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Darkglass Anagram Multi FX Announced

#381
jpaulo said:
I would like to have something in a pedal/multi-fx format that would allow me to use my vst/au plugins that I use with my DAW, without having to carry my laptop and an audio interface.

The QC, HX, TONEX and now this Anagram are not it, yet - right?
Considering this, the HX, even in an older technology, seems (to me) to be a better and proven cost/benefit option as a multi-fx - despite how interesting the Anagram really looks and the coming hype on it.
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When the Muse Receptor stuff kicked off a while ago I though "finally". I know that was rack stuff but no reason we weren't heading towards a pedals that did the same thing. And then? Nothing. Company bust, no more interest. I think the real pros who were doing that kind of thing moved on to using proper computers and the rest of us proles were satiated as modelling started to get better. I don't think it's a coincidence that the Muse stuff stopped being cool about when the Helix came out. You can in a very limited capacity do this with the Aplitube x gear pedals by the way.
 
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#382
Jack said:
When the Muse Receptor stuff kicked off a while ago I though "finally". I know that was rack stuff but no reason we weren't heading towards a pedals that did the same thing. And then? Nothing. Company bust, no more interest. I think the real pros who were doing that kind of thing moved on to using proper computers and the rest of us proles were satiated as modelling started to get better. I don't think it's a coincidence that the Muse stuff stopped being cool about when the Helix came out. You can in a very limited capacity do this with the Aplitube x gear pedals by the way.
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Darkglass said any plugin developer can work with them to port a plugin on the Anagram platform, which means they are opened but they want to control their environement, and I think they are right - they want to make sure everything is stable and the UI is consisent. The size of the screen on the Anagram makes it impossible to display a DAW plugin without development anyway.

The MOD Dwarf was more open, in the sense that a plugin developer could port his plugin for the MOD platform without the help of the MOD team, but there was still no universal plugin loader (plugins had to be ported to the MOD platform).

I liked the Open Source approach of the MOD platform, but the user experience was too techy / geeky (plus the processor wasn't powerful enough). We musicians need a straightforward and streamlined user interface, therefore I think Darkglass has chosen the right approach - as long as they really collaborate with plugin developpers to help them bringing their plugins to Anagram.

Time will tell if Darkglass actually want to open the Platform and make the necessary efforts. I think the more successful Anagram is, the most likely it is that they invest in that direction.

I suppose a lot of guitarists are going to want to use Anagram as well, so Darkglass will have to choose between keeping their pedal focussed on the bass market or open it to the guitar world.
 
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#383
Chrishi87 said:
Scene - Yep
Stomp Mode - The same like Stomp Helix
Binding Mode - What you explained in your Stomp Mode. (but Stomp Mode on Helix is also just one block on / off, I believe ?)
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BrianVengeance said:
The switch bindings in stomp mode are a bit different - on the Helix, this is a simple on / off for the pedal itself. On the Anagram, you can select a block and then a parameter and set on / off values. This works for all blocks, so it could work with routing or going from a lower gain to a higher gain setting on a single boost / OD / distortion block. Could also tweak blend levels, etc... but for a single block.
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Stomp mode on HX can do more than just toggle a block on/off. You can assign multiple parameters, midi and bypass states to a single switch in stomp mode. And since firmware 2.5 or something llike that you can even assign presets and snapshots (scenes) to a stomp, which allows for pretty complex setups if you wanted.
 
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#384
gtirard said:
Darkglass said any plugin developer can work with them to port a plugin on the Anagram platform, which means they are opened but they want to control their environement, and I think they are right - they want to make sure everything is stable and the UI is consisent. The size of the screen on the Anagram makes it impossible to display a DAW plugin without development anyway.

The MOD Dwarf was more open, in the sense that a plugin developer could port his plugin for the MOD platform without the help of the MOD team, but there was still no universal plugin loader (plugins had to be ported to the MOD platform).

I liked the Open Source approach of the MOD platform, but the user experience was too techy / geeky (plus the processor wasn't powerful enough). We musicians need a straightforward and streamlined user interface, therefore I think Darkglass has chosen the right approach - as long as they really collaborate with plugin developpers to help them bringing their plugins to Anagram.

Time will tell if Darkglass actually want to open the Platform and make the necessary efforts. I think the more successful Anagram is, the most likely it is that they invest in that direction.

I suppose a lot of guitarists are going to want to use Anagram as well, so Darkglass will have to choose between keeping their pedal focussed on the bass market or open it to the guitar world.
Click to expand...
Oh for sure. FWIW I'm one of the people who doesn't have any interest in doing this live any more. I know we have been hearing 'modelling is finally good enough to replace a real amp!' since the days of the Line 6 POD, and I am sure that in 10 years time we will be laughing about how primitive the current crop sound, but I have done hundreds of gigs on modellers and I don't feel like I have missed anything by not using proper plugins. I briefly had a Kemper, then a rack Helix, then the Stomp, and now a QC. Plenty of people tell me I sound terrible, but it's certainly not the tones from the devices that they're complaining about.

With regards to your last point, I do hope they keep guitar and bass separate. I know they probably shouldn't make two identical hardware units that just have different blocks as that will put the many people who do both off and push them towards a competitor product, but plenty of people are happy about the fact that the anagram is bass-first. Personally I think I would be tempted to make a downloadable 'guitar pack' that doublers could get if they wanted to and not subject the rest of us to 20,000 captures of vintage Marshalls that all sound the same.
 
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#385
First bug for me. I can't move my effects on my line in the preset. I have to take a blank slot, move it but when this slot is assigned to an effect, it doesn't move anymore... brothel. And I find the transition from one bank to another a bit laborious. It's not crystal clear.
 
#386
Benko said:
For me it does not, I do also like a nice juicy and quacky and it just does not cut it, or I do it wrong...I'll be following people who have more chance or better skills to set it up. Let's hope for an upgrade fixing it
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Bummer, but this disqualifies the Anagram for me for the time being. My must-haves would be a good compressor, a good subtle warm tubey overdrive, and a good envelope filter. Some fun synth tones as a bonus, but that is optional.

I have a QC, and it does alright with these. But it actually sounds best if I go to dedicated pedals for each. The compressors are decent, but not as good as the Empress or Atlas. The overdrives are decent, but not as good as the Genzler 4 on the Floor for what I am looking for. The envelope filters are decent, but not as good as the Spectrum. So it is the eternal compromise with these jack-of-all-trades units. They do most things pretty good, but very few things really excellent.
 
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#387
Ratterbass_ said:
Stomp mode on HX can do more than just toggle a block on/off. You can assign multiple parameters, midi and bypass states to a single switch in stomp mode. And since firmware 2.5 or something llike that you can even assign presets and snapshots (scenes) to a stomp, which allows for pretty complex setups if you wanted.
Click to expand...

Ah, that’s good to know - I’ll have to poke into my HX FX a bit more deeply. This does raise an interesting point on immediacy and usability. I’ve had the Helix for some time and didn’t know this, but it was immediately obvious with the Anagram.
 
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#388
Arghhh... DPD have stated they attempted delivery today and I wasn't in - was working from home all day!!

My Anagram due Friday is now due tomorrow - truly a hateful company (this is consistent with previous experiences i've had with them)!

Really annoying thing is I was hoping to dial it in last weekend. Gigging in Portugal for a week here and flying out Wednesday - I think the Stomp will be ripped off the board and coming with me now sadly!
 
#393
For me the HX stomp ain’t going anywhere anytime soon
But if your setup is very simple you might get it going.
I have a ton of things going on that just isn’t possible on Anagram at this time.

I love the Anagram interface and potential. Leaps and bounds better than the HX, however still miss a lot of stuff to be a “full multi effects”

I think it will inevitably be the go to multi effects for bass at some point, just depends how effectively Darkglass keep up fixing the problems and adding more features (and effects).
 
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#394
Which midi controller can you recommend to me? Less than 200 euros would be great. I wonder if with this controller I could scroll through the banks, press 2 buttons at the same time, it's complicated and not very precise...
 
#395
Synh said:
Which midi controller can you recommend to me? Less than 200 euros would be great. I wonder if with this controller I could scroll through the banks, press 2 buttons at the same time, it's complicated and not very precise...
Click to expand...

How about the Darkglass Midi?
I think about it. But have a M-Wave Chocolate in my Drawer and just ordered cables to test.
 
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#396
Am I right in thinking that we're limited to 3 effects or scenes when playing live? So if we need to turn on 4/5 different effect patches we need a MIDI footswitch?

I'll need overdrive, chorus, synth, octave and pitch shift to control separately. Could create a couple of different presets but not sure how smooth it is to switch between them in a live setting?
 
#397
Bassguy87 said:
Am I right in thinking that we're limited to 3 effects or scenes when playing live? So if we need to turn on 4/5 different effect patches we need a MIDI footswitch?

I'll need overdrive, chorus, synth, octave and pitch shift to control separately. Could create a couple of different presets but not sure how smooth it is to switch between them in a live setting?
Click to expand...
You can go up/down preset banks by pressing the middle and the right or left footswitch simultaneously. That should give you access to more effects
 
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#399
Bassguy87 said:
Awesome - Does this work in a live setting though?
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That’s how I used it live to change presets. Everything worked fine, but I guess it all depends on how quickly you need to access all those effects.

If you need to jump back & forth constantly between all the FX, then getting a separate midi controller/footswitch might be the best option
 
#400
IvanBassist said:
That’s how I used it live to change presets. Everything worked fine, but I guess it all depends on how quickly you need to access all those effects.

If you need to jump back & forth constantly between all the FX, then getting a separate midi controller/footswitch might be the best option
Click to expand...
Perfect - thanks for that. I should just need to switch only between songs so should work well. Stomp mode or Scene mode seems to make most sense?
 

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