunately it’s been discontinued for a few years, so I had to patiently hunt on eBay & Craigslist until I found a reasonable deal. Definitely a sorely lacking corner of the industry.
That looks kind of dreamy. Do you have to mult the inputs when using a mono source or does it do the ‘left only = dual mono output’ thing?
Yeah, it falls back to mono if there’s only left input. It’s actually an awesome mixer, has 1/4″ and RCA inputs, and balanced TRS outs. It even even has an ADC with 24/96 digital out, but I’ve never actually used that. I keep the digital off to conserve power.
Oh yeah, that thing would be sweet but then again… all I want is a reissue of the Korg Zero8 with an updated sound engine 😉
Oh yeah, that thing would be sweet but then again… all I want is a reissue of the Korg Zero8 with an updated sound engine 😉
Oh yeah, that thing would be sweet but then again… all I want is a reissue of the Korg Zero8 with an updated sound engine 😉
If someone wants to start tinkering with this: Cool if it has a switch for balanced/stereo(volca-style) jack on the inputs. I dont really care about built-in effects, but auxiliary sends (and perhaps inserts) are cool.
Oh and I forgot: A couple of stereo-channels for v.sample or other stereo-sources ofc!
Amen to the Auxes. 3 of them would be nice…
If someone wants to start tinkering with this: Cool if it has a switch for balanced/stereo(volca-style) jack on the inputs. I dont really care about built-in effects, but auxiliary sends (and perhaps inserts) are cool.
Oh and I forgot: A couple of stereo-channels for v.sample or other stereo-sources ofc!
Amen to the Auxes. 3 of them would be nice…
If someone wants to start tinkering with this: Cool if it has a switch for balanced/stereo(volca-style) jack on the inputs. I dont really care about built-in effects, but auxiliary sends (and perhaps inserts) are cool.
Oh and I forgot: A couple of stereo-channels for v.sample or other stereo-sources ofc!
Amen to the Auxes. 3 of them would be nice…
The Volcas are great for what they are; but since you can buy a perfectly serviceable, sturdily built mixer for less than the price of a Volca, a ‘Volca mixer’ is just for fan boys.
I believe it’s the size and amount of channels that make the diff here. most compact mixers barely give you enough individual channels and still they are much larger than this and not battery powered. I have an old radioshack mixer that is 4 channel and probably the closest thing to this, but they don’t make it any more. it has 1/4″ or rca in for each channel or you can gang 2 channels at a time for dual stereo.
https://www.google.com/search?q=radioshack+4+channel+mixer+compact&newwindow=1&rlz=1C5CHFA_enUS511US511&es_sm=119&biw=1349&bih=779&tbm=isch&imgil=FQJIP6jjalOejM%253A%253Br9gx9vlQtvjQhM%253Bhttp%25253A%25252F%25252Fwww.ultimatetaxi.com%25252Fcar%25252Fmackie-402-vlz3-mixer.htm&source=iu&pf=m&fir=FQJIP6jjalOejM%253A%252Cr9gx9vlQtvjQhM%252C_&usg=__f0Qxf17GLDgR5gcxDeDJiCbLWm4%3D&ved=0CEMQyjdqFQoTCMnzjsXokccCFQI_PgodW0QPog&ei=ivDBVcmGOIL–AHbiL2QCg#imgrc=FQJIP6jjalOejM%3A&usg=__f0Qxf17GLDgR5gcxDeDJiCbLWm4%3D
The Volcas are great for what they are; but since you can buy a perfectly serviceable, sturdily built mixer for less than the price of a Volca, a ‘Volca mixer’ is just for fan boys.
I believe it’s the size and amount of channels that make the diff here. most compact mixers barely give you enough individual channels and still they are much larger than this and not battery powered. I have an old radioshack mixer that is 4 channel and probably the closest thing to this, but they don’t make it any more. it has 1/4″ or rca in for each channel or you can gang 2 channels at a time for dual stereo.
https://www.google.com/search?q=radioshack+4+channel+mixer+compact&newwindow=1&rlz=1C5CHFA_enUS511US511&es_sm=119&biw=1349&bih=779&tbm=isch&imgil=FQJIP6jjalOejM%253A%253Br9gx9vlQtvjQhM%253Bhttp%25253A%25252F%25252Fwww.ultimatetaxi.com%25252Fcar%25252Fmackie-402-vlz3-mixer.htm&source=iu&pf=m&fir=FQJIP6jjalOejM%253A%252Cr9gx9vlQtvjQhM%252C_&usg=__f0Qxf17GLDgR5gcxDeDJiCbLWm4%3D&ved=0CEMQyjdqFQoTCMnzjsXokccCFQI_PgodW0QPog&ei=ivDBVcmGOIL–AHbiL2QCg#imgrc=FQJIP6jjalOejM%3A&usg=__f0Qxf17GLDgR5gcxDeDJiCbLWm4%3D
The Volcas are great for what they are; but since you can buy a perfectly serviceable, sturdily built mixer for less than the price of a Volca, a ‘Volca mixer’ is just for fan boys.
I believe it’s the size and amount of channels that make the diff here. most compact mixers barely give you enough individual channels and still they are much larger than this and not battery powered. I have an old radioshack mixer that is 4 channel and probably the closest thing to this, but they don’t make it any more. it has 1/4″ or rca in for each channel or you can gang 2 channels at a time for dual stereo.
https://www.google.com/search?q=radioshack+4+channel+mixer+compact&newwindow=1&rlz=1C5CHFA_enUS511US511&es_sm=119&biw=1349&bih=779&tbm=isch&imgil=FQJIP6jjalOejM%253A%253Br9gx9vlQtvjQhM%253Bhttp%25253A%25252F%25252Fwww.ultimatetaxi.com%25252Fcar%25252Fmackie-402-vlz3-mixer.htm&source=iu&pf=m&fir=FQJIP6jjalOejM%253A%252Cr9gx9vlQtvjQhM%252C_&usg=__f0Qxf17GLDgR5gcxDeDJiCbLWm4%3D&ved=0CEMQyjdqFQoTCMnzjsXokccCFQI_PgodW0QPog&ei=ivDBVcmGOIL–AHbiL2QCg#imgrc=FQJIP6jjalOejM%3A&usg=__f0Qxf17GLDgR5gcxDeDJiCbLWm4%3D
This fan design is just about perfect as is, but if Korg was going to do something like this, they should add jacks for a send effect, and also have a USB port for multichannel audio to PC. That would make it irresistible. I agree with whoever suggested swapping the Mid knob for pan, however.
This fan design is just about perfect as is, but if Korg was going to do something like this, they should add jacks for a send effect, and also have a USB port for multichannel audio to PC. That would make it irresistible. I agree with whoever suggested swapping the Mid knob for pan, however.
This fan design is just about perfect as is, but if Korg was going to do something like this, they should add jacks for a send effect, and also have a USB port for multichannel audio to PC. That would make it irresistible. I agree with whoever suggested swapping the Mid knob for pan, however.
Add an SD card slot for multi track recording…
Add an SD card slot for multi track recording…
Add an SD card slot for multi track recording…
Love it. Want.
Maybe it’s too much but instead of a Volca mixer, how about a Volca Master? There are already compact mixers on the market.
Keep the mixer but skip the effects and XY stuff—could be fun but Volcas have effects already and they (we) could keep the cost down. A send or two would be aces though. If anything, a single knob compressor on the main output.
+1 to @Marcelo’s idea of power distribution. Slightly beefed up, if at all, power supply and a daisy chain cable (all with right angle tips, natch).
Along those same lines, a master clock. Each channel has a clock out and a button or switch with three states: base tempo, half tempo and double tempo. Because, fun.
Probably not possible due to space (and price bump) but a 1×5 MIDI THRU would be dreamy for a Volca setup. Maybe with stereo headphone sized MIDI jacks it could work in the space and would be right up the Volcanic alley.
One or two of the channels should probably be stereo.
Include a 5-pack of Volca friendly right angle audio cables.
Motion recording?
And +1 to @dabravanel:disqus’s idea to: “Skip the MID EQ and add a pan”.
Love it. Want.
Maybe it’s too much but instead of a Volca mixer, how about a Volca Master? There are already compact mixers on the market.
Keep the mixer but skip the effects and XY stuff—could be fun but Volcas have effects already and they (we) could keep the cost down. A send or two would be aces though. If anything, a single knob compressor on the main output.
+1 to @Marcelo’s idea of power distribution. Slightly beefed up, if at all, power supply and a daisy chain cable (all with right angle tips, natch).
Along those same lines, a master clock. Each channel has a clock out and a button or switch with three states: base tempo, half tempo and double tempo. Because, fun.
Probably not possible due to space (and price bump) but a 1×5 MIDI THRU would be dreamy for a Volca setup. Maybe with stereo headphone sized MIDI jacks it could work in the space and would be right up the Volcanic alley.
One or two of the channels should probably be stereo.
Include a 5-pack of Volca friendly right angle audio cables.
Motion recording?
And +1 to @dabravanel:disqus’s idea to: “Skip the MID EQ and add a pan”.
Love it. Want.
Maybe it’s too much but instead of a Volca mixer, how about a Volca Master? There are already compact mixers on the market.
Keep the mixer but skip the effects and XY stuff—could be fun but Volcas have effects already and they (we) could keep the cost down. A send or two would be aces though. If anything, a single knob compressor on the main output.
+1 to @Marcelo’s idea of power distribution. Slightly beefed up, if at all, power supply and a daisy chain cable (all with right angle tips, natch).
Along those same lines, a master clock. Each channel has a clock out and a button or switch with three states: base tempo, half tempo and double tempo. Because, fun.
Probably not possible due to space (and price bump) but a 1×5 MIDI THRU would be dreamy for a Volca setup. Maybe with stereo headphone sized MIDI jacks it could work in the space and would be right up the Volcanic alley.
One or two of the channels should probably be stereo.
Include a 5-pack of Volca friendly right angle audio cables.
Motion recording?
And +1 to @dabravanel:disqus’s idea to: “Skip the MID EQ and add a pan”.
Volcas are so popular some gear shop could probably make some money right now by offering “Volca Lovers” bundles. A few different sized combinations that have right angle audio cables (for audio and sync), right angle MIDI cables, a guitar pedal daisy chain power supply, 1X4 MIDI thru and whatever’s cheap in tiny line mixers these days.
Is that you, syrupcore?
It, is? Mom?
Volcas are so popular some gear shop could probably make some money right now by offering “Volca Lovers” bundles. A few different sized combinations that have right angle audio cables (for audio and sync), right angle MIDI cables, a guitar pedal daisy chain power supply, 1X4 MIDI thru and whatever’s cheap in tiny line mixers these days.
Is that you, syrupcore?
It, is? Mom?
Volcas are so popular some gear shop could probably make some money right now by offering “Volca Lovers” bundles. A few different sized combinations that have right angle audio cables (for audio and sync), right angle MIDI cables, a guitar pedal daisy chain power supply, 1X4 MIDI thru and whatever’s cheap in tiny line mixers these days.
Is that you, syrupcore?
It, is? Mom?
Two words-Google Sketchup. Seriously. The funny part is that I actually wonder if I know the person this came from.
Two words-Google Sketchup. Seriously. The funny part is that I actually wonder if I know the person this came from.
Two words-Google Sketchup. Seriously. The funny part is that I actually wonder if I know the person this came from.
oh man this is pretty perfect. just go ahead and make it korg!!!!
oh man this is pretty perfect. just go ahead and make it korg!!!!
oh man this is pretty perfect. just go ahead and make it korg!!!!
I started to work on a Volca Mixer. Hoping to get some more feedback here:
http://www.korgforums.com/forum/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=107646
That’s incredible! Can’t wait to see your progess 🙂