KMA GUARDIAN OF THE WURM User manual

Quick Start Guide
Made in Berlin, Germany since 2013
Please follow us on social: @kmamachines
E-mail: [email protected] | Website: www.kma-machines.com
© 2021 KMA Audio Machines UG & Co.KG
Quick Start Guide
Thank you for purchasing this GUARDIAN of the WURM Distortion &
Noise Gate pedal. We hope you get many years of pleasure and use from
this device and if this is your rst product from our brand, welcome!
This simple connecting guide should help start you on your journey to
sonic creativity. However, if you wish to know all of the pedal’s hidden
secrets, you can nd the full manual online on the product page at:
kma-machines.com
Some quick usage examples:
The original HM-2 had 2-Bands of EQ marked H (High) & L (Low) but
in reality, H was actually a High Mid control. We doubled the EQ to
4-bands with the ability to adjust the Q frequencies, greatly increasing
the versatility of the circuit. So, to get that classic Chainsaw tone, set the
Drive and Level to max, select HM-2 EQ Style, centre all Q pots and only
max out the LOW and H-MID controls, else you are boosting additional
frequencies not available on the original pedal. Still, having all of that
additional tone shaping power can really help you mould your own brutal
tone, so experiment until you nd the killer sound that works for you!
With the FX Loop, you can feed other noise-making pedals you might
wish between the Distortion and Noise Gate sections. Fuzzes can work
wonders here and the Noise Gate then can make a seemingly noisy tone
very usable.
Those who like to experiment with sound design might even use the
Noise Gate in other ways, for instance by using an external trigger source
such as an audio signal or a compatible* control voltage from a synth etc.
This can turn the pedal into a hard tremolo or allow you to tighten up your
riffs synced to a kick drum – try things out and have fun! GotW QSG V1.02
GUARDIAN of the WURM Specications
• High Gain Distortion
• Easy-to-use, yet high-performance Blackmer® VCA-based Noise Gate
• 3 clipping styles: Silicon, Asymmetric (Silicon+LED), Off
• Clean Blend, for a tight low end
• Highly congurable 4-band Active EQ, with variable centre-frequencies
• 3 distinct types of HIGH MIDS frequency controls
• External Trigger Input, allows Noise Gate control from an external source
• FX-Loop between Distortion and Noise Gate, for signal-chain exibility
• Internal controls for input lter, gate-trigger source and Noise Gate
response
• Relay-based soft-switching, with variable Gate switching modes
Power requirements:
9 V DC, centre -, 2.1 mm, ≈150 mA max. current draw

CLIP-STYLE
Si: Silicon
Original HM-2 clipping
A-S: Asymmetric
More grit and less compression
OFF: no clipping diodes (perfect for bass)
GAIN
Sets the amount of Distortion
MAIN OUTPUT
Connect your amplier/ next series of
pedal(s) or other audio devices here
9 V DC
Input
TERROR
Activates the pedal
Depending on the Switching Mode**, both Distortion and
Noise Gate Circuits or only the Distortion circuit can be selected
TAME
Engages the Noise Gate
Note: Blue LED will go off
when the gate is being
triggered
BLEND
Blends in the input signal (often referred to as Clean Blend)
MASTER
Sets the overall volume of the Distortion section
EQ-STYLE
HM-II: Selects HM-2 Style High Mids EQ
with xed centre frequency (labelled as “HIGH” on orig. HM-2)
KMA: Selects KMA designed High Mids EQ
***with adjustable centre
BOTH: Combines both EQ-Styles
MAIN INPUT
Connect your instrument or other
audio devices here
GATE
Sets the Threshold point for the
VCA Noise Gate
EXT TRIG
Input for an external source to trigger the Noise Gate
(Audio signal or Pulse *@9 V AC Max)
FX-LOOP (TRS)
Insert other pedals between Distortion and Noise Gate sections
or use the Noise Gate with an amplier’s own FX LOOP
(Tip=Send / Ring=Return)
**Switching Mode
Independent:
Distortion and Noise Gate can be switched on/off independently
Synced:
TERROR switches the entire pedal on and off. Noise Gate can be switched on and off to taste while the Distortion is active
To change between modes, hold down both foot switches while connecting the pedal to the power supply.
The Distortion and Gate LEDs will ash and the mode will be set.
GUARDIAN of the WURM will remember the setting when powered off.
EQ Sliders and Q Frequency Pots
4-Channel Active EQ: Up=Boost / Down=Cut
The Potentiometers below each Slider adjusts the active centre
frequency (Q) of each band
LOW
Adjusts Low frequencies. Pot: 60-150 Hz (centre: 90 Hz)
L-MID
Adjusts Low-Mid frequencies. Pot: 300 Hz - 1.05 kHz (centre: 490 Hz)
H-MID***
Adjusts High-Mid frequencies. Pot: 850 Hz - 3 kHz (centre: 1.3 kHz)
(**only active in KMA EQ Mode)
HIGH
Adjusts High frequencies. Pot: 1.4 kHz - 5 kHz (centre: 2 kHz)