What a great click bait title! And in fact, true! Volca Modular specs in Korg’s manual are not exactly precise, but this is actually a good news. Let me explain: Korg made a great and much explaining manual, but (IMHO) for sake of easiness of understanding, some specs were simplified. Who wants to interact with this small gem in a more extreme way, should now its real limits. So, let’s get straight to the point.

 

TLDR

As I wanted to modify this thing and add some microcontroller stuff (as usual), maximum expected voltage value on each output was an very important thing to know. On the other side, maximum output voltage should be also a maximum voltage inputs can accept. Of course I don’t take any responsibility if you’ll fry your unit. Below you will find all the raw measurement results.

If you are interested in Volca Modular specs in more details and take a look on some beautiful waveforms, please continue. Beware! Actual values in the table may differ slightly form those from oscilloscope screenshots. You may also want to read an information how the masurements were taken.

 

Measurements

All the data was collected with not greatest but not bad either test equipment:

• Rigol DS1054,
• Brymen BM867s (only for SEQUENCES module, PITCH output).

The automatic voltage measurement error for Rigol oscilloscope are quite large and amounts up to +/-0.2 V at the end of range (8 V in most cases). The final table with measurement result consists of raw data Rigol outputted, but keep the errors in mind.  It was confirmed with function generator and constant voltage tests.

The setup was very simple – the GND from Volca Modular was gained from CV-IN, other signals straight from pin headers, then led to small testboard where they were connected with oscilloscope probes. What may sound unusual, no cats were involved (it is over 35 Celsius right now and they’re sleeping all day). All tests were performed with 6x 1,5 V alkaline batteries, Volca indicated power level between 14 and 16 dots (~85-100%).

 

SOURCE

Lets start with the Volcas main sound source, called perversely SOURCE module. It’s a main sound source for Volca Modular and has 2 outputs:

• carrier,
• modulator.

Unfolded carrier has a triangle waveshape, with a small peak and unsymmetry at the waveforms top and around 4,0 Vp-p voltage. As FOLD value is increased, the amplitude changes and has the highest value of over 9,0 Vp-p for FOLD = 100%. Check the sample waveforms below – they are quite unusual.

The modulator waveform is plain, good quality triangle with around 4,5 Vp-p amplitude. Very handy as a second tone source for complex Volca Modular patches. Multiplied with a carrier waveform in a UTILITY module can make an interesting ring modulation effects.

 

FUNCTIONS AHD GENERATOR

Its primary function of AHD (Attack Hold Decay) is to generate envelope for LPG module. Three outputs are avaliable:

• positive,
• inverted,
• end trigger.

Both envelope waveforms are rather no surprise – voltage levels are almost as specified in Korgs datasheet (0 – 3,3 V).  For positive output 3,5 Vp-p with small offset were recorded, for inverted 3,1 Vp-p with around 0,7 V offset.

 

Check the end trigger! It is exactly opposite what manual states – it comes from positive to negative and reminds rather an inverted gate signal. I suppose in Volca Modular enviroment rising edge is used for internal circuitry triggering, so there is no difference if it is short positive pulse or “inverted gate”.  Having this knowledge, you can f.e. use AHDs end trigger as CV source for closing the second LPGs in sync with first (of course if you don’t want to use inverted output).

 

FUNCTIONS RISE-FALL GENERATOR

This simple, but handy module can be used as an envelope generator or, if looped, as an LFO or audio signal source. The outputs are exactly the same as for AHD generator:

• positive,
• inverted,
• end trigger.

The voltage levels are different and depends on operating mode (looped or not). For standard, not looped Vp-p for both positive and inverted is close to 4,0 V. When looped, it drops to 3,2 V for positive and 3,4 V for inverted. End trigger output varies from around 0 to 5,4 V and is way out of specs – this is the highest positive voltage value you can get out of Volca Modular.

 

When trigger input is not connected, inverted output can act as a constant voltage source – it is sufficient to open the LPG (~3,0 V), so you can use it instead of UTILITY.

In looped mode of operation, levels are generally lower then in not looped. They are both almost in 0 – 3,3 V range and very close to statements made in manual. What is very interesting, the SHAPE control has a great impact on output signals frequency. The lowest can be obtained with SHAPE = 0% (saw) and TIME = 100% – it is as low as 0,39 Hz. The highest frequency is gained for “triangle” waveform (SHAPE = 40% and TIME=0%) – exactly 156 Hz; this way rise-fall generator can be used as crude drone audio generator. Shame it can’t go that high with saw waveform for more harmonic content :/

 

If you have  looked carefully at the oscilloscope screenshots above you can notice, that waveforms for SHAPE = 0% are almost the same as for SHAPE = 100%, only flipped.

 

WOGGLE

Let’s move to source of random CV signals. As manual states, WOGGLE module has 2 outputs:

• stepped,
• smooth.

Both outputted waveforms occupy the range approximately between -1,0 and 3,9 V and are a bit out of specs mentioned in manual (0 – 3,3 V).

In fact, there is one more output: noise, or rather sample input, where you can try to source some kind of “noisy” waveform. It has rather lo-fi, LP filtered quality and sounds rather boring. No snares this time, sorry. But you can still mix it with audio signal in a SPLIT module to get more crunchy sound.

 

As you look closely at the the noise waveform, you will notice a clear pattern (repeating fragments). This may be a lead, that noise source for WOGGLE module can be digital and make use of samples. The theory may be plausible, as “classic” analog noise sources usually need quite relatively high power supply voltages.

 

SEQUENCE

Real king of outputs, this control module has exactly 5 of them:

• pitch,
• gate,
• /2 (divide by 2),
• /3 (divide by 3),
• /4 (divide by 4).

Pitch output is specified as 0,5 V/oct and it’s voltage levels ranges from 0,54 to 2,14 V. Can be obviously used for SOURCE module pitch control, but also works nicely with LPG level input, so higher notes can be more loud and bright (similarly to filter tracking in substractive synthesizers). Gate signal looks more like trigger and is very close to Korgs Volca Modular specs mentioned in official manual (0 – 3,3 V).

 

All gate / division outputs share similar specs, from around -0,2 to 3,5 V. You can use them not only to control envelopes. For instance, they are nice for creating simple percussion sounds or spicing up sequences when mixed with audio signal before entering LPG.

 

 

UTILITY

The UTILITY module  has one cool feature: it can amplify signal. This way, you can check the Volcas output limits. By feeding carrier (or modulator) signal from SOURCE directly to b input and setting C = 100% you can observe waveform is clipped around +/- 4,7 V (may be slightly lower or higher, Rigol scope has quite large automatic measurement error at the end of range). Around 9,4 V is the highest Vp-p value I could get out of my unit.

 

You can use UTILITY as an simple overdrive – just plug your signal into b input and play with high values of C potentiometer.

 

Epilogue 

It was quite a surprise! Volca Modular specs are not exactly what Korg have stated – analog signals can go over 9 Vp-p and triggers over 5 Vp-p. But is is not bad 🙂 It means, all inputs are able to handle those levels, at least in theory. And one more time: my measurements were made out of pure curiosity and if you want to use them in some wicked way (like applying +/- 5V LFO signal directly from eurorack system), please repeat them by yourself. I do not want to have anybody else’s machine on my conscience. But still, have fun.

Cheers

Jack