How do I use the Darkglass X7?

[lilbassboi]

I want to use the Darkglass X7 multiband distortion/DI pedal to split my signals.
How do I do that?

(context, I have a drive, compression, chorus, and octave, tuner, and volume pedal. Possibly no drive since the pedal in question has drive in it)

The way i understand is this. there’s two outputs (parallel output and output as they’re labeled). Basically I would start my clean channel from one output, and my dirty channel from the other. But for some reason it seems like I’m missing something.

can someone either correct my thinking or tell me how I’d have to accomplish this? I’m new to pedals and tone btw

 

[Hypocrite]

The X7 already splits your signal internally: the low pass knob on the left determines which frequencies (everything below up to 500Hz) remain clean and compressed, and the high pass knob on the right determines which frequencies (between 100 and 1000Hz) get distorted.

You *can* run two separate chains using the parallel output, but you would A: need to blend the two signals back together, or B: send the two signals to separate amps, and C: make sure you don't have phase cancellation between the two signals.

In summary, the X7 doesn't have "clean" and "dirty" outputs, it has a parallel output which is the exact same signal as you put into the pedal, and an effected output which is the signal you put in, with the lows and highs split according to where you set the low and high pass knobs, with the lows being compressed but otherwise clean, and the highs being distorted.

Hope that helps!

 

[lilbassboi]

The X7 already splits your signal internally: the low pass knob on the left determines which frequencies (everything below up to 500Hz) remain clean and compressed, and the high pass knob on the right determines which frequencies (between 100 and 1000Hz) get distorted.

You *can* run two separate chains using the parallel output, but you would A: need to blend the two signals back together, or B: send the two signals to separate amps, and C: make sure you don't have phase cancellation between the two signals.

In summary, the X7 doesn't have "clean" and "dirty" outputs, it has a parallel output which is the exact same signal as you put into the pedal, and an effected output which is the signal you put in, with the lows and highs split according to where you set the low and high pass knobs, with the lows being compressed but otherwise clean, and the highs being distorted.

Hope that helps!

So what I’m understanding is that I don’t have to have two physical paths (one for clean and one for dirty) because the Darkglass splits them up in metaphorical paths itself? I can just have a regular signal chain?

 

[Hypocrite]

So what I'm understanding is that I don't have to have two physical paths (one for clean and one for dirty) because the Darkglass splits them up in metaphorical paths itself? I can just have a regular signal chain?

Exactly!

 

[lilbassboi]

Exactly!

Thank you!! This simplifies my pedalboard arrangement so much more!!! Also, do I still need to some how blend them back together? Or does that not apply here?

 

[Hypocrite]

Thank you!! This simplifies my pedalboard arrangement so much more!!! Also, do I still need to some how blend them back together? Or does that not apply here?

It doesn't apply, as the two signals are blended back together before the output.

 

[Snake101st]

Now, if they would've only put an FX loop in there, so your low passed signal could apply throughout and your effects only hit the Hz/khz above that... That'd be killer.

Darkglass seems to have an aversion to FX loops though, Kaamos aside. Maybe they'll revise their stuff again some day, with some quality of life adjustments?

 

[IronLung1986]

Thank you!! This simplifies my pedalboard arrangement so much more!!! Also, do I still need to some how blend them back together? Or does that not apply here?

You blend them within the pedal using the Low Level and High Level knobs. That's the blend. You're changing the volumes of the clean, compressed low band and the distorted high band. Very useful to adjust them depending on how much Low Comp and High Drive you're using. You can change the frequency parameters of the low and high bands using the filter controls. I like to leave them abutting at 500hz, meaning I have the Low Pass all the way clockwise and the High Pass at noon. With the Low Pass, you are telling the pedal which frequencies to include in the Low Band, which remains clean and has the Low Comp applied to it. The Low Level controls the volume of this band. With the High Pass, you're setting the frequencies that get sent to the distortion circuit, and the High Level controls the volume of that band.

 

[Akiyama]