Koma Elektronik KOMMANDER User manual
Connections & Controls
The KOMMANDER is a CV/Gate motion controller. It gives
you dynamic access to any of your CV/Gate controllable
instruments. Instead of turning knobs and pushing but-
tons, the KOMMANDER allows you to control your instru-
ments by moving your hand, or foot...
The KOMMANDER offers two sensors with two voltage
outputs each, so you are able to control up to four pa-
rameters at the same time.
K0MMANDER
CV/GATE MOTION
CONTROLLER
_
USER MANUAL
CV I GATE I GATE IICV II
Getting Started
1. POWER UP
Power up the KOMMANDER with a “9V Boss Style” power
supply (500 mA). The polarity of the tip has to be negative.
2. CONNECT
Connect the CV/Gate outs to the instrument you wish
to control.
3. PLAY
Move your hand or something similar towards the sensors
of the KOMMANDER and go nuts!
1
MOTION SENSORS
The KOMMANDER has two motion sensors, which have three
LEDs each. The two outer ones emit infra red light, the one
in the middle receives the light that is reflected. You might
use different surface textures to reflect the light. It can
be your hand, but also a shoe sole or a piece of paper etc.
Different textures reflect light in a different way. Some work
better than others. Fluted shoe soles sometimes just need
a piece of duct tape to work well with the KOMMANDER. Just
play around with it and you’ll find your ideal setup!
2 CV/GATE
The KOMMANDER offers four Control Voltage (CV) outputs.
These are positioned at the back of the unit. CV I and CV II
outputs put out control voltage depending on the motion
detected by the sensor. GATE I and GATE II will constantly
put out the maximum voltage as soon as you move your
hand above the sensor. Note: If you move your hand above
Sensor I, it will affect CV I and GATE I. When you move your
hand over Sensor II, CVII and GATE II will output a voltage.
GATE I OUT
>GATE IN
EXAMPLE CONNECTIONS
CV II OUT >
FILTER CV IN
CV I OUT >
PITCH CV IN
Imprint
KOMA Elektronik GmbH
is a subsidiary company
of KOMA Elektronik B.V.
Vertretungsberechtigte
Geschäftsführer /
Managing Director:
Christian Zollner
& Wouter Jaspers
KOMA Elektronik GmbH
Mahlower Strasse 24
12049 Berlin-Neukölln
Germany
Registergericht / Court of
Registration: Antsgericht
Berlin-Charlottenburg
Registernummer / Regis-
tration number: hrb 145453
Umsatzsteuer id / VAT ID
number: DE285522050
Warranty
KOMA Elektronik warrants its products to be free of defects
in materials / workmanship and conforming to specifica-
tions at the time of shipment for a period of two years from
the date of purchase. During the warranty period, any de-
fective products will be repaired or replaced, at KOMA Ele-
ktronik’s option, on a return-to-factory basis. This warran-
ty covers defects that KOMA Elektronik determines are no
fault of the user.
Tips & Tricks
CABLE WIDTH
When you want to use all CV and Gate outputs at the same
time, all 4 outputs in a row, we recommend using Doep-
fer cables. They fit beautifully, 100% guaranteed. We are
aware that we are not giving you as a user many options
here, but we really needed to make sure the outputs would
all fit in the hand held enclosure we had planned… You win
some, you lose some…
CLEANING YOUR KOMMANDER
Clean with a cloth and rubbing alcohol. We noticed by using
a clean toothbrush you can clean up the sensor! We also
recommend using a soft or medium one, not too hard.
REFLECTIVE SURFACE
Certain rough surfaces may not reflect the light emitted by
the sensor. Play around a little bit to see what works best
for you. A piece of duct tape over the sole of a shoe might
already make a lot of difference!
PSU RATING
Make sure the power supply is rated for the line voltage of
your country: 120 VAC for the USA, 220 VAC for Europe and
most other countries.
Back Panel
3 TRIMMERS
On the KOMMANDER’s bottom panel you’ll find four little
holes. Inside are trimmers, which can be adjusted with a
small standard screwdriver (philips or slotted). Each trim-
mer belongs to a CV or GATE output (see picture). The trim-
mers connected to the CV outputs allow you to attenuate
its maximum voltage output, so you can set the range e.g.
from 0V to 5V instead of 0V to 8V. Turn your screw driver to
the right to increase the maximum CV output, turn it to the
left to decrease the maximum output. The trimmers con-
nected to the GATE outputs allow you to control the GATE’s
threshold. Turn the trimmer to the right to increase the
threshold (it will be physically further away from the sen-
sor), turn the trimmer to the left to decrease the threshold
(it will be closer to the sensor).
CV I GATE I GATE IICV II
Graphics by: www.rabadaun.com
