Light Splitting | minimal ambient with test equipment, pedals and four track cassette

Published on Feb 6, 2020 HAINBACH

"In which I perform a composition on battery powered test equipment, pedals and a four track cassette recorder.

This track stems from many ideas - the first inspiration was my visit to Willem Twee studios and their beautiful setup of sine wave oscillators, with which its possible to create all kinds of amazing tone clusters. It gave me the idea of trying a minimal take on that technique. I did not feel like engaging the test equipment wall, I wanted something small, maybe even portable.

I started with he Brüel & Kjaer 1621 bandpass filter I got as a gift from Felix of the fabolous @Fewjar , as its small and runs on batteries. It takes a saw from the @KOMA Elektronik RH301 and filters it, creating pulses as it jumps from high-low setting. The TouelSkouarn Ar Merc'het Brao is a dual filter but I love it as an oscillator, controlled by the infra-red sensor of the RH301. One out goes into the Cooper FX Outward MK2, which creates more brassy pulses and new harmonies. I then realized that I could power this all from the Koma Elektronik Strom Mobile, which lasts for about 5-6 hours on a single 6000ma USB power bank with this setup. So I set that up instead of crawling under the desk for a free power slot.

Because the setup is small I thought of ways to get more voices, so I did what Stockhausen did - record the sounds to tape. The Fostex X28H to the top right has a cassette loop running. I recorded different pitches on three tracks and play them into the Alesis Wedge reverb to the top left.

When composing and playing it I recalled Silences by John Cage, and tried to think of leaving a broad empty canvas, with music only filling up small parts of it. I hope you enjoy it!

get this track and support what I do on http://patreon.com/hainbach"

KOMA Strom Mobile Now Available

KOMA Strom Mobile - How does it work?Published on Oct 3, 2018 KOMA Elektronik

"Strom Mobile is a portable power solution for music makers and everyone who needs reliable voltage source at all times! The Strom Mobile transforms the output voltage of USB power banks (5V DC) to either 9V or 12V DC to power any (music) device running on those voltages. There are two independent channels which can output individually set voltages. The Strom Mobile includes an input current feedback system to save the user from exceeding the maximum output current of the USB powerbank in use.

1 unit consists of the Strom Mobile, 1 x USB B Cable and 2 x DC Cable and an English user manual. Please note: USB Powerbanks not included."

Previous posts...

And the press release:

BERLIN, 3 OCT 2018 - “After releasing the Field Kit and Field Kit FX, we received many requests from customers who want to be able to run their DC powered devices outside of their studios; at places where no power is available, like in an aircraft, while hiking through the mountains or simply with friends in the park.”
We developed the Strom Mobile, a standalone device that converts the 5V DC power from an USB power bank into clean low noise 9V or 12V DC power optimized to run all your music machines off the grid, for hours!

Using the Strom Mobile is very simple. It boasts two channels that both can handle a current draw up to 2.5A. You plug in an USB power bank to one of the channels (or both) and plug in the standard DC barrel connectors on the bottom side. You can select or 12V or 9V per channel. An orange light above the channel outputs shows you which output voltage you are using. Both channels also have a dedicated Current Monitor which shows you much current you are using, so you know when you reach the limit of your USB power bank and how many more devices you can add to your off the grid setup!

To get you started, Strom Mobile will be shipped with 1 x USB B cable (specifically designed version, to minimize voltage drop), 2 x DC-DC cables and User Manual. This runs one channel of the Strom Mobile. Additionally we offer a Strom Mobile Cable Pack, which includes 1 x USB B cable (specifically designed version, to minimize voltage drop), a 1-to-5 daisychain DC Cable, 2 x DC Cable and 1 polarity changing DC Cable.

We have been playing out and about with the Strom Mobile and its a great to be able to power our gear everywhere and to get inspired by the world around us. Here is a video of Hainbach and KOMA’s Wouter project ODD NARRATIVE, performing and recording at Berlin’s Tempelhof Flugfeld, all powered by Strom Mobile:

Strom Mobile together with Hainbach and Wouter

Premiered Sep 14, 2018 HAINBACH

[Odd Narrative is a project that I am running with Wouter Jaspers of KOMA Elektronik since 2017. We have pretty defined roles in how we make music - I create the scenery with tape loops and melodies, he creates the narrative trough his electro-acoustic setup. In this track which we created at my favorite place in Berlin, Tempelhof airport, he is playing two field kits, a synth I don't know, a tape loop and does cat/birdsong with his voice and Field Kit FX. I am playing a tape loop, TR606 and the OP1, mixed with the Field Kit FX. All is powered either by battery or the Koma Strom Mobile.]

The Strom Mobile is available from today onwards from the KOMA Elektronik website and through KOMA Elektronik dealers world-wide for a MRSP of 175EUR, the Strom Mobile Cable Pack for a MRSP of 35EUR."

MID WINTER DRONE TIME (w/ Field Kit FX, Strom Mobile & Kastl)

Published on Feb 15, 2018 KOMA Elektronik

"Berlin in winter is grey and sad, until the sun comes out! Woutr enjoys the afternoon making some drones in Tempelhof with the Field Kit FX and Bastl Kastl, powered by our upcoming mobile power solution Strom Mobile!

Field Kit FX is available for pre-orders now!
Check here: https://koma-elektronik.com/?product=..."

"Our latest machine the Field Kit FX has been funded through the community at Kickstarter and is now available for pre-order here on the KOMA website.

PLEASE NOTE: This item will be shipped from April 2018. Any items purchased in the same order will also be shipped then. If you want to have the available items sooner, then please order them separately.

The Field Kit FX is more fun with the right tools! You could add the FX Expansion Pack, which offers a spring reverb tank and other goodies!"

NAMM 2018: Koma Elektronik FieldKit FX and Strom Mobile Power

Published on Jan 27, 2018 sonicstate

Taking the Field Kit FX to the streets!

Published on Oct 27, 2017 KOMA Elektronik

"THE FIELD KIT FX IS NOW AVAILABLE ON KICKSTARTER:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/...

Join KOMA's Wouter while he takes a walk around Schillerkiez, Berlin with his latest creation: the "Fieldkitar," a mixture of the Field Kit and Field Kit FX, taped together with a strap so you can wear it and play it as an electro-acoustic keytar! Find sounds anywhere!

All audio was recorded directly on a Zoom recorder and normalized for levels, without any additional editing.

This portable setup is powered by the upcoming STROM Mobile (in stores January 2018), which allows you to power any 9V/12V music device from any type of 5V USB power bank, giving Field Kit and Field Kit FX users the possibility to really take their kits to the Field!"