Darkglass Anagram

[krispn]

 

5 hours ago, MrDinsdale said:

Yeah totally get that, especially with big screens and air vents but there’s some great protectors you can get to minimise risk. I remember when the cat knocked a guitar neck off a shelf and it landed headstock down about an inch from my QC, nearly needed to change my trousers. 
 

Our guitarist uses a nano cortex for his new metal cover band into the return on his JCM800, he was comparing the capture with the amp at practice and aside from slight level differences it was practically perfect. I still think they dropped the ball by missing out an FX loop, makes the pitch stuff pretty useless if you want a drive pedal on your board.

 

The anagram is a hell of a lot more power though if you need it. And the I/O is incredible. 

 

There’s a nano cortex at a good price near me on a local FB group and I’d be tempted as a way to capture my core sound and shirk my board down but then I think well I can just bring my board and save £300ish quid. I’ve a couple of core  pedals (mostly my tube preamp) and I’d hate anything to happen on a gig but we’re reasonable  well protected from the masses but some doofus managed to drop a pint on the ‘stage area’ last gig and it got me thinking. 

 

I do think the NC is a tidy wee box and as I’m only really using clean or drive tones and some IR it would be a nice addition. 

[woodyratm]

I bought the NC recently and it had weird problems getting stuff working. Capturing failed, captures not loading, failing to connect often, Controlling everything via phone was slightly awkward too. When it behaved, it sounded okay. But it was so flakey that I returned. Maybe mines was just gammy. 
 

Baffled me since I’ve had a QC for donkeys but the NC just felt awkward

for me. 
 

YMMV obvs.

[Chadu25]

I sent a new FX block proposal to Ivan from Darkglass proposing a synth fx block idea. It's basically the same blueprint of Entropia but synth engine where you can play around with LFO, Filters, Dirt, Sine waves to achieve classic synth tones. Just like how Entropia has different templates, same with Synthropia where you can achieve song ready synth tones like what you hear on Stevie's boogie on reggae woman, PYT, 24k Magic , moog related sounds and then tweak parameters to further improve your desired tone. The icon I made is just a quick render during my break at work. I just matched the same design elements in the Anagram's fx block icons. I really hope they have something synth related lined up in the future.

 

[LukeFRC]

28 minutes ago, Chadu25 said:

I sent a new FX block proposal to Ivan from Darkglass proposing a synth fx block idea. It's basically the same blueprint of Entropia but synth engine where you can play around with LFO, Filters, Dirt, Sine waves to achieve classic synth tones. Just like how Entropia has different templates, same with Synthropia where you can achieve song ready synth tones like what you hear on Stevie's boogie on reggae woman, PYT, 24k Magic , moog related sounds and then tweak parameters to further improve your desired tone. The icon I made is just a quick render during my break at work. I just matched the same design elements in the Anagram's fx block icons. I really hope they have something synth related lined up in the future.

 

I wonder how much trouble you could cause by taking your professional looking image and sticking on the other bass forum and Facebook groups with "have you seen this - so looking forward to it" type comments ....

 

[Chadu25]

42 minutes ago, LukeFRC said:

I wonder how much trouble you could cause by taking your professional looking image and sticking on the other bass forum and Facebook groups with "have you seen this - so looking forward to it" type comments ....

 

Willing to go through the trouble if it will be an opportunity for me to be hired as a graphic designer or UI artist in their team! Ivan did reply and said he will forward it to the team but no promises. Still hopeful like how Q started the Origin Effects B15 petition which have been already in development.

Edited November 19 by Chadu25

[tayste_2000]

I believe Subdecay contacted them as most of his new pedals (Noise Theory, Pixelwave, M3000) are basically software in a stomp.

 

So I’m hoping they could be ported and be the first they add to an “app store” style system.

[Greg Edwards69]

I’ve just seen this case on Thomann. Thought it could be useful to a few of us who don’t use the supplied PSU.

 

https://www.thomann.co.uk/thomann_bag_darkglass_anagram.htm

 

  

[tayste_2000]

52 minutes ago, Greg Edwards69 said:

I’ve just seen this case on Thomann. Thought it could be useful to a few of us who don’t use the supplied PSU.

 

https://www.thomann.co.uk/thomann_bag_darkglass_anagram.htm

 

  

Nice, I might give that a go, could have done without the extra pocket though, wonder be fitting it in the gigbag with that I fear.

[visog]

Liking the Entropia sounds...
 

 

[markbunney]

On 13/11/2025 at 16:23, markbunney said:

Am currently leaning towards the Nano (but will probably have changed my mind again by tomorrow!!!!)

 

the thing that puts me most off the Anagram (and the full size QC) is having something so expensive on the floor, at great risk of being stepped on by the punters and having drink spilled on it.

 

my Shure wireless pedal was almost taken out by a glass of wine at Saturdays gig, and even my brand new amp got a soaking!

 

Well I ordered a Nano in the end, but then have returned it.

 

it arrived just after the launch of the new V2 captures, and it did sound great, but ultimately I found only being able to have 1 capture per preset quite limiting.

 

Also I found it annoying not being able to turn an effect on and off, and having to have two different presets, one with the effect and one without it.

 

I was very impressed with the sound quality of the captures, especially the Tech 21 GED 2112. Aside from a Boss Katana Go, this was my first foray into digital effects, and I liked them a lot. I also found the app quite easy to use, and set up presets etc.

 

Its a shame that Neural dont have a device that sits between the Nano and the full size QC, but I guess this is where the Anagram fills the gap.

 

When I used the Nano powered by a USB battery pack, there was quite a lot of interference, which is something to watch out for. It was fine through headphones with the battery pack, and fine with the power supply through the amp, just not the battery pack.

[krispn]

I think you can hook up a morning star midi device and access more preset sets but that another cost. 

[steviedee]

I know I'm asking a question that can't be answered any chance there might be deals on these post Xmas?

 

[krispn]

It’s probably too new. Most of the deal might be free psu or brand carry bag type things. 

[MichaelDean]

New amps and Darkglass have confirmed in the comments that they're working on synths... Really thinking an Anagram might be in the not too distant future for me.

 

[Greg Edwards69]

The new blocks might please some users who were unhappy that the other amp blocks couldn’t be pushed into distortion.

[Chadu25]

2 hours ago, Greg Edwards69 said:

The new blocks might please some users who were unhappy that the other amp blocks couldn’t be pushed into distortion.

I love the overdrive channel isoblock! Soooo good!

[tayste_2000]

I updated mine but still not played with any of the amp blocks from last time 😂

[Killerfridge]

6 hours ago, Greg Edwards69 said:

The new blocks might please some users who were unhappy that the other amp blocks couldn’t be pushed into distortion.

100%, really happy to see this in the update, was starting to fear they weren't going to do it! The speed and rate of these updates has really got me craving one

[Greg Edwards69]

13 hours ago, tayste_2000 said:

I updated mine but still not played with any of the amp blocks from last time 😂

 

12 hours ago, Killerfridge said:

The speed and rate of these updates has really got me craving one

The speed and rate of these updates is overwhelming, I'm struggling to keep up - I still haven't done the previous update yet. It's a good job I didn't redo all my presets with the Swirl or Tiny Lark, I may have had to do it agin with the TDS!

[Chadu25]

Did a quick recording last night. Testing the edge of breakup. I'm using the Modern IsoBlock overdrive channel at low gain. I like some pillowy saturation which cuts nicely in a mix. Tested in song context and played along John Mayer's Vultures and Queen of California. I'm a big PIno and Sean Hurley fan so yeah. The SWE TC650 which is based on the EBS TD650, is an instant slap machine. Great blocks!

 

 

 

[Chadu25]

Just tried the latest Anagram update. The Mood2 is insane! I’ve owned alot of it and in different versions, in fact, it is one of my fave pedals of all time. 
 

They really nailed it and love the synthy fuzz it does. Very cheeky with the design though, curious to know what Spencer will say when he sees it. 

 

Edited yesterday at 15:53 by Chadu25

[Kev]

2 minutes ago, Chadu25 said:

Just tried the latest Anagram update. The Doom2 is insane! I’ve owned alot of it and in different versions and is one of my fave pedals of all time. 
 

They really nailed it and love the synthy fuzz it does. Very cheeky with the design though, curious to know  what Spencer thinks. 

 

 

I would LOVE Spencer to have the gall to ridicule Darkglass for copying HIM 😅

[thumbo]

 

[admiralchew]

On 30/12/2025 at 13:46, Chadu25 said:

Just tried the latest Anagram update. The Mood2 is insane! I’ve owned alot of it and in different versions, in fact, it is one of my fave pedals of all time. 
 

They really nailed it and love the synthy fuzz it does. Very cheeky with the design though, curious to know what Spencer will say when he sees it. 

 

I'm a bit torn about that. I've been quite interested in an Anagram and I have to admit that having a Doom 2 on board is enticing. It just feels a bit odd to put boutique pedals on it. I wonder where the line is (if there is a line).

 

It's obviously okay for Darkglass to put a dent in their physical pedal sales by including their own pedals. There are also a lot of copies of big muffs, mu-trons and other pedals made by large-scale manufacturers. I don't think the case for inclusion is as clear cut as the Darkglass pedals but these pedals have been copied a lot already so the cat is out the bag (Musitronics recently made a joking post about wanting the name of Klon's lawyers challenging Behringer so there is a degree of frustration). There isn't much recourse in law to protect the circuit designs and I've definitely had a lot of third-party versions of original pedals (I've got a Meatball and had a FTe version too) so I'm already torn. Adding a boutique-builder's pedal feels a bit different. I wouldn't want John Snyder at EAE, Dave Jordan at Non-Human Audio or Taylor Livingstone at Iron Ether to decide that there's no point trying to sell units or develop a new pedal if it'll be the next FaT Model, Low Snoris or Deluxe Zerograph (or some catchier version of the name) on the Anagram.

 

As @Kev alluded to, there's some extra history between Darkglass and Spencer. My understanding was that there was an unamicable split and, left with a lot of enclosures which Spencer had purchased for the purposes of assembling Darkglass pedals (and which were not of the type used in the existing 3 Leaf pedals which had bespoke enclosures), he decided to build them out and sell them under the Pike Amplification brand. There seemed a lot of bad blood on forums about that and I can't admit to knowing any more than the above (again gleaned from forums) but the Vulcan is still my favourite overdrive, and I've owned the Vintage Microtubes, Microtubes X, B7K Ultra, ADAM and still have the Alpha Omicron from the Darkglass line, and to my ears the Vulcan seemed to sound quite different to each of the Darkglass line up, with just the history and shape of the enclosure suggesting a tie between the two.

 

Anyway, apologies for derailing the Anagram thread with these musings! Happy New Year to all (and enjoy the Anagram to anyone that has one!)!

 

 

[Kev]

12 minutes ago, admiralchew said:

As @Kev alluded to, there's some extra history between Darkglass and Spencer. My understanding was that there was an unamicable split and, left with a lot of enclosures which Spencer had purchased for the purposes of assembling Darkglass pedals (and which were not of the type used in the existing 3 Leaf pedals which had bespoke enclosures), he decided to build them out and sell them under the Pike Amplification brand. There seemed a lot of bad blood on forums about that and I can't admit to knowing any more than the above (again gleaned from forums) but the Vulcan is still my favourite overdrive, and I've owned the Vintage Microtubes, Microtubes X, B7K Ultra, ADAM and still have the Alpha Omicron from the Darkglass line, and to my ears the Vulcan seemed to sound quite different to each of the Darkglass line up, with just the history and shape of the enclosure suggesting a tie between the two.

 

That wasn't the worst of it for me.  Sure, releasing his own pedals with almost identical construction in and out so soon after the split and not expecting backlash was very naive, that and telling fibs about the reasons behind it (being stuck with "predrilled" enclosures that somehow had the PSU socket in a different position from the corresponding DG pedal...), but when Spencer started selling off Darkglass prototypes as his own for profit because "he designed them", I lost all respect for him and the brand, haven't used anything 3Leaf since.

 

All that being said, the animosity was between Doug and Spencer, rather than Darkglass, who have since become a huge company owned by Korg, and I highly doubt programming a Doom 2 model was revenge or getting him back, its just a popular pedal that's very hard to get hold of.  From what I've heard, it completely nails it too.