The pocket sampler that turns any sound you record into a drum machine
Is this the right fit?
- Best for
- producers who want a tactile idea-sketching tool, lofi and beat-making hobbyists, and anyone whose music stalls the moment it involves opening a laptop
- Skip if
- Loading your own samples requires transferring audio through an app or the sync input, which is fiddly the first several times
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The Korg Volca Sample 2 is a battery-powered digital sample sequencer roughly the size of a hardback book. You load samples into it, assign them across parts, and build patterns on a 16-step sequencer with per-step parameter changes. Pattern Chain Mode strings patterns together into longer arrangements, which is what separates it from a toy groovebox. It runs on batteries with a built-in speaker, so the whole workflow happens away from a computer, which is the reason people who own a full DAW still buy one. Best fit: producers who want a tactile idea-sketching tool, lofi and beat-making hobbyists, and anyone whose music stalls the moment it involves opening a laptop.
Pros
- 16-step sequencer with per-step parameter locks gives real pattern variation, not just loops
- Pattern Chain Mode strings patterns into full arrangements instead of a single bar
- Runs on batteries with a built-in speaker, so no computer or outlet needed
- Syncs with other Volca units and most modern gear over the sync jack
Cons
- Loading your own samples requires transferring audio through an app or the sync input, which is fiddly the first several times
Frequently asked questions
How do I get my own samples onto it?
Samples are transferred in through the audio input using Korg's transfer software or a compatible app. It is not drag-and-drop over USB, and the transfer process has a real learning curve on the first attempt.
Can it sync with other drum machines?
Yes. It has a sync in and out jack that works with other Volca units and with most modern hardware and software that can output a sync pulse.
Does it work without a computer?
Once samples are loaded, completely. It runs on batteries, has a built-in speaker, and the sequencing happens entirely on the unit.
What is the difference between this and the original Volca Sample?
The 2 doubles the sample memory and adds a larger sample slot count plus refinements to the sequencer workflow. If you are buying new, the 2 is the version to get.
Is the built-in speaker good enough to actually use?
It is fine for sketching ideas and checking patterns, but it is small and thin. For anything you intend to keep, monitor through headphones or a proper output.
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