The Aggressively Distorting Advanced Machine has three fully programmable rotating footswitch presets. Each of these stores your unique blend of compression, distortion, impulse responses, EQ parameters, and signal chain settings. Featuring a unique and innovative top-notch precision touch slider interface, for its 6-band programmable EQ.

Front Panel Features

Compression

The Compression potentiometer is the one-knob solution for compression on the Aggressively Distorting Advanced Machine. This controls the amount of input gain to the compressor and intelligently applies the correct amount of makeup gain so that your signal is always driven at the appropriate level, no matter how much compression is applied. 

Drive

The Drive potentiometer adds distortion and drive to our signal (modes 2-4) or blends in the tube preamp emulation (mode 1). Crank this knob to add more saturation or character to your distortion/preamp part of the signal chain.

Character

Changes the tone of the distortion, adding brightness to the distortion signal. 

Blend

The Blend potentiometer mixes between the distortion signal and the clean sidechain signal. 

Level

The Level potentiometer controls the master volume of the Aggressively Distorting Advanced Machine.

Touch Sensitive Sliders

Each slider has a -12 dB to 12 dB range. From left to right, the frequency bands for each slider correspond to a low shelf, 250 Hz, 500 Hz, 1.5 kHz, 3 kHz, and a high shelf.

Compressor

This control allows setting the input gain of the compressor that will translate into how much the signal is compressed while our intelligent make-up gain algorithm keeps the output of the compressor at usable levels. The compressor has 5 ratios available: 4:1, 8:1, 12:1, 20:1 and ALL IN.

Distortion

At the heart of the distortion circuit is an accurate model of Nolly’s favorite vintage distortion unit. In collaboration with Darkglass, he used that as a platform for developing 5 distinctive distortion modes ranging from mild and very articulate distortion to synth like fuzz sounds.

Cabinet Simulation

The Aggressively Distorting Advanced Machine supports Impulse Response (IR) cabinet simulations and has 5 cabinet slots on board. The default IRs have been captured by Nolly himself. New IRs can be assigned to the 5 slots using the Darkglass Suite (desktop or mobile).

Darkglass Suite

Utilizing the desktop or mobile version of the Darkglass Suite allows you to customize the settings of each preset to your liking. The signal chain options are available with the embedded noise gate, in addition with the use of the available impulse responses from our library or your custom third party impulses to the available slots.

Custom routing options for each output are available and MIDI mapping to control the extra preset slots with program change commands and control change commands for the specific available controls of your choice.

Back Panel Features

Input

This is the primary instrument input on the Aggressively Distorting Advanced Machine. Connect your instrument or output from your pedal board to the 1/4” mono jack.

Aux In

The stereo input of the Aggressively Distorting Advanced Machine enables the playback of backing tracks while practicing or recording. Connect your mobile phone, laptop etc. to the 1/8” stereo jack. 

Headphone Output

The headphone output can handle headphones with an impedance of 16 – 600 ohms. Connect your headphones to the 1/8” stereo jack and set the desired level from the dedicated potentiometer next to the jack.

Direct Output

An XLR output with a ground lift switch provides a reliable standard connection to a mixing desk or an external audio interface for a guaranteed low-noise signal. 

MIDI In

A standard 1/8” TRS (Type B) jack allows connecting an external MIDI controller to the Aggressively Distorting Advanced Machine for even more flexibility. 

USB

The USB-C port unlocks the Aggressively Distorting Advanced Machine’s USB audio interface capabilities and enables interaction with the Darkglass Suite desktop app, allowing for software updates and access to the Darkglass IR library, containing hundreds of cabinet simulations. USB MIDI is also supported.

Balanced Outputs

The two balanced outputs add routing versatility and the option of using the Aggressively Distorting Advanced Machine as a fully equipped audio interface. Connect your studio monitors, amplifier or other effects to the 1/4” balanced jacks using a TRS connector (Tip +, Ring -, Sleeve GND). If you feed an unbalanced input from these outputs, use an instrument cable with a mono 1/4” plug.

Video Review: Darkglass Electronics Agressively Distorting Advanced Machine Bass Distortion & Compression