KOMA Elektronik Field Kit

The KOMA Elektronik Field Kit is an electroacoustic workstation: a single box that combines a 4-channel mixer, an LFO, a CV-controllable radio, an envelope follower, a sensor interface and a DC interface. Where a typical effects pedal shapes a signal that arrives at its input, the Field Kit is built to bring the outside world into an electronic music setup, turning light, heat, distance, switches, motors and radio signals into control voltage and audio¹.

KOMA Elektronik offers the Field Kit in an assembled version and a DIY version, with a listed price from 274,00 EUR². The current product line also includes a DIY Kit, an Expansion Pack and an FX Expansion Pack³.

The mixer, LFO, radio and envelope follower

The heart of the Field Kit is its four-channel mixer. Master Volume and Aux Volume controls set the level of the master and aux channels, and dedicated Aux Select buttons determine which channels are sent to the aux sub-mix. The aux sub-mix is pre-fader, so it reflects channel levels before the master fader stage².

The LFO's output waveform is set with a three-position Waveform control, giving a square wave, a triangle wave, or a mix of square and triangle¹.

The radio is CV-able, meaning control voltage can sweep it like any other parameter in the system. The Field Kit comes with three connectors for attaching antennas for the FM and SW bands, plus a loop antenna connector for AM signals².

The envelope follower applies full-wave rectification (mirroring of the negative portions of the waveform) and low-pass filtering (averaging) to an input signal to generate a control voltage. KOMA notes it can also be used for frequency doubling of a signal⁵.

The DC interface and sensor interface

The Signal Interface consists of two parts, the Switch Interface and the Sensor Interface, and its job is to transform the raw signals of sensors and switches into signals usable with the Field Kit or other gear⁵².

The Sensor Interface manipulates the output voltage of analog sensors such as light, heat or distance sensors and converts their signals into control voltage. It can amplify or attenuate the incoming signal and add a DC offset. Its maximum output voltage is about 8V, and KOMA states it provides enough current to power an Arduino⁵.

The Switch Interface has two outputs that can be used at the same time, with an output voltage range from 0V to about 8V. KOMA's example: you could drive a motor and scan the CV radio with the same switch⁵.

The DC Interface is the motor side of the box. It can be used in two modes, PWM/CV and Pulse (triggers and gate), selected with a two-position Mode switch, and it has a multifunctional Intensity control plus a CV/trigger input whose function depends on the mode and whether a jack is present¹⁵:

• PWM/CV mode: for PWM-controlled devices. KOMA's example is a DC motor whose rotation speed is set by varying the pulse width¹.
• Pulse mode: for pulse-controlled devices. KOMA's example is a solenoid motor whose impulse strength and distance are set by the length of the control pulse¹.

The DC Interface's maximum output voltage is also about 8V, and it too provides enough current to power an Arduino¹. The Field Kit Expansion Pack comes with both a prepared DC motor and a prepared solenoid motor, ready to be used with the DC Interface¹.

Power: 9V adapter

The Field Kit runs on the included 9V power adapter, which accepts 100V to 240V and ships in EU, US, UK or AU versions depending on the shipping location¹. The boxed Field Kit FX uses the same adapter arrangement⁶, and the Field Kit FX Eurorack-to-boxed conversion kit includes a 9V/2A PSU⁷.

Versions: assembled, DIY and Eurorack

The Field Kit comes in several forms. The assembled boxed version is the standard electroacoustic workstation, sold in Standard and Scratch'n'Dent Sale grades¹. The Eurorack version is the same assembled workstation in Eurorack format⁵. The DIY version, sold only on the KOMA website, requires soldering and assembly work².

The DIY version ships with a PCB with the SMD components already soldered, a wood box, the interface panel, all hardware and components needed, a power supply, the book "50 Ways To Use the Field Kit" and stickers². KOMA also publishes a DIY production manual for it².

The Field Kit family extends beyond the workstation itself. The Field Kit FX is a CV-controlled multi-effects processor that KOMA says pairs extremely well with the Field Kit⁸⁷; Gearnews' Robin Vincent described it as coming about as an extension for the original Field Kit, though it can be used without one⁹. The Field Kit FX is available as an assembled unit in a wooden enclosure or as a Eurorack module⁶, and Vincent noted the wooden box can be taken apart and mounted in a Eurorack⁹. Its Eurorack version includes a 4-channel VCA mixer with individual volume and tone control per channel and CV control over the VCA⁸. KOMA also sells a bundle combining the Field Kit, Field Kit FX and expansion packs¹⁰, and an FX Expansion Pack with cables, contact microphones and a spring tank for connecting to the Field Kit FX³.

History and pricing

The announced MSRP was 229 EUR for the assembled version and 179 EUR for the DIY version⁴. The current product page lists the Field Kit from 274,00 EUR¹.

All units are hand assembled in Berlin, Germany⁴.

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