KMA Audio Machines

Notes: Designed as the ultimate choice for the end of your signal chain, Endgame is a stereo pedal with a seriously clever design. An effects loop, amp/cabinet/room simulation and double-tracking features are among the options on offer.

Supplier's Notes:
After years of development work, ENDGAME is KMA Machine's most ambitious creation to date. A highly flexible and comprehensive solution for the end of your signal chain, ENDGAME is a superb problem solver and a convenient creative companion.

Talk about feature packed! With an integrated Stereo FX loop, KMA's proprietary True Double-Tracker doubler and own DUAL IR cab with power amp simulation, an Aux Input (also via Bluetooth), real pro-level XLR outputs and extensive routing options, ENDGAME really is a powerhouse for your board, whether touring as a fly rig or practicing at home with headphones.

And now, you can finally use all your stereo devices with just one easy to use and compact product - let the alchemy begin!

It's no secret that over the past few years stereo pedals have become a huge part of many musician's rigs. While many regular tones can (and should) be mono, KMA are very much fond of stereo effects. But why is it so hard to use them either at home or on the stage? Without the luxury of 2 amps (plus the ability to turn them up if you have them) or for owners of cab/amp simulators that are usually mono input by design, monitoring stereo effects properly can end up being so difficult that many just end up running their stereo effects in mono and therefore lose many of their spatial creativity nuances.

Doubling guitars in recording is also a common practice in a variety of musical styles. In many cases, a single guitarist will record the same track twice with each separate recording being spread to the left and right channels. The effect of this is unmistakable to the ear and the slight differences and nuances between the two separate performances complement each other to create a noticeable thickness, density and weight to the musical experience. This is hard to get sounding right live too. Note this is not the same thing as simple doublers (that just delay one signal with a modulation) or ADT type solutions that are on the market today.

So, KMA developed ENDGAME. KMA wanted to make an easy-to-use product that gives the essentials of good tone, nothing more and nothing less. While from the front panel it might look like ENDGAME has lots of controls, compared to many hidden menus and screens in many other products, all means that it is also deceptively simple to use, despite the huge complexity of what's going on inside!

Stereo FX Loop

A Stereo FX Loop isn't a new thing, but in ENDGAME's case it is probably one of the most usable, making this a killer feature!

For maximum flexibility, the serial loop features routing that can exist either before or after the IR loader and/ or Doubler (when active). Buffered for the sake of long cable runs and to maximise signal clarity, you can now hear your stereo pedals and other effects in their true pristine glory! Plus, you can quickly switch the loop on or off via the convenient soft footswitch.

True Double Tracker

Whether playing live or recording with a single instrument, the KMA ENDGAME's True Double Tracker provides the perfect solution for adding a "fatness" and "width" to your performances and really feels like you are playing the same riff twice!

Enabled via the footswitch, the doubler accurately replicates the minor differences that could exist within two separate recordings and the width control can spread your doubled tracks anywhere from completely centred (0%) to 50% left and right (centre indent) and 100% left and right split.

Notes: Amazingly versatile phaser business in this brilliantly designed pedal. Watch the demo video to hear the amazing range of sounds this one can do. Best phaser ever? Might just be.

Supplier's Notes:

Jump into spaceship Horizont and begin your trek into star- filled galaxies, all while discovering the incredible vastness of the sounds created by this inter-dimensional multi-spatial stereo analog JFET Phaser. The unexpected is waiting for you behind the far away horizon and it will be a journey you'll never forget!

The Horizont's mission is to push way beyond the classic phasing sounds of yesteryear, and take you to uncharted phaser worlds the second you plug in. By combining lush analog JFET phasing with digitally controlled dynamics, Horizont creates a vivid and expressive modulation experience, all while providing experimental and creative features that'll kick phasing well into the 21st century.

Besides the more common phaser controls, the Horizont offers a plethora of new and exciting options for all the interstellar tone chasers out there. To greatly broaden the range of phasing tones available, KMA implemented a digital LFO with no less than eight different waveforms: Ramp Up/Down, Sine/Triangle/Square wave, a sweeping waveform, Sample & Hold and a random slope waveform going from 20s down to 40ms.

The implemented envelope generator is one of Horizont's absolute key features. It transforms your input signal into a control source to modulate the speed of the digitally controlled LFO or lets you manually phase for a resonant touch wah- like sound, depending on the state of the SWP- and SPURTCONTROL-Switch.

Set the SPURTCONTROL switch to LFO to let the SPURT knob adjust the internal phasing speed. However, by flicking the switch to ENV (Envelope) mode, it allows you to dynamically modulate the speed along the full LFO speed range, based on how loud the input source is (e.g. when you attack the strings hard). You can also combine the SPURT knob and the envelope by flicking the toggle to LFO+ENV where SPURT then sets the minimum speed. For even more control, you can even plug in an external expression pedal/CV-source (0-5V) to alter the minimum speed on-the-fly or you can use the TAP TEMPO switch (tap just twice) to set the speed to fit in with the tempo of your music.

The EXP-Mode switch also lets you choose between a manual phasing mode, controlled by an expression-pedal or an external CV source. Setting the EXP-Mode switch to the middle position will disable any external expression control.
The SWP (Sweep) switch lets you decide to use either the LFO or the envelope of your instrument signal to control the phasing.

The envelope can be set to upwards or downwards operation via the ENV switch, seeing the LFO either slowing down or speeding up, or flipping the orientation when phasing manually from lows to highs and vice versa. In conjunction with the FUEL (Sensitivity) and the DECAY controls, the envelope can be tailored perfectly to your needs.

The EMPH (Emphasis) mode from the original Astrospurt Phaser was kept, but have reworked and refined it extensively for the Horizont. The four toggle-switches determine the stage in which the phase-shifted signal is fed back into itself, while the REG (Regeneration) control sets the feedback amount. We also smoothed out the overall sound of the EMPH mode for a more pronounced, and crisp vocal-like tone. Each of the different switch variations and turn of the REG control will yield different results, seeing you discover new wild, fuzzy and noisy galaxies as you travel deeper down this sonic wormhole.

In order for you to levitate through spacetime, a stereo output has been added to the Horizont. You can switch between a standard stereo output or a panning output, via the STEREOPAN switch. Synchronized with the LFO speed, the upper cycle of the LFO sends the signal to the OUT1 and the bottom cycle to the OUT2. This is without a shadow of a doubt the most liquid and astonishing phasing experience you'll ever embark upon. But wait, there's more! Stop and take a deep breath, set the MIX control to fully clean and the Horizont is transformed into a Tremolo on-the-spot, with all the other aforementioned features.

Last but by no means least, the Horizont was equipped with an FX-Loop right in front of the phase-shifting line. This enables you to add your own secret sonic weapons to this spaceship, seeing you create your very own unique phasing sounds.The pedals' headroom was also increased drastically by boosting the internal circuit voltage to 18V, from the regular 9V input, to give the cleanest phasing possible no matter what instrument or line source you use.

Notes: From the outset, KMA Machine's goal was to create the most flexible analogue upper octave pedal ever yet produced. Based on a highly refined and improved version of the Shriek circuit from KMA's venerated MOAI MAEA pedal, the MANDRAKE brings an even more robust and present upper octave to the sonic table. By combining that upper-octave might with a versatile, yet highly intuitive user interface, the pedal provides a ton of killer tonal options in a very modern and pedalboard-friendly package.

"The humanesque abomination, begat of the evils that once fertilised his empire of dirt, now senses the bleak emptiness of the air that surrounds him. In recognition of his harvest and the perpetual change to his existence, his mesmerising scream is both devastating and euphoric, so all those that encircle him are subdued from the aural toxicity that emanates from the disfigured effigy."

Octave up pedals (as used by so many legendary performers including Hendrix, Tony Iommi, Josh Homme, Billy Corgan, Jack White and so many more), can really give added bite to your sound. But often, many of these fun tools can be untamed and lead to nasty clashing overtones.

With MANDRAKE however, KMA didn't want to just make a one trick pony octave up device. The powerful and ultra-fast tracking Shriek circuit was expanded on with its edgy and fuzzy character that's reminiscent of many of the best vintage octave-up devices. To do this, a 2nd order Low-Pass Filter was introduced, a TIMBRE and individual Mix controls to KMA's well-regarded circuit to make it way more versatile in a single pedal. Let's look at those cool new things in more detail.

The FILTER control helps to tame your upper harmonics, as well as to improve tracking, letting you achieve unhinged, cutting and shrieking mayhem when the control is fully turned all the way to the left. While turning the knob in the other direction gives a more mellow and blooming synth-like texture. The FILTER section is also very useful for tailoring the upper octave effect to different instruments and pickups, where getting the right tone is not a "one size fits all" equation.

In addition, to enable the octave voicing in MANDRAKE to be sculpted exactly to your own personal taste, the TIMBRE control defines the amount of fuzzy gain present in the upper octave. This allows you to perfectly blend in the pedal's tonality with the rest of your signal chain. Turning the control fully counterclockwise, gives a slightly crunchy and percussive tone that's ideal for melodic arpeggio enhancements. While cranking the TIMBRE knob fully clockwise will transform MANDRAKE into a crushingly saturated doom-hammer, instantly ready to wreak havoc with each power chord you throw at it!

Topping off the features, the DRY and OCT+ controls allow the dry signal and effected upper octave to be mixed independently, for precise tonal balancing. This is especially handy when using MANDRAKE together with other dirt pedals or when you just want to retain the natural body and attack of your instrument.

Subtle descant or decimating octaval Armageddon? With MANDRAKE the choice is totally yours!

Notes: When you add drive, dirt or other sound manipulation devices to your signal, the trade-off is always noise. So, many players turn to noise gates to help tame these unwanted nasties. Unlike many noise gates on the market, the PYLON ATB Noise Gate seeks to not only drive back the hordes of fizz and hum, but also arms and reinforces your tonal attack, shutting down the noise and yet helping you enjoy your rig's true potential.

This advanced, multi-functional and super-versatile pedal not only features an ultra-fast Gate with a smooth trigger, an integrated Boost section, an External Trigger Input for external bypass switching or Gate-triggering, a relay-based Channel Switcher for your amp but also sports a built-in Audio Transformer to help enhance and balance your rig. Hear and feel the quiet in the eye of the storm!

"Deep within the solitude of the temple, the Sau's of the Per-Ankh assembled in silence. Their conclusion was self-evident. Only those pure of tone could be received in the temple and find sonic peace. From the centre of their silent circle, the Orb swelled and raised above the Pylons. Erupting in a rain of light and spewing forth daggers of lightning, their new God subdued and separated the chaotic ocean of noise from the perfect breeze of stillness. Peace reigned once more, the hordes of cacophony overcome."

When talking about signal gain, we all know drive circuits at full tilt can be noisy malice monsters. To help get a grip on your noise floor, PYLON's NOISE GATE is based on a high-performance Blackmerr VCA and provides lightning-fast and precise performance. To find the right spot, simply choose between one of the two detection-range settings and dial in the THRESHOLD to taste. With either softly decaying notes using HIGH mode or a fast-closing response in LOW mode, you're sure to be able to dial in super tight tones when you need it, but without interfering with your sonic signature. Fast palm-mutes? No problem. Decaying notes? Dead simple to accomplish and just so you know when it is operating, the white status LED will also turn blue as soon as the gate starts to act.

Providing up to 30 dB of gain, the integrated BOOST circuit can really help to fine tune your tone, but it can also serve as an attenuator too. Its CUT control will tighten up your low end and is selectable between 65-730 Hz to ensure a mid-focussed and cutting lead sound when pushing your amp's preamp into saturation. Choosing between three different modes for the boost's on/off state, gives you plenty of options on how you want to use it. Either leave it ON to always help shape your tone, OFF if you don't need it, or use SYNC mode so it is activated with the GATE. Both CUT & BOOST knobs are backlit, in order to show you the on/off status of the BOOST section at a glance.

Using transformers in pro-audio gear is nothing new, but while they help to easily match the impedance of low-level and unbalanced signals such as from guitar or bass instruments, PYLON's audio-grade-transformer also gives additional warmth with associated nice low-frequency harmonics. Your guitars, synths or in fact anything you put through the pedal will never have sounded so solid. The pedal gives more 'heft' and enhances the core tone, in a much finer way and without any of the phase issues that can happen when using EQ alone!

However, when the output transformer is boosted even further in level, it can overload many amplifier or pre-amp inputs and make things appear muddy, especially with high levels of additional gain. So, to help tame superfluous low end (especially for rhythm chugging and soloing), KMA Machines added a fixed built-in roll off that affects everything below 65 Hz when the internal BOOST section is activated.

Powered by an optional standard 9V DC (max.) PSU (negative center, 2.1mm, >160mA current draw)