#222

Hello everyone, after a long night and morning thinking there is something wrong with my setup I think I found the culprit - and it seems to be the Field Kit FX - Is it just me or does it have an extremely annoying whine to it?

I currently have patch 43 setup (from the manual) which is the Shifted Delay - when i unplug everything the whine stops, im not sure how I didn’t notice before - perhaps because I was making more noisy stuff, where as im working on something more ambient now.

Has anyone had the same problem?

  • PS I just unplugged the output from the field kit fx and then noticed I could still hear the whine - for a second I thought i was going crazy, then noticed I could actually hear the whine coming from the unit itself! after unplugging and plugging it back in its still whining - surely something isn’t right here!?
#223

Are you using it with eurorack or standalone with its 9v psu? I have just been using mine which has been adapted for euro and there is no whine

#224

two things:

  • if you use this (euro)racked, whine could come from other modules. i installed an antumbra klik in my otherwise quiet case and immediately it all began whining - through the power rails.
  • if standalone then check if you use the power supply that came with it or is it some other adapter. small PSUs of the switching kind emit noise like that. you can hear whine on e.g. korg volca for the same reasons.
#225

I am using it stand alone with the 9v power supply provided by KOMA Elektronik themselves - then going into an adaptor so that it can fit into a UK plug (the adaptor was also provided by the company which I purchased the unit from)

I have tried using a different adaptor but I am still getting the same whine.

I have emailed the manufacturer so I will see what they have to say on the matter

Any help is much appreciated.

#226

I had the same noise with mine when I used it standalone. (similar to you, I didn’t notice it initially)

as soon, as I put it in my Eurorack, the noise disappeared - so definitely its the PSU.

have you tried using a USB battery pack and something like a Ripcord or the Koma Strom Mobile?
If I remove my KFK from the Eurorack, this is probably what I’ll do, not only should it get rid of the noise - but also will make it a nice portable solution.

#227

Its good to know I am not the only one!

I looked up the Strom mobile - what is a Ripcord? similar kind of principle as the Strom mobile?

I will consider this option, however I must say I feel a bit bitter spending more money to get the device to sound as you would expect after spending €200+

#228

Screen Shot 2020-07-12 at 21.59.54
Screen Shot 2020-07-12 at 21.59.541140×776 115 KB

Going by this from Koma’s website - 9V centre negative, you could probably try a decent guitar pedal PSU and see what results you get with that. From the manual (“Another 50 ways”) the Fieldkit FX needs 600mA. Do double-check that centre-negative is indeed what is indicated on your PSU - you wouldn’t want to get that polarity wrong.

#229

If you record the output of the field kit (with no audio in) does the whine appear on the recording or it is strictly coming from the unit and going out in the air into your earholes? Is the noise from the unit or the power supply/wall wart? I have definitely heard a wall wart whine before, then fail shortly after and make a steady clicking noise. As others have suggested trying a different power supply might hopefully clear that up either way, but damn.

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#230

eesn I have the exact PSU you have in that screenshot.

addamm Yes the whine appears on the recording and the whine is coming from the unit itself (I put my ear right up to it and can hear it coming from inside)

I will try a different power supply and report back.

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#231

I just did a quick test on mine. I normally use a battery with the Strom adapter, but using the stock PSU, I was able to hear a faint high-pitched whine from it without anything plugged in only if the feedback control was turned up all the way, otherwise quiet.

#232

I’m just beginning on my time with the Field Kit and still finding my way but wanted to share that this very inexpensive electret mic from Tayda does interface with the sensor input. The pins are not in the same order but that’s easy to swap around.
There are a green led for power and another green led for output and there is a sensitivity pot that sets a level which gates the output.
Sound quality isn’t that great but hey, it’s $.50!

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