RK-002 with Korg Volca Sample 2 question/issue?

deputybrk

I recently purchased the RK-002 and I installed the Korg Volca Sample 2 DUY. When I select MIDI channel 11 on my Arturia Keystep with the RK-002 connected to the Sample 2, each press of a key on the Keystep changes the sound that is triggered from the Sample 2. It is basically looping through the MIDI channels -- pressing the first random key, trigger MIDI channel 1; pressing a second random key triggers MIDI channel 2; etc. Is there something I have configured incorrectly on the Volca Sample 2 or Keystep? I do have the Sample 2 set up for Multi Channel. My goal is have the RK-002 work as demonstrated in this video. Thanks in advance.

grit

It sounds like you're playing it in on the polymux channel, this is a mode where you can use the volca sample 2 as a polyphonic sampler (set different channels to the same sample and play a chord).
If you send out on midi channel 10 you should be able to trigger different samples on different keys.

deputybrk

I think you are correct although it's not clear to me what I need to do to record chromatic parts on the Sample 2, which is what is shown at the beginning of the video. If I use any other MIDI channel, the samples map correctly across the keyboard for playing and I can hear a chromatic part triggered on the Sample 2, but when I attempt to record a pattern, all the parts of the pattern are recorded, but they are all the same note -- the last note played in the pattern. For example, if I record a pattern hitting the keys C, D, E, F in a pattern, what is recorded on the Sample 2 is F, F, F, F. Thanks in advance for your feedback.

grit

The Volca sample 2 firmware is setup like this by default:
midi ch 1-9 trigger samples 1-9 with added chromatic pitch and velocity
use: 9 monophonic samples playable with melody

midi ch 10 triggers samples 1-10 over an octave
use: triggering like e.g. a drummachine, different samples on different keys, octave defines pitch

midi ch 11 triggers polymux
use: chaining volca channels 1-x to play chords

so you could set the keystep lane 1 & 2 to send out to midi channel 1 & 2 for volca melody on sample channels 1 & 2
the keystep drum lane could be set to midi channel 10, keys C,C#,D,D#,E,F,F#,G,G#,.. to trigger drums for example (although C and C# should be avoided since you are using those on lane 1 & 2)

deputybrk

Thank you for the detailed response. This is useful but it is not consistent with my experience. If the Volca Sample 2 is set up with a bass sound on MIDI channel 6, the Keystep is set to send on MIDI channel, and I record the notes C,D, E, and F on a 16 beat pattern recording in the Sample 2, what is recorded and played back in the Sample 2 back is F,F,F,F. If I let the pattern loop and continue to record and play a different note, A for example, A is added to the pattern but all of the other recorded notes are now A as well. Obviously, this is not as designed. Here is some more info for diagnostics: I factory reset the Keystep and Sample 2 to potentially remove them as the source of the problem because I bought them used and wanted to rule out a configuration on either of them as cause. I am using a Midiman 4x4 as my MIDI interface and since purchasing the RK-002, I reset it using the Sample 2 DUY and the Midiman 4x4 as the MIDI interface. Let me know your thoughts. Thanks in advance.

grit

Maybe the volca sample midi reception mode is wrong? I made a demo on how it is supposed to work after just uploading the vsample2 DUY into the RK002

deputybrk

Thanks for the video and all of that information, but I can't reproduce what's in the video afterfollowing the instructions. I have the Volca Sample 2 set to multi on Global function 10. If I use channels 1 - 9, the Sample 2 plays the samples mapped to the keyboard notes as expected and designed but the pattern is not recorded as initially played back in the Sample 2. As mentioned, if I play C,D, E, and F, I hear C,D,E, and F when playing, but what is played back after recording is whatever pattern I played but only using the last note played. So, C,D, E, and F is played back initially as C,D,E, and F but it is recorded as F,F,F, and F. Can you forward a link to the DUY I should be using for the Sample 2 and a recently purchased RK-002? Also, is it possible that the M-Audio MIDISport 4X4 midi interface is causing problems with the install of the DUY on the RK-002? Thanks again for your patience and support. I hope the information I'm send is clear. Let me know if you need any clarifications.

thms

deputybrk Just a guess, but is it possible that you have to enable motion sequencing on the volca sample to be able to play back the recorded pitch changes?

grit

Yes now I understand you want to record the sequence in the volca sample itself. That would need motion record, but I doubt the volca sample will record the extra CC's sent by the RK002 properly. (at least I remember with the first version the vSample applies smoothing to the incoming CC data which results in a sort of glissando effect) if you want to keep notes playing like you intended you have to use an external sequencer (like keep the melody loop running on the beatstep)

deputybrk

I will try motion sequencing and look at the Keystep as an alternative for recording the sequence. Can you send a link to the appropriate DUY I should be using for the Sample 2? Thanks for your responses.

grit

That would be this one: https://duy.retrokits.com/16a634ac-e0ef-4e6a-a406-eaddea38ba96
I just updated it with bank change support on the Volca Sample 2 (allowing you to change sampes via midi beyond sample 127)
The settings to make it work like the video above:

polychannel:11  firstfree:  1   addchroma:1   poly_amt: 3   decaycc:1 
decayparamcc:48 progchange: 1   aftertch: 0   sustain:  0   sample1:0

deputybrk

Thank you so much. I will try it out and let you know.