Questions about Alpha Omega Ultra

#21
ansonsti said:
So,

I’m pretty stoked on the Darkglass AOU. I just got pretty close to pulling the trigger on the Omicron but am thinking the extra functionality might make the big brother a better choice. I have a few specific questions that, if answered, would help me make my decision.

Firstly, it’s rated at 110 Ma draw. Is it safe to assume that one of the 100 Ma outputs on my isolated power supply will cut the mustard?

Secondly, if I already have some EQ in my chain is having the EQ control on the pedal going to make a large difference? I’m talking, active bass with high/low control. BOSS BASS EQ pedal at beginning of chain. Amp EQ. Am I going to be able to access some kind of secret sauce by having EQ tied directly to the distortion?.

Lastly is kind of signal chain related. Mostly as it pertains to the cab emulation and DI stuff. I keep my drives around the middle portion of my board, after octave stuff and before modulation/time effects. I feel like his could make using the DI awkward. Would I want to keep her at the end of the chain, or perhaps beginning? I have other DI options (Radial Tonebone, Markbass Heads). What might some of the implications for this be?

These are pretty specific and important questions that I have before pulling the trigger. I have trolled the forums for a bit but thought I might have better luck just throwing this up in a post.
Click to expand...

I wouldn't feel comfortable running the AOU with a 100ma port. It could probably do it but you most likely get added noise.

It is most def beneficial to have that EQ that the AOU provides. It allows you to sculpt the dirt tone any way you want. If you know what each slider is doing there will be a plethora of huge dirt tones at your fingertips. The EQ is very powerful and effective. I came from the regular AO to the AOU and I really dig the added EQ points. Opens up whole new worlds of sounds.

I myself am still torn on placement. I still have my B7KU onboard on at all times and that has been my DI for a bit now. I really wanted to use the cab sim for live work but I tried the AOU last where my B7KU was and I didn't like the results as much as when the B7KU was at the end. Now that's with my setup. I have a few preamps going on so YMMV quite a bit. The only real way of knowing if it's going to work last for you is to physically try it. There are too many variables. But I do know this, I would feel very comfortable using the AOU as a clean pre at the end of my chain if the circumstances warranted it. The clean sound is great. Then when you want dirt added with the dirty side, just stomp ;)
 
  • Like
Reactions: ansonsti
#22
Rickter said:
I recently purchased the Alpha Omega Ultra, and I have been really happy with it. For the use of the cab sim and DI functions, yes it would be a bit awkward to use it in the middle of your signal chain. The cab sim is deafeatable on the XLR out, and it is not present on the 1/4" outs at all. It's always on for the headphone out.

I have run mine with the XLR going to FOH and the 1/4" going to my GK head. Didn't break a sweat. Be aware that the output from this pedal is really HOT. I have had to turn on the pad on my GK1001RBII and the house engineer at one of the places I play has commented on how much more power my signal has by comparison to the Radial Pro DI they typically had me run through. Backing the pedal volume down to about 1/3 to 1/4 fixes the issue easily. Just don't let it sneak up on you. :thumbsup:

Based on what you've said of your signal chain, it's possible that the Alpha Omega Ultra could possibly replace both your Omicron and your graphic EQ, as well as the possible addition of the OmniCabSim Deluxe should you add that. If pedalboard real estate isn't a big deal to you, then that might not be something to worry about.

I would definitely say to keep looking at the Darkglass related threads for info. This one seems to be the most active at the current time: Official Darkglass Club: Welcome to the Darkside

Also, Doug, the owner of Darkglass is an active participant here. You can find him at @Darkglass. Is a genuinely good fellow and willing to answer questions. He answered several of mine prior to and after my purchase of my Alpha Omega Ultra.
Click to expand...

He makes a really good point. IMO it could most def replace the Boss EQ depending on what you use it for. The AOU's EQ is hella powerful and broad. There is a lot of good advice/opinion/exp in this post.
 
  • Like
Reactions: ansonsti and Rickter
#23
I actually mostly use the EQ as a clean boost/cut (chuckles). I bet I would get some good use out of that AOU EQ. Been considering just biting the bullet and getting a 2nd isolated supply. As the new Red Panda Tensor is calling my name, and all of my 300Ma slots are currently occupied. Thanks all for the input, keep it coming! I’m gonna end up needing a bigger board by the end of this. Been getting by with a Pedal Train Classic 2 but she’s bursting at the seams. Considering one of the Strymon supplies (probably the wee one) as a supplementary isolated supply, that offers high output ISO’s.
 
#25
ansonsti said:
I actually mostly use the EQ as a clean boost/cut (chuckles). I bet I would get some good use out of that AOU EQ. Been considering just biting the bullet and getting a 2nd isolated supply. As the new Red Panda Tensor is calling my name, and all of my 300Ma slots are currently occupied. Thanks all for the input, keep it coming! I’m gonna end up needing a bigger board by the end of this. Been getting by with a Pedal Train Classic 2 but she’s bursting at the seams. Considering one of the Strymon supplies (probably the wee one) as a supplementary isolated supply, that offers high output ISO’s.
Click to expand...

I have experience with the Pedal Power and Truetone, and looked at the Strymon. Value for dollar I wouldn't look anywhere but at the Truetone. As I already mentioned, if it is labeled as 100 mA you can pull more from that output as long as the total power consumption of the power supply isn't exceeded. If you want to put a 300 mA pedal on a 100 mA output you can (I have). Truetone has a video on why they are labeled the way they are even though they'll provide more power than that.

Here's a blurb from their website:

A major benefit of using a switching power supply is that it can handle far more current (power being pulled out of it) than any transformer-based power supply. Although we had to put power rating labels on each output to satisfy certification agencies (yes, we actually certified these, unlike most companies), the outputs can generally handle far more than the label shows. For example, you can connect a 300mA pedal to a 200mA output, without causing any problems. With a transformer-based power supply, you can’t get away with that. The important thing is to not exceed the total of all the labels. With a CS7, the output labels add up to 1900mA total. That means the total current draw of all your pedals should be less than 1900mA. That total current rating is roughly double the current load of the most common power brick, for a lot less money.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: gregmon79
#27
ansonsti said:
I actually mostly use the EQ as a clean boost/cut (chuckles). I bet I would get some good use out of that AOU EQ. Been considering just biting the bullet and getting a 2nd isolated supply. As the new Red Panda Tensor is calling my name, and all of my 300Ma slots are currently occupied. Thanks all for the input, keep it coming! I’m gonna end up needing a bigger board by the end of this. Been getting by with a Pedal Train Classic 2 but she’s bursting at the seams. Considering one of the Strymon supplies (probably the wee one) as a supplementary isolated supply, that offers high output ISO’s.
Click to expand...

I want that Tensor SO BAD!!!!!
 
  • Like
Reactions: ansonsti
#28
Having EQ after the drive (as is the case on all the DG Deluxe/Ultra pedals) is alot different than having EQ before. Pushing a drive pedal with a bassy signal tends to make the drive super-saturated, compressed, muddy and sometimes farty-sounding. If you push the mids and highs and leave the bass flat (or even cut) into a drive pedal you can get alot more punch, articulation, grind, and clarity, then you can boost the bass and sculpt the mids and treble after the drive to taste. The "Bite" switch on the AOs boosts the high-mids to get this effect. The EQ on the AOU is the best I've heard on a DG pedal yet. Its definitely an investment though, so if I were you I'd mess around with an Omicron first and maybe try moving your EQ after the Omicron to try to simulate what you'd hear from the AOU...I think you'll find the AOU EQ more musical/ organic than a standard graphic though.
 
  • Like
Reactions: ansonsti
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom
Back