Koma Elektronik field kit User manual

50 WAYS TO USE
THE FIELD KIT
USER MANUAL, DIY MANUAL AND EXPERIMENT GUIDE
COPYRIGHT 2017 KOMA ELEKTRONIK GMBH

3
Made
with
love
in
Berlin
The KOMA Elektronik Team
♥

1. Introduction 6
2. User Manual 7
2.1 Getting Started 7
2.2 Function Overview 7
2.2.1 4 Channel Mixer 8
2.2.2 Outputs 11
2.2.3 CV Radio 14
2.2.3.1 Usage Of Antennas 16
2.2.3.2 CV Radio Tuning Ranges 17
2.2.4 DC Interface 18
2.2.5 Envelope Follower 22
2.2.6 Low Frequency Oscillator 25
2.2.7 Signal Interface 28
2.2.7.1 Switch Interface 29
2.2.7.2 Sensor Interface 30
2.2.8 Field Kit in A Eurorack System 32
2.2.8.1 Power 32
2.2.8.2 Panel 33
Table of Contents

3. 50 Ways to Use the Field Kit 34
3.1 In the Kitchen 34
3.2 In Your Studio 39
3.3 On Stage 44
3.4 With Friends 49
3.5 With Sensors 54
3.6 At an Art Gallery 59
3.7 The Field Kit Lid 64
3.8 A Variety Of Spices 69
3.9 Koma Favourites 74
4.0 All Other Patches 79
4. DIY Manual 84
5. Frequently Asked Questions 90
6. Warranty 93
7. Imprint 94
8. Who Made The Field Kit Possible 95
9. Glossary 98
10. Patch Sheets 104
Table of Contents

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Berlin, February 22nd 2017
Thanks so much for purchasing the Field Kit!
After a year of work and a very successfull Kickstarter campaign, we
are very happy you nally have your own Field Kit in front of you. We
hope this little machine will help you to engage with physical objects
in your surroundings and use new sounds in your music. We hope
it inspires you to pick up old pieces of gear that have been lying
around for a while. We hope the Field Kit brings you fun!
In this book and manual we will show you how to use the Field Kit,
how the electronics work, how to build the DIY Version, and we give a
bunch of tips on what you can do with it.
For beginners, we added a glossary in the back with used terms
and their explanations, so when it gets too technical and you nd
a word which is underlined, you can nd it back in the Glossary.
For the more technically advanced users, we added some hacking
options to modify the device to your wishes. We also added a bunch
of patchsheets in the back. Print them out via our website to write
down your own patches, or make copies from this book and do it the
analog way!
If you have questions about warranty and what to do if your Field Kit
is broken, please check the Warranty section towards the end of this
book. If you have a question about your device, please contact us via
[email protected] and we will help you get back on your
way!
Thanks again for your support, in particular the Kickstarter backers.
We could not have done this without you!
Now make some noise!
All the best from Berlin,
The KOMA Elektronik Team
1. Introduction

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2.1 Getting Started
You are reading this text, so you started by opening the manual.
Good one! Now, let’s get to playing: Start by unpacking your Field
Kit and connect it to power through the included 9V PSU by using
the power jack in the backpanel. When mounting the Field Kit in a
modular setup, please make sure to read chapter 2.2.8 Field Kit in
Eurorack before powering up your system!
Now that your Field Kit is powered up, plug in the Master Out to an
amplier or powered speakers and patch the LFO Out to Channel 1.
Flip the Range switch of the LFO to High, open the fader of Channel
1, and make sure the Master Volume is turned up. Now play around
with the tune knob and you have your rst drone going! From here
on, your only limitation is your own imagination!
2. User Manual
2.2 Function Overview
The KOMA Elektronik Field Kit is divided into 7 separate function-
al blocks: the 4 Channel Mixer, Outputs, CV Radio, DC Interface,
Env(elope) Follower, LFO and Signal Interface. They are designed to
operate together as a coherent electro acoustic workstation or alterni-
tively with other pieces of music electronics with the ability to use CV
(control voltage) signals.
In the following subchapters, we are going to cover the basic opera-
tion of the different functional blocks.

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2.2.1 4 Channel Mixer
2. User Manual
Inputs Input 1- 4
▪AC coupled inputs for different kinds of electro
acoustic signals.
▪Maximum signal level: ~6V peak to peak.
▪Input impedance: 1MΩ
The 4 Channel Mixer is the heart of the Field Kit, providing a ful-
ly functional 4-channel mixer with individual Gain, Mix-level and
Tone-controls over the separate channels. The processed signals are
sent to the Outputs section for further use. The 4 Channel Mixer forms
two separate mixes: a Master-mix and an Aux-submix. The signals
sent to the Aux-submix can be selected with dedicated Aux Select
buttons.
The Field Kit is designed to be used together with a variety of differ-
ent electro acoustic transducers to catch and process signals from
the physical world, and the 4 Channel Mixer serves as the rst stage
for further manipulation.

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2. User Manual
Control Gain 1 - 4
▪Lets you amplify the input signal with a settable
amount.
▪Gain range: 1 (fully counterclockwise) - 100 (fully
clockwise)
Mix Level 1 – 4
▪Sets the level of the channel in question.
Aux select 1 - 4
▪Lets you choose which of the 4 channels gets sent
to the Aux-submix.
▪Signals tapped post-Tone, pre-Level
Tone 1 - 4
▪Serves as an overall tonal control over the specic
channel. By default, it is set up as a tilt-EQ with a
center frequency of around 600Hz.
▪Range:
fully CCW: low frequencies (<600Hz) +4.5dB,
high frequencies (>600Hz) -6dB/Oct.
fully CW: high frequencies +6.5dB, low fre
quencies -6dB/Oct.
▪Check the USER TIP Box at the end of this chapter
for information on how to tweak the response of
the Tone stage.

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2. User Manual
USER TIP: Shaping the Response of the Tone Stage
Inside the Field Kit, there are two special hackable capacitors found in each
of the Tone stages. There are 4 tone stages in total. These capacitors (C5
- C12) set the cutoff frequencies of the high- and low-pass sections that
together form the Tone stage. By changing these capacitors, you can shape
the response of the Tone stage to better suit your needs. The default values
of these capacitors are 10nF, which makes the Tone stage behave as a Tilt
EQ with a center-frequency of ~600Hz. By increasing the values of both
capacitors by the same amount, you can form a Tilt-EQ with a lower center
frequency and vice versa. Changing the values independently of each other
generates either a peak or a dip between both independent cutoff frequencies
depending on the chosen values. Experiment!
The range of different input sources you can use is very diverse. You
can hook up all sorts of modular instruments and line level devices
and we made it super suitable to connect your contact microphones.
The gain controls give you control over the amplitude so don’t worry if
the signal is too low, just boost it with the gain knobs.

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2.2.2 Outputs
2. User Manual
The Outputs section of the Field Kit is hardwired to the 4 Channel
Mixer and lets you access the processed signals for further use. The
Outputs section is divided into three separate outs: Master Out, Aux
Out and Speaker Out. The signal entering the Speaker Out is select-
ed with a toggle-switch while the Master and Aux Mixes are deter-
mined inside the 4 Channel Mixer.
The Speaker Out is designed to directly drive external speakers. The
overall levels of the Master-, Aux- and Speaker Outs can be set with
separate Volume controls. The Speaker Out can be used together
with the prepared speaker available with the Field Kit Expansion Pack
or the user can prepare their own speaker.
Check the USER TIP box at the end of this subchapter for further
information on how to prepare your speaker to be able to use it with
the Speaker Out.