Darkglass Anagram Multi FX Announced

[Pep]

This is more or less where I've landed as well. The HXFX was a great stepping stone towards the Anagram, but the Anagram simply sounds better. I've done the same thing with Helix Native, and if I'm honest, I'm spending more time in Genome lately to fiddle with NAMs and various IRs.


Certainly no replacement for in person auditions, but the HX Stomp may provide the more meaningful comparison - the HX Effects has an IR loader and more foot switches, but it does not offer the amp modeling that is in the Stomp.

That’s true. I’m really not interested in amp or cab modeling, just effects. Even though the Stomp is only $100 more, I really like the HX Effects layout better as I can see the effects labels at all times on the LED scribble strips. The only things I need are effects and compression.
On the other hand, if I don’t like the sounds I will keep the Anagram.

 

[Pep]

I got the Anagram and quickly sold on my Stomp. After the comp updates I sold on my compressor too. I never liked the comps on the stomp a you often see people have an external one with it (inc IMA). I did really like the Stomp but for me, the Anagram sounds better and there is a lot less effort needed get a good sound.

I’m not being hard-headed. I agree that Anagram has phenomenal sounds and after getting familiar with it, it is easy to operate. I just need to see if the HX Effects is good enough for my application and not too difficult for a non-tech guy. Also, that extra $700 would go along way in replacing my computer abd I need to do that no matter which way I go.

 

[SunByrne]

Finally ordered mine. Looking forward to all the fun... and selling a bunch of existing pedals.

 

[drpepper]

A.S.A. (Anagram users service announcement) If you haven’t come across it yet, check out @Quincas Moreira's (aka Bass Fox) YouTube channel: Bass Fox.

It’s great to have someone with such deep sound-design knowledge as a resource for the Anagram. Beyond the general help I get from watching his videos, while we’re waiting (and hoping) for a synth block, he really helped me dial in an A-ha Take On Me sound. It still needs some personalizing work (my bass, my playing, the rest of the band, etc.), but it’s miles better than the flailing I was doing on my own.

I’ve never really been a individual pedal user, and my past experiences with anything beyond the basics (Zoom) have been pretty unsatisfactory (at least for gig use). This has been a totally different experience.

 

[Grahams Groove]

I’m not being hard-headed. I agree that Anagram has phenomenal sounds and after getting familiar with it, it is easy to operate. I just need to see if the HX Effects is good enough for my application and not too difficult for a non-tech guy. Also, that extra $700 would go along way in replacing my computer abd I need to do that no matter which way I go.

If you have the time/money to buy and compare both, that sounds worth the endeavor - especially considering how 'personal' everyone's needs are from a multi-effects unit.

From my experience (have had the HX Stomp and Boss GT-1000 prior to getting the Anagram), the starting point of most/all Anagram blocks are miles ahead of any other multi unit I've used for bass. With the Boss and Stomp units, I was constantly tweaking blocks to try and 'get there'. Many of the bass-specific blocks felt like afterthoughts made by guitar-focused players, and many of the guitar effects/blocks needed tons of tweaking. It was exhausting and I always felt like I was compromising.

With the Anagram, I've found the editing interface to be far more intuitive, and a good number of the blocks are 75-95% of the way there in their default states - at least for my needs. Another thing for me is that the vast majority of Anagram block controls do what you'd expect them to do. That was often not the case with other units, where I was using some pretty extreme, counterintuitive settings to get what i needed. In contrast, the Anagram is the digital unit that has felt closest to an analog board in terms of how I dial things in.

Everyone's mileage will vary, but after just a couple days with the Anagram I had the feeling of, 'oh, this thing just works.' Will be interested to hear your take once you can A/B them for yourself...

 

[Rockgeezer]

If you have the time/money to buy and compare both, that sounds worth the endeavor - especially considering how 'personal' everyone's needs are from a multi-effects unit.

From my experience (have had the HX Stomp and Boss GT-1000 prior to getting the Anagram), the starting point of most/all Anagram blocks are miles ahead of any other multi unit I've used for bass. With the Boss and Stomp units, I was constantly tweaking blocks to try and 'get there'. Many of the bass-specific blocks felt like afterthoughts made by guitar-focused players, and many of the guitar effects/blocks needed tons of tweaking. It was exhausting and I always felt like I was compromising.

With the Anagram, I've found the editing interface to be far more intuitive, and a good number of the blocks are 75-95% of the way there in their default states - at least for my needs. Another thing for me is that the vast majority of Anagram block controls do what you'd expect them to do. That was often not the case with other units, where I was using some pretty extreme, counterintuitive settings to get what i needed. In contrast, the Anagram is the digital unit that has felt closest to an analog board in terms of how I dial things in.

Everyone's mileage will vary, but after just a couple days with the Anagram I had the feeling of, 'oh, this thing just works.' Will be interested to hear your take once you can A/B them for yourself...

Have to agree wholeheartedly with this post. I came from my Nano Cortex pedalboard and before that, the HX Stomp XL pedalboard I used for three years. For me the quick and intuitive operation and performance has been my biggest plus and after three and a half months and fifty gigs it’s been issue free and everything I’ve hoped it would provide for me. As with many others, a real
synth block would complete my needs and only other possible item in my wish list would only be perhaps an Aguilar DB751 amp block. Other than that, I couldn’t be more pleased. As said above, and from many others, the satisfaction and results depend completely on the individual needs from each of us. And as time moves on with more and more users finding tips and tricks with its use, this bass community will continue to be an invaluable source for help and support.

 

[Grahams Groove]

Have to agree wholeheartedly with this post. I came from my Nano Cortex pedalboard and before that, the HX Stomp XL pedalboard I used for three years. For me the quick and intuitive operation and performance has been my biggest plus and after three and a half months and fifty gigs it’s been issue free and everything I’ve hoped it would provide for me. As with many others, a real
synth block would complete my needs and only other possible item in my wish list would only be perhaps an Aguilar DB751 amp block. Other than that, I couldn’t be more pleased. As said above, and from many others, the satisfaction and results depend completely on the individual needs from each of us. And as time moves on with more and more users finding tips and tricks with its use, this bass community will continue to be an invaluable source for help and support.

The addition of blocks since launch is another good call-out. Something I was thinking about after the wah/vol pedal release - with the Boss GT-1000 and StompHX, I found that I was adding some analog pedals back to my board over time. Either I was dissatisfied with tones I was dialing in to replace analog pedals, or the specific drives I use weren't replicable at all. With the Anagram, I've slowly removed the handful of analog pedals I had on my board as new blocks and captures allowed me to effectively replace them. I'm down to just the C4 synth at this point, and, as you said, a solid synth block would likely knock that off.

 

[dayo]

Ordered my anagram today , cant wait to get my hands on it , hope I can get my head around the tech

 

[Chris Chong]

 

[Gogoplata1980]

This poor guy is stuggling with moving around the screen. People call me crazy for saying DG needs to prioritize DG Suite being actually useful (i.e. creating, editing presets, etc) but this proves it. On a live demonstration this poor dude is hitting the exact reasons I was frustrated with using the screen. The Anagram is excelllent but it needs better desktop and mobile support so you can do as little as possible on the actual screen. My two cents.

 

[Scott McArron]

This poor guy is stuggling with moving around the screen. People call me crazy for saying DG needs to prioritize DG Suite being actually useful (i.e. creating, editing presets, etc) but this proves it. On a live demonstration this poor dude is hitting the exact reasons I was frustrated with using the screen. The Anagram is excelllent but it needs better desktop and mobile support so you can do as little as possible on the actual screen. My two cents.

I noticed the same thing and was like “hey, look, it’s not just me!” Now I avoid the struggle by leaving it on zoomed out view and haven’t thought of it since.

 

[Gogoplata1980]

I noticed the same thing and was like “hey, look, it’s not just me!” Now I avoid the struggle by leaving it on zoomed out view and haven’t thought of it since.

Yeah, the zoomed out view helps a ton but it still needs some help in my opinion.

 

[bigcupholder]

Yeah, zoomed out is definitely the way to go. Scrolling without accidentally dragging blocks around is way too difficult.

But I agree the Darkglass suite feels half baked. You can load IRs and NAM profiles, you can backup your presets, but you can't edit your presets. I keep my Anagram on my pedalboard on the floor, so it's not convenient to edit on the screen. A desktop editor would be hugely appreciated.

 

[Pep]

Yeah, zoomed out is definitely the way to go. Scrolling without accidentally dragging blocks around is way too difficult.

But I agree the Darkglass suite feels half baked. You can load IRs and NAM profiles, you can backup your presets, but you can't edit your presets. I keep my Anagram on my pedalboard on the floor, so it's not convenient to edit on the screen. A desktop editor would be hugely appreciated.

I agree on all accounts. It would be nice to have a tablet connected to it to make edits.

 

[Gogoplata1980]

It's crazy that I've had dudes on the Anagram Facebook group argue with me that the Suite is actually fine and that it's unnecessary to edit on the Suite.

 

[warptheory]

A DSP meter would also be helpful, even if only in the manual and not on the unit. It would be helpful to know how much DSP NAM takes. I started running into DSP warnings when I had them loaded, and even when not in use.

Does Anagram use DSP when blocks are loaded, but not engaged? Like if I have 10 blocks and none of them are engaged, is DSP at 0% or is it at something like 80% whether the blocks are engaged or not?

 

[silky smoove]

Does Anagram use DSP when blocks are loaded, but not engaged? Like if I have 10 blocks and none of them are engaged, is DSP at 0% or is it at something like 80% whether the blocks are engaged or not?

I suspect it behaves like a DAW. If things are bypassed they still take up DSP because they need to be switched on without warning and with no appreciable delay. If the DSP is offloaded there would likely be a delay when engaged. Pure speculation on my part.

 

[Scott McArron]

Yeah, the zoomed out view helps a ton but it still needs some help in my opinion.

Don’t disagree! I’ve been using it side-by-side with my QCm and the difference is night and day. Anagram has a ways to go.

Besides the need for physical interaction refinement, CPU metering, and I/O control (both preset and Entropia), it could also use a workflow that doesn’t require a computer connection.

What I mean by that is with QC, I can browse Cortex Control for presets on my phone that look interesting and simply select them, and then I open up the downloads on my QC and they automagically appear. It’s really nice. No need to go to the home office (bedroom), get my laptop, find a USB cable, connect everything, power it on, open the app, wait to load, and finally start selecting presets while tethered with a cable. It’s clunky and cumbersome. And away from home, I don’t have my computer with me as an option at all.

 

[S_Okon]

Don’t disagree! I’ve been using it side-by-side with my QCm and the difference is night and day. Anagram has a ways to go.

Besides the need for physical interaction refinement, CPU metering, and I/O control (both preset and Entropia), it could also use a workflow that doesn’t require a computer connection.

What I mean by that is with QC, I can browse Cortex Control for presets on my phone that look interesting and simply select them, and then I open up the downloads on my QC and they automagically appear. It’s really nice. No need to go to the home office (bedroom), get my laptop, find a USB cable, connect everything, power it on, open the app, wait to load, and finally start selecting presets while tethered with a cable. It’s clunky and cumbersome. And away from home, I don’t have my computer with me as an option at all.

While you are absolutely right about that, i have to say, for me personally, i am happy to not be trapped in this constant lookout for new, other, better sounds.
I have found my desired sound and haven't even done the last two updates.

But i agree on all your points made. There is plenty room for improvement. But isn't that a great thing, while the Anagram is already such a great device!?

Most important to me would be fixing the loud noise in the headphones, when turning the Anagram on.

 

[Scott McArron]

But isn't that a great thing, while the Anagram is already such a great device!?

Totally! Even if they didn’t change a thing from today it’s still fantastic!