Open Box KORG Volca Sample 2 Digital Sample Sequencer Level 1 White

It can be used as a basic drum machine that has a very impressive kick drum. The 8 voices will go pretty fast if you use it as a drum machine - kick, snare, clap, tom, open/closed hi hat, cymbal, cowbell and there you go; you need to pick and there's almost 4 or 5 you hafta keep. Be prepared to pair this up with another piece of gear since those limitations will be come apparent quick. While fairly powerful, the process is very manual in shaping sound. In a word: laborious. You are able to create melody by changing the speed of the sample per half step on the scale but you have to do this with each step. Nothing in the manual will indicate the note the sample is playing at by default. Otherwise you are simply sequencing a bunch of noises rhythmically. It makes for a good steady repeating non-lead/melody and even chords if you put in the work (and sacrifice 3 voices). It is a good live instrument. Mutes, solos, knobs for bass and treble, step looping and more make it pretty fun as a standalone. It is indeed great for beginning your journey but the limitations come at you fast. Once this is more in the rear view mirror you'll probably use it for that midi one shot with the 10 loaded samples.

Got the Volca Sample 2 several months ago and wasn't immediately drawn to it. I loaded a bunch of custom one shot synth samples into it and it was cool but only recently have I discovered what I believe to be the full potential of this little & powerful machine. First off, any sample you like is perfect fodder for this machine. However while standard sequenced sample playback is an obvious use for this machine and with pattern chaining you can get loops of up to 16 bars, the real joy I have found for this comes from radically modifying samples using the start point, sample length, sample looping, and pitch & and envelope functions and making one bar loops. By way of the pitch envelope literally every source can become a totally unique drum sound when used in conjunction with the speed (starting pitch) knob. I've only just started making lofi techno beats on this but I already see a never ending world of possibilities in this little machine. The machine converts all samples to mono and also down samples them. The down sampling is pretty cool for adding character and, with the non-resonant low pass filter knob option for each sample, harsh artifacts can completely be tamed. The internal reverb is very useful for creating tails to your samples and creating a stereo image. Each sample also has a panning function for placement in the stereo field. I have used this for creating width between many samples playing, creating a sort of heavy motion to the stereo field. Recently too, I double tracked guitar and hard ones each performance of the sample for a completely wide four-bar loop. The only drawback I have found is that the saving of pattern memories is not consistent. When powering off and on, often times levels or selected samples will not be as they were before. This renders the machine completely useless for live use but for writing in the studio this just reinforces committing within one recording session. Sample transfer from the computer with the Volca editor is definitely a little slow and the slow update of the progress bar does make it seem sometimes that transfer has stalled but I think this is not the case. I completely intend on keeping this unit forever barring the release of future Volca Samples that will make me surely want to upgrade. Truly a unique and very creative sample player/sequencer and a very unique machine for making lofi beats on for any electronic genre. I hope to explore every genre with this.

Easy and difficult at the same time. Rating based on potential. My overall experience has been discouraging. I tried to load samples and it hasnt been the same since. I've tried every troubleshooting method from reddit, discord and YouTube. Very convenient for how mobile it is but I've had more problems than not with the device since purchasing and my overall experience has been discouraging. I would really appreciate a replacement.