What are microtubes??

[dirtychinchilla]

Seriously! What are the Darkglass "microtubes"?? I've been looking on the internet trying to find an explanation of what they actually are, and I'm guessing it's just some specific circuitry, but I'd really love to know.

Has anyone seen a proper description of it from Darkglass or is it all smoke and mirrors?!

 

[fast slapper]

Marketing.

All solid state circuitry. Sounds good from what I've heard.

 

[Dave W]

There are no actual tubes if that's what you mean. They make solid state amps.
I always figured it was marketing to get folks thinking that they sound like a tube amp.

 

[dirtychinchilla]

There are no actual tubes if that's what you mean. They make solid state amps.
I always figured it was marketing to get folks thinking that they sound like a tube amp.

I didn't think they were tubes, but part of me also wanted to believe that they were really really tiny tubes...

I know it is marketing, but I'm a big geek and I've love to read about what exactly they've done. Some of it might go over my head, but I'm buying a Darkglass Microtubes 500 and before I get stuff, I love endless confirmation bias.

 

[bgavin]

Tubelets ?

 

[agedhorse]

Tubelets ?

Capillaries?

 

[MCS4]

They're like microbes, but tubular.

 

[Kevnn4]

Has anyone seen a proper description of it from Darkglass or is it all smoke and mirrors?![/QUOTE]


Darkglass... "Smoke" and "mirrors". I see what you did there!

 

[agedhorse]

They're like microbes, but tubular.

Totally tubular, man!

(referencing '60's surf culture)

 

[Jeff Hughes]

I heard they were some kind of version of the thing that made the clock light up in an old fashioned VCR.

 

[GeneralElectric]

Tubes? What tubes?

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[byacey]

 

[jw23mind]

So they get the harmonics and distortion by overdriving cascaded CMOS logic switches. Complimentary MOSFETs. The response of MOSFETs are curved and asymmetrical, similar to vacuum tubes. Stack an N-type and a P-type (Complimentary) in an output-stage-like configuration, and you can see there is a resemblance to a tube power amplifier stage.

 

[SLPimp]

There are microtubes called "nu tubes" used by Vox and others though. Not sure how they relate.

 

[JKos]

So they get the harmonics and distortion by overdriving cascaded CMOS logic switches.

Like this. This is a circuit released by Craig Anderton long ago. Not saying this is exactly how darkglass does it, but an example of using a CMOS logic circuit for audio purposes.
https://www.muzique.com/schem/tubesnd.gif

 

[jw23mind]

Like this. This is a circuit released by Craig Anderton long ago. Not saying this is exactly how darkglass does it, but an example of using a CMOS logic circuit for audio purposes.
https://www.muzique.com/schem/tubesnd.gif

Yep. There's a B3K schematic somewhere on the internet.

 

[jw23mind]

Found it, a DIY B3K clone:
https://www.pedalpcb.com/docs/Obsidius.pdf

 

[micguy]

The Darkglass pedals contain microtubes. Microtubes are tubes made of PVC, inside of which there are copper conductors. Other companies call these things "wires".

 

[_One//Man//Mutiny_]

Yeah there isn't any tubes! But sounds good to me! The real game changer is being able to engage either the VMT or B3K circuit and blend it into your clean tone. I don't use mine as 2 channels usually leave the VMT engaged and blend my clean in to the point of it having a slight amount of grit to the tone but staying articulate

 

[Killing Floor]

The tiniest tubes you can imagine? Isn't a wire really just a tube that's filled with copper?