Darkglass Electronics and Neural DSP recently teamed up for the incredibly expansive Darkglass Ultimate platform. If you missed it (or just wanna hear how incredible it sounds), Darkglass is now streaming a demo featuring the low end of Harry Green and John Connearn. It’s beefy, man.
Get Darkglass Ultimate here on their website for $49.50, get yourselves some kickass Darkglass hardware here, and keep up with all our Darkglass coverage right here!
With the release of the Darkglass Ultimate, Darkglass Electronics and Neural DSP have really blown up what a bass processing platform can be.
At its core, Darkglass Ultimate is anchored by two legendary circuits: the B7K Ultra and Vintage Ultra. The Darkglass B7K Ultra side delivers the modern voice Darkglass is known for: tight low end, aggressive midrange articulation, and controlled saturation that stays defined even at extreme gain levels.
In contrast, the Vintage Ultra circuit leans into the softer, tube-inspired world of classic bass recording. Drawing from decades of warm, amp-driven tones, it offers smooth saturation, natural compression, and a more organic response.
Both preamps share a deep control set built around Drive, Level, Blend, and Master, supported by Darkglass’s signature Attack and Grunt switches. These shape how high and low frequencies interact with the clipping stage, letting players decide whether their tone leans tight and focused or wide and heavy. A Four-Band Active EQ adds surgical precision, with selectable mid frequencies for fine-tuned placement in a mix.
But Darkglass Ultimate goes far beyond preamp modeling. It integrates a full pre- and post-effects chain designed specifically for bass workflow. The Compressor delivers fast, 1176-style control while retaining dynamics through parallel blending.
The Auto-Wah responds directly to playing intensity, allowing expressive movement without sacrificing low-end stability. An Octaver inspired by the classic OC-2-style tracking adds sub-weight and synth-like depth, while a Fuzz engine modeled after Russian-style circuits brings saturated, harmonically dense distortion without losing clarity.
Cabinet simulation is equally detailed. Two core options define the platform’s physical response: the DG210C 2×10 for tight, articulate playing, and the DG810ES 8×10 for massive, room-filling low end. Each cabinet allows multiple microphone placements, Sub Kick enhancement, and Bass Reflex control, while also supporting third-party impulse responses for expanded flexibility.
Post-effects add space and dimension. A Chorus inspired by the CE-2 aesthetic widens upper frequencies while keeping the low end focused, and a Delay section introduces analog-style repeats with modulation and optional stereo ping-pong behavior.
Beyond tone, Darkglass Ultimate functions as a complete production environment. Features like Transpose allow instant tuning shifts up to 12 semitones, while Global Lock ensures consistent input and output settings across presets. A built-in Tuner and Metronome streamline practice and recording workflows, and the Preset system includes curated sounds from artists such as Adam “Nolly” Getgood, Jacob Umansky, and Forrester Savell.
