Korg Volca Beats

Keeps impressing me with their quality build synths, semi-analog, that are fully affordable to a starting out musician like myself. I loved the way I took my beats out of the box, pressed the power button and was lost for two hours in playing with the little thing. It took me somewhere else for sure. I haven't used it in any of my songs though, mostly because I've had a hard time figuring out what kind of music I want to make. But someone who doesn't know anything about synthesis I think it's a kind of a way to start - especially if on a budget. But eventually I think it's safe to keep the money and collect for something bigger. Because the honeymoon phase with volca honeys didn't last very long.

I've seen other people with this same complaint but it's gotta be said, the snare on this thing is very strange. Now with that out of the way I do like it a lot! The stutter function really is fun to use, the sleek look of the beats appeals and I hope to mount it in a eurorack along with the volca keys I own!
The PCM samples sound nice and you can get some really wonky sounds out of them without too much patience. Motion sequencing is straightforward and sounds good if done right.
Paired with an distortion or overdrive pedal this thing can really blast the kick and tom sounds.
Of course it syncs with the other volcas and makes a pretty light show. I do feel that most of the Korg volca lineup will remain a staple in cheap and relatively high quality little noise machines. They look like toys but they play well and they're fun for jamming with friends since almost anyone can figure them out. Bringing a couple on stage can actually add a very cool sound to your set.

I like
- creative tool to take with you anywhere you go
- sound of kick, hat
- play with stutter (and claves :-)
- record stutter/part
- build quality

To improve
- the big issue is the lack of control of the part volume level . a) you can't save it b) by default the part level balance is terrible and c) some parts are too low (e.g. crash is useless)
- record mute status when saving
- decay on tom, rather useless pod
- note sensitive (at least via midi)
- USB power
For me snare sound is okay, despite critics.