Kinotone Ghosts is a new chord resonator pedal/stompbox that is a 6-voice physical modeling Synthesizer playable with guitars, MIDI, and more
Physical modeling synthesizers typically use finely tuned resonators that are excited by various sound sources, like different flavors of noise and more. This concept is commonly found in synthesizers or Eurorack modules, such as the Mutable Instruments Rings or the new Strymon Superkar+.
Kintone, developer of the beautiful Ribbons and Sparks pedals, now brings physical modeling synthesis to guitars and everything you can plug into a pedal.
Kinotone Ghosts
Ghosts is a 6-voice physical modeling Synthesizer and effects pedal in a striking green finish. At the core of Kinotone Ghosts is a physical modeling engine comprising flexible, high-fidelity physical models/resonators: strings, tubes, and bars.
They can be excited by external audio, such as guitar or other instrument sounds, a built-in contact microphone, or MIDI notes. Thus, the pedal is not only a unique physical modeling effects processor but also a complete Synthesizer.
If you use a MIDI keyboard, you can choose from multiple MIDI exciters, such as pluck, strike, and blow. Plus, you can create your own exciter from a captured loop.
You can tweak the Ghosts engine with various parameters. Part of it is also a reharmonization engine that lets you play the resonators with 12 selectable preset chords (5, 4, m, m7, etc.) and up to 6 MIDI notes.
Additionally, you can select the rote note and the chord voicing for it. Neat, it also supports MTS SysEx files for microtonal and xenharmonic scales. Once you find your favorite setting, you can also save your user chords and scales as presets.
The Kinotone Ghosts engine also features a custom-designed stereo reverb that adds space to your sounds. Intriguing is the option to route it pre- or post-resonator so that the space may excite the object or vice versa.
Flexible Playable Touch Modes
A highlight of the pedal is also the built-in contact microphone playable with the golden surface. You can strum, tap, or scratch the mic to excite the resonators with adjustable sensitivity, turning the pedal into a standalone instrument.
It doesn’t stop there. Kinotone has also developed MIDI clockable performance effects (touch modes) that can be placed pre- or post-resonators. First, you can work with a looper with speed and direction controls with infinite overdubs.
It can capture up to 40 seconds at 0.5x, 20 seconds at 1x, or 10 seconds at 2x. These loops can also be used as custom exciters for the engine.
Next, you have a rhythm generator mode that features analog-modeled models of a kick, snare, and hi-hat. It has 11 patterns, plus, on the 12th, you can find an Euclidean random notch, which generates new patterns algorithmically.
They can be used as an exciter modifier, adding a rhythmic quality to the effected sounds.
Terrazzo unlocks a granular processor that turns the physical modeling tones into new, colorful, lush forms and textures. It has six distinct read heads that spread across the stereo field with adjustable grain size and envelope shape.
And the fourth mode is the Sheapard Shifter, an emulation of the Bode Frequency shifter that adds motion and bends perception by up- and down-shifting the audio spectrum.
Connectivity
Kinotone Ghosts ships with six factory presets and can hold up to 32 presets using MIDI. On the connection side, it has a TRS stereo input and output, a TRS MIDI input (A + B), a USB-C port, an expression pedal in /CV in, and a 9V DC power supply socket.
And all the parameters are fully controllable via MIDI, CV, or an expression pedal.
First Impression
Physical modeling synths are pretty rare on the market, and it’s nice to see that another one is now available. It has an unusual format, but it’s packed with creative features. It’s great to see that Ghosts also pairs well with guitars and any other signal, like vocals, drums, and more.
I particularly like the sounds when the resonators are excited by other sources. This produces acoustic-like sounds I haven’t heard from a hardware PM before. Congrats Kinotone.
Kinotone Ghosts is available now for pre-order for $399. The first batch is sold out, but the second batch pre-order will open soon.
More information here: Kinotone
Kinotone pedals are also available from my partner
good,but overpriced