#122

I had a Volca modular for a while. While it’s definitely a neat offering for the price, I found it a lot more fiddly to work with than Eurorack and I just didn’t enjoy it. It’s probably more suitable for someone who enjoys working with sets of small instruments (other Volcas, OP-1, Pocket Operators etc.)

I currently have an 0-Ctrl, and love it almost without reservation. :+1:

I used to have an 0-Coast. I really enjoyed it, and it influenced my patching techniques, module choices and my sound relatively early in my modular journey. But I found I preferred the character of other wavefolders, and LPGs that have more high-end rolloff. Eventually I sold mine, as my sound evolved and as I felt I had the functionality covered in my modular. But I do miss it on occasion, especially after getting the 0-Ctrl.

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#123

That „distorted“ what are good ways of getting it more silky? I suppose lots of aftermarket/diy cv source attenuation?

#125

The CV input for the Volca Modular actually accepts audio signals as well, so you can use it to patch whatever you like into the system. If you just wanted the reverb, you could patch a wire from CV in direct to the reverb, or LPG it first, whatever. I’ve had some fun doing this with a radio.

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#126

Thats new to me, cool!

#127

That distorted edge is really a bit of the sound of the VM. It tends to go there quite fast.

#128

Seems to be the folder / carrier mostly. Might be modable or simply attenuated is my guess

#129

From my point of view, where a 0-coast, let alone any modular, is well beyond what I could afford, the VM coming out was pretty amazing. The size and the Dupont cables means that patching can be incredibly fiddly sometimes, but it’s also incredibly possible, and incredibly sub-£200! I think for what Korg have put forward, it’s very hard to argue with the VM, anything you can compare it to is at least twice the cost.

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#130

to me that would be the one plus of the dupont cables- I could see using it with an Olegtron 4060 could be really interesting and/or patching it similarly to see what you might be able to coax out of it using some diodes and things rather than just jumpers. probably voiding the warranty I would guess, but eh)

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#131

Although, to be fair, I’m very happy with the brittle / harsh / noisy / bleepy etc sound pallette that the VM tends towards. I’m not after melodic leads or pads, if you are then I imagine it would be less appealing.

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#132

I haven’t done this with the Volca yet, but I have a tiny bit with a Kastle: using LEDs for different resistance values and such. Best thing is using LDRs, so you can change pitches and such with a torch or by waving your hands around!

It was a bit of a revelation actually, realising that Dupont connectors are literally just bits of wire, so perfectly amenable to bring swapped for other basic components

3 Likes
#133

Monome specific: can we sync norns to the VM sequencer or vise versa?
Midi in mod given.

#134

I had no idea that was the case - thanks for expanding the VM’s horizons for me.

Wow - I have an LED sitting right here that I’m going to try this with the next time I switch the VM on - sounds intriguing.

#135

You could sync clock using the Korg SyncKontrol app via ableton link. Have not tried it but it should work fine.

#136

If i want a passive module (lpg or attenuator/mixer) to adapt the dupont header, would i wire both wires that usualy are connected to a 3,5mm plug both to the same one header by connecting the cables just before the header? Hopfeully its understandable what i mean.
Basically i would like to double the connectors on 2-3 passive units to have dupont headers for the VM cables but also keeping thier original 3,5mm plugs.

If i use en envelope thats euro powered to strike the passive euro Lpg in this example but use sounds (in and out, back to the VM signal flow) and cables from the VM will that be just fine or allready a grounding issue?

#138

if you want to easily interconnect with other gear with more points at a time than is build into the volca (it only has one adapter right?) you could make some cables that just go from minijack on one side to dual dupont on the other using color coding to make ground/tip obvious and have a daisychainable ground cable. but if you want to be doing stuff like that a lot maybe its easier to just build a little adapter box like you would have for going from jack to bananas- 5 or so minijack inputs connected to a row of headers and a single one used to connect to the volca’s ground.

#139

Ok maybe better to keep the vactrol lpg simply after the VM out. A shame.
But i figured converting or doubling the lpg with duponts should make it at least usable within VM flow, getting cv from there aswell.

In that case i dont see a grounding issue and still wonder how to put the 2 wire per 3,5mm jack to one header.

Also the EG i am usingnis an envelope follower so it could recieve audio as cv source from the VM. Again i wonder if grouding still would be an issue. I dont really like the idea of patching to a ground bay all the time

#140

lol, there was a brief point this year when the window to my apartment broke and I was using my synth to hold up a v shoddy barricade to keep out the cold

( later replaced by big rock, big rock was much more effective )

6 Likes
#141

I am persisting i know…

Here are finally some pcb shots for anyone interested.

This time around sadly no diy markings. I figure the most important breakout mod would simply be a vca out pre effect. That should be possible. This means the signal can be processed externaly for example lpg, filterbank, delay in my case and send back into the verb and a summed out.

Another idea is to swap the speaker, not sure what wattage the circuit could handle i do have some better ones around

I think i do understand the grounding now. Every added 3,5mm output should have its shield connected to vm grounds, thats it right!?

1 Like
#142

Results may vary of course, (and I can’t guarantee that nothing will blow up), but it’s definitely a box with a lot of possibilities, even more than first appear. You can even get it to do some internal feedback with certain connections

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#143

I have just such a box, three 3.5mm audio connections to three Dupont connections. It was from someone who only seemed to sell on eBay, and who doesn’t seem to be there anymore, so I can’t link to it. But it appears to basically be a smaller version of this, in case anyone is looking for a non-DIY solution:

https://www.sound-machines.it/product/ns1nanobridge/

3 Likes