Retrokits RK-002 Midiator for KORG Volca Sample

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"

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."

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/ )"

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.

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..."

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"

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.

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"

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

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/"

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:

CLICK FOR MORE »

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.

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..."

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"

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"

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."

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."

you might need this for your synthesizer setup

Published on Sep 19, 2018

"I just got a new cool gadget to use with your synthesizer and midi controllers/keyboards. Check it out here: http://bit.ly/mumidi

BE AWESOME and become a Patron: https://www.patreon.com/bobeats

There are obviously alternatives to this product: HobbyTronics MIDI HOST, iConnect Mio 10, Bomebox, and many many DIY solutions in the description of this video I have many more suggestions" [below]

"MuMidi HubLink provides a means for Musicians to connect USB-MIDI devices together. Typically, this might be a sound generator device (such as a synth) and a controller, such as a keyboard or similar. Its rugged yet stylish design makes it suitable for desktop, studio and stage use.
​
By also providing power over USB to bus-powered USB-MIDI Devices, MuMidi HubLink can remove the need for copious power connections in a MIDI setup."



USB MIDI INTERFACE vs MIDI USB HOST – What is the difference? A Beginner Friendly Overview

Published on Sep 21, 2017

"My video where I recommended a midi usb host for your dawless setup got a few confused comments so I thought I would try and explain the difference between a usb midi interface and a midi usb host. While it is a very basic topic I felt that some of you might enjoy hearing about it. USEFUL LINKS DOWN BELOW!

CLICK FOR MORE »

Calculator Synth Wave With Retrokits RK-008

video upload by HAINBACH

Retrokits RK-008 posts

A short RK008 Quantize grid example loop

video upload by Retrokits

"Recording realtime gives you complete freedom of playing - but sometimes a quantize grid can help you out, also production- wise.The quantize grid in the RK008 is capable of separately altering note on, note length or note off.

A note-off is part of the groove and you can use the grid options to tighten up sounds but also make the most of a synth with limited polyphony, timing note-offs perfectly before starting a new one.

PS: I'm focusing on the quantize grid here, you can also adapt the length of a note in a percentage of the original which is not shown in this movie. You can check the complete RK008 Quantize menu here:"

RK008 Menus: ALT+6 - QUANTIZE

video upload by Retrokits

"RK008 Menu 6 houses real-time Quantize transformations.
The first part (ALT+6) is for note-on quantize, straightening out played notes on a user-selectable grid:

Digit 1 to 6 select a timebase;
Digit 1 - 2 - 3: 1/64 - 1/32 - 1/16
Digit 4 - 5 - 6: 1/8 - 1/4 - 1/2
Digit 7 - 8 - 9: decrease - 1/16 center - increase
(inc/dec is also accessible via ALT+DEC and ALT+INC)

Tapping a digit multiple times will also allow you do select a dotted or triplet grid For example in case of a 16/th note-on Quantize(3):
1x tap: 1/16
2x tap: 1/16D (dotted, notes are 1.5 times a 16th note)
3x tap: 1/16T (Triplets, notes are 1/3rd length of a 16th note)

Pressing INC will slide to the Swing settings which have the same type of interface, selecting timebases with 1-6 and making adjustments with 7-9.

Pressing INC again will slide to the Note Length Quantize part. In this menu you will be able to quantize the note length to fixed length - or- only quantize note off fixed to a grid.

For example - on the 16th Note Length Quantize (3)
1x tap: 16th length fixed
2x tap: 16th- length staccato (length is cut just before the next 16th note)
3x tap: 16th+ length legato (length will just overlap the next 16th note)
4x tap: Q_16 note off length is snapped to a 16th note grid
5x tap: Q_16- note off length is snapped to a 16th note grid staccato style
6x tap: Q_16+ note off length is snapped to a 16th note grid legato style

The @EspenKraft video mentioned is here:" [posted here]