Darkglass Anagram Multi FX Announced

[pfschim]

How do you guys use a Midi switch. Preferable the DG Midi Switch.
For the current state of the MIDI implementation I can't figure out how it is useful.

well, my used Anagram came with the Chocolate Plus MIDI footswitch, so I thought I would set it up to see if/how it could add value.

I'm currently using it in Stomp mode to give me single switch control over changing banks up and down (I'm currently just using 2 banks/6 presets), a home preset (A01), a last preset (B06), and changing presets up/down within a bank. I'm a total MIDI noob, so it took a bit of figuring out MIDI CC and PC info, but once I got that, it works fine, but it's still a work-in-progress for me in terms of exactly how to set it up to be usable to me on a gig.

 

[bearcore]

I agree that it's often difficult to dial in that last 0.1 to get to an even number without overshooting it. The team should adjust the knob acceleration. Overall I'm enjoying the unit, but I have several other quality of life gripes:

-It often takes me multiple attempts to swipe to the lower signal path or to the right/left of the blocks I'm currently looking at, and based on the Jacob Umansky video, I'm not the only one.

-In the process of attempting the above, I end up moving blocks around on accident. I move them accidentally more often than I do it intentionally, so this should just require a long press before they become mobile.

-Block defaults are good, but named block templates/favorites are badly needed, especially for multi-function blocks like NAM and Entropia. Every NAM profile I load up requires radically different input/output settings, and having to remember those or write them down elsewhere is a drag. Offering Entropia block templates without providing the user the ability to save their own is a tease.

-Related to the above, I thought I might be able to get around the lack of saved favorites by copying and pasting blocks from prior presets to new ones, but there doesn't appear to be a way to do that either.

-Some very poor UI decisions were made on the cab selection side. Most icons in the unit are distinctive and memorable, but these 4 cab options look very similar and do not effectively represent their contents (left to right, bass cabinets, guitar cabinets, artist cabinets, and user cabinets). I had to double check as I was typing because it's just that hard to remember. You pick one, it brings you back to your signal chain, then you have to click on the block it just inserted (which has a different icon than the one you just clicked on!) to find out which of the 4 it was. If you chose wrong, you click the double arrow block change button, scroll back to the 4 mysterious cab icons, and guess again. My suggestions for unambiguous icons: a classic-looking 810 with a bass clef on the grill, a Vox or Fenderish 212 combo with a treble clef, a different 810 with a star icon, and a generic cab with an impulse response waveform.

 

[IvanBassist]

I agree that it's often difficult to dial in that last 0.1 to get to an even number without overshooting it. The team should adjust the knob acceleration. Overall I'm enjoying the unit, but I have several other quality of life gripes:

-It often takes me multiple attempts to swipe to the lower signal path or to the right/left of the blocks I'm currently looking at, and based on the Jacob Umansky video, I'm not the only one.

-In the process of attempting the above, I end up moving blocks around on accident. I move them accidentally more often than I do it intentionally, so this should just require a long press before they become mobile.

-Block defaults are good, but named block templates/favorites are badly needed, especially for multi-function blocks like NAM and Entropia. Every NAM profile I load up requires radically different input/output settings, and having to remember those or write them down elsewhere is a drag. Offering Entropia block templates without providing the user the ability to save their own is a tease.

-Related to the above, I thought I might be able to get around the lack of saved favorites by copying and pasting blocks from prior presets to new ones, but there doesn't appear to be a way to do that either.

-Some very poor UI decisions were made on the cab selection side. Most icons in the unit are distinctive and memorable, but these 4 cab options look very similar and do not effectively represent their contents (left to right, bass cabinets, guitar cabinets, artist cabinets, and user cabinets). I had to double check as I was typing because it's just that hard to remember. You pick one, it brings you back to your signal chain, then you have to click on the block it just inserted (which has a different icon than the one you just clicked on!) to find out which of the 4 it was. If you chose wrong, you click the double arrow block change button, scroll back to the 4 mysterious cab icons, and guess again. My suggestions for unambiguous icons: a classic-looking 810 with a bass clef on the grill, a Vox or Fenderish 212 combo with a treble clef, a different 810 with a star icon, and a generic cab with an impulse response waveform.

View attachment 7435843

Thanks for the feedback

 

[warptheory]

I would love a way to use an expression pedal to target specific blocks. I can set it to control the delay time on a delay block, volume, and the Whammy, but if I want to use any of those blocks at the same time, it falls apart. I may want to do a Whammy, but not change delay time or volume, or I may want to use it to control delay, but not the Volume. I don't see a way to do this currently, other than making different presets, which doesn't really work for my setup.

I also have ran into issues where I have a Send block for an effects loop and between the Return block I have an Octave and Whammy. Most of the time I want the full signal of the effects loop with no through. BUT I do want through when I activate the Octave OR the Whammy. I set it so when I engage the Whammy the Through on the Send Block goes from silent to unity, but I can't also do that trick with the Octave, because the Through on the Send Block is "In Use". Of course I could set the Send Block on it's own QuickKnob binding, and toggle that with my MIDI controller, but I'm out of QuickKnob slots.

Any advice or should I just wait for the next update?

If we were to get more QuickKnob slots, I could work around it, but 6 (+3) just isn't enough.

 

[Grahams Groove]

I would love a way to use an expression pedal to target specific blocks. I can set it to control the delay time on a delay block, volume, and the Whammy, but if I want to use any of those blocks at the same time, it falls apart. I may want to do a Whammy, but not change delay time or volume, or I may want to use it to control delay, but not the Volume. I don't see a way to do this currently, other than making different presets, which doesn't really work for my setup.

I'm not clear on how this is a realistic scenario. If you have instances where you want a single expression pedal to control multiple blocks, while also having scenarios where you want it to only control one or two of those blocks, you'll need to either create different presets or toggle on/off the blocks based on what you want the expression pedal to control for any given instance. i.e. You need to give the device some information to indicate when you want it to control different parameters. Maybe I'm not seeing or understanding the issue?

Are you using expression control via your MIDI controller? Or do you have your expression pedal in the Anagram's FX Loop input?

 

[Chace90]

I would love a way to use an expression pedal to target specific blocks. I can set it to control the delay time on a delay block, volume, and the Whammy, but if I want to use any of those blocks at the same time, it falls apart. I may want to do a Whammy, but not change delay time or volume, or I may want to use it to control delay, but not the Volume. I don't see a way to do this currently, other than making different presets, which doesn't really work for my setup.

I also have ran into issues where I have a Send block for an effects loop and between the Return block I have an Octave and Whammy. Most of the time I want the full signal of the effects loop with no through. BUT I do want through when I activate the Octave OR the Whammy. I set it so when I engage the Whammy the Through on the Send Block goes from silent to unity, but I can't also do that trick with the Octave, because the Through on the Send Block is "In Use". Of course I could set the Send Block on it's own QuickKnob binding, and toggle that with my MIDI controller, but I'm out of QuickKnob slots.

Any advice or should I just wait for the next update?

If we were to get more QuickKnob slots, I could work around it, but 6 (+3) just isn't enough.


View attachment 7436022

Better off using MIDI-controlled expression for this, I'd say. MIDI expression can be toggled to target different CCs's. I believe you'd have to use the different CC's attached to the 6 available Bindings to target different attributes with the MIDI expression. Whatever MIDI controller would have to do the toggling for which messages are getting sent with the attached expression pedal. And of course a MIDI controlled expression could be set to target 2+ bindings at once, if desired.

 

[warptheory]

I'm not clear on how this is a realistic scenario. If you have instances where you want a single expression pedal to control multiple blocks, while also having scenarios where you want it to only control one or two of those blocks, you'll need to either create different presets or toggle on/off the blocks based on what you want the expression pedal to control for any given instance. i.e. You need to give the device some information to indicate when you want it to control different parameters. Maybe I'm not seeing or understanding the issue?

Are you using expression control via your MIDI controller? Or do you have your expression pedal in the Anagram's FX Loop input?

Better off using MIDI-controlled expression for this, I'd say. MIDI expression can be toggled to target different CCs's. I believe you'd have to use the different CC's attached to the 6 available Bindings to target different attributes with the MIDI expression. Whatever MIDI controller would have to do the toggling for which messages are getting sent with the attached expression pedal. And of course a MIDI controlled expression could be set to target 2+ bindings at once, if desired.

Expression controller is plugged into Morningstar MC6 Pro, which is sending MIDI to Anagram. I think my issue is not enough Quickknob binding slots available. I could certainly create a page on the MC6 that is just Expression selection with different blocks, but then I'd have to sacrifice block toggling. More Quickknob slots would free me up to utilize everything.

 

[Chace90]

Expression controller is plugged into Morningstar MC6 Pro, which is sending MIDI to Anagram. I think my issue is not enough Quickknob binding slots available. I could certainly create a page on the MC6 that is just Expression selection with different blocks, but then I'd have to sacrifice block toggling. More Quickknob slots would free me up to utilize everything.

View attachment 7436267

Sorry, didn't know you were already on MIDI. Yeah...currently limited by the dearth of MIDI control the Anagram offers. Don't get me wrong! I'm glad it's there at all. But, compared to something like the Helix products, there just isn't as deep of MIDI integration as there (hopefully) could be. Seems like on Stomp (which I use on another board, and have for years), you can assign just about anything to MIDI controllable.

Feels like they'll get there though, right?

Back to your case @warptheory, you're probably gonna have to settle for multiple, nearly duplicate, presets with the Quickknobs assigned according to what you need to control for those specific moments. As someone who doesn't like to switch presets if I can help it, I understand the frustration with that solve.

Hang in there!

 

[jjo161]

Mantra Dual EXP | klowra.com interesting

 

[AnthonyBe]

Mantra Dual EXP | klowra.com interesting

Just FYI, it is wired TRS so would need a TRS-to-RTS cable to work with Anagram.

While it mentions having a 'polarity' switch, it does not apply to the connector wiring.

From the pedal's manual:

Direction Switches 1 and 2

These switches set the sweep direction (polarity) for EXP 1/2 :

• ( + ): Value increases when pressing toward Toe.
• ( − ): Value decreases when pressing toward Toe.

Note: Changing the direction only reverses the control behavior. It does not change the resistance value.

 

[AnthonyBe]

Speaking of TRS-to-RTS cables/adapters - has anyone seen anyone selling them online?

It's such a common question/need currently across the different social platforms. I had a quick look and all I could find were wildly over-priced and out-dated Reverb listings or out of stock/dead suppliers.
I know these things would only cost $5 to make (or 5 mins to modify if you have decent quality screw plugs on a TRS patch cable and a soldering iron) but I would love to document a few online seller links.

If nothing else, there's a short-term market opportunity for someone on Etsy!

 

[meisi]

Just FYI, it is wired TRS so would need a TRS-to-RTS cable to work with Anagram.

While it mentions having a 'polarity' switch, it does not apply to the connector wiring.

From the pedal's manual:

That polarity switch sounds exactly like a flip from RTS to TRS or vice versa.

The resistance doesn’t change it’s just where the wiper is placed, either the tip or the sleeve.

 

[AnthonyBe]

That polarity switch sounds exactly like a flip from RTS to TRS or vice versa.

The resistance doesn’t change it’s just where the wiper is placed, either the tip or the sleeve.

Maybe. Probably. Possibly.
They have documented this differently to any other pedal I've looked at, and given the limited nature of the documentation I'll wait for someone to buy and confirm.

I'm a trust but verify type

 

[Grahams Groove]

Just FYI, it is wired TRS so would need a TRS-to-RTS cable to work with Anagram.

While it mentions having a 'polarity' switch, it does not apply to the connector wiring.

From the pedal's manual:

Direction Switches 1 and 2

These switches set the sweep direction (polarity) for EXP 1/2 :

• ( + ): Value increases when pressing toward Toe.
• ( − ): Value decreases when pressing toward Toe.

Note: Changing the direction only reverses the control behavior. It does not change the resistance value.

The Dunlop DVP4 volume/expression has a polarity switch that does the same thing (reverses the heel/toe polarity), which allows it to function with the Anagram. I believe Darkglass even called out the DVP4 as a compatible 3rd party unit when they introduced the recent expression controlled blocks. This Hotone/Mantra dual expression looks like it works the same way.

 

[meisi]

Maybe. Probably. Possibly.
They have documented this differently to any other pedal I've looked at, and given the limited nature of the documentation I'll wait for someone to buy and confirm.

I'm a trust but verify type

If you’re just looking for a low cost, mid sized, all metal expression pedal - the paint audio one is what I use. It can do TRS or RTS (two jacks) so it will work here and on any other expression pedal input you have.

 

[Chrishi87]

Thx for the MIDI Ideas.
I think I have to wait for an Update.
Would like to use the Anagram in Stomp Mode and use the Midi for Scene 1 / 2 / 3, Tuner and the 5th... don´t know.
But currently it´s not possible to use the Scenes when the Anagram is in Stomp Mode.

Or change the functions, use the Anagram in Scene and Midi for Stomp A / B / C but the faulty Lights on the Midi are not an option for live usage.

 

[jjo161]

I used to own a DG MIDI footswitch but found it quite underwhelming, when I realized what Morningstar midi controllers are capable of. If you are lucky you get a used one for not much more than the original price for DG .

Nevertheless, I think you can send several messages on the DG footswitch as well.

Here is an idea. If the anagram actually behaves the way I want it, I am not sure. But I might try over the weekend.

1st cc message would change into scene mode.
2nd cc message would change to the desired scene.
3rd cc message might bring you back to stomp mode, if you want that.

 

[bigcupholder]

Add me to the list of those frustrated by the current midi implementation.

I finally got my midi controller only to discover I can't do what I planned to because the anagram doesn't reload the current scene (regardless of the scene edit discard setting, which seems contradictory to its purpose). So if I have a midi switch that loads scene A and toggles a macro to get a modified version of scene A, I can't switch from that to the normal scene A with the switch on the Anagram. It doesn't reload the scene, so the macro stays enabled.

So now I have to rethink how I can get 6 different sounds where each one is accessible with a single footswitch, or if I go with an entirely different approach.

I used to own a DG MIDI footswitch but found it quite underwhelming, when I realized what Morningstar midi controllers are capable of. If you are lucky you get a used one for not much more than the original price for DG .

Nevertheless, I think you can send several messages on the DG footswitch as well.

Here is an idea. If the anagram actually behaves the way I want it, I am not sure. But I might try over the weekend.

1st cc message would change into scene mode.
2nd cc message would change to the desired scene.
3rd cc message might bring you back to stomp mode, if you want that.

You might get a race condition and inconsistent results with stacking order-specific commands like that. I'm not sure. I had that issue experimenting with scene switching but maybe the anagram handles mode switching better.

 

[jjo161]

I finally got my midi controller

Which one do you use?

 

[bigcupholder]

Which one do you use?

Pirate aero.

I've had it for less than a day so I can't give an in-depth review yet. It fits nicely in front of the Anagram, having almost identical footswitch spacing, and the editor is easy to use (speaking as someone who has no prior midi experience).

However, I'd caution anyone considering one to not expect it for awhile. When I ordered it their website showed an estimated shipping time of 10 days or less but it didn't ship for over a month, during which time they even decreased the estimate on their site to 8 days. So they seem a bit sketchy on the sales/communication side but it's solid so far.