Launched in 2013 as the first polyphonic entry in Korg's pocket-sized Volca series, this analog gem draws its iconic low-pass filter straight from the circuitry of the legendary 1974 miniKORG 700S, packing vintage warmth into a form factor smaller than a paperback.
Three voltage-controlled oscillators deliver sawtooth, square, and triangle waveforms, with voicing modes for polyphonic chords, unison leads, or ring-modulated metallic tones that cut through any mix. A resonant 12dB/octave filter pairs with cutoff, peak, and envelope intensity knobs, while a single EG shapes attack, decay/release, and sustain for punchy dynamics. The LFO modulates pitch, cutoff, or pulse width with selectable waves, and a simple delay effect adds space via time, feedback, and tempo sync controls. Hands-on tweaks come via a 27-key multi-touch keyboard, dedicated knobs for all major parameters, and a 16-step sequencer that captures motion sequences, active steps for odd rhythms, and flux mode for unquantized grooves—store up to eight patterns. Battery-powered for 10 hours with a built-in speaker, it syncs via clock in/out and MIDI in, all in a 193 x 115 x 46mm body weighing just 377g.
Over a decade on, it's earned a devoted following for its raw analog character and unbeatable portability, inspiring endless jams from bedroom producers to live performers—though some wish for more sequencer memory or delay tweaks, its pure, hands-on joy remains timeless.
