Darkglass Programmable Series Aggressively Distorting Advanced Machine User Guide
- September 12, 2024
- DARKGLASS
Table of Contents
Programmable Series Aggressively Distorting Advanced Machine
Aggressively Distorting Advanced
Machine Manual
Programmable Series
CREATIONS DEALERS SUITE APPAREL
Quick Start Guide
Connect your instrument into the 1/4” INPUT.
Connect a compatible power supply (9V center negative, min. 500 mA) to the
power connector.
- Connect at least one of the following:
- Headphones into the headphone jack
- USB-C cable between the USB connector and your computer*
- Instrument cable between one of the balanced 1/4” outputs and your amplier’s input
XLR cable between DIRECT OUTPUT and your mixing desk or audio interface The
Aggressively Distorting Advanced Machineis pre-programmed with three presets,
A, B, and C that are selectable via the dedicated footswitches. Press and hold
one of the footswitches for two seconds to save your changes into a preset.
Three additional presets can also be accessed via MIDI or the Darkglass Suite.
Adjust the level (and headphone volume, if applicable) to your liking and
start playing! *Using the Aggressively Distorting Advanced Machine as an audio
interface may require some extra steps depending on your operating system
Connections
Input: This is the primary instrument input on the Aggressively
Distorting Advanced Machine. Connect your instrument or output from your pedal
board to the 1/4” mono jack.
Aux In: The stereo input of the Aggressively Distorting Advanced Machine
enables the playback of backing tracks while practicing or recording. Connect
your mobile phone, laptop etc. to the 1/8” stereo jack.
Headphone Output: The headphone output can handle headphones with an
impedance of 16 – 600 ohms. Connect your headphones to the 1/8” stereo jack
and set the desired level from the dedicated potentiometer next to the jack.
Balanced Outputs: The two balanced outputs add routing versatility and the
option of using the Aggressively Distorting Advanced Machine as a fully
equipped audio interface. Connect your studio monitors, amplier or other eects
to the 1/4” balanced jacks using a TRS connector (Tip +, Ring -, Sleeve GND).
If you feed an unbalanced input from these outputs, use an instrument cable
with a mono 1/4” plug.
Direct Output: An XLR output with a ground lift switch provides a
reliable standard connection to a mixing desk or an external audio interface
for a guaranteed low-noise signal.
MIDI In: A standard 1/8” TRS jack allows connecting an external MIDI
controller to the Aggressively Distorting Advanced Machine for even more
exibility. Read more about the MIDI capabilities at
https://www.darkglass.com/creations/AggressivelyDistortingAdvancedMachine/
USB: The USB-C port unlocks the Aggressively Distorting Advanced Machine’s
USB audio interface capabilities and enables interaction with the Darkglass
Suite desktop app, allowing for software updates and access to the Darkglass
IR library, containing hundreds of cabinet simulations. USB MIDI is also
supported.
Signal Chain
Block Diagram
Compressor: This control allows setting the input gain of the compressor
that will translate into how much the signal is compressed while our
intelligent make-up gain algorithm keeps the output of the compressor at
usable levels. The compressor has 5 ratios available: 4:1, 8:1, 12:1, 20:1 and
ALL IN.
Distortion: At the heart of the distortion circuit is an accurate model
of Nolly’s favorite vintage distortion unit. In collaboration with Darkglass,
he used that as a platform for developing 5 distinctive distortion modes
ranging from mild and very articulate distortion to synth-like fuzz sounds.
Cabinet Simulation: The Aggressively Distorting Advanced Machine supports
Impulse Response (IR) cabinet simulations and has 5 cabinet slots on board.
The default IRs have been captured by Nolly himself. New IRs can be assigned
to the 5 slots using the Darkglass Suite (desktop or mobile).
Multiband Compressor: In the clean sidechain you will nd a xed multiband
compressor. This multiband compressor incorporates Nolly’s personal settings
that have been developed with years of experience in the studio. There are no
controls for the multiband compressor.
Blend: The blend control allows you to mix the distorted/preamp signal
with the clean sidechain signal. Depending on the distortion/preamp setting
the clean sidechain is either full-band or low-band signal.
EQ: Last in the signal chain is a programmable 6−band graphic equalizer
that allows you to tailor your sound even further. The full description of
this functionality can be found in the “Controls” section of the manual.
Controls
Smart Potentiometers
On the Aggressively Distorting Advanced Machine, you will nd ve smart
potentiometers: Compression, Drive, Character, Blend, and Level. These
potentiometers are the main interface for sculpting the signal chain and your
overall sound on the Aggressively Distorting Advanced Machine.
The Compression potentiometer is the one-knob-solution for compression on the
Aggressively Distorting Advanced Machine. This controls the amount of input
gain to the compressor and intelligently applies the correct amount of makeup
gain so that your signal is always driven at the appropriate level, no matter
how much compression is applied.
The Drive potentiometer adds distortion and drive to your signal. Crank this
knob to apply Nolly’s favorite vintage distortion to the distorted part of the
signal chain.
The Character potentiometer changes the tone of the distortion, adding
brightness to the distortion signal.
The Blend potentiometer mixes between the distortion signal and the clean
sidechain signal.
The Level potentiometer controls the master volume of the Aggressively
Distorting Advanced Machine.
The smart potentiometers allow for their positions to be stored in each
preset, with the stored position indicated by the ring of LEDs surrounding
each potentiometer.
With this, you can get a glance at your signal chain settings when changing
presets, regardless of the physical potentiometer setting.
Touch Sensitive Slider
At the center of the Aggressively Distorting Advanced Machine are the
touchsensitive sliders that control the 6−band graphic EQ at the end of the
signal chain.
Each slider has a -12 dB to 12 dB range. From left to right, the frequency
bands for each slider correspond to a low shelf, 250 Hz, 500 Hz, 1.5 kHz, 3
kHz, and a high shelf.
Controlling the touch sliders is easy – swipe upwards to boost a frequency
band or swipe downwards to cut a frequency band.
When swiping, the position of the slider is also reected on the potentiometer
LEDs. Double-tap the slider to reset the band back to 0 dB.
Hint: The sliders respond to the direction of your swipe on any part of the
slider, so you can make small adjustments without your nger covering the
actual position of the slider.
Rotary Footswitch Encoders
Below the touch sliders are three rotary footswitch encoders A, B, and C,
which can be pressed or rotated. These footswitch encoders enable many of the
Aggressively Distorting Advanced Machine’s functions. Simply press A, B, or C
to switch to the preset stored in that footswitch.
The rotational position of each encoder is displayed on the ve LEDs under each
encoder. Additionally, when rotating, the position is shown on the
potentiometer LEDs – this is a visual aid that does not aect the potentiometer
conguration.
- Rotating A allows you to change the compressor ratio or bypass the compressor.
- Rotating B allows you to change the distortion mode or bypass the distortion.
- Rotating C allows you to change the active IR in the signal chain or bypass the IR.
When none of the ve LEDs are lit, the respective compressor/distortion/IR is bypassed.
Basic Operation
Editing and saving presets
Editing and saving presets on the Aggressively Distorting Advanced Machine is
remarkably easy. If any of the parameters are changed (i.e. potentiometers,
sliders, encoder rotation), the color LED of your current preset will gently
breathe, indicating that the edit or audition mode is active.
Auditions are an easy way to try new sounds and settings, which can be either
saved or discarded. When you nd a sound that you would like to save, the
audition can be saved into any of the three presets by pressing and holding
one of the preset footswitches for two seconds. All LEDs on the Aggressively
Distorting Advanced Machine will ash rapidly a few times indicating that your
edits have been saved into a preset.
A new audition is always entered when changing any parameter from an
unedited/saved preset. This will overwrite any previous unsaved
auditions/edits.
During an edit/audition, you can change to any of the three saved presets by
pressing the footswitch associated with that preset. After changing to a
preset, pressing the footswitch again will swap between that preset and your
active editing session.
Presets can also be saved, edited, shared, loaded, and managed in the
Darkglass Suite.
Tuner
To enter the tuner, press B and C simultaneously.
To exit the tuner, press B and C simultaneously or one of the footswitch
presets.
The Aggressively Distorting Advanced Machine will always return to the last
active preset. The Aggressively Distorting Advanced Machine will not output
any audio when tuning.
The Aggressively Distorting Advanced Machine features a ve-octave chromatic
tuner, which can tune any note between A0 and A#5, allowing you to dial in any
guitar or bass tuning that you desire. The tuning is derived from A4 = 440 Hz.
Only one note can be tuned at a time.
When the tuner mode is entered and there is no input signal, two red LEDs on
the two rightmost sliders are shown by default. When an input signal is
received, the left section of sliders will update to show the note that you
are tuning.
A small indicator is displayed to the top right of the note if it is a sharp
note. When tuning, the two rightmost sliders will update to show how close
your tuning is from the note’s perfect pitch. Distance below the center line
indicates that the note is tuned at, and distance above the center line
indicates that the note is tuned sharp. The red LEDs will transition to green
as you approach the perfect pitch, and the slider and preset LEDs will fully
illuminate in green when you are on perfect pitch.
Bypass
To enter the bypass mode, press A and B simultaneously.
To exit the bypass mode, press A and B simultaneously or one of the footswitch
presets.
In this mode, the Aggressively Distorting Advanced Machine does not perform
any processing on the input signal, and passes the unprocessed input signal
through to the outputs. All LEDs are turned o during bypass mode.
Performance Lock
To enter or exit the performance lock, press A and C simultaneously.
In this mode, all LEDs will gently breathe on the Aggressively Distorting
Advanced Machine to indicate that it has been locked.
This mode prevents any accidental parameter changes or edits to your presets.
You can still change between the saved presets A, B, and C, and enter the
tuner or bypass modes, but potentiometer updates, slider touches, or encoder
rotations will not respond to any changes.
Tip: Enter the performance mode after the soundcheck while playing live gigs.
Bluetooth Pairing
To begin Bluetooth pairing with the Aggressively Distorting Advanced Machine,
press and hold an encoder while simultaneously rotating the encoder. The ve
LEDs under each encoder will illuminate one-by-one, and pairing will begin
when all ve are lit.
Look for “Aggressively Distorting Advanced Machine” on your list of available
Bluetooth devices.
USB Audio Interface
Whatever your DAW of choice is, it’s compatible with the Aggressively
Distorting Advanced Machine. You can record your processed signal to one track
and simultaneously record an unprocessed copy to another track. Recording a
stereo track at the same time from the Aux input is also possible.
The Aggressively Distorting Advanced Machine supports 48 kHz and 44.1 kHz
sampling rates.
Setting up the drivers
If you are using a Mac, no additional drivers are required to use the
Aggressively Distorting Advanced Machine as an audio interface. If you are
using Windows, please download the latest USB audio drivers from
https://www.darkglass.com/suite/. Please refer to the Darkglass website for
more details regarding USB audio.
USB Routing
USB output (to Aggressively Distorting Advanced Machine)
- Output 1: Balanced left + Headphone left
- Output 2: Balanced right + Headphone right
- Output 3: Balanced left
- Output 4: Balanced right
- Output 5: XLR DI (mono)
Both Mac and PC send system audio to outputs 1 and 2 by default, so you can
always use the Aggressively Distorting Advanced Machine’s stereo output of
choice without having to set up any extra routing.
The level of these outputs is controlled by the small volume potentiometer at
the top of the Aggressively Distorting Advanced Machine. The other outputs
have no volume control on the Aggressively Distorting Advanced Machine.
USB input (from the Aggressively Distorting Advanced Machine)
- Input 1: Processed signal
- Input 2: Unprocessed raw signal
- Input 3: Aux left + Bluetooth left
- Input 4: Aux right + Bluetooth right
Audio Routing
When the Aggressively Distorting Advanced Machine is not bypassed, the Level
potentiometer always controls the volume of your instrument input at all four
outputs, and has no eect on the USB/Aux/Bluetooth audio.
When the Aggressively Distorting Advanced Machine is bypassed, the Level
potentiometer has no eect.
Your instrument, Aux input, and Bluetooth audio is routed to the headphone and
balanced outputs. The media volume at these outputs can be controlled with the
small potentiometer at the top of the Aggressively Distorting Advanced
Machine.
- When using the balanced outputs, the media volume and instrument volume level are separately controlled (small volume potentiometer at the top of the Aggressively Distorting Advanced Machine and the Level potentiometer, respectively).
- When using headphones, the volume is controlled in the same way, with one exception: the headphone volume potentiometer acts as an overall master volume for both media and your instrument input.
- The XLR DI output is routed only with your instrument output and USB output 5.
The media playback volume level on the Aggressively Distorting Advanced Machine is not applied to USB inputs 3 and 4.
Darkglass IR Library
The Darkglass Suite software currently comes with an extensive library of IR les and hundreds more will be added in the near future. The library consists of both bass and guitar cabinets. Captures of Darkglass Elite Series and Neodymium Series cabinets are available, among others.
Technical Specifications
Input impedance: 1 MΩ
Output impedance: 220 Ω
Current consumption: ~500mA
Voltage: 9VDC (center negative)
DARKGLASS is a registered trademark in the U.S., number 4,616,801, owned by
Darkglass Electronics Oy.
Designed by Revolve Studio
References
- Darkglass Electronics
- Careers – Darkglass Electronics
- Creations – Darkglass Electronics
- Darkglass Electronics
- Dealers – Darkglass Electronics
- Privacy Policy – Darkglass Electronics
- Suite – Darkglass Electronics
- Suite – Darkglass Electronics
- Darkglass Electronics (@darkglasselectronics) • Instagram photos and videos
- Revolve Studio • Custom Web Design Services in Helsinki
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