Volkaoss (VK) : A MIDI controller for the Korg Volca Sample and Kaossilator Pro

Since a few months, I use more and more hardware gear and synths, and a little less frequently software like VST plugins, the urge to touch buttons, turn knobs, plug and unplug cables. Thus, my setup is becoming a patchwork of "old" analog synths, sequencing softwares, sampler, and other more or less recent gears ...
The common point of all this: MIDI (not always). And in the world of MIDI, it is sometimes complicated to talk to each other.

The Korg Volca Sample :


I like very much this small white box capable, for a very low price, to spit sounds really percussive, if you make the effort to process samples correctly. The big catch is that it is not really usable on a MIDI chain, because it monopolizes 10 channels, one per sample part, from 1 to 10.   In addition, the samples loaded in the beast can not be played chromatically with a MIDI keyboard. To change the pitch, you have to manually adjust the Speed knob (or send the ad-hoc MIDI controller).

See also my previous post on the installation of a MIDI OUT on that box.

The Korg Kaossilator pro 3 (KP3) :

I also have another kid from Korg, a little bit older, but, with huges sounds and an X/Y pad : the Kaossilator Pro 3. This device is also not easily integrable in a MIDI setup, simply because it does not recognize MIDI notes, but only non standard midi CC controls.  For sure, some will tell me the KP3 is a pad and is finally more a surface controller rather than a synth. I absolutely disagree !! Some patches are so clean and cool, especially bass, most others are good, drum kits are very dynamic, the vocoder is a nice feature, and there are still 4 banks to record and play samples.

BUT, anyone who has tried the Kaossilator knows that : playing a precise note on the PAD is almost impossible (sorry I have big fingers !!), even using the SCALE function. Second problem, the recorded samples are difficult to synchronize with the BPM because there is no Start / Stop MIDI implemented in the KP3. To start a sample, you have to press the "Bank n" button on time : it is more tricky than you think. Better to be awake ! It is a serious issue.

Despite the big potential of the KP3 unfortunately constrained by Korg's design mistakes, after a few months to play with, it finally remains in the closet, and slowly takes the dust before being sold a misery. While precisely I was thinking to sell mine, I renounced after played a "last time" with it because it sounds so good.

Something to do or just drop it to the trash ?

I had already seen projects, quite experimental on all kinds of platforms, to map the notes in MIDI controls and to trigger the sounds of the Kaossilator. Likewise for the Volca sample, a company is selling a special MIDI cable embedding a MIDI powered microcontroller for about € 35 + delivery that allows to operate the Volca Sample with only the channel 10 / as a GM module. I watched the demo video on their website : this is close to what I imagined doing when I thought about it, and it's rather well done, but that is a little too dedicated to the Volca in my opinion...

Volkaoss : keep these gears boys !!

Because developing software is a part of my job, I therefore started the development of what I called the "Volkaoss" (VK if you don't speak Klingon). I wanted to make VK a MIDI controller / converter that is both the most universal and the most economical possible... I happen to have an Arduino Uno at the bottom of a drawer!

I wanted a plug and play solution, without soldering, so I ordered an Arduino MIDI SHIELD for less than 10 euros, and after several rather intense weeks of development, I produced a firmware which runs quite well in the Arduino Uno.



I used a master MIDI keyboard and to get 2 midi outs, and simultaneously drive the Kaossilator and the Volca sample with KV , I used a "midi splitter" cable. You can find some on Ebay for few euros. You can also make one easily with 3 midi cables by connecting all RX, all TX, and all ground together.

KV receives usually on channel 1 for the KP3 and channel 10 for the Volca Sample.

It is a real pleasure to play on the KP3 with a keyboard, at the right pitch, transforming it to a very powerful mono synth at a price defying competition and to be able to use the Volca Sample as a real drum machine, managing velocity, and Compatible GM / channel 10 !!

VK features for the Kaossilator Pro 3 / Pro 3 +

• Map midi notes to specific pad press and X, Y control changes (1)
• Manage holded note on when playing another as a mono synth do
• Pitch bend handling relatively to the note currently pressed on the keyboard
• Map Cutoff, Reverb level or Modulation Wheel to PAD Y 
• Map Resonnance to a totally free PAD X
• Velocity sensitivity
• Commands on the C0 octave  (C0 beeing the "command" key) :
• Start/stop bank A, B, C, D.  (2)
• All banks on / off (2)
• ARP/GATE start / stop (2)
• ARP speed increase / decrease (rotate from max to min and min to max)
• Change Midi In channel

(1) The kaossilator must set to 4 octaves, and scale must be chromatic. The Key is usually better fixed to C minus.

(2) If a midi clock is received, the banks, and the ARG/GATE are started synchronously with the BPM

VK features for the Volca Sample :

• Map notes to channel 10, C2 octave to Volca Sample parts on midi 1 to 10, and play chromatically the last part played (not used for recording) beyond C2
• Commands on C0/ Channel 10 to toggle midi IN for parts (5-9) to use them for specific Volca controls or playing chromatically when recording with a DAW
• Velocity sensitivity

Download here : http://techiesexpedition.blogspot.fr/2016/12/volca-sample-and-kaosscilator-as-true.html

Comments are welcome !!

Test of the new Roland TB-03 boutique, the little brother of the legendary TB 303

Oh yeah !!

When I realized that Roland was re-editing the TB 303, I was delighted. Finally I was going to be able to play with a TB (3) 03 made by the master : Roland itself.

I therefore expected that the builder of the TB303 in 1983 would be able to make the best model on the market, allowing us, to own a new TB 03 for 400 euros only,  rather than 3000 € for a used and very old TB303.

I was waiting sound that kills;  improved ergonomics, and especially something better than the clones (Xoxbox, TT 303 And other VST).

Well no. That's not it at all.....

The sound is a bit too metallic and especially on the slides : It was impossible to reproduce well known patterns with the TB-03 while the TT 303 can do it too easily.

ABL3 , a very good VST plugin from Audiorealism, which is the best software emulating the TB 303  can also do better .. And, as in the TB-03, it is a software emulation.  Maybe Roland labs should give a call to the ABL3 team....

The TB-03 does not compare one minute with my TT 303.
By dint of looping and looping again my patterns during my tests, I ended up believing it was me...
I did not unconsciously want to return this gear because that was a pretty one with a big Roland logo in my set, letting me think, at a 3 meters distance, it was the true TB 303  !!!

So I finally asked to other ears around me: the TT was the winner without a doubt... We all agreed.

The TB-03 sound seems a little muffled while it bites with the TT, a pure analo". The slides are a marvel of modulation, while it is a bit flat on the TB 03.
The TT 303 groove, the TB-03 slaps.

Even with a fine adjust with my fingers poked on the knobs in all directions, impossible to have that fluidity I have with the Cyclone analogic TT 303 ... and this modulation in the slides.

Adding  delay or distortion (very good idea from Roland to integrates these quite goods effects),  didn't help.  Nothing and nothing.  The sounds were close, but it was like watching a great movie in its screener version !!!!

Before trying the TB 03, I was thinking to sell my TT 303, not without regrets, to pay the bill if the the promise was kept.  I still own the TT 303.

About ergonomics now : why Roland want us to return to the 80s  and is forcing us to use the horrible step by step mode of the TB 303,  on that modern machine ?

To propose the original TB 303 step by step mode OK, but the second mode is also a step by tep one...and is not much better.  Roland could have trampled a bit by offering for example a real time mode recording, a TR mode, etc...in the spirit of the new JD-Xi I own also (better purchase between us, for almost the same price).

There were so many things possible, which would have added value to this machine IF the sound was here obviously,...if one believes the promise of Roland on its website.

On the TT 303, you can generate patterns randomly,  can make copy/paste, change the color of the LED according to the pattern category, etc ...On the TB 03 nothing at all. Back to the 80's

One really positive thing is the very good quality of manufacture. We find Roland at the top on this point, contrary to what I could read. The case is made of metal, the knobs are straight. The TT is beaten, by far,  with its plastic case...

The choice of  supplying  power via a micro usb plug is debatable and especially fragile on the long term in my opinion. We're not always connected to a computer. So you have to buy a phone charger and a micro USB cable not provided with that gear.

The TB 03 was returned to the seller (Thomann) after 4 intensive days of testing, comparing patterns on TT 303 and ABL3 (démo version).

A real disappointment. Almost a heartbreak, I waited the delivery more than one month....

Hoping that Roland will quickly release a firmware update, otherwise, the amateurs of  ACID bass will stay on the clones, which are doing the job finally.

Paradoxically the  TT 303 clone costs more than the Roland TB 03!
WTF?

Note : it seems that the TT303 is not sold anymore by Cyclone. They stopped the production.  I can sell you mine for 20 000 euros right now :-) !!!