KOMA Elektronik FT201 Filter-Sequencer Review

US Modular analog filter/10 step sequencer pedal 11/04/14

MP4	12:54 mins

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At Musikmesse this year we got a look at the range of modular pedals on offer from KOMA Elektronik. All the of their designs are pretty innovative and have some very cool features. The FT201 is a state variable voltage controlled vactrol analog filter with a built in 10 step sequencer.

The FT201 has 3 different filter outputs: band pass, low pass and high pass, which all work simultaneously and are accessible as outputs on the patch bay. The cutoff frequency range is very large, between 20 Hz and 20 kHz and because of the vactrols used the sound quality is superb. The 10 Step Sequencer runs through the selected amount of steps (2 – 10 steps) and adds the control voltage to the value set by the Cutoff knob, thus modulating the cutoff frequency in every step.

All the KOMA Elektronik pedals have an on board motion controller which allows the user to control most of the features of the pedal by just moving a hand, foot or other object over the pedal.

Having owned this pedal for a while now I have found it to be a great tool for working with a modular synth, I can't say much as guitar pedal however..

The sequencer combined with the infrared motion controller, give you a very nice tabletop interface for a modular synth. The sequencer also doesnt have to only be used as a CV source for modulations, it can also be used for sequencing pitch which if you dont have a hardware sequencer can come in very handy!

Available directly from KOMA Elektronik for €354. Which if you look at it as just a filter is not very cheap, however combined with the sequencer and motion sensor I think you get quite a lot for your money. I also think the unique aspect of putting all of these features together in one pedal forces you to patch in ways that you might not usually do, which creatively I think can only be a good thing!

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