10 Years Of The Korg Volca: Every Synth, Drum Machine And Sampler Ranked From Best To Worst
Since the introduction of the Bass, Beats and Keys models in late 2013, Korg's Volca range has become synonymous with compact, affordable synthesizers and drum machines . Since then, additional Volcas have been released, as well as a mini mixer for those who own multiple models , adding FM and modular sampling and synthesis capabilities to the family.
In the 10 years since its release, Volcus has had an undeniable impact on both the synthesizer market and electronic music in general. While some vandals consider them "toys" due to their affordability and small size, artists as diverse as Aphex Twin, Octo Octa, Gorillaz and Mura Masa have proven how effective they can be in creating high-quality music.
Each Volca has the same form factor and some features are common to all other models except the alloy. These include built-in speakers, battery operation option, sequencer, 3.5mm audio output, touch bar for playback and programming and the ability to sync with other products in the range. All but the Volka Modular have a MIDI input allowing external control.
While none of the Volcas can be considered a bad buy, each has its strengths and weaknesses, and we think some models are significantly better than others. To mark their 10th anniversary, we've ranked them in order of preference, starting with what we think is the best Korg Volca you'll ever buy...
