KMA Machines PYLON

The KMA Machines Pylon is an analog noise gate pedal with a built-in boost, launched by KMA Audio Machines in February 2022¹. Its full name, the Pylon ATB Noise Gate, spells out the idea: ATB stands for Advanced Transformer Boost, so the pedal combines a gate, a boost and a transformer buffer in one box¹². MusicRadar described it simply as "a noise gate with a twist"³.

The gate itself is based on a Blackmer VCA circuit, which the press describes as fast and precise in its behavior⁴². Around that gate sits an integrated audio-grade transformer that, according to Delicious Audio, adds heft to the signal, additional warmth, and low-frequency harmonics without phase issues⁴. For a player with a high-gain rig, the Pylon aims to do the gating job and reshape the core tone at the same time.

What the controls do

The Pylon's front panel is built around a Threshold knob and a set of toggles and slide switches that configure how the gate and boost interact⁴⁵³.

The two detection ranges shape how the gate closes. Delicious Audio describes HIGH mode as suited to softly decaying notes, letting sustains ring out naturally, while LOW mode gives a fast-closing response for tighter stopping of noise between phrases⁴. You pick a range, then dial the Threshold to taste².

The boost is where the Pylon separates itself from a basic gate. A three-way toggle selects whether the boost is synced with the gate, off, or always on³⁵. On the gain figure, Guitar Pedal X lists the boost knob as reaching +32dB⁵, while gearnews.com reports up to 30 dB². Both agree it is a serious amount of level.

Amp channel switching and external control

Two features push the Pylon past plain gating. The first is a Channel Relay Output, which switches your amp's gain channel in sync with the pedal, with selectable polarity via a slide switch⁴. In practice this means one footstep can engage the boost and flip the amp to its gain channel together.

The second is the EXT Control Connector, which accepts an external normally open momentary switch for gate and bypass control, with a slide switch choosing BYPASS (BP) or TR (trigger) mode⁴. The onboard footswitch is relay-based with soft switching, and gearnews.com notes it offers selectable gate/boost switching modes².

The pedal's jack layout also supports flexible routing: MusicRadar reports in/out and send/return jacks that facilitate various setups, including the four-cable method³. That makes it usable in a loop or in front of the amp, not just as a simple inline gate.

Where it came from and what it costs

KMA Audio Machines builds the Pylon in Berlin, and the pedal lists for $219¹. Thomann lists it at $168.00, with the maker's own price given as 189 euros². The gate circuit has a clear lineage: the Pylon's noise gate function is based on a Blackmer VCA circuit², the same VCA approach KMA describes as allowing "a fast and clean response"⁴.

On price, the launch coverage differs. Guitar.com reported a list price of $219¹, while gearnews.com quoted 189 euros, and a Thomann listing of $168.00, £154.00 and 179.00 euros at the time². The figures are from February 2022 and reflect different markets and retailers.

What reviewers said

Delicious Audio's Paolo De Gregorio was impressed by the pedal's scope:

KMA itself makes the claims a player would otherwise look to reviewers to test. The company says the Pylon's audio-grade transformer "gives additional warmth with associated nice low-frequency harmonics", adding heft and an enhanced core tone without phase issues⁴. On the gate's behavior, KMA describes two detection ranges, HIGH for softly decaying notes and LOW for a fast-closing response, with the THRESHOLD control dialing in the level within the chosen range⁴.

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