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Everything you need to know to get the most out of symbiont vs and your KORG volca sample 2.

Getting Started

MIDI Connection Setup

  1. Connect your KORG volca sample 2 to your Mac using a USB-MIDI cable.
  2. Launch symbiont vs — the app automatically detects and selects the Volca Sample device.
  3. A green indicator in the toolbar area confirms the connection is active.
  4. If the device is not auto-detected, open the MIDI Monitor window and manually select the device from the Output/Input drop-downs.

Multi / Single Channel Mode

symbiont vs supports two MIDI channel modes, matching the Volca Sample 2’s own settings. You can switch modes in the MIDI Monitor window.

  • Multi Channel mode (default): Each of the 10 parts is assigned to MIDI channels 1–10. This is the recommended mode and matches the Volca’s factory default.
  • Single Channel mode: All parts are controlled through a single MIDI channel using NRPN messages. Use this if your Volca is configured for single-channel operation.

Free / Pro

symbiont vs is free to download. The free version includes fetching data from the device, Preview via MIDI playback, Controller, and MIDI Monitor. Pro Unlock (one-time purchase) adds sequence editing, file save/load, sample file management, and sending data to the device.

Sample Manager

The Sample Manager tab lets you view, fetch, send, and organize all 200 sample slots on your Volca Sample 2.

Fetching Samples from the Device

  1. Make sure your Volca Sample 2 is connected.
  2. Click Fetch All in the Sample Manager, or use Transfer > Fetch All Sample from the menu bar.
  3. The app fetches header information first (name, length, etc.), then downloads sample audio data for each occupied slot.
  4. A progress indicator shows the current phase: Header, Data, or Retry.
  5. Large samples may require multiple attempts — the app automatically retries up to 3 rounds for incomplete transfers.

You can also fetch a single sample by selecting a slot and clicking the individual Fetch button.

Sending Samples to the Device

  • Send All: Sends all cached samples to the Volca via SysEx. A confirmation dialog appears before overwriting device data.
  • Send Selected: Sends only the currently selected sample to the device.
  • During transfer, an overlay blocks other operations. Do not disconnect the device until the transfer completes.

Waveform Preview & Playback

  • Select a sample slot to see its waveform displayed in the preview area.
  • Click the play button to listen to the sample directly in the app (no MIDI required).

Drag & Drop Import

  • Drag audio files (WAV, etc.) directly onto a sample slot in the list to import.
  • If the target slot already contains a sample, a confirmation dialog asks whether to overwrite.
  • Imported audio is automatically converted to 16-bit 31250 Hz mono PCM (the format required by the Volca Sample 2).

Cut / Copy / Paste / Delete

  • Use the Edit menu or keyboard shortcuts to rearrange samples between slots.
  • Cut (⌘+X): Removes the sample from the selected slot and stores it in the clipboard.
  • Copy (⌘+C): Copies the sample data to the clipboard.
  • Paste (⌘+V): Places the clipboard sample into the selected slot.
  • Delete (Delete): Removes the sample from the selected slot.

Memory Usage

The Sample Manager shows total memory usage as a percentage of the Volca Sample 2’s 8 MB sample capacity. This helps you understand how much space remains for new samples.

Sequence Editor

The Sequence Editor is the core of symbiont vs, providing full editing of all 16 sequences and 10 parts with a 3-column layout.

Layout Overview

  • Left sidebar: SEQ 1–16 buttons to select the active sequence. The sequence name is displayed at the top of the right panel and can be edited.
  • Center area: All 10 parts stacked vertically, each showing parameter knobs or step buttons.
  • Right panel: File operations (Import / Export), device transfer (Send / Fetch), transport controls (Play / Stop / Continue), BPM, and Reverb Mix.

Parameter Knobs

Each part displays knobs for the following parameters:

  • Level: Volume (0–127)
  • Pan: Stereo position (−63 to +63, center = 0)
  • Speed: Playback speed (0–127, center = 64) or Chromatic Speed (−24 to +24 semitones)
  • PEG I / A / D: Pitch Envelope Generator — Intensity (±63), Attack, Decay
  • AEG A / D: Amplitude Envelope Generator — Attack, Decay
  • Start / Length: Sample start point and playback length
  • HiCut: Low-pass filter cutoff
  • TrgDly: Trigger Delay — delays the start timing of the part within the step

Drag a knob up/down to change its value. Pan, Speed, and PEG Intensity knobs draw their arc from the center position, visually indicating direction.

Speed / Chromatic Speed

  • The Speed knob has a mode toggle button (music note icon) to switch between Speed mode and Chromatic Speed mode.
  • Speed mode: Standard speed control (0–127, center = 64).
  • Chromatic Speed mode: Semitone-based pitch control (−24 to +24, center = 0).
  • Both values are stored independently — switching modes does not lose either value.
  • Motion data type determines indicator color: Speed motion = red, Chromatic motion = blue.

Sample Selection

Each part has a sample selector dropdown showing sample number and name (e.g., “0: Kick”). Select from all 200 sample slots.

Toggle Buttons

  • Mute: Mutes the part
  • Loop: Enables sample looping
  • Reverse: Reverses sample playback
  • Reverb: Sends the part to the reverb bus
  • Motion: Enables/disables motion sequence playback for the part

16-Step Sequencer

  • Click the Steps button on each part to switch between knob view and step sequencer view.
  • Each step button can be toggled on/off to create rhythmic patterns.
  • The Active Steps row at the bottom controls which of the 16 steps are active for the entire sequence (not per-part).

Part Controls

  • Part number pad: Click a part number to trigger that sample via MIDI. Keyboard keys 1–0 trigger parts 1–10 or switch to SEQ 1–10, depending on the Keys 1-0 setting in Settings (⌘+,).
  • Part Copy & Paste: Copy all parameters, step data, and motion data from one part and paste into another. Available from the Edit menu.

Motion Editor

The motion editor allows you to draw automation curves for any parameter, giving you DAW-style control over parameter changes within a sequence.

  • Opening: Long-press (0.5 seconds) any parameter knob to open the motion editor for that parameter.
  • Drawing: Drag across the canvas to draw automation curves. Each parameter has 64 data points (16 steps × 4 interpolation points per step).
  • 4-point interpolation: Each step contains 4 data points, enabling smooth parameter changes within a single step. The 4 points are evenly spaced across the step duration.
  • Center-based parameters: Pan, Speed, and PEG Intensity display ± values from center, with a dotted center line at zero.
  • Speed / Chromatic motion: In Speed mode, motion is drawn in red. In Chromatic Speed mode, motion is drawn in blue. Each mode’s motion data is stored independently.
  • Trigger Delay motion: A dedicated editor with 16 steps × 1 point for per-step timing control.
  • Clear: Click the Clear button to reset all motion data for the current parameter.
  • Playback indicator: During Preview via MIDI playback, the current step position is highlighted in real time.
  • Close: Click the × button to return to knob view.

Preview via MIDI

  • Use the transport controls (Play / Stop / Continue) in the right panel to preview the current sequence.
  • Preview sends MIDI Note On messages, CC/NRPN parameter changes, and motion data to the device in real time.
  • During playback, the current step is highlighted in both the step sequencer and motion editor views.
  • Knob values update in real time to reflect motion automation during playback and return to their default values when stopped.
  • You can toggle Mute and Motion on/off during playback for live experimentation.

File Operations (Import / Export)

  • Import: Load a vlcspllib file (volca sample Librarian format) containing 16 sequences and sample data.
  • Export: Save the current project as a vlcspllib file.
  • See File Operations for more details.

Device Transfer (Send / Fetch)

  • Fetch: Downloads the currently selected sequence or all sequences from the Volca via SysEx.
  • Send: Uploads the currently selected sequence or all sequences to the Volca via SysEx. A confirmation dialog appears before overwriting device data.
  • During SysEx transfer, an overlay prevents other operations.

Controller

The Controller tab provides a performance-oriented layout with mixer faders, large trigger pads, and transport controls for live use.

Layout

  • All 10 parts are displayed in a vertical layout from left to right.
  • Each part shows a sample selector, parameter knobs (grouped by SAMPLE / PITCH EG / AMP EG sections), a Level fader, a large trigger pad, and Mute/Solo buttons.
  • The right panel contains BPM control, clock status, Load from SEQ, Send All, Reverb Mix fader, and transport buttons.

Mixer Faders

Each part has a vertical fader for Level adjustment, styled like a traditional mixer channel strip.

Trigger Pads & Keyboard Triggering

  • Each part has a large pad (72×72 px) for triggering samples via mouse click.
  • Keyboard keys 1 through 0 trigger parts 1 through 10 respectively.
  • Pads flash on Note On to provide visual feedback.

Mute / Solo

  • Mute: Silences the part by setting its effective level to zero. Toggle on/off per part.
  • Solo: When any part is soloed, all non-soloed parts are silenced. Multiple parts can be soloed simultaneously.

BPM Control

  • The BPM display (large text) can be dragged up/down to change the tempo.
  • Range: 56.0–240.0 BPM (0.1 step precision).
  • symbiont vs sends MIDI clock messages at the specified tempo.

External Clock Sync

  • When the Volca sends MIDI Start/Continue/Stop messages, symbiont vs detects external clock synchronization.
  • The clock status indicator shows “SYNC” or “EXT” when synchronized to an external source.
  • In external sync mode, the Volca controls the playback tempo.

Load from SEQ

Click Load from SEQ to copy parameter values from the Sequence Editor into the Controller’s knobs. This loads values without sending any MIDI messages, allowing you to prepare parameter states before performing. This button is disabled if no sequence has been loaded.

Transport Controls

  • Play: Start playback from the beginning (MIDI Start + Clock).
  • Stop: Stop playback (MIDI Stop).
  • Continue: Resume playback from the current position (MIDI Continue + Clock).
  • LED indicators turn red during playback.

MIDI Monitor

The MIDI Monitor is an independent window for inspecting all MIDI communication between symbiont vs and your Volca Sample 2.

Opening the Monitor

Click the Volca icon button in the toolbar to open or close the MIDI Monitor window. It can remain open alongside any tab.

Device Selection

  • Output: Select the MIDI output device (for sending messages to the Volca).
  • Input: Select the MIDI input device (for receiving messages from the Volca).
  • symbiont vs auto-detects and selects the Volca Sample device on launch.

Channel Mode

  • Switch between Multi and Single channel mode here.
  • In Single channel mode, you can also select which MIDI channel (1–16) to use.
  • This setting applies globally to all tabs.

Message Log

  • All incoming and outgoing MIDI messages are displayed in real time.
  • Messages are shown in a human-readable format (channel, CC number, value, Note On/Off, etc.).
  • Clock filter: Toggle the clock message filter to hide/show timing clock (F8) messages, reducing log noise during playback.

File Operations & vlcspllib Format

Project File Operations

  • New Data (⌘+N): Initialize all sequence and sample data. If there are unsaved changes, a dialog prompts you to save, discard, or cancel.
  • Open (⌘+O): Open a vlcspllib file from disk.
  • Save (⌘+S): Save to the current file. If no file is open, falls back to Save As.
  • Save As (⌘+⇧+S): Save the project as a new vlcspllib file.

vlcspllib File Format

  • vlcspllib is the file format used by volca sample Librarian for the Volca Sample 2.
  • Files contain all 16 sequences (parameters, step data, motion data) plus sample audio data.
  • Full compatibility: files created by volca sample Librarian can be opened in symbiont vs, and vice versa.

Side Menu

The hamburger menu button (top-left) opens a side menu providing quick access to file operations (New / Open / Save / Save As) and transfer operations (Fetch / Send for Data, Sequences, and Samples).

Troubleshooting

MIDI Connection Issues

  • Ensure the Volca Sample 2 is powered on and connected via USB-MIDI.
  • Check that no other application is using the MIDI device exclusively.
  • Open the MIDI Monitor window and verify the device appears in the Output/Input lists.
  • On macOS, use the Audio MIDI Setup utility to check that the system recognizes the device.
  • Try disconnecting and reconnecting the USB-MIDI cable.

Sample Transfer Issues

  • Larger samples require more data transfer and are more prone to packet loss over MIDI.
  • The app automatically retries up to 3 rounds for incomplete transfers.
  • If fetching consistently fails, try disconnecting and reconnecting the USB-MIDI cable, then retry.
  • During SysEx transfer, an overlay blocks the UI. Do not disconnect the device until the transfer completes or times out.

External Clock Sync Issues

  • When using the Volca’s internal clock, symbiont vs sends MIDI clock messages. Ensure the Volca is set to receive MIDI clock.
  • For external sync, configure the Volca to send external clock and ensure symbiont vs receives it.

vlcspllib Compatibility

  • Files created by volca sample Librarian can be opened in symbiont vs.
  • Files saved by symbiont vs can be opened in volca sample Librarian.
  • Both applications use the same binary format.

Keyboard Shortcuts

File

Shortcut Action
⌘ + N New Data
⌘ + O Open
⌘ + S Save
⌘ + ⇧ + S Save As

Edit (Sample Manager)

Shortcut Action
⌘ + X Cut Sample
⌘ + C Copy Sample
⌘ + V Paste Sample
Delete Delete Sample

Keys 1–0

Key Controller Sequence Editor
1–0 Trigger Parts 1–10 Trigger Parts 1–10 or Switch to SEQ 1–10

In the Sequence Editor, the behavior of keys 1–0 can be switched between Pad Trigger and Sequence Switch via Settings (⌘+,). In the Controller, keys always trigger pads.

Settings

Shortcut Action
⌘ + , Open Settings (keyboard mode for keys 1–0)