Unnofficial Volca FM firmware 1.08 Update

Published on Oct 19, 2019 ranzee

Disclaimer: this is an unofficial update. Install at your own risk. Posting this only to let you know it exists. This was sent in via @dashcammusic. You can find the download link and comments at this reddit thread. Also, not sure why the download link would expire tomorrow.

"Volca FM firmware 1.08 [UNOFFICIAL] - velocity on note in, LFO fix, patch transfer, more CCs etc.
TLDR; I hacked the Volca FM firmware, fixed a bunch of really old bugs, added some features.

I have received a lot of feedback from people requesting the "1.05" FW (that added velocity on MIDI in) that I posted this spring. In June, I made a 1.06 version that added a bunch of other stuff as well. Big THANKS to the small group of beta testers that helped me evaluate that :-)
Imagine my surprise when KORG did the september FW drop - I thought the older Volcas were orphaned. But they did release FW for the FM - and still ignored the bugs! It was a bit rich. Now I have grafted my tweaks onto the 1.07 FW - you guys like it super fresh I imagine.
Check the KORG official FW update instructions carefully. 2 files need to go through for this to work as intended. Make sure no other sounds are playing, and use 44.1kHz native sample rate.
I take no responability whatsoever if you manage to mess up your FM. THIS IS ON YOUR OWN RISK.
Get it here: https://we.tl/t-gADWuRk37k (expires on oct 24th)

Change log (from ORIGINAL KORG fw (1.03, 1.04, 1.07)):

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New FREE Korg Minilogue Patch Packs! "Lo-Fi Textures" & "Twopointohone"

Published on Oct 3, 2019 Oscillator Sink

"Details on the patch pack can be found on Korg's website: https://www.korg.com/us/products/synt...

The Minilogue can be a lot of things, but when I first laid hands on it I was immediately drawn to the sounds I was finding that were a little less than pristine. Sounds that were a little dirty, a little dark, sometimes crunchy, noisy or wobbly - but the character of the synth always shone through and made me feel warm and fuzzy as I explored them. I decided to lean into this idea and seek out sounds where it was the imperfections that gave them their appeal; that’s where the Lo-Fi Textures Patch Pack comes from.

These 50 new patches draw inspiration from the wow and flutter of an old reel-to-reel, worn-out VHSes, the spaces between radio stations and circuits operating beyond their original purposes: unstable, fragile, nostalgic and warm."

BONUS FREE Korg Minilogue Patch Pack! "Twopointohone"

Published on Oct 3, 2019 Oscillator Sink

"Details on the patch pack can be found on Korg's website: https://www.korg.com/us/products/synt..."

FREE! Korg Volca Drum Patch Pack!

Published on Sep 8, 2019 Oscillator Sink

"I'm super happy to be able to share with you my new, free patch pack for the Korg Volca Drum - 16 brand new kits exploring the Volca's exciting synthesis engine. You can hear each of the kits in this video and get the patches for free on my site here: http://www.oscillatorsink.com

Follow the patch links to open the patches in my free Volca Drum patch editor and send them to your Volca Drum - don't forget to save them to a kit slot.

I hope you enjoy playing with these kits as much as I did creating them!"

Korg Volca Drum - A Lyra-8 on a Budget?

Published on Sep 5, 2019 Oscillator Sink

"I've been hard at work on a Patch Pack for the Korg Volca Drum, and it's nearly done! Obviously, most of the patches are drum kits, but tonight I thought it'd be fun to draw inspiration from a synth that's been on my wish list for a long time - the Soma Labs Lyra-8.

I don't think the Volca is going to fool a discerning listener, but it's definitely fun to see just how "un-drummy" it can get. The delay you can hear is the Volca's own "Wave Guide" as well, and although it isn't as interesting as the Lyra's innovative "multi-delay plus distortion" arrangement, it is pretty characterful!

This kit, along with 15 others will be available soon - for free!

My Free Online Patch Editor for the Volca Drum: https://synthmata.com/volca-drum/"

Using the Korg Volca Drum Melodically - Part 1: Sound Design

Published on Aug 24, 2019 Oscillator Sink

"Part 1 of a two part series where I'm looking at using (or maybe misusing?!) the Korg Volca Drum to make melodic parts. In this part we discuss the sound design techniques we can employ when building melodic sounds.

You can find the free patch editor I built here: https://synthmata.com/volca-drum/"

Volca Drum with an Elektron Sequencer 🤔

Published on Aug 18, 2019 Oscillator Sink

"In my opinion the Volca Drum has the best sequencer in the Volca range right now. It clearly draws some inspiration from a certain Swedish company! Obviously though, at the Volca price point we can't expect a full Elektron style sequencer...

But what if the Volca drum *did* have a full Elektron sequencer?

In this jam everything you hear (including the delay effect) is coming direct from the Volca Drum, but it's being sequenced by my trusty Elektron Digitakt. There's a bunch of MIDI CC parameter-locking and LFO-ing going on, as well as plenty of conditional trigs. The Volca Drum seems to enjoy the experience!"

Synthmata: Free Volca Drum Patch Editor and Kit Sharing System!

Published on Jul 21, 2019 Oscillator Sink

"My new, free patch editor and kit sharing system for the Korg Volca Drum is now live: https://synthmata.com/volca-drum

In this video we do a quick once-over of the interface and demonstrate how to use the editor. I also take a few minutes to talk about the javascript library that I've build which makes creating similar systems quick and easy! You can find it on github here: https://github.com/synthmata/ccynthmata"

Arturia Microfreak - Let's Build... a Classic Lead!

Published on Jul 7, 2019 Oscillator Sink

"As the name suggests, the Arturia Microfreak is capable of some crazy, weird sounds; but today let's try something a little more conventional: a classic lead sound, but with some special Microfreak twists...

Transparency Notice: The MicroFreak was kindly provided to me by Arturia."

Volca Role-Reversal Jam! (Volca Drum as Synth/Volca Modular as Drum Machine!)

Published on Jun 29, 2019 Oscillator Sink

"I've come to terms with the fact that using synths as drum machines is kinda 'my thing' now. I also "have prior" for using drum machines as synths.

In this jam, all of the synth lines are coming from the Volca Drum, and the percussion is coming from the Volca Modular. The Volca Drum is being recorded through the Digitech Polara Reverb to give it a little more ambience; the Volca Modular is recorded dry - any ambience you hear is coming from its internal "Space" effect. There's a little EQ and compression in the mix, but haven't added anything else.

Both Volcas are running a single pattern, but the Volca Drum is taking advantage of the 'Active Step per Track' trick along with Step Probability and the Volca Modular is in Stochastic mode with lots of 'Woggle' so there's quite a bit of variation happening within those single patterns."

Zoom MultiStomp + Sawtooth Wave = A Whole Synth?!

Published on Jun 7, 2019 Oscillator Sink

"Although it lost out to the Digitech Polara in my recent reverb shoot-out, the Zoom MS-70CDR's real strength comes from the fact that it's a "multi-effect" in the true sense of the term: you can run multiple different effect algorithms at the same time.

So bearing this fact in mind, and adding to that the wide range of effects it has on offer, I got to thinking: given only the most basic input of a raw sawtooth wave, could you build the rest of a synth using just the Zoom?.."

Teenage Engineering OP-Z - A Tiny Little Set

Published on May 4, 2019 Oscillator Sink

"I've been very much enjoying the tiny magical, musical remote control-looking OP-Z. Having something so portable, neat but powerful that I can jam with around the house is super cool. I've been playing around with a few patterns as I'm learning the OP-Z, so I figured I'd form them into a little mini-set.

Lots to explore still (the sequencer in particular is super powerful and I'll definitely talk about it in more depth once I know it better), but what's really striking to me is how much fun I'm having making music on the OP-Z."

Drumbrute Impact x Volca FM + Kick 01

Published on Apr 18, 2019 Oscillator Sink

"One of my favourite things about this past Jamuary is that it encouraged me to put together smaller set-ups and work quickly within that framework. So recently I brought together the Arturia Drumbrute Impact with the Korg Volca Kick and FM to recreate that vibe and recorded a couple of jams over a couple of days - this more up-tempo one was the first of the two.

Obviously the Drumbrute Impact is in charge of the drums, a little less obviously the Volca Kick is doing the bassline (no kicks here!) and the Volca FM is providing the top line using a patch generated by the Synthmata random patch generator and is going through the Digitech Polara Reverb on the way into the interface."

Elektron Digitone Ambient Minijam - Little Divisor/Playful Primes

Published on Apr 13, 2019 Oscillator Sink

"Following on from a previous jam where I was experimenting with using sequences with prime number lengths, I wanted to try something a little more up-tempo using similar ideas, but using smaller sequences so that the overlapping, shifting feeling was more prominent. I was hoping to get something a little Steve Reich-esque using this technique and I at least ended up in the right ball-park.

I also built my sequences with a number of pre-prepared "lock trigs" (the green ones that don't trigger a note to play), which I could switch into note trigs during the performance to alter the patterns in pre-determined ways and bring in new rhythms and harmonies (this is a technique I use on the Arturia sequencers a lot as well)."

Elektron Digitone Ambient Minijam - Peace in the Primes (#2HAC)

Published on Apr 9, 2019 Oscillator Sink

"This is my contribution to the most recent 2 Hour Album Challenge release run by Ben Burnes.

The theme for the challenge this time was 'Zen', and I took the opportunity to experiment with the idea of using overlapping sequences with prime number lengths so see how they would overlap and interact.

You can find this track, along with over 30 others on the 'Zen' album here: https://2hac.bandcamp.com/ - it's free to download, but if you want to make a donation, all proceeds are donated to a local cat shelter.

The Two Hour Album Challenge (2HAC) is a community-driven challenge to collectively start and complete an album of music in two hours.

At the start of the challenge, a theme is chosen randomly. Each participant then independently (or collaboratively) writes a song with that theme in mind using a strict time limit of two hours.

This album is free to download, proceeds from album purchases will go to the Angel of Hope animal rescue: www.aohrescue.org

More information can be found here: 2hac.abstractionmusic.com"

Elektron Digitakt - Full Set (Techno/Electro)

Published on Apr 6, 2019 Oscillator Sink

"If you enjoyed this set you can download it here: http://oscillatorsink.bandcamp.com/al...

It's priced as 'Pay-What-You-Want' so grab it for free with my blessing, but if you want to chuck a few quid my way, it helps support the channel!

I love the Elektron Digitakt, so for the last few weeks, when I have a spare minute I've been putting together patterns with the intention of recording a live set - well here it is!

All sounds coming straight from the Digitakt's main outs (with some light mastering processing applied to the final product), recorded live in a single take."

Update:

How I Made My Digitakt Set

Arturia Minibrute 2 / 2S - Let's Build...

Published on Apr 1, 2019 Oscillator Sink

Arturia Minibrute 2S - One Box Techno Jam - Patch Walk-Through

For those interested, a walkthrough for Oscillator Sink's Arturia Minibrute 2S - One Box Techno Jam has been added here.

Arturia Minibrute 2S - One Box Techno Jam

Published on Mar 23, 2019 Oscillator Sink

"I was recording some tutorial videos for the Arturia Minibrute 2S today (and they're coming soon!), but while I was experimenting with ideas for a tutorial things got... a little out of hand!

This jam is one take, all sounds coming from the Minibrute 2S going through a Digitech Polara reverb. As you can see - the patching is fairly extensive and I'm making use of some of the extra modes on tracks 3 and 4 of the sequencer, but it turned out to be a great patch to make some live, improvised techno with!

Anyone who follows the channel knows that I'm a big fan of "one-box" challenges - well the Minibrute 2S passes with flying colours! I'll come back to trying to patch up something similar another time.

If you're interested in how the patch is set up - let me know in the comments and I'll see if I can squeeze a video in before I tear the patch down.

Transparency Notice: The MicroBrute 2S was kindly provided to me by Arturia."

Update:

Arturia Minibrute 2S - One Box Techno Jam - Patch Walk-Through

Published on Mar 27, 2019 Oscillator Sink

"A few days ago I posted a one-box jam on the Arturia Minibrute 2S which combined, drums, bass and drones in one patch. I asked if people wanted a walk-through of the patch - they did, so here we are!

In this video we look at making the drum sounds, how we can route them so that we're not beholden to the main amp for envelopes and take a look at two of the alternative uses for sequencer tracks 3 and 4."

Free Korg Monologue Patch Pack: Drum and Percussion Loops

Published on Mar 22, 2019 Oscillator Sink

Korg Monologue Drums and Percussion Loops Patch Pack - Demo of All 30 Patches


"I'm excited to announce a new patch pack for the Korg Monologue that is being released in association with Korg.

This patch pack is maybe a little different to most others for the Monologue. It's actually more of a “loop pack” - 30 drum and percussion loops for the Korg Monologue.

I know what you're thinking: “the Monologue isn't a drum machine”. But thanks to the Monologue’s exceptional sequencer, it absolutely can be, and using a monosynth as a drum machine can yield exciting, unique percussive loops and textures that you'd just never arrive at with conventional drum machines.

Although you can select one of these patches and play the keyboard, the real fun comes when you start the sequencer. Each patch is designed to be a standalone loop which you can use out of the box, but I've tried to leave plenty in each patch to explore. The mod lever is set to offer instant tweaking gratification, but playing with the other parameters can reveal all sorts of new expressions; also try enabling and disabling the sequencer steps, tweaking the motion sequence and changing the notes in the sequence. Please note that because some of the patches rely on tempo-synced LFOs, you may need to restart the sequence after changing patches,

These loops also sound great with additional processing - try adding compression, saturation, delay, reverb etc. in your DAW or on your mixing desk to enhance and augment the loops.

I hope that in addition to being fun loops to use in your own music, whether you use them as they come, or you tweak them to perfection, this pack demonstrates how you can create your own unique percussion loops on the Monologue.

Download the patches from Korg here: http://www.korg.com/us/support/downlo..."

Elektron Digitakt: Monster Mono-synth?!

Published on Mar 9, 2019 Oscillator Sink

"The Elektron Digitakt is a wonderful sampler, sequencer, groovebox... thing! But what if I told you that it's also a monster mono-synth? The rantings of a mad-man? Well maybe! But when you consider that each of its eight sampler tracks can be set up to act as a highly configurable oscillator by looping short, single-cycle wave-forms, the prospect of an 8 oscillator mono-synth starts to sound somewhat appealing!

In this video I take a look at setting up the Digitakt to act like a mono-synth and walk through building an 8-oscillator mono-synth patch from scratch."