Building the KOMA Elektronik Field Kit

The Galaxy Electric

"After building this DIY Field Kit from Koma Elektronik, we used it on our new album. You can support our Kickstarter to release this space age fantasy album here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/...

Music in this video by The Galaxy Electric

Find more of our music at our website: www.thegalaxyelectric.com"

#SUPERBOOTH20 Special Reserve Livestream 1

Published on Apr 22, 2020 HAINBACH

"In which Single Malt Synthesis and our friend DivKid welcome boutique manufactures from the world of synthesis to show their wares live on stream. It's like Superbooth, but no one has to wear hard pants. Join in the stream and ask your questions, we will try to answer as many as possible.

TIMELINE
17:30 Patch Point
18:00 Purrtronics
18:30 SDS Digital
19:00. Music Thing Modular
19:30 Koma Elektronik
20:00 Gould Caseworks
20:30 LPZW Modules
21:00 Single Malt Synthesis hangout with special guests"

The Galaxy Electric - Improvised Electroacoustic Music - Pierre Schaeffer Influenced

Published on Mar 6, 2020 The Galaxy Electric

"Pierre Schaeffer - LIVE Improvised Cosmic Tape Music

Do your ears crave NEW sounds?

Inspired by the pioneering innovations of the father of Musique Concréte, Pierre Schaeffer, we set out to improvise with found sounds, synthesizers, loopers and effects.

Join us every Wednesday for a ride on The Galaxy Electric Express 🚀

We perform a LIVE (improvised) Cosmic Tape Music soundtrack for your retro-futuristic travels 💫 You never know what planet you will land on…but you know it’s going to be an unforgettable journey…

Gear:
Buchla Music Easel
1979 Digital Resonator
FM Radio (Koma Elektronik field kit)
Mellotron
Boss RE-20 Space Echo Pedals
Pigtronix Infinity Looper
Monome Grid + MRL

Thanks for listening! Come on a musical voyage with us where we'll send you a new song every day, a cosmic story, and a chance to earn space treasure: https://thegalaxyelectric.lpages.co/5..."

Hacking an Arm Prosthesis to Output CV for Thought Controlled Synthesis

Hacking my arm prosthesis to output CV so that it plugs into my synth: Thought-controlled music!

Published on Feb 13, 2020 Bertolt Meyer

"Together with Chrisi from KOMA Elektronik and my husband Daniel, I am in the process of building a device (the 'SynLimb') that attaches to my arm prosthesis instead of the prosthetic hand. The SynLimb converts the electrode signals that my prosthesis picks up from my residual limb into control voltages (CV) for controlling my modular synthesizer. The SynLimb thus allows me to plug my prosthesis directly into my snythesizer so that I can control its parameters with the signals from my body that normally control the hand. For me, this feels like controlling the synth with my thoughts. I show the prototype(s), explain how we put it together and how it works, and do a little demo.

My Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/bertolt-meyer
Daniel's Art: https://danieltheiler.de

The inspiration to just try this despite not being an engineer came from wonderful Sam aka lookmumnocomputer
The inspiration to venture into modular synthesis in the first place came from the wonderful mylarmelodies"

The Galaxy Electric - Cosmic Tape Music - Improvised Modular Performance - Ancient Alien Forest

Published on Feb 13, 2020 The Galaxy Electric

"Thanks for listening! Come on a musical voyage with us where we'll send you a new song every day, a cosmic story, and a chance to earn space treasure: https://thegalaxyelectric.lpages.co/5...

Today's trip involves a minimal yet sonically rich pairing; Buchla Music Easel, Vocals,Tape Delay and CV Controllable FX

Come with us as we go on a light cosmic rock hop. We loop our Buchla modular synthesizer using the Monome Grid and MLR.The vocal chain consists of two Boss RE-20s going into a Pigtronix Infinity Looper synced via MIDI clock. We explore many of the various aspects of what the Buchla Music Easel has to offer. It is an endless fount of sound creation and manipulation.The Buchla Music Easel is accompanied by a small Eurorack FX chain including a 4MS Dual Looping Delay, Field Kit with CV Radio, and Mutable Instruments Warps for white noise.

We have NO idea what these performances are going to be. We literally turn on our gear and start sound-checking and before we know it, we have traveled to another planet!

Equipment used:
Buchla Music Easel
Roland RE-20 Space Echo Pedal
Onde Magnétique OM-1 Cassette Synthesizer
Pigtronix Infinity Looper
Monome Grid controlling MLR {re:mix Max for Live app}
4MS Dual Looping Delay
KOMA Elektronik - Field Kit with CV Radio
Mutable Instruments Warps for white noise

The Galaxy Electric - https://www.thegalaxyelectric.com"

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"

Patch and Tell - E4 - Onde Magnétique OM-1 Cassette Synthesizer + Drone + Envelope Follower

Published on Jan 21, 2020 The Galaxy Electric

"Thanks for watching! If you are interested in the sound of TAPE you can check out some sound examples of Digital vs. Analog here: https://thegalaxyelectricshop.com/pro...

In this installment of Augustus Green of The Galaxy Electric's Patch and Tell we explore the OM-1 Cassette Synthesizer by Onde Magnétique designed by Scott Campbell out of Louisiana. We are using a prerecorded tape of one of our weekly buchla drone performances. [see here]

I am using the OM-1 for pitch and gate cv control that is being generated from Koma Elektronik's Field Kit's Envelope Follower. The Envelope Follower is a circuit that generates a control voltage envelope from an incoming audio signal. In this case the audio signal is a digital drum loop that was prerecorded onto the cassette using my tape-ify (https://thegalaxyelectricshop.com/pro...) process and played by a Tascam Porta02 mkII. The tape stock used was my low grade Type II CrO2 formula. The pitch and gate of the cv controllable cassette player are informed by the dynamics and feel of the drum loop. I further control the pitch using the buttons on the OM-1 which generate Volt per Octave control voltages that play back the tape at different speeds. The result is a tight groove that allows me to repurpose the drone recording. Lastly, there is a little random cv controlled radio added into the mix for good measure.

The Galaxy Electric - https://www.thegalaxyelectric.com"

The Galaxy Electric - Cosmic Tape Music - Improvised Modular Performance - A Guiding Light

Published on Jan 9, 2020 The Galaxy Electric

The Galaxy Electric - Cosmic Tape Music

"Thanks for listening! Come on a musical voyage with us where we'll send you a new song every day, a cosmic story, and a chance to earn space treasure: https://thegalaxyelectric.lpages.co/5...

Keep the rockets fueled:
https://www.paypal.me/thegalaxye?fbcl...

This is the second installment of a series of improvised modular synth performance mixed with pop elements - female vocals and mellotron.
These elements combined with a tempo synchronized looping technique provide a rich sonic landscape of cosmic texture inspired by the early electronic and tape music innovators. This music is especially inspired by Space Age era electronic music or cosmic tape music. The effects are spring reverb, delay and the occasional reversing and pitch shifting of the recorded phrase. Our goal is to combine analog and digital technology to recreate this early electronic music tonal variety in an improvised setting.

Equipment used:
Buchla Music Easel
Buchla DIY case
Buchla Clones: 266r Source of Uncertainty, 291r Dual Voltage Controlled Filter, 280r Quad Function Generator, 292c Quad Lopass Gate, 259r Programmable Complex Waveform Generator, 281h Dual Function Generator, 292h Dual Lopass Gate, LEM 3U Powered Boat, 280 Touch Activated Voltage Source
1979 Modular: Dual Algorithmic Oscillator, Digital Resonator, Stereo Microsound Processor
Eurorack: Koma Elektronik Field Kit, Erica Synths Pico EG and Pico Input, 4ms Dual Looping Delay and Row 30 Power, Mutable Instruments Warps, Synovatron CVGT1
Mellotron 4000D Mini
Roland RE-20 Space Echo Pedal
Pigtronix Infinity Looper
Onde Magnétique OM-1 Cassette Synthesizer
Monome Grid controlling MLR {re:mix Max for Live app}

Camera:
Apple iPhone X

The Galaxy Electric - https://www.thegalaxyelectric.com"

The Galaxy Electric - Cosmic Tape Music - Improvised Modular Performance - Into the Unknown

Premiered Jan 2, 2020 The Galaxy Electric

Also see Buchla Cosmic Drone Sessions by The Galaxy Electric

"Thanks for listening! Come on a musical voyage with us where we'll send you a new song every day, a cosmic story, and a chance to earn space treasure: https://thegalaxyelectric.lpages.co/5...

This is the first installment of a series of improvised modular synth performance mixed with pop elements - female vocals and mellotron.
These elements combined with a tempo synchronized looping technique provide a rich sonic landscape of cosmic texture inspired by the early electronic and tape music innovators. This music is especially inspired by Space Age era electronic music. The effects are spring reverb, tape delay and the occasional reversing of the recorded phrase. Our goal is to combine analog and digital technology to recreate this early electronic music tonal variety in an improvised setting.

Equipment used:
Buchla Music Easel
Buchla DIY case
Buchla Clones: 266r Source of Uncertainty, 291r Dual Voltage Controlled Filter, 280r Quad Function Generator, 292c Quad Lopass Gate, 259r Programmable Complex Waveform Generator, 281h Dual Function Generator, 292h Dual Lopass Gate, LEM 3U Powered Boat, 280 Touch Activated Voltage Source
1979 Modular: Dual Algorithmic Oscillator, Digital Resonator, Stereo Microsound Processor
Eurorack: Koma Elektronik Field Kit, Erica Synths Pico EG and Pico Input, 4ms Dual Looping Delay and Row 30 Power, Mutable Instruments Warps, Synovatron CVGT1
Mellotron 4000D Mini
Roland RE-20 Space Echo Pedal
Pigtronix Infinity Looper
Onde Magnétique OM-1 Cassette Synthesizer
Monome Grid controlling MLR {re:mix Max for Live app}

Camera:
Apple iPhone X

The Galaxy Electric - https://www.thegalaxyelectric.com"

Common Ground Anglerfish & Effect Pedals

Published on Jul 8, 2019 Fahmi M.

"Anglerfish, a 6-voice standalone square wave synth, with playable touch keys, light-sensitive cross-modulation with UV LED indicators, master tilt EQ, and built-in dimmable light control. The Anglerfish can be used to create deep drones, squeaky microsounds and haunting rhythmic explorations with the twist of a knob. Anglerfish is the first self-released DIY Kit by Common Ground, designed by Bridget Ferrill.

In this video, I try to experiment with Anglerfish and effect pedals (eq, filter, reverb)."

KOMA Elektronik Anglerfish

Common Ground Anglerfish DIY Kit Action!

Published on Mar 26, 2019 KOMA Elektronik

"The new Common Ground Anglerfish in action. Starting off with some additional delay and frequency shifter effects by the KOMA Field Kit FX, towards the end without any effects. Casually narrated by Wouter."

See this post for details.

KOMA Elektronik ANGLERFISH - Common Ground DIY Kit

Published on Mar 26, 2019 KOMA Elektronik

"Anglerfish is a 6 square oscillator noise and dronemaker for experimental and drony sounds! Use the light controls with the built-in LED or use an external torch to modulate the pitch! Drone on! This DIY Kit is suitable for beginner solderers. Anglerfish is the first self-released DIY Kit by Common Ground, designed by Bridget Ferrill.

The Pitch of each oscillator is determined by corresponding potentiometers and the three switches between the oscillators open up light-sensitive connections between adjacent pots. This means both oscillators’ pitches will bend according to the amount of light the photocells receive (LED’s indicate strength of current flowing between the pots) The Tone pot controls a shelf EQ on the master output, with cutoff frequency at 482 HZ and the dangling LED is there for you to use to play the light-sensitive circuit. Adjust the brightness of the LED with the pot next to it. DRONE/KEYS switch chooses between either all 6 voices playing constantly or voices playing only when activated with key. Use 9V center positive PSU."

KOMA ELEKTRONIK KOMPLEX SEQUENCER

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Friday Fun Synth Jam - Arturia Keylab MKII, Pittsburgh SV-1, Koma Field Kit FX

Published on Nov 2, 2018 sonicstate

"Another in our occasional Friday Fun synth Jam series - this time we've hooked up the Arturia Keylab MKII, the Pittsburgh Modular SV-1 and the Koma Elektronik Field Kit FX.

Nicks Music: https://soniclab.bandcamp.com"

New KOMA Dual Discrete VCA Eurorack Module

Published on Oct 3, 2018 KOMA Elektronik

"The KOMA Dual Discrete VCA offers two independent high quality VCA channels, both built up out of discrete transistor cells with low CV and audio bleed, very low noise and distortion. The VCA’s feature set also enables you to experiment with the linear/exponential response curve, changing the dynamics of your sound. Play around with the gain settings for creative distortion effects in the classic KOMA style: High quality sound by default, noise by choice!"

"BERLIN, 3 OCT 2018 - KOMA has been rather quiet on the Eurorack front over the past years, but that is about to change! Introducing the latest module in the KOMA Elektronik Eurorack line: the Dual Discrete VCA!

The KOMA Dual Discrete VCA offers two independent high quality VCA channels, both built up out of discrete transistor cells with low CV and audio bleed, very low noise and distortion. The VCA’s feature set also enables you to experiment with the linear/exponential response curve, changing the dynamics of your sound. Play around with the gain settings for creative distortion effects in the classic KOMA style: High quality sound by default, noise by choice!

Our VCA is designed to operate with CV signals of 0V - 5V. We added attenuators (ATT) on CV Input 1 of Channel A and CV Input 2 of Channel B, to allow the user to adjust the incoming CV level. For instance: when you have a higher CV signal, you can attenuate it down to the appropriate 5V level.
More Modules are coming!

And this is not the end, we are designing and developing more modules which will be released over the coming months, together forming a full KOMA Eurorack system. We aim for each module to be a definite version of its function, which exemplifies the rich and unique KOMA sound, unique music machines with great build quality and excellent customer care.

The Dual Discrete VCA is available from today onwards from the KOMA Elektronik website and through KOMA Elektronik dealers world-wide for a MRSP of 199EUR."

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."

Koma Elektronik Field Kit (solenoid + drum machine)

Published on May 23, 2018 Javier Lara

With a Roland CompuRhythm CR-5000.

Welcome back Mr. N

Published on May 13, 2018 Malibu Interface

Improvisation, part of a future live setup.
Using the Roland RSS-10 Sound Space Processor combined with the Koma Poltergeist module (https://koma-elektronik.com/…) for the 3D effects.
2 tracks recording on a Nagra Ares ML.
The following modules / synths have been used :
MS-20 Mini (Korg)
bitbox (1010Music)
Clouds (Mutable Instruments)
Elements (Mutable Instruments)
Electron Fuzz Custom eurorack (Retro Mechanical Labs)
Streichfett (Waldorf)
Avatar (ARP)
ER-100 8 ch. summing mixer (Arrel Audio)
ER-140 Summute (Arrel Audio)
Pico Seq (Erica Synth)
A-157 (Doepfer)
L-130 (Ladik)

Inside KOMA Elektronik HQ at Common Ground

Published on May 2, 2018 DivKidVideo

"To kick off the Modular Podcast footage at the 2018 Superbooth we went to KOMA Elektronik at their headquarters in Common Ground. Common Ground is a community, DIY build space, DIY kit shop, vintage synth collection and lots more. Woutr takes us on a tour around the public and private spaces involved with both the Common Ground shop front and the working spaces and staff at KOMA. The space is peppered with great books, modular systems, DIY projects, soviet era synths, broken synths users can buy and fix themselves and loads more.

We're proud to have our Superbooth 2018 content sponsored by www.thonk.co.uk"

Koma Elektronik FIELD KIT FX IS SHIPPING!

Published on Apr 17, 2018 KOMA Elektronik

"KOMA FIELD KIT FX IS SHIPPING

First batch Kickstarter units shipped with more to follow over the next weeks!

Two months after successfully starting the production process, Berlin-based KOMA Elektronik is happy to announce that our latest machine, the Field Kit FX, is officially shipping! First we will ship out all the Kickstarter rewards, after which we will start shipping all pre-orders and dealer orders. Have a sneak peak in our office on the busiest shipping day of this year so far.

The new KOMA Elektronik Field Kit FX is a powerhouse of an effect with an on board Looper, Frequency Shifter, Bit Crusher, Digital Delay, Spring Reverb, 4 Channel VCA Mixer, 4 Step Sequencer, Mini ADSR and all of that under CV control! Wanna hear what that sounds like!? Over the past weeks we added a bunch of new videos to our YouTube channel. [below]

We are very much looking forward to see what all our customers will do with their Field Kit FX’s; to learn new techniques and see musical creativity in action! All units are hand assembled in Berlin, Germany and the Field Kit FX, in both boxed and Eurorack version, is now available for order from the KOMA Elektronik website, all orders made from now onwards will ship earliest in May 2018.

MRSP: 249 EUR (assembled) | Expansion Pack: 64 EUR."