Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Darkglass Adam
- Thread starter Chrishi87
- Start date
I’m curious about the ADAM vs Photon. Specifically, 1) the signal chain as the ADAM splits the signal and runs the clean through a multiband compressor where the Photon does not and how this affects the tone, and 2) the difference between distortion circuits. Anyone have experience with both who can share?
The ADAM's distortion is quite strong, so having the extra compression on the clean channel helps to keep the cleans at the same level as the distortion (since distortion causes compression by itself). The Photon's distortion works well at lower gain, so the clean channel can stay completely clean. The ADAM's distortion is unique, and it's possible that it can't be reproduced by traditional analog methods (but I'm certainly no expert on that). The Photon has a more classic sound to it since it's based on an analog circuit. Neither of them is inherently better, it just depends on the sound you are after. I aspire to be able to play the fast Nolly-style prog metal, but I spend most of my time practicing more classic songs where the Photon works better.
On that note, how low does the Gain get? Fully blended to the dirty side, what kind of grit if any are you getting with the Gain turned all the way down? One common critique I have of all the DG pedals I’ve owned is that I wish there was more low-Gain range added. The VMT is really the only circuit I have tried that has a true low-Gain side (at least what size wonder consider low gain), and then only with my lowest output instruments. The B3K and B7K can get there too, but only when cutting the Grunt and/or Bite IME (which were not my favorite tones on that circuit).
The ADAM is the worst of the bunch for low gain, and I wouldn't recommend purchasing it for that usage. The gain range can be tweaked in the app to lower the minimum, but it doesn't sound as good as the other pedals. The distortion on it is really tweaked for higher gain (and at release it didn't have the option of extending down to low gain). The B3K and VMT circuits are still the best for low gain, with the Alpha Omega a bit worse (but good enough for me). I don't consider the X very suitable for low gain either due to it's crossover interfering with the natural tone of the bass, but I really haven't tried too hard to make it work so could be operator error.
I was actually curious about the Photon (I shoulda clarified!). I’ve had all the other AO pedals at this point and agree they are a bit crunchier than would be my ideal with the Gain all the way off, but workable for sure. I was just wondering if the Photon model might have added some low Gain range (or possibly lost some of it!).
I didn’t find the X great for low Gain unless I turned the crossover up above noon, and at that point there was always a hole in the mids because of where the low side of the crossover maxed out.
Ah, yeah, the Photon isn’t any better than the other AO pedals, but it does have an additional -15db active pad that I haven’t tried. If I turn up the outgoing level to make up for the loss, it should give a lower gain option. I’ll give that a try when I get a chance.
That sounds promising for sure! Little easy add-on features like that are what make the digital platform promising
Just made a video about my pedalboard with a lot of Adam use. Hope You will found it interesting 
I had a look at the settings in the app, apparently the Photon comes with active pad enabled by default, so the only option is putting it into passive mode which boosts the input. Not helpful
So no, I am unable to get lower gain than a standard Alpha Omega pedal, at least not without the assistance of another pedal lower the input. And for myself, I use my Boss GT 1000 Core for cleanish low gain with its Sansamp emulation.
Just a little update on my Photon, I think I had my pedalboard input gain too high. I bumped up the bass a bit with my onboard EQ and it started clipping, so I was just riding the edge of the upper limit. I recalibrated the input gain (went down by 8db) and now when using 0 drive with the Studio Rig distortion mode at 100% blend gives almost no noticeable distortion when playing, and just barely starts to break up when played hard. Much better result.
Last edited:
Nice!! My main basses are low-output Rickenbackers that we’re still able to drive my other AO iterations even with the Gain turned all the way off, so that is very promising
When I get a chance I’ll try going direct from my bass, it’s an active Dingwall so it’s most likely higher output than yours.
Sorry for the wait! I took the photon off my board and used it by itself, and still get those nice cleans with the drive at zero using the “Studio Rig” distortion. Switching to classic AO distortion brings the normal dirt you’d expect at zero drive.
I finally got around to installing the mobile darkglass suite. I had used the desktop version when i got the pedal last year. I just want to say i love the control in my phone… and the new noise gate is pretty fantastic. How did i go so long without one?
even ignoring the distortion itself… a tuner, compressor, eq, signal splitter (i like to biamp), di box, headphones practice rig, and now noise gate… make this such a fantastic deal. amazing.
even ignoring the distortion itself… a tuner, compressor, eq, signal splitter (i like to biamp), di box, headphones practice rig, and now noise gate… make this such a fantastic deal. amazing.
Last edited:
Just made a video about my pedalboard with a lot of Adam use. Hope You will found it interesting
Nice work. Heard some Boilermaker in there. Also, all the Stingray stuff sounds awesome.
Hey all. Adam question here.
I have a Genzler Magellan 350, so it does not have a send/return to bypass the eq section of the amp when hooking up the Adam to it.
What’s the best way to run the Adam going into the front of the amp? Can I bypass the eq and cab sim in the Adam and just use the distortion? Or would it be better to set the eq on the Genzler flat and tailor to that?
I have a Genzler Magellan 350, so it does not have a send/return to bypass the eq section of the amp when hooking up the Adam to it.
What’s the best way to run the Adam going into the front of the amp? Can I bypass the eq and cab sim in the Adam and just use the distortion? Or would it be better to set the eq on the Genzler flat and tailor to that?
I have the same amp, and have no issue running it flat. I never felt like I’d prefer to bypass the preamp on it (if I could).
Awesome. So silly question…running it into your amp…you’re using a cable from the left balanced output to the front of the amp? Also, in your presets, are you Turing off the cab sim to use the sound of your own cab? Thanks!
Yes, but I will disable cabsim on the left output in the app instead of disabling in the preset. That way you can keep the cabsim active for the DI.
