Volca sample with Retrokits RK-002 Midiator
Published on Nov 4, 2015 Retrokits
"Just an example what you can do with the RK-002. The RK-002 splits single MIDI channel notes to the 10 MIDI channels required by the Volca Sample.
More info at http://www.retrokits.com/rk002"
"The Volca Sample is a neat little portable sampler. You can sync it's sequencer to other Volca's or modular equipment. It also has a MIDI connector which allows you to control the Volca Sample via a DAW.
However, when you connect the Volca Sample to your DAW you'll quickly notice it takes up 10 MIDI channels(!). Since MIDI only supports up to 16 channels this is a very big chunk of MIDI for such a little device...
Undoubtedly this has been done so you can control a bunch of sample parameters per sample channel but if you want to play the Volca Sample not only by the device itself but from a keyboard or sequencer, 10-channel mapping is a really unconventional way of controlling a sampler.
This is why we put together the RK-002 cable. This is no ordinary MIDI cable but has an embedded microcontroller which maps the note-messages from a single incoming MIDI channel to the ten separate Volca Sample channels.
Not only does it remap the channels, per sample channel it also translates:
note velocity to sample level
pitch bend to sample pitch
modulation to sample filter"
Showing posts sorted by relevance for query Retrokits. Sort by date Show all posts
Showing posts sorted by relevance for query Retrokits. Sort by date Show all posts
Saturday, November 07, 2015
Monday, February 01, 2016
Korg Volca Sample and Retrokits RK-002 overview
Published on Feb 1, 2016 Retrokits
"This video shows how you can control the Volca Sample via MIDI when you have the RK-002 cable (http://www.retrokits.com) connected.
For owners of the RK-002 cable who have just upgraded their RK-002 to firmware 19: Don't forget to set the root key ('chromatic basekey' in the manager at http://www.retrokits.com/rk002/settings) of the chromatic scale."
Thursday, May 16, 2019
Retrokits RK002 + Korg Nanokontrol2 = Roland PG300
Published on May 16, 2019 Retrokits
"This firmware is part of our RK002/DUY Firmware range. You can exchange firmware in the RK002 cable to do complex MIDI processing tasks, like converting simple CC messages into 'checksum encoded MIDI System Exclusive Messages' - which the Roland Alpha Juno and MKS50 need to edit patch data.
PS: Excuses - the Nanokontrol2 video looks a bit rusty, but it's shot in low-light conditions to bring out the NK2's lighted indicators :-)
The PG300 DUY is a full patch editor for the Roland Alpha Juno and MKS 50, it is available at https://retrokits.com/rk002/exchange/ PDF overlay template file for the Nanokontrol2 is also available.
To exchange firmware on your RK002 you need a computer MIDI interface which supports MIDI Power and MIDI System Exclusive, While you're at it searching for one, check out our RK005 (Which is also a standalone USB host and Class Compliant MIDI interface doing all of the above AND is able to host the NanoKontrol2 without a computer present: https://www.retrokits.com/shop/rk005/ )"
Friday, December 11, 2020
RK-006 Circuit & Moog DFAM MIDI trigger example
Retrokits
"The RK006 USB MIDI Interface / Standalone USB MIDI Host ( https://www.retrokits.com/shop/rk006/ ) has even more features than other MIDI interfaces: Here you can see how you can easily trigger devices which don't have MIDI onboard."
See the Retrokits label below for more.
Thursday, November 30, 2023
RK008 Menus: ALT+7 - OUTPUT + ROUTING
video upload by Retrokits
"This menu is for routing the Tracks' MIDI data. Each one of the 8 Tracks on the RK008 can hold MIDI data (notes, pitch, CC's) for 16 MIDI channels at once but via the output menu you can reroute these:
1. MIDI Channel
By default it's set to ORG, meaning that there is no MIDI channel remapping done. Typing a MIDI channel here will reroute incoming MIDI from any channel to the set output channel. This way you can use the RK008 as a handy MIDI switchboard. Just by pressing a Track you can reroute to a predefined MIDI output channel.
2. MIDI Port
MIDI port selects the physical MIDI output to route the MIDI to. You can use the digits 1-3 to select a specific output (OUT1, OUT2 or the RK006 via USB), or press 0 to send to all. By specifying outputs you can potentially drive a whopping 48 channels of MIDI gear.
Read more about the RK008 in the page link below:
https://retrokits.com/rk008/
Bonus: You can download the little Dopplereffekt / Infophysix .mid file loop which I exported from the RK008 here to play with: https://retrokits.com/rk008/dopper_in..."
Wednesday, March 23, 2016
Korg Volca Sample Midi Fix - Retrokits RK-002 Chromatic Playing
Published on Mar 23, 2016 kvfive .
"A demo of the Korg Volca Sample responding to a single midi channel with all samples triggered from the Beatstep Pro's drum sequencer using the Retrokits RK-002 midi lead.
http://www.retrokits.com
http://www.kv5.co.uk"
Saturday, March 27, 2021
Retrokits RK002/RK006 Sequencer
video by Retrokits
"Although fiddling around with this sequencer #DUY on the RK002 / RK006 is simple and playful, under the hood it’s an intricate setup;
The RK006 is the master clock and hosts the nanokontrol in ‘split-brain-mode’ (which means the RK006 is divided in a left and right part) the incoming MIDI messages from the nanokontrol and the tempo are picked up by the RK002 and looped back into the other half; now the RK006 can send back the rk002 led commands for displaying the sequence on the nanokontrol and also the note sequence to the #d05
We don’t call it split-brain for nothin’! 🤯😃"
See the Retrokits label below for more.
Friday, June 10, 2016
Volca FM Velocity Over MIDI Fix From Retrokits
Published on Jun 10, 2016 sonicstate
"We just got news of the Retrokits firmware updare for their RK002 Active MIDI cable - it now will allow you to play velocity over MIDI to the Volca FM - nice retrokits.com"
Wednesday, July 22, 2020
Retrokits RK-006 doing a whole bunch of sync
Retrokits
"The Multi-function outputs on the RK-006 allow you to sync all kinds of different devices. They are available via presets but here are also a few custom settings examples"
Retrokits RK-006
Sunday, August 04, 2024
Yamaha MU2000 - the final boss of General MIDI boxes - does it hold up?
video upload by Floyd Steinberg
"I wanted to try one of these Yamaha MU2000 boxes for years, but they were surprisingly expensive and available from Japan only. But with some backing from YouTube and my channel members, here's a detailed video on the MU2000, some sound examples and a short demo track created in MIDI only, which is no problem when 128 voices are the limit. Table of contents:
Saturday, May 18, 2024
SUPERBOOTH 2024: Retrokits - RK008 Multi Track MIDI Recorder In Eurorack
video upload by sonicstate
"At Superbooth 2024, Sonic State caught up with Gerrit from Retrokits to discuss their latest offerings. Gerrit showcased the new modular versions of their popular products, the RK-008 *multi-track MIDI recorder and the *RK-6 *MIDI interface/USB MIDI host. The *RK-008 features eight tracks, each capable of recording 16 channels of MIDI with multi-length capability, allowing users to create and manipulate MIDI data in a variety of ways. Gerrit also demonstrated how the RK-008 can be used to send MIDI notes to devices like the Kaossilator, showcasing the flexibility and functionality of Retro Kits' products.
The Retrokits team has been constantly updating the firmware for their devices, ensuring that users have access to the latest features and enhancements. While the RK-8 is currently available, the modular versions are still in development as Retro Kits gauges interest from the community. Gerrit also highlighted the ease of programming their devices, allowing users to download pre-made software or create their own code to customize their MIDI setup. With the RK-6 already serving as a versatile tool for both MIDI and modular users, the modular RK-8 is set to be a popular addition to Retro Kits' lineup. For more information on Retro Kits' products, visit their website for updates on availability and features.
RK008 Price: 351-392 Euros
RK006 Price: 142-158 Euros"
Sunday, March 11, 2018
New Order on the Volca Sample
Published on Mar 11, 2018 Retrokits
"This video uses Seq24 and RK-002 to play New Orders' Blue Monday on a Korg Volca Sample.
This ultimately weird looking RaspberryPi 3 is running Seq24 to send out MIDI via our serial port driver to the connected RK-004.
More info on the RPi serial MIDI driver can be found here:
https://www.retrokits.com/rk-004-rpi/
The RK-002 does real-time MIDI processing so you can use note velocity, chromatically play multiple channels on the Volca Sample and still keep a few sample channels available for drum triggering.
The RK-002 Play modes on the Volca Sample firmware (v58+) can be found here:
https://www.retrokits.com/rk-002/"
Saturday, January 04, 2025
RK-008 Pret-a-Play
video upload by Retrokits
"The music in this video is recorded and edited on the RK-008 and exported to standard .MID files so you can import them into yours.
The MID's are here in a .zip:
https://retrokits.com/rk008/content/j...
And the settings page where you can upload them to the RK-008 is here: https://retrokits.com/rk008/settings/
You can also load these into a DAW for example which can work with .MID files.
Happy Jammin' !"
Thursday, January 30, 2020
Retrokits Boss DR-110 MIDI Modification (RK-110)
Published on Jan 30, 2020 Retrokits
"A quick visual guide for building in the Retrokits RK110 into the BOSS DR110 drumcomputer.
Below an excerpt from the RK110 manual:
RK-110 SETUP MODE
Once the RK-110 is built in, it will auto-slave the internal sequencer to a MIDI clock and has mapped the DR-110 in a 'General MIDI Drum mode'-fashion. This means a standard note mapping, receiving on MIDI Channel 10:
Saturday, April 25, 2020
Superbooth 20HE: Retrokits RK006 - A Tiny Little MIDI Hub!
Published on Apr 25, 2020 sonicstate
"The Retrokits RK006 is a tiny little multi functional MIDI interface. It has USB, 2x MIDI inputs and 10x MIDI Outputs. However as all the MIDI Outputs are on 3.5mm jacks these can also perform as analog trigger/gate/clock or they can do DIN Sync/Sync 24.
The RK-006 is about 7x5x1cm in size (3x2x0.4″) which is very small indeed. You can order it with either just a USB dongle option or with all the MIDI cables to make full use of the MIDI i/o straight away. You can use it as a MIDI Merge and THRU box, per port MIDI filtering and multiclock processing, a USB host: HUB support, SMF playback and a USB device with Individually addressable OUT & IN ports. The small size however does mean that all your 5 pin MIDI DIN cables will need 3.5mm adapters…"
See previous posts here for more.
Friday, June 02, 2017
RK-002 Arpeggiator on the Roland Alpha Juno
Published on Jun 2, 2017 Retrokits
"A small demo of the RK-002 Arpeggiator firmware used with the Alpha Juno and Volca Sample. You can check the firmware's key command settings on this RK-002 firmware page:
https://www.retrokits.com/rk002/setti..."
Wednesday, September 27, 2017
Digitakt as a polyphonic Granular Synth
Published on Sep 27, 2017 Scott Campbell
"I’m using the Dispatcher app on a Midigal (https://midisizer.com/midigal/) to combine all 8 tracks for polyphony. The same sample is loaded onto each track. The Start, Length, and Loop Position are all set to different points in each track. Each track’s lfo modulates start time (all lfos running at different speeds). This creates a pseudo granular effect"
Polyphonic Digitakt with Retrokits RK-002
Published on Sep 27, 2017 Scott Campbell
"Here I'm using the Retrokits RK-002 midi cable with Volca FM firmware (polyMUX) to combine 4 tracks of the Digitakt to create polyphony. Midi channel A is used as the controller"
Wednesday, April 06, 2022
Small combos
video upload by Retrokits
"Adding the RK002 to the RK008 makes the volca sample 2 a nice multitimbral sample player. I Paired it up with the NTS1 for a bit of FX and synth sounds.
The RK002 Volca Sample 2 firmware can be installed via our DUY portal: http://duy.retrokits.com"
Friday, November 25, 2016
RK-002 Firmware for the KORG Kaossilator
Published on Nov 25, 2016 Retrokits
"The RK-002/KOS Firmware version enables you to play the Korg Kaossilator with a regular keyboard (or sequencer).
Note that the note scale is defined on the Kaossilator with the range,key and scale settings.
This firmware is available via:
https://www.retrokits.com/rk002/setti...
Some more video details:
- Unfortunately the audio is not a line recording.
- BSP velocity is mapped to Kaossilator Y-axis.
- The RK004 translates Beatstep Pro sync pulses to Volca Beats
- The Volca beats has a snare mod
- That warm looking sleeve only has 7% Alpaca wool
- There were no kittens harmed in the making of this video."
Thursday, February 22, 2018
Volca FM + Ditto X4 = loop fun!
Published on Feb 22, 2018 Slenterende Beer
"I decided to switch from the Ditto Stereo looper to the Ditto X4! I had the idea of doing an all-FM song, so this is what I did:
I programmed 4 short sequences on the Volca, heard in the following order at the start of the video: kick, hi-hat, snare and simple repeating melody. I then recorded a 1-bar loop of silence on the Ditto, to match the length of the FM sequences. After the length was set, I started recording loop 1 and played the 4 sequences, each time layering the loop (aka overdubbing).
I also recorded a 4-bar loop of silence (again, just to set the length), that I then started using for the bass line and chords. After those were recorded on loop 2, it was time for a little solo and playing with the looper effects.
The reason this is possible at all, is because the Ditto and the Volca are synced through MIDI, which was not possible with the Ditto Stereo. The Retrokits RK-004 sends the MIDI clock out to both devices.
Almost all Volca FM patches are from the "Percussive" and "FM Does Analogue" patch packs by the great Oscillator Sink.
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/OscillatorSink
Patch packs: http://oscillatorsink.com/
Korg Volca FM
TC Electronic Ditto X4
Arturia Keystep
Miditech MIDI Thru/Filter
Retrokits RK-004
Behringer XENYX QX1002USB
Recorded with iPhone 7."
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© Matrixsynth - All posts are presented here for informative, historical and educative purposes as applicable within fair use.
MATRIXSYNTH is supported by affiliate links that use cookies to track clickthroughs and sales. See the privacy policy for details.
MATRIXSYNTH - EVERYTHING SYNTH