Darkglass Ultra Plugin Free Download: Official Pedal Emulations for Bass
Need the signature Darkglass bass tone but don’t have the physical pedals on your desk? The Darkglass Ultra Plugin free download addresses this. It gives you software emulations of the Microtubes B7K Ultra and Vintage Ultra pedals, complete with cabinet simulation and—crucially—stereo processing, which the original hardware can’t do.
Key Takeaway
This plugin puts two official Darkglass Electronics pedal emulations in your DAW. You get the B7K Ultra and Vintage Ultra in one interface, with a full cabinet simulator, stereo processing, and independent EQ controls for clean and distorted signals. It’s built for crafting bass tones from clean preamp to high-gain distortion.
Core Technology: Official Pedal & Cabinet Emulation
The foundation here is the official collaboration. Neural DSP worked with Darkglass Electronics to model the Microtubes B7K Ultra and Vintage Ultra pedals. The cabinet simulation was captured by Mikko Logrén of ML Sound Lab specifically for this plugin, modeling the DG210C cabinet with its custom Eminence 10" ceramic drivers. This isn’t a generic amp sim; it’s a direct port of specific hardware into software.
Feature Breakdown
The Two Pedals in One
A
VDU/B7K Switch lets you change between the Vintage Ultra and B7K Ultra pedals inside the same plugin. Each has its own character and can be configured independently.
Drive Section & Core Controls
A
Dedicated Footswitch engages the overdrive section independently. You have
Input and Output Gain knobs for shaping the drive, and a
Master Volume controls the overall unit level.
Meters show if input or output signals are clipping by holding a red indicator.
EQ Flexibility
A
Link/Unlink EQ Switch provides independent EQ settings for the Clean and Distorted signal paths. Each mid control has a
Three-way toggle switch with access to
6 different mid frequencies for precise tone shaping.
Cabinet Simulation
Beyond the pedal preamp, the plugin includes a
cabinet simulation model. The
Virtual Tweeter knob adjusts high-end presence. You get
Seven virtual microphones that can be placed anywhere on the speaker cone, plus a
Sub-kick feature for low-end reinforcement.
Processing & Utility
The
Stereo Signal Processing Switch enables full stereo operation. A
Quality Switch offers different levels of oversampling (higher settings use more CPU). A
Resize Button toggles between two different window sizes. It also includes a
Standalone feature for use outside a DAW.
Technical Specifications
The plugin is available in VST, VST3, Audio Unit, and AAX formats. It runs as a standalone application as well.
Who Is This For?
This fits bass players who want the exact B7K or Vintage Ultra sound for recording or live use without buying the hardware. It’s also useful for synth users needing heavy, characterful distortion on stereo sources, thanks to the stereo processing. If you’re experimenting with new bass sounds, practicing on the go with a laptop, or playing live from a computer, this centralizes those classic tones.
Limitations
The main trade-off is processing power. The
higher quality settings require more CPU power, so you’ll need to balance sound quality against performance on older systems.
Final Verdict
If you’re after the specific overdrive and distortion character of Darkglass’s B7K Ultra and Vintage Ultra pedals in your DAW, this is the official way to get it. The stereo processing and linked/unlinked EQs solve specific problems the hardware can’t. Just know that pushing the quality settings will hit your CPU harder. For bass tone crafting from clean to fully distorted, it’s a complete package worth grabbing as a free download.