The Korg Volca Beats is a compact analog drum machine that blends vintage sound with modern features. It includes a 16-step sequencer from the Electribe, a variety of analog and PCM drum sounds, and versatile connectivity options. Its portable design features built-in speakers, making it ideal for on-the-go music creation. The unit supports battery or mains power and offers MIDI IN and sync jack for expanded functionality.
The Korg Volca Beats is a compact analog drum machine that blends vintage sound with modern features. It includes a 16-step sequencer from the Electribe, a variety of analog and PCM drum sounds, and versatile connectivity options. Its portable design features built-in speakers, making it ideal for on-the-go music creation. The unit supports battery or mains power and offers MIDI IN and sync jack for expanded functionality.
The Korg Volca Beats is a compact analog drum machine that blends vintage sound with modern features. It includes a 16-step sequencer from the Electribe, a variety of analog and PCM drum sounds, and versatile connectivity options. Its portable design features built-in speakers, making it ideal for on-the-go music creation. The unit supports battery or mains power and offers MIDI IN and sync jack for expanded functionality.
The Korg Volca Beats is a compact analog drum machine that blends vintage sound with modern features. It includes a 16-step sequencer from the Electribe, a variety of analog and PCM drum sounds, and versatile connectivity options. Its portable design features built-in speakers, making it ideal for on-the-go music creation. The unit supports battery or mains power and offers MIDI IN and sync jack for expanded functionality.
Last updated at 07/22/2026 16:01:00
Korg KO-VOLCABEATS Korg Volca Beats Analog Rhythm Machine
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Korg Volca Beats
Delivery between 27 July – 6 Aug $47.29
Korg Volca Beats Analog : Drum Machine & Sequencer
Delivery $36.32
Korg Volca Beats Analog Rythem Machine w/Electribe-style 16-step Sequencer and Real Analog Sounds
Delivery between 27–31 July $15.52
Korg Volca Beats Analog Rhythm Machine with 16-Step Sequencer
Korg Volca Beats Analogue Rhythm Machine
Delivery $99.48
Korg Volca Beats Analog Drum Machine Music Equipment
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Korg Analog Rhythm Machine Volca Beats 16 Step Sequencer Multi-touch
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Korg Volca Beats Analogue Rhythm Drum Machine
Free delivery
Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a small commission for purchases made through this link at no extra cost to you. This helps support our site. Thank you!
Korg Volca Beats Analog Rhythm Machine Analog Sound Loop/step
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originally posted on bhphotovideo.com
The pros: Fully analog Kick/Snare/Tom and Hi Hat sounds, as well as a pretty good number of hands on knobs. The Stutter effect alloys you to get really expressive with your drum patterns. The cons: The stereo headphone out makes it somewhat complicated to get the signal out to speakers or an audio interface, especially if you have limited inputs. Additionally, a drum machine that doesn't have separate outputs for the individual elements is almost completely useless in a recording environment, unless you record each element separately. I also wish it were possible to control the levels and solo/mute each element without having to use button combos (you need to hold the Mute button for the Mutes to become available, and can only change the part level of the selected ... MoreThe pros: Fully analog Kick/Snare/Tom and Hi Hat sounds, as well as a pretty good number of hands on knobs. The Stutter effect alloys you to get really expressive with your drum patterns. The cons: The stereo headphone out makes it somewhat complicated to get the signal out to speakers or an audio interface, especially if you have limited inputs. Additionally, a drum machine that doesn't have separate outputs for the individual elements is almost completely useless in a recording environment, unless you record each element separately. I also wish it were possible to control the levels and solo/mute each element without having to use button combos (you need to hold the Mute button for the Mutes to become available, and can only change the part level of the selected element, which means one at a time). Having to use two hands or two fingers makes it more difficult to play in a live situation. For the price, it's the best thing on the market, but if you're serious about having a hardware drum machine, maybe it would be worth saving up for something a bit more functional.
originally posted on musiciansfriend.com
This little device is amazing!! Yes it would be better with 2 x 1/4" TRS Stereo outs, Multiple Outputs, Midi Out and the really cool mods that are out there. But the best part is you can mod it!! Or use it just it as is. The Beats alone may drag after a little while so you may want to muscle up with the some or all of the Volca collection. I'm primarily a bass player, jamming to this thing has tightened my game up seriously. I do hook it up to all kinds of plugins, pre amps, compressors and stuff. On long rides with the family I give it to my y year old kid with headphones and he jams out in that back seat. For a bass player I found it easy to use after a few YouTube videos and experimentation.
originally posted on dv247.com/en_GB/GBP
Haven't used it much but it's well made and sounds good. Probably needs some effects or a pedal to make it sound really nice.Few things I mind a bit:-It takes like 15 seconds to start up. Kind of annoying for a simple synth.-I wish it would start up when the power is connected. All other devices I have start=up like this, or have a static switch, but the Volca's always require you to press a button.-I struggled a bit to get this thing to pick up MIDI notes. Between badly explained MIDI/Global settings, sometimes I just had to restart all devices to get it to pick up on MIDI...
| Make | KORG |
| Finish | Black |
| Made In | Vietnam |
| Modular Grid | Pedals i + |
| Dimensions* | 193 mm wide 115 mm high |
Korg KO-VOLCABEATS Korg Volca Beats Analog Rhythm Machine
Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a small commission for purchases made through this link at no extra cost to you. This helps support our site. Thank you!
Korg Volca Beats
Delivery between 27 July – 6 Aug $47.29
Korg Volca Beats Analog : Drum Machine & Sequencer
Delivery $36.32
Korg Volca Beats Analog Rythem Machine w/Electribe-style 16-step Sequencer and Real Analog Sounds
Delivery between 27–31 July $15.52
Korg Volca Beats Analog Rhythm Machine with 16-Step Sequencer
The pros: Fully analog Kick/Snare/Tom and Hi Hat sounds, as well as a pretty good number of hands on knobs. The Stutter effect alloys you to get really expressive with your drum patterns. The cons: The stereo headphone out makes it somewhat complicated to get the signal out to speakers or an audio interface, especially if you have limited inputs. Additionally, a drum machine that doesn't have separate outputs for the individual elements is almost completely useless in a recording environment, unless you record each element separately. I also wish it were possible to control the levels and solo/mute each element without having to use button combos (you need to hold the Mute button for the Mutes to become available, and can only change the part level of the selected ... MoreThe pros: Fully analog Kick/Snare/Tom and Hi Hat sounds, as well as a pretty good number of hands on knobs. The Stutter effect alloys you to get really expressive with your drum patterns. The cons: The stereo headphone out makes it somewhat complicated to get the signal out to speakers or an audio interface, especially if you have limited inputs. Additionally, a drum machine that doesn't have separate outputs for the individual elements is almost completely useless in a recording environment, unless you record each element separately. I also wish it were possible to control the levels and solo/mute each element without having to use button combos (you need to hold the Mute button for the Mutes to become available, and can only change the part level of the selected element, which means one at a time). Having to use two hands or two fingers makes it more difficult to play in a live situation. For the price, it's the best thing on the market, but if you're serious about having a hardware drum machine, maybe it would be worth saving up for something a bit more functional.
This little device is amazing!! Yes it would be better with 2 x 1/4" TRS Stereo outs, Multiple Outputs, Midi Out and the really cool mods that are out there. But the best part is you can mod it!! Or use it just it as is. The Beats alone may drag after a little while so you may want to muscle up with the some or all of the Volca collection. I'm primarily a bass player, jamming to this thing has tightened my game up seriously. I do hook it up to all kinds of plugins, pre amps, compressors and stuff. On long rides with the family I give it to my y year old kid with headphones and he jams out in that back seat. For a bass player I found it easy to use after a few YouTube videos and experimentation.
Haven't used it much but it's well made and sounds good. Probably needs some effects or a pedal to make it sound really nice.Few things I mind a bit:-It takes like 15 seconds to start up. Kind of annoying for a simple synth.-I wish it would start up when the power is connected. All other devices I have start=up like this, or have a static switch, but the Volca's always require you to press a button.-I struggled a bit to get this thing to pick up MIDI notes. Between badly explained MIDI/Global settings, sometimes I just had to restart all devices to get it to pick up on MIDI...
The Korg Volca Beats is a joy to use. The analog tones - kick, snare, toms, and hats - really are the heart of this little machine. They sound so fantastic and their control is minimal but covers a wide range of tonal shaping possibilities. The hats are the standout. The grain knob really has a unique element of sonic control. I bought the Volca Beats, again after having one many years ago, specifically for the sound of the hats. Programming with MIDI notes is the way to go here. You could definitely do a cool one-bar performance on this beast especially getting crazy with the Stutter function but, for my purposes, writing techno-electronic tracks, MIDI note triggering from a DAW is ideal. For fine control, I recommend sequencing your MIDI notes and then recording ... MoreThe Korg Volca Beats is a joy to use. The analog tones - kick, snare, toms, and hats - really are the heart of this little machine. They sound so fantastic and their control is minimal but covers a wide range of tonal shaping possibilities. The hats are the standout. The grain knob really has a unique element of sonic control. I bought the Volca Beats, again after having one many years ago, specifically for the sound of the hats. Programming with MIDI notes is the way to go here. You could definitely do a cool one-bar performance on this beast especially getting crazy with the Stutter function but, for my purposes, writing techno-electronic tracks, MIDI note triggering from a DAW is ideal. For fine control, I recommend sequencing your MIDI notes and then recording samples of each instrument for use with sampler instances in your DAW. This way you can adjust the phase of each sample to really gel everything as opposed to having a random analog phase to each tone. Also recording samples allows you to process each sound individually and that is really what a polished & professional sound is all about. The PCM sounds can be cool and sound wonderfully degraded at low pitch settings but honestly you can ignore them and stick to the analog section without losing ANY value to the machine. Korg has delivered almost certainly the best budget friendly analog (and PCM) drum machine with the Volca Beats.
Okay, start with good side:- Versatile. Power from 6 AAA and small to travel. Range of sounds huge for small piece all-in-one modular system.- Easy to hook up with other volca units. Ofcourse, duh!- Sequencer. Typical volca seq, but have more function this time, at least that fit that modular approach.- Can be standalone unit. You are need only fx and recorder after that... (maybe only recorder)- Alot of pins.Some with cons:- Design. Not the coolest from Korg. On video looks much cooler!- No midi from the box. (sad sad thing, but you can mod your one if you lurk on internet for guide, I guess)- Those small pins... They are not always fit well.- Built factor. I by mistake put pins between case and pinhole from time to time.Overall, I would say that synth ... MoreOkay, start with good side:- Versatile. Power from 6 AAA and small to travel. Range of sounds huge for small piece all-in-one modular system.- Easy to hook up with other volca units. Ofcourse, duh!- Sequencer. Typical volca seq, but have more function this time, at least that fit that modular approach.- Can be standalone unit. You are need only fx and recorder after that... (maybe only recorder)- Alot of pins.Some with cons:- Design. Not the coolest from Korg. On video looks much cooler!- No midi from the box. (sad sad thing, but you can mod your one if you lurk on internet for guide, I guess)- Those small pins... They are not always fit well.- Built factor. I by mistake put pins between case and pinhole from time to time.Overall, I would say that synth is good one, just because that cool one, grab one and play it!
Next to the Volca Keys, the limitations of the Volca Bass become clear. The Bass utilizes a 16 step sequencer compared to the maximum 64 step of the Keys, houses an unconventional (and honestly confusing) half-step chromatic keyboard with swapped colors, and lacks motion sequence programming on key knobs, including filter. On the plus side, it is perhaps less noisy than the Volca Keys and possesses a more musical filter. Also, the independent control of the three oscilators (their tuning and waveform) is interesting and potentially powerful. Similar sounds, however, can be achieved with a detuned Unison or Octave mode on the Volca Keys. Perhaps you already own the Keys and are looking for a little variety, so the Bass is appealing to you. That was my perspective, ... MoreNext to the Volca Keys, the limitations of the Volca Bass become clear. The Bass utilizes a 16 step sequencer compared to the maximum 64 step of the Keys, houses an unconventional (and honestly confusing) half-step chromatic keyboard with swapped colors, and lacks motion sequence programming on key knobs, including filter. On the plus side, it is perhaps less noisy than the Volca Keys and possesses a more musical filter. Also, the independent control of the three oscilators (their tuning and waveform) is interesting and potentially powerful. Similar sounds, however, can be achieved with a detuned Unison or Octave mode on the Volca Keys. Perhaps you already own the Keys and are looking for a little variety, so the Bass is appealing to you. That was my perspective, only to be disappointed. After only two weeks, I was debating on replacing the unit with a second Keys unit, but decided on upgrading to the Microbrute, a more powerful analogue synth that, like the Keys, is equipped with a 64 step sequencer. If you're on a budget, I would recommend purchasing the Bass and giving it a couple weeks try, but don't be surprised when you get the urge for the features and flexibility of the Keys, even if you already own one.
I love it! I specifically decided to go with the Volca Beats for three reasons - to mess with analog, to get used to a sequencer, and of course the price! Anything in the same price range or cheaper seems to be mostly preset grooves or lack a sequencer. If I ever decide to upgrade, then there are lots of options and features to choose from. But for starting out and for the price, it’s great. The volume output for everything but the kick is pretty low, so even though I do jam along with it with my guitar and keyboard, eventually I want to buy a pedal to boost the volume of it. I use it everyday though, and get creative to work around the limitations, so if you are open minded and starting out in the world of drum machines, I would highly recommend this one.
The Bass is misnamed. It can play bass, obviously, and it does look like the famous Roland TB-303 acid machine. But it doesn't sound like a 303 (watch Tim Webb's video on YT for a comparison), and its range isn't limited to bass notes. It's really an old-fashioned monosynth with three oscillators, one envelope, a nice-sounding filter, an LFO, and a 16-step sequencer. As such it can do leads as well as bass, Berlin-style blips, and even kick drums.Limitations: I wish the envelope times were longer, for slower note build-ups and decays. I especially wish you could chain sequences together for more than 16 notes. It does have MIDI input, so you can plug in a larger keyboard or sequence it from your computer or iPad.The sound is unmistakably analogue. If you've ever ... MoreThe Bass is misnamed. It can play bass, obviously, and it does look like the famous Roland TB-303 acid machine. But it doesn't sound like a 303 (watch Tim Webb's video on YT for a comparison), and its range isn't limited to bass notes. It's really an old-fashioned monosynth with three oscillators, one envelope, a nice-sounding filter, an LFO, and a 16-step sequencer. As such it can do leads as well as bass, Berlin-style blips, and even kick drums.Limitations: I wish the envelope times were longer, for slower note build-ups and decays. I especially wish you could chain sequences together for more than 16 notes. It does have MIDI input, so you can plug in a larger keyboard or sequence it from your computer or iPad.The sound is unmistakably analogue. If you've ever wondered, "Can I tell the difference?" this synth will answer the question. Digital synths (including software) have more features, but this synth has a rich sound that you'll hear new things in every time. It's also portable and inviting to play.Right now its biggest competition comes from the Volca Keys and the Arturia Microbrute. The Microbrute is a much more capable synthesizer, with a real keyboard, for about twice the price. It's about twice the size of the Bass, but still portable. The Keys has a crunchier sound, which some players will prefer; it has a built-in digital delay (that generates some background noise); and it can record knob motions on most of the controls, which the Bass cannot. Some people prefer the Keys (in unison mode) for actual bass duties. The Volca Bass has a smoother filter than the Keys, less background noise, and more flexibility in the oscillators (in that you can choose square or saw for each). I prefer it as a straightforward monosynth. It's fun to play on its own and, because it has MIDI, it's easy to integrate with other instruments as a portable sound module.Looks like a toy, sounds like a real instrument.
This is a fun drum machine. It is somewhat limited, but for me almost perfect.Negatives are a somewhat limited sonic range. It sounds like a vintage drum machine. To me that is great, but if you want more kits you want the sample. No midi out means your beats are trapped on the machine and the only way out is analog recording. There is no swing or accent! kind of a bummer. Snare isn't the best...Positives are its a blast to curl up on the couch and make beats. It seems awkward at first but once you play with it for awhile the control layout makes sense. Built in speaker is nice but you are going to want headphones. Syncs easily with other volcas.Get this if you are after vintage drum machine sounds in a compact package. Limited I/O and no song mode somewhat ... MoreThis is a fun drum machine. It is somewhat limited, but for me almost perfect.Negatives are a somewhat limited sonic range. It sounds like a vintage drum machine. To me that is great, but if you want more kits you want the sample. No midi out means your beats are trapped on the machine and the only way out is analog recording. There is no swing or accent! kind of a bummer. Snare isn't the best...Positives are its a blast to curl up on the couch and make beats. It seems awkward at first but once you play with it for awhile the control layout makes sense. Built in speaker is nice but you are going to want headphones. Syncs easily with other volcas.Get this if you are after vintage drum machine sounds in a compact package. Limited I/O and no song mode somewhat reduces its usefulness in a studio or live performance. Great for little jam sessions on the go.
frankly, i love the old school sounds. likely because it was what i grew up listening to - roland tr 808's and 909's are my equivalent of a rickenbacker. also, like the classic rickenbacker, the 808 and 909 comes with an extraordinarily steep price tag. so for $150, the volca beats are pretty much in a league of their own. while i've heard "professionals" equate them to "toys" and while the majority of the videos on youtube have been made by people who seemingly have never heard a house or techno track from the 80s/90s, i'd say that the output on this little machine has plenty to offer for the majority of bedroom producers. extremely compact, very intuitive, a decent sound bank with plenty of options to fine tune, highly mobile (battery operated and a headphone ... Morefrankly, i love the old school sounds. likely because it was what i grew up listening to - roland tr 808's and 909's are my equivalent of a rickenbacker. also, like the classic rickenbacker, the 808 and 909 comes with an extraordinarily steep price tag. so for $150, the volca beats are pretty much in a league of their own. while i've heard "professionals" equate them to "toys" and while the majority of the videos on youtube have been made by people who seemingly have never heard a house or techno track from the 80s/90s, i'd say that the output on this little machine has plenty to offer for the majority of bedroom producers. extremely compact, very intuitive, a decent sound bank with plenty of options to fine tune, highly mobile (battery operated and a headphone jack), and a kick drum that (when played through my studio monitors) is thunderous enough to rattle windows and annoy the neighbors. i haven't gotten around to recording anything yet but i can already feel that this little box is perhaps best used as a live instrument and/or an accompaniment to a dj set. midi in makes it easy to hook up a keyboard if your fingers are too fat for the little buttons and the stutter functions and a quick bit of swingy fun. chaining them to other volca devices (so far i have the bass as well) is extremely easy and a patch cord is included in the box. cons: my biggest beef with it so far is that the sequencer is only 16 steps, which is fairly limiting if you planned on building a larger beat. playing it live is a pretty easy workaround, though. also, it doesn't come with a power supply, so you have to either stock up on batteries or head over to radioshack if you plan on using them for hours on end... which you likely will.
| Make | KORG |
| Finish | Black |
| Made In | Vietnam |
| Modular Grid | Pedals i + |
| Dimensions* | 193 mm wide 115 mm high |
