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Introduction
Thank you for purchasing the Korg volca fm DIGITAL FM SYNTHESIZER. This digital
synthesizer uses a 3-voice, 6-operator FM (Frequency Modulation) sound engine.
In addition to the basic FM sound parameters, there are also a number of volca
fm-specic parameters that provide further sound-editing capabilities. Sound les
(SYS-EX/SYX) created on the Yamaha DX7 can be converted and loaded into the volca
fm. Sounds created on the volca fm can be exported and shared with another volca fm.
In addition, the volca fm also includes a built-in step sequencer, motion sequencer, and
an arpeggiator—plus various voice modes—that can all add movement, depth, and
expression to your volca fm sounds.
FM (Frequency Modulation) is based on synthesis elements known as operators.
The volca fm sound engine uses six operators. Operators can function as either
modulators or carriers; modulating operators apply modulation to audio-source
carrier operators to create sound. The way that these modulating and carrier
operators interact is called an algorithm; the volca fm provides 32 distinct FM
algorithms.
In the EDIT mode, the parameters required for the FM sound source, such as the
LFO waveform and speed as well as the EG level and rate, can be set for each
operator.
TRANSPOSE slider
This slider raises or lowers the pitch in units of octaves or semitones.
VELOCITY slider
In PLAY mode, this slider controls the global velocity. In EDIT mode, this slider
functions as the VALUE slider for editing the FM synthesis parameters.
OCTAVE ,/ OPERATOR +, – buttons
In PLAY mode, these buons change the octave range of the keyboard. In EDIT
mode, these buons select the operator to edit. By selecting “A” (All), you can edit
parameters that apply to all operators.
SAVE/EXPORT button
When not in EDIT mode, this buon saves the FM sound engine parameters.
Press the SAVE/EXPORT buon, and then use the PROGRAM knob to select the
save location for the program. Press the SAVE/EXPORT buon again to begin
saving. To cancel the save operation, press the EDIT buon before pressing the
SAVE/EXPORT buon.
Exporting
You can connect the volca fm’s SYNC OUT jack to the SYNC IN jack of another
volca fm unit, and export (transmit) FM sound programs and sequences to the
other volca fm unit.
In EDIT mode, press the SAVE/EXPORT buon so that the buon blinks, and
then use the PROGRAM knob to select the item to be exported. After selecting
the item to be exported, press the SAVE/EXPORT buon again to export it. The
SAVE/EXPORT buon lights up while the export operation is being performed.
The SAVE/EXPORT buon blinks again when the operation is nished.
Items to be exported
Crnt PGM (currently selected program), ALL PGM (all 32 programs), Crnt SEQ
(current sequence), ALL SEQ (all 16 sequences), CLOnE (all previously listed items)
EDIT button
Use this buon to toggle between the EDIT and PLAY modes. EDIT mode is the
mode for specifying seings for FM synthesis parameters and exporting.
Specifying global parameter settings
Setting the MIDI channel
1. While holding down the MEMORY buon,turn the volca fm on.
2.
Keyboard buons 1 to 16 correspond to the MIDI channels 1 to 16
. Press the
buon that corresponds to the desired channel, and the LED below the keyboard
buon will light up.
Other parameters
1. While holding down FUNC buon, turn on the volca fm.
2.
Use the keyboard bu
ons 1–8 to set your preferences for any or all of the global
parameters. (Refer to the table.)
3. When you have nished, press the
(REC) buon. Your seings will be saved, and
the volca fm will restart. To cancel without making changes, press the
(PLAY)
buon.
Button LED lit up LED unlit
Parameter
Status
Display indication
Status
Display indication
1
Auto power-o
function
*Enabled AutoP On Disabled AutoP OFF
2
Battery type selection
Nickel-metal
hydride
bAtt nH *Alkaline bAtt AL
3
Sync Out polarity Fall SyncOt Lo *Rise SyncOt HI
4
Sync In polarity Fall SyncIn Lo *Rise SyncIn HI
5
Tempo range settings Full (10-600) TEmPo FuL *Narrow (56-240) TEmPo nAr
6
MIDI Clock Src *Auto MdCLK Aut Internal MdCLK Int
7
MIDI RX ShortMessage
*On MdShrt On O MdShrt OF
8
Sync input/output unit Once a step SyncStp 1
*Once every 2 steps
SyncStp 2
*: Factory default seing
Keyboard buttons
Arranged as in a traditional keyboard, these buons are used to play the volca fm.
MEMORY buttons
The volca fm is equipped with 16 memory locations that are used to save sequences.
To load a sequence, press the MEMORY buon, and then press one of the 1 through
16 buons. Hold down the FUNC buon and press the MEMORY (WRITE) buon to
enter the save-ready condition. In this condition, press one of the 1–16 buons to
save the currently selected program number and sequence in the buon that you
pressed.
CHAIN function
Multiple saved sequences can be linked together to create a longer and more
interesting performance. Hold down the MEMORY buon, and using the 1–16
buons in which sequences have been saved, specify the range of sequences that you
want to play; the sequences in that range will play back consecutively.
FUNC (function) button
To access various volca fm functions, hold down the FUNC buon and press the
appropriate keyboard buon. The LED below the key will light to conrm your
selection.
VOICE MODE
•FUNC + POLY: Up to three-note chords can be played.
•FUNC + MONO: One note at a time can be played.
•FUNC + UNISON: All three voices will sound in unison, operating as a mono
synth.
CHORUS
•FUNC + CHORUS: This applies a chorus eect.
ARP ON/OFF
•FUNC + ARP ON/OFF: This turns arpeggiator on/o.
Tempo settings
•FUNC + 1/1, 1/2, 1/4: The volca fm tempo can be set to one-half, one-quarter, or
equal to the value of the incoming MIDI clock, the SYNC IN clock rate, or the current
tempo knob seing.
• FUNC + METRONOME: When selected, the metronome will sound during
sequence playback.
• FUNC + WARP ACT.STEP: If there are fewer than 16 active steps, they are
compensated to occupy the same playback time as 16 steps.
Transpose setting
• FUNC + TRANSPS NOTE: Switches the operation of the TRANSPOSE slider to
semitone units.
(Power) button
Press this buon to turn the volca fm on. To turn the volca fm o, hold this buon for
approximately one second.
Auto power-o
The power-o function will automatically turn the volca fm o after roughly four
hours have passed with no sound being produced. The auto power-o function can
be disabled using the global parameters. (See global parameters.)
DC 9V Jack
Connect the plug end of the optional AC adapter to this jack.
Only use the specied AC adapter. Using any AC adapter other than the specied
model could damage the volca fm.
DISPLAY
The value of the selected knob, buon, or function is shown in the screen.
Envelope Generator Controls
The envelopes [EG] control how fast an operator comes up to full level (Aack) and how
fast an operator dies down (Decay) after the key is pressed or released.
MODULATOR
• ATTACK: This knob controls the EG aack for the selected MODULATOR operator.
• DECAY: This knob controls the EG decay for the selected MODULATOR operator.
CARRIER
• ATTACK: This knob controls the EG aack for the selected CARRIER operator.
• DECAY: This knob controls the EG decay for the selected CARRIER operator.
Installing the batteries
On the back panel, locate the baery compartment and slide o the cover. Insert the
baeries—being sure to observe the correct polarity—and then replace the baery
cover.
Turn the volca fm o before replacing the baeries.
Remove depleted baeries at once. Depleted baeries left in the baery
compartment may leak over time, and may cause malfunctions. Also, remove the
baeries if you will not be using the volca fm for an extended period of time.
Do not mix partially used baeries with new ones, and do not mix baeries of
diering types.
Battery level indicator
When the volca fm is turned on, the LEDs below the keyboard buons indicate the
remaining amount of baery power. If all LEDs are lit up, the baeries are completely
full. Fewer lit LEDs mean that the baery level is correspondingly lower.
When using the AC adapter, the remaining baery level will not be indicated correctly.
TIP Either alkaline or nickel-metal hydride baeries can be used. In order for the
remaining baery level to be detected and indicated correctly, the type of baeries
being used must be specied in the global parameters of the volca fm.
TIP
If the baeries are running low during usage of the volca fm, t
he low baery
warning “bA Lo” will appear in the display. If the baeries run down
completely, the volca fm automatically turns o.
TIP
It’s not possible to turn o the low baery w
arning; however, you will be able to
continue using the volca fm until the baeries have run down completely.
About the MIDI implementation chart
The volca fm can be controlled via MIDI; simply connect the MIDI output of an
external MIDI device to the MIDI IN jack of the volca fm. The MIDI messages that can
be received by the volca fm are listed in its MIDI implementation chart. You can
download the MIDI implementation chart for the volca fm from the Korg Web site.
LFO (Low Frequency Oscillator)
• RATE: This knob sets the LFO speed of the FM sound source parameters.
• P.DEPTH: This knob sets the depth of the LFO applied to the pitch of the FM
sound source parameters.
PROGRAM
Normally, this knob selects the program. In EDIT mode, this knob selects the FM
synthesis parameter.
ALGRTM
This knob selects the operator algorithm for the FM sound engine.
MOTION SEQUENCE
This function records knob or slider operations that are performed while a sequence is being
recorded. Once the sequence has made a full cycle from the step where an operation was
performed, record is automatically deactivated.
• FUNC + ON/OFF: This turns motion sequencing on/o.
• FUNC + SMOOTH: If this is turned on, the parameters change smoothly during each step
according to the motion value recorded at the beginning of each step. If this is turned o, the
parameters change abruptly at the beginning of each step.
TIP Some parameters won’t play back smoothly.
• FUNC + CLEAR: All recorded knob adjustments will be erased.
TIP
Motion Sequence can record operations of TRANSPOSE, VELOCITY and all clear knobs
except TEMPO.
CLEAR (erasing data)
• FUNC + ACT.STP: All values in the active step will be deleted
• FUNC + ALL: All sequence data will be erased.
• FUNC +
(REC/ERASE) during playback: Use the keyboard buons to remove individual
sounds.
ACTIVE STEP mode: FUNC button + (PLAY) button
Using the ACTIVE STEP mode, each step of the current sequence can be individually turned
on or o; disabled (o) steps will be skipped during playback and recording .
While holding down the FUNC buon, press the
buon (ACTIVE STEP) to enter active
step mode.Each step of the current sequence can be turned on/o. Steps that are turned o
are disabled and will be skipped during playback and recording. The LEDs below the
keyboard buons representing the active steps will light up. When you’ve nished, press the
FUNC buon to exit active step mode.
Restoring all factory default FM sound programs and sequence data
1. While holding down the FUNC and MEMORY buons, turn the volca fm on.
The
(REC) and
(PLAY) buons will blink.
2. Press the
(REC) buon to restore the factory defaults and start volca fm. Press the
(PLAY) buon to cancel the reset operation and simply start volca fm.
Restoring the factory defaults will erase any saved FM sound program and sequence data.
MIDI IN jack
By connecting a MIDI cable to this input, the volca fm can be played and controlled
by the MIDI output of an external device. SYX sound data les for the Yamaha DX7
can also be received.
SYNC (IN, OUT) jacks
These jacks allow you to synchronize your volca fm to Korg volca, monotribe or
other equipment—including an analog sequencer or a DAW. The polarity of the
SYNC jacks can be set using the global parameters.
• SYNC OUT: a 5 V pulse of 15 ms is sent at the beginning of each step.
• SYNC IN: If this jack is connected, the internal step-clock will be ignored, and the
volca fm sequencer will advance according to the pulses received here.
(Headphone) jack
Connecting your headphones to this 1/8”stereo mini jack will mute the volca fm’s
internal speaker and allow you to create music in private.
ARP (Arpeggiator)
The arpeggiator plays the individual notes held on the keyboard in a rhythmic
paern.
• TYPE: Select one of the available arpeggiator paerns using this knob.
• DIV: Use this knob to change the note timing resolution of the arpeggiator.
TEMPO
The tempo knob sets the playback tempo for the arpeggiator and sequencer.
VOLUME
This is the master volume knob; use this to set the output level of volca fm.
(PLAY) button
Pressing this buon will cause the current sequence to begin playing. The
(PLAY)
buon will light up during playback. Press this buon a second time to stop
playback.
(REC) button
This records your performance on the keyboard buons as a sequence. If you press
this buon while stopped, you’ll enter record-ready mode (the buon will blink);
when you then press the
(PLAY) buon, recording will start (the buon will light).
You can also start recording by playing the keyboard when in record-ready mode. If
you press the
(REC) buon during playback, recording will start from the point at
which you pressed the buon.
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