For years, the Darkglass name has been closely tied to the evolution of modern bass tone. From tight, aggressive drive to articulate low-end clarity, its sonic fingerprint has become a staple across heavy, progressive, and even crossover genres. With the release of Darkglass Ultimate, Neural DSP takes that familiar identity and pushes it far beyond amp simulation, delivering something that feels less like a plugin and more like a complete bass production environment.

This isn’t just an update. It’s a shift in scope.

Expanding a Proven Foundation

When Neural DSP first introduced the Darkglass plugin line in 2018, the goal was straightforward: capture the essence of the brand’s most iconic pedals in a digital format. The Darkglass B7K Ultra bass preamp pedal and Darkglass Vintage Ultra bass preamp pedal formed the backbone of that effort, offering two distinct but complementary tonal philosophies.

Darkglass Ultimate retains those core voices, but places them inside a much broader framework.

The B7K side still delivers its signature precision… tight low end, defined attack, and an aggressive edge that cuts cleanly through dense arrangements. In contrast, the Vintage circuit leans toward a more rounded, harmonically rich response, evoking the feel of classic tube amplification without becoming overly soft or indistinct.

More importantly, these tones don’t feel like endpoints. They act as foundations, strong, mix-ready starting points that encourage further shaping rather than requiring corrective work.

Beyond Amp Simulation

Where Darkglass Ultimate separates itself from earlier iterations is in how much ground it covers. Instead of focusing solely on preamp and cabinet emulation, it builds a complete signal chain designed to take a bass part from initial idea to final production, without leaving the plugin.

The pre-effects section is comprehensive, including compression, envelope-based filtering, octave layering, and fuzz. These aren’t treated as add-ons; they’re integrated into the signal path in a way that feels intentional and musical, encouraging experimentation from the very first note.

Post-effects expand that palette further. Modulation and delay are implemented with a level of quality that invites actual use rather than occasional novelty. In particular, the delay stands out, not just as a functional tool, but as a genuinely inspiring one. It adds space and movement without overwhelming the fundamental tone, making it surprisingly effective even in contexts where bass delay might typically feel excessive.

Cabinets, EQ, and Precision Control

The cabinet section introduces modeled Darkglass enclosures, including the DG210C (2×10) and DG810ES (8×10). Combined with adjustable microphone placement, this allows for detailed tonal shaping at the final stage of the signal chain.

Supporting this is a robust EQ architecture. Between the onboard controls inherited from the original pedal designs and a dedicated 9-band graphic EQ, there’s significant flexibility available. Subtle corrections, surgical adjustments, or more dramatic tonal shifts are all within reach, depending on the needs of the track.

This level of control makes it possible to move quickly from raw tone to mix-ready sound, often without relying on additional processing.

Presets That Go Beyond Genre

Preset libraries can often feel like filler, but that’s not the case here. Contributions from players such as Adam “Nolly” Getgood and Alex Webster highlight the plugin’s strengths in heavier styles, offering polished, aggressive tones that sit naturally in a mix.

At the same time, the in-house presets from Neural DSP broaden the scope considerably. There are synth-inspired textures, ambient layers, funk-driven tones, and deliberately extreme fuzz patches that push the plugin into more experimental territory.

The result is a tool that resists being boxed into a single genre. While its roots are clearly in modern rock and metal, its capabilities extend well beyond that space.

Workflow and Usability

One of the most compelling aspects of Darkglass Ultimate is how efficiently it integrates into a working environment. Built-in utilities, such as a tuner, metronome, and transpose function, may seem like small additions, but they contribute to a smoother, more self-contained workflow.

In practice, the plugin performs reliably and responds quickly. Recording sessions feel fluid, and tones translate well into a mix with minimal additional processing. That immediacy is a major advantage, particularly for players working in home or project studio settings where speed and simplicity matter.

From Studio to Stage

Although clearly designed with recording in mind, Darkglass Ultimate also opens the door to live applications. With the addition of a MIDI controller, it can function as a highly adaptable performance rig, offering real-time control over effects, presets, and signal routing.

For players comfortable incorporating a laptop into their setup, this creates a powerful alternative to traditional hardware-based rigs, especially when portability and flexibility are priorities.

A Logical Evolution

Darkglass Ultimate doesn’t abandon what made earlier versions successful; it builds on it. The core tones remain intact, but they’re now part of a much larger system designed to support the entire creative process.

Rather than thinking of it as a plugin that emulates a pedal, it makes more sense to view it as a production tool centered around a specific tonal identity. One that starts with the recognizable Darkglass sound, but doesn’t stop there.

For bassists who want a streamlined path from idea to finished track, and the flexibility to explore along the way, it represents a significant step forward in how software can support both tone and workflow.

Visit online at neuraldsp.com/

As an homage to classic single pickup basses of the past the V1 Acinonyx 5 features a solitary PolyVox “pickup” (technically pickupS – 6 total coils under the cover) placed for maximum versatility. A volume and a wide range tone offer a broad palette of rich passive sounds and the single asymmetrical aperture captures all the organic goodness that a soft maple body with a classic maple/EIR neck can bring. Anything from super dark synth-y sub vibes to clean and clear chime are all available with nary a blurry, undefined note to be found.

The fingerboard features a compound radius for optimal even playability up and down the neck and the profile fits the hand like an old, broken-in glove.

Technical Details:
• Body Finish: Polyester
• Neck Finish: Urethane Satin Satin Lacquer
• Weight: 6.90 lbs average 7 lbs
• Body Wood: soft maple
• Neck Wood: hard maple
• Neck Shape: Classic Medium Slim
• Neck Dimensions: ~.810” @ 1st fret – .910” @ 15th fret
• Fingerboard Wood: Indian Rosewood
• Fingerboard Radius: 7.5” – 14”
• Fingerboard Inlays: Dots
• Scale Length: 30.7”
• Width at Nut: 1.725”
• Nut Material: Bone
• Frets: StewMac #147 Fretwire (Narrow/Medium) – Nickel/Silver
• Pickups: 1 Nordstrand PolyVox 5
• Controls: 1 Volume, 1 wide range Tone

Price starting at $4995

For more information, visit online at nordstrandaudio.com/

Neural DSP Introduces Darkglass® Ultimate – Expanding the Iconic Darkglass Sound into a Complete Creative Platform for Bass…

Neural DSP announced Darkglass Ultimate, a revamped plugin that brings the iconic Darkglass sound into a complete, studio-ready bass rig. Available as a free update for existing Darkglass Ultra users, it builds on Darkglass Ultra by combining Darkglass’ defining tones with a full signal chain and creative tools, enabling players to move from initial idea to finished, record-ready sounds all within one plugin.

The Darkglass sound has defined modern bass tone for more than a decade, with its powerful low end, clarity, and unmistakable character. Neural DSP first brought that sound into the digital domain in 2018, capturing the essence of the B7K Ultra and Vintage Ultra preamps inside a plugin. With this release, Darkglass Ultra evolves into a creative platform for bass – extending beyond preamp modeling into a signal chain designed for modern bass workflows.

“With Darkglass Ultimate, we’re expanding the Darkglass sound into something more comprehensive,” said François Barrillon, Lead Product Manager – Plugins, Neural DSP. “For many players, that sound has been a reliable starting point – something they shape around and build on. This release brings more of that process into the same place, so you can experiment, refine, and carry a sound further without stepping outside of it – while preserving the clarity, power, and character that define Darkglass.”

The Darkglass Sound, Fully Unleashed

At the core of Darkglass Ultimate are the B7K Ultra and Vintage Ultra – two circuits that have shaped modern bass tone.

The B7K Ultra delivers a tight, aggressive drive with controlled low end and clear articulation, while the Vintage Ultra introduces a warmer, more rounded character inspired by classic tube amplification. Together, they offer a wide tonal range that remains consistent, responsive, and immediately usable in a mix.

Surrounding the B7K Ultra and Vintage Ultra is a signal chain designed to support the entire process of tone creation:

• Pre-effects including compressor, auto-wah, octaver, and fuzz for shaping dynamics and character
• Post-effects such as chorus and delay
• Darkglass cabinet simulations including DG210C 2×10 and DG810ES 8×10 with flexible microphone positioning
• A 9-band graphic EQ designed specifically for shaping bass tone
• Integrated tools including transpose, tuner, metronome, and a curated selection of production-ready presets

This extends the Darkglass sound beyond the B7K Ultra and Vintage Ultra into an all-in-one bass toolkit – combining its defining tones with the tools needed to shape, refine, and bring sounds to completion.

“Darkglass Ultimate represents how we continue to build on what players already know and love,” said Douglas Castro, CEO and Co-Founder of Neural DSP. “We’ve taken the core Darkglass tones and expanded them into a more complete setup, bringing more of the signal chain within a single environment and making the process of shaping and developing a sound more fluid – so players can spend less time managing their tone and more time creating with it.”

To learn more and purchase Darkglass Ultimate, visit neuraldsp.com/darkglass-ultimate. A 14-day free trial is available.

Darkglass® Electronics announces the launch of the Anagram Marketplace, a significant expansion of its Anagram™ bass platform, introducing a growing ecosystem of third-party plugins and tools. Designed to extend the capabilities of Anagram beyond its original feature set, the Anagram Marketplace enables users to access, share, and integrate new sounds and processing tools while opening the platform to trusted developers, engineers, producers, and sound designers. By bridging the gap between studio-based workflows and real-world performance environments, the Anagram Marketplace positions Anagram as an evolving platform shaped by its user community.

Think of it like an App Store. Building on Anagram’s core processing architecture, including its hexacore processor and 32-bit/48kHz audio engine, the Anagram Marketplace expands the system’s functional scope by enabling support for external plugins that were previously limited to desktop environments. At the time of launch, the Anagram Marketplace has already partnered with some established plug-in developers like Nembrini Audio, Bogren Digital, and DoGood Sounds.

The Anagram Marketplace complements Anagram’s existing blocks-based architecture, where users can construct signal chains in series or parallel configurations. With the addition of partner-developed plugins and processing blocks, users gain access to an expanding library of tools that can be incorporated into their existing signal paths. This approach extends the platform’s flexibility over time, allowing workflows and signal chains to evolve as new tools and ideas are introduced.

From a user experience perspective, the Anagram Marketplace integrates into the broader Anagram ecosystem, where its high-resolution touch display and control modes – Preset, Scene, and Stomp -continue to provide direct access to signal chains and parameter control. As new plugins and blocks become available, users can incorporate them into familiar control structures without disrupting established workflows, supporting a streamlined approach to exploration and implementation.

The introduction of the Anagram Marketplace also reinforces Anagram’s integration with the wider Darkglass ecosystem. Alongside access to partner-created plugins, Darkglass will continue to deliver free software updates, including new blocks, features, and ongoing performance improvements. Together, these updates and the Anagram Marketplace ecosystem create a platform that continuously expands, ensuring users have access to new tools and capabilities without requiring added hardware.

In practical use, the Anagram Marketplace enables musicians, producers, and content creators to extend their setups with new processing tools while keeping a consistent workflow across studio, rehearsal, and live environments. By enabling access to a broader range of plugins and community-driven development, the platform supports faster iteration, expanded creative options, and a more connected approach to sound design and performance.

The Anagram Marketplace is available now to Anagram users. For more information, visit www.darkglass.com.

The Future Impact V4 and V4 VIP are already incredibly versatile bass synth pedals –designed for players rather than programmers. The V4.5 upgrade offers even greater value while retaining the same simplicity of operation. Some of the new features include:

•  99 DX7 FM song-ready presets have been added to the existing 99 Virtual Analogue presets library

•  Setlist Mode to easily program a performance list without a computer

•  Zero Latency has been added as a third mode to the existing Speed and Accuracy modes

The FM library draws heavily from iconic ‘80s and ‘90s recordings made with the Yamaha DX7 bass: “Take on Me,” “Smooth Criminal,” “Take My Breath Away,” “Broken Wings,” and many more. There are also funky bass, smooth bass, double bass, Stratocaster emulation, and a selection of classic DX7 sounds —church organ, tubular bells, pan pipe, and harmonica, to name a few. 

You can also explore the tens of thousands of other FM patches out in the world and upload them using the 4.5 Editor software for Windows or Mac. The only caveat is to not to get too lost down that rabbit trail! 

While fully loaded with presets galore, you can still add and edit your own so you’re not locked into someone else’s palette choices.

In addition to producing synthesizer sounds such as basses, leads, and pads, the Future Impact can also function as an octaver, chorus, flanger, phaser, distortion, envelope filter, traditional wah-wah, tremolo, reverb, etc. Plus, there’s a built-in tuner. With so much functionality, you can potentially replace an entire pedalboard of dedicated single-effect pedals. 

The Future Impact is brought to you by Andras Szalay, the original designer of the legendary Akai Deep Impact pedal. It is the world’s fastest and most reliable tracking platform for professionals and hobbyists alike.

For full details, head over here: www.panda-audio.com/future-impact-v4-vip

For an overview and sound samples:  www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLJSdy3Wf8c

Exclusive U.S. distribution by Tech 21 USA, Inc.