The Dreadbox Kinematic is a full analog, VCA-based compressor and envelope filter in one pedal, made by the Greek company Dreadbox. Dreadbox describes it as designed for fretted instruments, synthesizers and drum machines, and says it shapes sound "with dynamic compression and fluid envelope filtering"1. A single mode switch chooses between the two personalities, and a post-diode overdrive circuit adds drive on top21.
What makes it unusual among compressor pedals and filter pedals is its CV compatibility: three 1/8 inch patch points on the top panel open it up to modular synths and other control-voltage gear3.
What it does: a VCA compressor and envelope filter with drive
The Kinematic runs on a VCA (voltage-controlled amplifier) circuit, the same topology used in many classic studio compressors. In a VCA design, the input signal's level drives a control voltage that turns the amplifier up or down, which is what lets one circuit serve both as a compressor and as an envelope filter: the same dynamics that squeeze the level in one mode can sweep a filter in the other15.
The two modes are:
| Mode | What it does |
|---|---|
| COMP COLOr | Acts as a compressor and frequency booster1 |
| ENV FILTER | A 12dB low pass filter with auto-wah1 |
In COMP COLOr the pedal compresses and lifts the frequency content, while ENV FILTER turns it into a wah-wah-style swept filter that follows your picking dynamics. The post-diode overdrive circuit sits after this, adding drive that Dreadbox controls with its own knob21.
Dreadbox's own demo video shows Yiannis from the company using the Kinematic as an external audio processor, running a synthesizer through it, which is where the CV patch points come into their own5.
The controls
Four knobs and a mode switch cover everything:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Drive | Sets the drive amount1 |
| Level | Sets the output level of the effect1 |
| Filter Cutoff Frequency | On COMP mode, acts as a frequency boost; on ENV FILTER mode, a low pass filter1 |
| Envelope Amount | On COMP mode, sets the ratio factor; on ENV FILTER mode, sets the auto-wah amount1 |
The mode switch sits above the Envelope knob. MusicRadar's review notes that the Envelope knob is "responsible for the ratio 'factor' in compressor mode and auto-wah depth in envelope filter mode"4.
The three 1/8 inch CV patch points at the top add another layer of control: the first two allow external control of the Filter and Level parameters, and the third outputs a CV signal that can drive other devices3.
History and the Dreadbox pedal line
Dreadbox is a Greek synthesizer maker, and the Kinematic arrived in April 2021 as one of its first effects pedals3. Delicious Audio reported at the time that "the pedal will be available in April 2021 but a few YouTubers already have a unit," and added it to the site's list of the best filter pedals with CV in3.
The Kinematic was part of a wave of four Dreadbox pedals demoed in 2021, alongside the Lethargy, Komorebi and Darkness. Pedal of the Day reviewed them together and found "The Kinematic, Lethargy, Komorebi and Darkness were all unique and amazing-sounding," and noted a fifth pedal, the Raindrops stereo delay-looper, was on the way6.
The name comes from Greek. Pedal of the Day explains:
"Kinematic is a Greek based word (Κίνημα), which describes motion, of points, bodies or systems of bodies, without the consideration of the forces that cause them to move."7
That suits a pedal whose whole behavior is driven by the motion of your signal's dynamics7.
What reviewers said
MusicRadar reviewed the Kinematic alongside the rest of the Dreadbox pedal line in 2022. On the practical side, the review found the hardware well judged for both floor and desktop use: "The jacks are rear-mounted, good for desktop use, ie bunching them up close to maximise space," and the enclosures, while relatively light, "will easily withstand the rigours of most players' footwork"4.
On the sound, the review flagged one limitation worth knowing before buying:
"The speed is relatively slow so it won't track a high tempo 'wukka-wukka' rhythm guitar part hit for hit."4
In other words, the envelope response favors slower, more vocal filter sweeps over fast funk-style stutter effects. For players after a slower, more liquid auto-wah or a colored compressor, that is less of an issue; for fast percussive filter work, it is the pedal's main reported shortcoming4.
Videos
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News
Questions
Can the Dreadbox Kinematic run on a battery?
No. Like all of Dreadbox's effects pedals, the Kinematic runs on a 9V DC center-negative power supply with a 2.1mm barrel connector, and there is no battery compartment. The supply is not included with the pedal, so you need a standard Boss-style adapter or a pedalboard power supply.
Does the Dreadbox Kinematic work with modular synths?
Yes. The pedal is CV compatible through three 1/8 inch patch points on the top panel. The first two let an external control voltage adjust the Filter and Level, and the third sends a CV signal out that can control external devices. Dreadbox's own demo shows it processing external audio from a synth.
Is the Dreadbox Kinematic stereo?
No. The Kinematic is a mono pedal with one TS unbalanced 6.35mm input and one TS unbalanced 6.35mm output. It expects input levels of up to 2Vpp, which is worth noting when feeding it from line-level or modular gear.
What does the name Kinematic mean?
Kinematic is a Greek-based word, Κίνημα, describing the motion of points, bodies or systems of bodies without considering the forces that cause the movement. The name fits a pedal whose two modes both respond to the motion of your playing dynamics, compressing or filtering as you pick harder or softer.
Sources (7)
- Kinematic Effect Pedal, Dreadbox Synthesizers, 2024-07-09
- Kinematic, Dreadbox Synthesizers, 2026-10-10
- Dreadbox Kinematic Envelope Filter + Overdrive, Delicious Audio, 2021-03-29
- Dreadbox effects pedals review, MusicRadar, 2022-04-21
- Kinematic: Processing External Audio, Dreadbox Synthesizers, 2021-06-03
- Dreadbox Treminator Smashing Tremolo & Raindrops Stereo Delay, Pedal of the Day, 2022-10-17
- Dreadbox Kinematic / Lethargy / Komorebi / Darkness, Pedal of the Day, 2021-11-10
