Ploytec BOOM KICK User manual

Congratulations on your purchase of the BOOM KICK pedal! We trust you’ll be happy with this
innovative product. Please read the following instructions carefully to learn how the device
functions. BOOM KICK is a musical instrument, which requires practice. With this instrument,
you will be able to create incredible music.
Markus Medau, Managing director, Ploytec GmbH
Getting started
Connect a 9V / 300mA (or more) power supply with the following symbol to the DC input socket of
BOOM KICK: ⊕⨴-⊖
BOOM KICK does not come with a power supply.
– Plug the power supply into a power outlet.
– Connect your instrument to the INPUT jack on the right side (if any)
– Connect the OUTPUT jack on the left side of the pedal to your amplifier.
As soon as you tap the right foot switch, BOOM KICK is activated and
awaits another tap within 2 seconds. During this time, the LED flashes
blue. Right after the second "tap", BOOM KICK starts making sounds on
every crotchet. The BOOM KICK calculates the tempo with the time
between the two taps on the pedal and bases the calculation on quarter
notes. Example: if there is one second between the two taps, this would
equal 60bpm: 60 beats per minute. Half a second means 120bpm, 2
seconds 30bpm....
In case the foot pedal has only been tapped once, the LED will blink red after the 2 seconds waiting
time is past. To stop BOOM KICK, press the foot pedal down for at least one second.
Turning on and starting
Tap the pedal on the "3" and the "4" (4/4 time). Now BOOM KICK generates a sound on every quarter
note.
The LED assumes a 4/4 time and signals the "1" with red (if phase correction is activated – see below),
and the "2" "3" and"4" with blue lights. However, the BOOM KICK may also be used for any other
times (e.g. 3/4).
Use the mute switch to mute (red) and unmute (green) the BOOM KICK.
Once the BOOM KICK is stopped, there’s also a mode for single tapping
(blue). In this mode, the BOOM KICK can be used as an ordinary stomp
box.
Tap-on function
While BOOM KICK is running you can keep tapping at any time. Your taps
will influence the tempo and – if phase correction is on – sync the quarter notes to the beat. The BOOM
KICK calculates the tempo with the average values of the last four time measurements.
After each time BOOM KICK is turned on, all four measuring values are initialized on the first time
measurement. New values will only be accepted when they are at least half of the actual tempo.
Therefore, for larger tempo changes you should change the tempo in small steps.

The most exact tempo is not useful, when the music is completely out of time. This is why the BOOM
KICK uses a sophisticated algorithm, which will slightly increase or decrease the tempo in short time,
to get constantly closer to the time you are tapping.
If “phase correction” is on, each tap has an influence on the phase and shifts the rhythm in the direction
of the next quarter note. (To the next "2" or "4" in the "24one mode", see below.)
To keep the influence of inaccurate taps small, the average values are constantly calculated. This means
that with an increasing amount of taps the influence on the phase is larger. When you stop tapping, the
phase shift ceases. However, single taps still have a certain influence.
For four new measurements you will have to tap five times: e.g. "1" - measurement - "2" -
measurement - "3" - measurement - "4" - measurement - "1"'
Keep in mind that BOOM KICK is an instrument and exact tapping has to be learned in the same way
as time-correct playing of other instruments.
Three preset sounds
BOOM KICK contains three different preset sounds. In order to change the preset, make sure BOOM
KICK is stopped, next tap the mute switch until you’re in single tapping mode (blue). Now, while you
hold the tap switch, you can select the preset by tapping the mute switch.
Preset #1 is cyan, #2 is yellow, #3 is magenta.
(If you prefer to change the preset without hearing its sound, you can alter-natively hold the mute
switch on turning blue and select with the tap switch.)
Editing presets
Select the preset you intend to edit by going to single tapping
mode (blue), holding the tap switch and tapping the mute
switch. Next tap the mute switch again and while holding it,
release the tap switch instead. The mute switch’s LED is
flashing red now, indicating you can change the MIX parameter
“bass drum” vs. “noise”. (Inside BOOM KICK, there’s a bass
drum synthesizer and a noise synthesizer.)
Use the tap switch to change it. Red means 100% bassdrum, 0%
noise, the next steps are yellow, green, cyan, blue, magenta and
white. White means 0% bassdrum, 100% noise.
Once you found your setting, click the mute switch to edit the
next parameter. This is the bassdrum frequency (NOTE), the
mute switch’s LED flashes yellow now. In case the MIX
parameter’s on 100% noise (0% bassdrum, no need to tune),
different cowbells can be selected vs. white noise instead.

If you’re done editing, you need to tap the mute switch several times again until the mute switch’s LED
stops flashing.
Otherwise, the next parameters are ATTACK (green), TIMBRE (cyan), RELEASE (blue), ANALOG
LPF (magenta) and NOISE FILTER (white).
In case the MIX parameter’s on 100% noise, the next parameters are ATTACK (green), DECAY
(cyan), RESONANCE (blue), ANALOG LPF (magenta) and NOISE FILTER (white) instead.
To make it more complicated, in case the MIX parameter’s on 100% bassdrum (0% noise), NOISE
FILTER (white) is not needed and turning into DISTORTION (white). (Sorry for that.)
These seven parameters with seven possible values allow 7^7=823,543 sound combinations! But
there’s even more: STARTMODE (flashing red/green) and PHASEMODE (flashing red/cyan).
STARTMODE (red/green)
- 34one Mode (red)
You tap on “3” and “4”, on “1” it starts.
- 24one Mode (yellow)
High exactness in taps for higher tempi are offered by the 24one mode. In this mode only half notes are
tapped, which means that in the beginning you tap on the "2" and the "4" (instead "3" and "4"), and on
the "1" it starts as usual.
For the tap on (see before) you can only tap the "2" and "4" during the time. Tapping "1" and "3"
creates a huge chaotic phase shifting, since the BOOM KICK will try to get to the next "2" or "4". The
"24" mode is, therefore, only useful for straight time (2/4, 4/4, 6/8....).
- One2 Mode (green)
You tap on “1” and “2”, on the next “1” it starts. Of course you’re free to tap “1”, “2”, “3”, “4”, “1” for
higher accuracy.
PHASEMODE (red/cyan)
- Off (red)
Only MIDI clock on MIDI out. No “red” indication for the beat, all quarter notes make the tap switch’s
LED go blue.
- On (yellow)
If “phase correction” is on, each tap has an influence on the phase and shifts the rhythm in the direction
of the next quarter note. (To the next "2" or "4" in the "24one mode”.) Along with the first beat there’s
a MIDI Start message merged into MIDI clock on MIDI out (in order to start sequencers or drum
computers). Once you stop BOOM KICK, there’s also a MIDI Stop message.

Resetting the three presets
In order to restore factory presets, press the mute switch and hold it while powering up the unit. Mute
switch’s LED goes red. After you release the switch, the BOOM KICK starts up normally.
Firmware update
Press the tap switch and hold it while powering up the unit. The tap switch’s LED goes white, the
MIDI plug is an input now and ready to receive firmware update MIDI sysex data files.
Technical Data
MIDI implementation:
• MIDI Clock from second tap on the foot switch
• MIDI Start on the first "1" (e.g. after 24 clocks in 34one mode)
• MIDI Stop when turning off (MIDI Start and MIDI Stop only in PHASEMODE)
• tempo range: 35 – 210 bpm
• calculation exactness: 24bit, +/- 2 microseconds
MIDI Clock is a so called real time message, which is sent 24 times per quarter note (MIDI Time Code
has to do with time information and has nothing to do with MIDI Clock). The instructions of your
keyboard or sequencer will explain the use of MIDI Clock for synchronization with your device.
Imprint 1, English version, September 2022
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In the event of scientific or technical advances, we reserve the right to make changes to the product
without giving prior notice.
Ploytec GmbH - Fahrnauerstr. 64 - 79650 Schopfheim - Germany http://www.ploytec.com -
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