KMA Machines Geminus Stereo True Double Tracker Pedal

The first outing for KMA’s unique and custom AI driven True Double Tracker technology was in the ENDGAME, our powerhouse end-of-chain pedal. We designed our dead-simple-to-use, TDT Algorithm in ENDGAME to be as authentic to the doubling recording process as possible, but we realise that not everybody needs all the bells and whistles of such an all-encompassing device. However, the processing power requirements required for TDT meant a simpler device wasn’t yet possible. But as demand from the community grew, our team worked hard to squeeze it down and make it happen.

So, meet GEMINUS - all of KMA’s True Double Tracker goodness in a compact pedal that’s suitable for any board. Whether playing live or recording with a single instrument, GEMINUS is the perfect solution for adding “fatness” and “width” to your performances - it really does feel like you are playing the same riff twice!

Enabled via the soft bypass footswitch, GEMINUS accurately replicates the minor differences that exist between two separate recordings. The TDT WIDTH control spreads your doubled tracks, anywhere from completely centred (0%) to 50% left and right (centre indent) and 100% left and right split.

KMA has carried out extensive research on how to make double tracking sound exactly how we think it should perform. In the process, we’ve spent thousands of engineering hours working on our own proprietary technology, even developing our own custom neural network AI with onset detection in the process for our algorithms.

The mode for the TRS input and output jacks is selected by the toggle switch. You can choose between stereo in and out, mono in and stereo out or mono in to mono out, so no matter your signal and tonal desires, GEMINUS will fit into your rig with ease.

For the most accurate performance (and just like the real double tracking scenario in the studio), our custom True Double Tracker algorithm should ideally be fed with a mono signal. Obviously if you are trying to emulate what traditionally happens in the studio, you wouldn’t normally double up a stereo source. Having said that, our TDT algorithm has been optimised to still have a useful and very pleasing widening effect on stereo input signals, just take care that using too much doubling on some stereo sources may cause your carefully crafted reverb, delay or other modulation effects to turn to mush or even add phase issues.

To help tailor the Doubling to your own taste, the TIME control changes the timing range of the doubled AI-driven onset detection. Essentially, it’s all about the tightness of the doubled signal to fit differing playing styles. Variable from an extra tight mode, that’s perfect for extra fast riffs, to a looser timing that can just the right amount of density to more open playing styles, this control is a powerful weapon to make your riffs fit your musical goals. The centre detent is GEMINUS’ default factory position, but turning the knob left will give a tighter feel. Crank the knob to the right and the doubled signal becomes much more relaxed.

While the LEVEL control affects the balance of the doubled signal against the original source. Useful for those times where you might want maximum width, but a little less (or even more) of the sound to be doubled against the original. Centre detent of the knob is GEMINUS’ default factory position. There’s some clever panning stuff going on under the hood here too, so neither the doubled or original signal is louder on one side or the other, when in Stereo.

Finally, the new PITCH selector switch can add some additional movement to your doubled signal, extending the usefulness of GEMINUS beyond standard doubling. When the switch is at the centre default position (-) there is no pitch adjustment, (~) adds some subtle modulation, while (≈) adds even more wobble. In this mode, it doesn’t mean that your second guitarist will sound like they are off on a quest for enlightenment all on their own (!), it is just super handy for those times when you want more chaos and instability in your ensemble.

To top it all off, we’ve added a switchable real True/Buffered bypass and ‘silent’ relay-based soft switching. When we were testing our new pedal platform, we really loved the clarity and signal integrity of KMA’s Buffered Bypass, plus there are zero clicks and pops when switching in this mode, which is why it is the recommended and default mode on shipping. However, we know some players have some special devices like extra fussy vintage fuzz pedals and the like, so we added the ability to select True Bypass mode via an internal dip switch (*see the Quick Start Guide for more details).

Phew, seems that there’s quite a lot going inside GEMINUS then. We believe our True Double-Tracker in this pedal is the best sounding, yet easiest to use doubler you’ll ever play - period. Go forth and multiply your riffs!