We only recommend products that we use and believe in. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.
The Finnish bass gear company goes deep with the Harmonic Booster, Microtubes X Ultra, and Alpha Omega Ultra.
Harmonic Booster Clean Plreamplifier
Designed to be the perfect complement to our distortion circuits, the flexibility and portability of the Harmonic Booster is also the perfect one-stop solution for gigging musicians in search of a precise and harmonically rich clean preamplifier.
Features
- Boost: Flat -20dB to +20dB cut or boost
- Character: Allows blending in the perfect amount of the tone-shaping circuitry. It can be set counter-clockwise for a flatter frequency response
- Mid gain: +-20dB @ the frequency selected by “Mid Frequency”
- Mid Frequency: Mid frequency from 250Hz to 2.5kHz
- Bass: +-20dB @ 80 Hz
- Treble: +-20dB @ 5 kHz
Where to buy:
Microtubes X Ultra Multiband Distortion
The Microtubes X Ultra greatly expands on the already immense versatility of the Microtubes X7. Featuring all the great controls that its predecessor has that allows users to select exactly what frequencies they want to compress and saturate for the low and treble respectively, but with four major additions providing an additional layer of flexibility, while maintaining the same compact footprint, making it an extremely complete tool for the modern bassist.
Features
- Low Comp: Controls compression amount for the low band. Both threshold and makeup gain are controlled to maintain a constant level. This control is also used to control the compression amount when the compressor is enabled for clean signal in Darkglass Suite.
- Low Level: Sets the output volume of the low-pass signal.
- Low Pass Frequency: Controls the cut-off frequency to be mixed back to the high-pass side. Ranging from 50Hz (for only sub-bass) and 500Hz to preserve some clean mids.
- High Level: Sets the output volume of the distorted high-pass signal.
- High Drive: Sets the amount of distortion for the high pass side.
- High Pass Frequency: Controls the cutoff frequency to be distorted, ranging from 100Hz (for thicker, fuzzier saturation) or 1kHz for ultra-sharp definition.
- Master: +-12 dB. Sets the overall volume of the unit.
- Low shelf: +-12 dB @ 80 Hz.
- 250 Hz / 500 Hz / 1,5 kHz / 3 kHz: +-12dB.
- High shelf: +-12 dB @ 5 kHz.
- Direct Output: Balanced XLR output for connecting the pedal to a microphone preamp, PA system, etc.
- Ground lift: Disconnects the signal ground on the Direct Output to break any ground loops. Set this switch to either position that has less noise. The switch does not affect the ¼” output.
- Cab Sim: Toggle the cabinet simulation on/off on the Direct Output. This switch completely bypasses all digital circuits and allows you to get a zero latency signal when needed.
- Headphones: Microtubes X Ultra has a digitally controlled headphone amplifier with a 3.5mm stereo jack output. Digital volume control is available in Darkglass Suite. Headphone volume can be controlled directly on the pedal with the master volume control when the preamp is enabled. When the pedal is on bypass, the master volume does not affect the headphone volume.
- USB: A Micro USB B connector allows you to connect the pedal to PC/Mac to load cabinet simulation impulse responses to the pedal and control various other settings. Download the free Darkglass Suite software from www.darkglass.com/suite to configure the pedal, load new impulses and download firmware updates.
- Auxiliary Input: Perfect for quiet practice, you can now connect your PC or mobile device to your pedal to play along with your favorite songs, and backing tracks while using the headphone output.
Where to buy:
ALPHA·OMEGA ULTRA Analog tone, digital precision
The Darkglass Alpha·Omega Ultra is the most versatile bass preamplifier we’ve designed: With its two distinct distortion circuits (Alpha and Omega), extremely high dynamic range, six-band active graphic EQ, dedicated headphone output and balanced direct output with switchable digital impulse-response cabinet emulation make for an incredibly complete tool for the modern bass player.
- Blend: Mixes the clean and processed signals. The clean signal remains at unity gain while the volume of the overdriven signal is set by the Level knob, allowing for fine mix tuning.
- Level: Sets the volume of the overdriven signal.
- Drive: Sets the amount of gain in the overdriven signal.
- Bite: Boosts High Mids (2.8kHz) for additional presence and definition.
- Growl: Shelving Bass Boost for a fatter tone and increased low end saturation.
- Mod: Selects or mixes between the two distinct distortion circuits: Alpha is punchy, tight with a lot of definition, whereas Omega is simply brutal and raw. On the Darkglass Suite you can assign footswitch control of the Mod to toggle between Alpha and Omega.
- Master: Whereas the Level knob control the output of the overdrive section the Master volume adjusts the overall volume of the unit. Ideal for fine tuning the output on clean mode. It also serves as a DI and headphone volume control. Please note that volume is not affected by this control when the pedal is on bypass.
- Bass: Low shelf +-12dB @ 80 Hz
- Mid bands: +-10dB @ 250 Hz, 500 Hz, 1.5 kHz, 3 kHz
- Treble: High shelf +-12dB @ 5 kHz
- Ground lift: Disconnects the signal ground on the Direct Output to break any ground loops. Set this switch to either position that has less noise. The switch does not affect the ¼” output.
- Cab Sim: Toggle the cabinet simulation on/off on the Direct Output. This switch completely bypasses all digital circuits and allows you to get a zero latency signal when needed.
- Headphones: Alpha·Omega Ultra has an internal stereo headphone amplifier capable of driving a minimum load of 16 ohms from the 3.5mm stereo jack. Use the Master volume control to adjust the level.
- USB: A Micro USB B connector allows you to connect the pedal to PC/Mac to load cabinet simulation impulse responses to the pedal and control various other settings.
About The Author
