Kinotone Sparks Yellow

Kinotone Sparks Yellow

Analog Harmonic Processor

Sparks is a stereo overdrive, wavefolder, and state-variable filter that combines a fully analog signal path with advanced digital control. Every parameter is continuous and can be modulated by the LFO and envelope follower — letting you navigate vast spectrums of texture and motion.

Color your signal in one sweep, from subtle grit to blown out fuzz. Sculpt the harmonics with a shape-shifting filter. Spin the LFO across the stereo field to create expansive analog soundscapes. You can even play Sparks as an instrument on its own with a built-in SID Chip-inspired synthesizer.

Waveshaping and Utility

• Designed for instrument and line level inputs.
• Crossfade from warm soft clipping to 4-stage wavefolding.
• Optional low-cut before the drive reduces bass and adds clarity to polyphonic material.
• Blend knob to mix in or boost your dry signal.
• Gate can be used at high gain settings or for creative effects.

State-Variable Filter

• Sculpt your sound with a musical 12dB/octave multi-mode filter.
• Continuously-variable between high-pass, band-pass, and low-pass filter types.
• Crank the resonance to create a self-oscillating voice.
• Pair the filter with Sparks’ modulation options to explore a wide range of texture, movement, and rhythmic effects.

Low-Frequency Oscillator (LFO)

• Map the LFO to any knob control or to multiple.
• Mapped parameters act as attenuverters, letting you set the intensity and polarity of modulation with a single knob.
• Morph between waveform shapes: sine, triangle, sawtooth, square, sample and hold, and random ramps.
• LFO speeds range from 10 seconds well into audio rate (1kHz max speed).
• RANGE instantly doubles or quadruples the LFO speed.
• SPIN shifts the left and right LFO channels out of phase to create stereo movement.
• Waveforms can be synchronized to MIDI clock.

Envelope Follower

• Map the envelope follower to any knob control or to multiple.
• Use the intensity of your input signal to create dynamic effects like auto-wah, auto-swell, compression, and more.
• Classic, Compressor, and AR envelope styles.
• Adjustable attack and sensitivity controls.

SID Chip-Inspired Synthesizer

• Play Sparks as your instrument using a MIDI keyboard.
• Recreate warm and gritty lo-fi sounds of the SID Chip — the iconic synth engine behind the C64 home computer.
• Switch between waveform shapes: sine, triangle, sawtooth, pulse, and 23-bit Fibonacci LFSR noise.
• Modeling of ADSR envelope, hard sync, and ring mod.
• Controls for bit depth, pulse width modulation, pitch modulation, and glide.
• 4 voices of polyphony with optional mono mode.
• +/- 5 semitone pitch bending.
• Synth voices are mixed with any input audio and can be processed through Sparks. The synth is disconnected from the analog signal path when not in use.

Presets, MIDI Control, CV

• Save your settings with 6 onboard presets, or up to 32 using MIDI.
• Presets can be activated momentarily or latched for performance effects.
• All parameters are fully controllable via MIDI, CV, or expression.
• Directly compatible with your favorite MIDI controllers — no external MIDI box required.
• Internal jumpers available to switch between TRS MIDI Type A (default), B, or CBA.
• CV control up to 500Hz.
• Free Max for Live device to control Sparks with MIDI in Ableton.