Demonfx D7K - Darkglass Clone for Bass guitar. Has it got the grunt?

Hi Hi Gear Enthusiasts!
I make a huge mistake in this video! But left it in, so we can still share the first impression we have trying out this pedal! Plus we fix it in the end :)
The Mircotubes by Darkglass is a pedal I've always wanted to try, unfortunately the price has always been a little high... And the Neural DSP plugin for Darkglass is AMAZING! Thanks to the wonderful world of cloning and alternative options, Demonfx has created it's own version based from the Mircotubes.
Lets see how it sounds and responses when pushed :).
Plus we see a little special appearance and listen to the Neural DSP Darkglass, a digital version of the same pedal.
Like all my videos, there is also a little jam!
/ themetalprognosis
To hear the original recording of the song played, check out this link here:
snd.click/SABRememberMe
0:00 Introduction
1:51 Equipment Breakdown/Demonstration
09:38 Jam Demonfx
10:46 Special announcement :)
11:50 Jam 2 Neural DSP
12:58 Isolated Bass Demonfx
13:15 Isolated Bass Neural DSP
13:27 Final Thoughts
This video is not sponsored or endorsed...
All subjects discussed are my opinion and it's okay to think differently :)
There are countless different ways to capture sound and be creative, there is no one rule above all. So lets be friends and not haters.

[@fraliubass]

Thanks for taking the time to do this review. I'll probably be ordering this soon. ✌️😎

[@metalprognosis]

For the price is a killer pedal

[@leonelldelacruzleongrinder7899]

This is one of the best review thank you for sharing this. I already have this demon fx d7 and I am very happy using this pedal for rehearsal.

[@metalprognosis]

Thank you for checking it out. This pedal is lots of fun! I haven't tried it yet through my live bass rig... I'm keen to try it out some time when I can makes lots of noise in the house!

[@leonelldelacruzleongrinder7899]

@@metalprognosis goodluck sir hope you can have a free noise day 😁. Please continue your content for reviewing affordable gears like demon FX and so on. We are learning a lot from you. 🍻 cheers

[@tobins6800]

Awesome man. I bought an AB Y pedal for just this reason. One thing that digital makes harder, being able to play the output as much as the instrument itself. That is something I have noticed since going all digital as far as amps. One thing I caught on to, how much it compressed the signal. And on another note, I had a glance at the website, the bypass mistake was made easier by the fact that it wasn't even mentioned at all. An easily forgivable thing as I probably would have made the same one. Oh, check out the Nalex vsts for some all digital fun.

[@metalprognosis]

Thanks, I'll look into that.

[@thefuneralparade]

I definately am going to get one soonish.i want all if the demon FX pedals.all theyr fuzz and overdrives and distortions.

[@minibuns5397]

Thanks for the review.

[@metalprognosis]

Thank you for checking out my channel.

[@Rubber5oul]

Nice. I got the audio assault bass vst and was disappointed. This sounds excellent.

[@metalprognosis]

Very nice! I got a copy of that as well. Haven't used it yet. Hopefully I'll be able to do a video on it soon :)

[@noisethrash]

i was expecting for this video to see if i adquire mine demonfx since my sansamp rbi died and i havent resolve how to fix it !! thanks a lot and greetings from Chile

[@metalprognosis]

Thanks for watching the video, I'm real happy you got something out of it.

[@alexmyers2219]

Nice review! Sounds very similar to the Darkglass! Would be good to hear how it sounds with a pick too 🤘🏻

[@metalprognosis]

I was really surprised since the price difference is so vast.

[@WilDBeestMF]

In my opinion, the pedal is designed for metalheads who play with a pick. It responds like a dream to hard picking.

[@kameronwraithd.k.5363]

yes, please with a pick!

[@ericturcotte3131]

Here's a suggestion: when you first tested the "lo mids" switch, you should maxed and/or bottomed out the knob to compare the effect of the frequency change. Thanks for the review!

[@metalprognosis]

That is a good point. I'll try that next time I use this pedal in a video.

[@Andrewmest]

live how would you use it? to an amplifier or direct to the audio mixer?

[@metalprognosis]

I would go straight into the amp. My band have been doing inear rehearsals since we last played live, so I haven't got out my bass amp in a long time to try pairing the two.

[@EveryOneBassLesson]

I bought it for myself, and I have the original b7k and the "Attack" switch does not work at all like on the original ( Its influence is very weak, and does not match the marking on the case (in the middle position there are fewer high frequencies). But in general, the sound is very similar to the original with a flat "Attack"

[@metalprognosis]

That's awesome you have both to be able to compare it to. I'm real happy to hear that they are different enough from each other.

[@WilDBeestMF]

I agree that the attack switch settings are a little subtle to say the least. But you know, I kind of dig that. It lets me dial in highs with not much effort. The actual unit gets me fiddling around more.

[@oldasrocks9121]

Are we listening to your monitors thru your lav mic?

[@metalprognosis]

No, we are hearing the captured sound via cubase. The lav mic is only for my voice :)

[@chrisparker5278]

I prefer the Demonfx to the Darkglass VST. However, I wonder how it stacks up against a real Darkglass.

[@metalprognosis]

I would love to get them back to back and see too... the darkglass pedal is too expensive at the moment. Which is why I'm grateful for the demonfx, an affordable alternative.

[@chrisparker5278]

@@metalprognosis that’s why I use the Pod Go’s Darkglass sim. I can imagine the real pedal sounds better, but the convenience of an affordable all in one solution is wonderful!

[@metalprognosis]

@@chrisparker5278 absolutely, it's also really easy to get caught in brands over results... if you get the results you want, does it matter what paint is on your equipment? This is coming from a perspective of someone who is not endorsed or sponsored... I respect that comes with a different set of responsibilities...

[@felipe_durante]

I bought this pedal a few months ago. When I touch the "attack" or "lo mids" switches I get an interference signal, a noise, like a hum / hammer. Looks like the problem is in my unit. Excellent review! Thank you very much for share your opinon with us!

[@metalprognosis]

Sorry to hear your unit has noise issues... Hopefully it is still usable for you. I was really surprised how much kick this pedal had.

[@boimesa8190]

did u return it or get a refund?

[@felipe_durante]

@@boimesa8190 I didn't ask for a refund or returned the pedal because it's work very well. The only issue is when I touch the switches. When I'm playing I do not touch them.

[@jmwreck]

@@felipe_durante touching the toggle switches might be a ground hum , it's really not an issue, sometimes removing your fingers from your bass strings create that same hum.

[@Dwightpower88]

I hope your unit is OK!

[@NBassPlayer]

Nice video! Have you already tested the domonfx a7k pedal?

[@metalprognosis]

No I haven't, I have seen it for pretty cheap. Have you tried the a7k ?

[@NBassPlayer]

@@metalprognosis No, I'm looking for more information about him.

[@user-br3xe5bw5c]

I'm too!

[@WilDBeestMF]

@@metalprognosis Hey there. I'm a bit late, but I have the A7K. It's CLOSE. And the price is nice. It's very usable as a DI. Differences: Attack and Grunt switches are on opposing sides, so it doesn't really function the same way as the original. Some have said they LIKE the grunt being on the bass side and being able to make their top all distorted instead. I tend to agree. Have a mess around with it and you'll easily get the classic DG tones out of it. It's a solid purchase.

[@jeremyhall3550]

i think this does a better job of doing what the DARKGLASS hoped to do than the DG does

[@metalprognosis]

I've never used a original DG pedal, I've only used the Neural DSP digital one. It defiantly punches more than I thought it would! And not noisy at all!

[@user-br3xe5bw5c]

@@metalprognosis btw is DI out works correctly making the signal balanced?

[@metalprognosis]

@@user-br3xe5bw5c correct, that is exactly what the direct out does on this unit.

[@user-br3xe5bw5c]

@@metalprognosis Cool, thank you! Let me ask you the overall impression on this, if it worth it? Please, help me a bit to decide! :) I put an eye on D7K but do have some doubts because of info lacking. Some comments there on markets are negative, one said that the DI output wasn't soldered to circuit at all. From other side I hear it sounds decent (not sure that Darkglass pure exactly but still as a pretty decent modern metal higain). So 'm very curious with nuances of its production quality, did anything wrong noticed, noise or smth?

[@metalprognosis]

@@user-br3xe5bw5c there could be soldering issues with any pedal... I think for its price if it's in your price range you could have heaps of fun with it.

[@nickbenoit9532]

I see the label for it, but where's the ground lift switch?

[@metalprognosis]

Wow, I just checked and can't see it... it might only have the written words not the feature

[@nickbenoit9532]

@@metalprognosis Thanks for the reply. Bummer, that might be the dealbreaker for me

[@WilDBeestMF]

It *should* by all rights be a little black button next to the XLR out. The A7K has a lift.

[@knmbsst]

It by the right side, i just got one of these AND works perfectly, the ground lift button Is really small and doesnt pop out from the pedal too mucho, thats why Is not so visible, i can send u a pic if u need

[@ornim]

@@knmbsst Hey, I'm on the same boat with @nickbenoit9532. the ground lift is also a dealbraker for me. Could I also please see that picture you mentioned? Thnks a lot if u have the time 😁

[@boimesa8190]

would love to hear how this sounds with guitar 😭😭

[@metalprognosis]

A few grunge bands used to use bass distortion for their guitars, they had a certain flavour to them... which works well for their muddy sounds, yet far from djent tone.

[@Tariqmajeedofficial]

VERY NICE

[@metalprognosis]

I was also very surprised by this pedal.

[@thefuneralparade]

You should do a video of how this pedal sounds on guitar,I've been thinking of buying one for guitar.

[@metalprognosis]

Could be interesting.

[@WilDBeestMF]

Freakin awesome. Like a pissed off tube screamer, if a little more imprecise and fuzzy.

[@xDamageProducer]

There are definitely differences in the sound but I like the Demonfx better.

[@metalprognosis]

I wonder if it boosts me signal in...

[@metalfather8139]

how much are they man??

[@metalprognosis]

At the time of recording this video, around $100 aud.

[@kameronwraithd.k.5363]

Could you someday try out the Joyo clones? :v

[@metalprognosis]

Which joyo pedals? I've used a few of them on this channel

[@kameronwraithd.k.5363]

@@metalprognosis the double thruster and the Monomyth preamp would be cool.

[@metalprognosis]

@@kameronwraithd.k.5363 if I can find them cheap I'll check them out :)

[@ivarvanderheijden]

I like it as a bass pre-amp, and EQ, but that distortion is just one big mess.... it's good with a couple of dirt pedals in front, serving as an EQ and pre-amp.

[@metalprognosis]

Do you think the same as the darkglass? Or just this pedal?

[@ivarvanderheijden]

@@metalprognosis, the Darkglass is somewhat out of bounds, budgetwise... I guess the real thing would sound different/better... I mainly use it with a few dirtpedals behind it, as the last pedal in line, without its distortion, which sounds a bit tinny & too noisy to my ears. But it just shines as a pre-amp, with a brilliant EQ.

[@metalprognosis]

@@ivarvanderheijden i have the digital vst darkglass, like yourself the physical pedal is out of my price range. I agree that the eq is it's biggest feature.

[@ivarvanderheijden]

As for now, for my doom/drone/stoner-bassrig, it's teamed up with a flanger, a phaser and a DOD Carcosa, going into an Eden bassamp. I've split the bass signal through another board, through a poly-octaver (up), reverse reverb, blues driver, Rat, chorus, and 2 delays, into a SansAmp bass DI-box clone, into an Orange guitar amp.

[@metalprognosis]

@@ivarvanderheijden have you got a recording we could check out? That sound like a real interesting sound.

[@jcisme]

At the 6 minute mark when you are changing the low mids freq you have the volume for that centrered.. That is why it is hard to hear a change.. There is none.. You need to be boosting or cutting to hear a change. Nice demo. Other than the low mids on the pedal sound I think it kills the plugin.

[@metalprognosis]

I was really surprised with how much of a grind you can get out of this pedal for the bass! Thanks for the heads up, I didn't know that about the low mids frequ knob.

[@jcisme]

@@metalprognosis It does sound very good. I think I prefer it to the sound of the DG. I think I might have to pick one up. BTW - I am a fellow Aussie.

[@metalprognosis]

@@jcisme very cool. Which part of Australia?

[@jcisme]

@@metalprognosis Bathurst but looking to move to WA.

[@complexambtn10]

Looks like I’m getting a new one piece gigging machine

[@metalprognosis]

It's a pretty powerful pedal, specially for its price

[@complexambtn10]

@@metalprognosis oh yeah i can definitely tell,the distortion is fucking gnarly

[@pinchemaleante]

I want to know your opinion about this pedal. Would this be a good cheap piece of equipment to record, without using any pulse simulator or other equipment?Thanks for this video

[@metalprognosis]

It is a pretty rad pedal. It had a lot of bite to it. I think in the next few days I have another video coming out where I mic up a bass cab using this pedal. Keep your eyes out for that one.

[@arieslorino4400]

I found the right control combination on this for Metal Bassist. Master vol - 1 oclock Blend - Full 5 oclock Level - 1 oclock Drive - 12 or 1 oclock Bass - 2 or 3 oclock Low mid - 8 or 9 oclock High mid - 11 or 12 oclock Treble - 12 or 1 oclock Note: all toggle switches must be normal 50% level only. Thank me later.

[@metalprognosis]

Cool, thank you. what tuning is your bass in? What are your tuning the pedal through? I'll give these settings a try later in the week.

[@rafaelcruz4759]

use a pick for Gxds Sake

[@metalprognosis]

Haha in an earlier video I was told to not use a pick. I feel more comfortable using a pick on bass, specially when playing in g tuning.

[@rafaelcruz4759]

@@metalprognosis heheehhe! its a good idea to do both...since ur a guitar player u can get the best out of this pedal playing with a pick...just take a look at Nolly GetGood videos! take bro! nice video btw...

[@WilDBeestMF]

@@metalprognosis The pick will get you the sharp, consistent attack on the bass which works so well in metal. It also coaxes something special out of DG type gear. Wink wink.

[@MarcAndreLevesque]

Where is the irony in this? ... DemonFx ... with registered trademark ...

[@maliparaguya770]

Your review are not good.. you dont show the full potential of the bass pedal.. you dont dial it well..

[@metalprognosis]

Thank you for checking out the video. If I recall this was the first time using this pedal, and it is a pretty wicked pedal for bass. I was really impressed on what grunt I could get with very little effort. What was missing from how I dialed it in that you think would have made it stand out more?

[@ileutur6863]

I have no problems with clone circuits, but this is just straight up stealing an entire design. It sounds close I guess but not quite there

[@metalprognosis]

They are definitely not hiding what they are trying to clone...

[@greganderson7216]

China can only compete by theft. If I were president of the world, we wouldn’t trade with them at all. Let them wither on their commie vine. (I’m disappointed in myself for even watching this video).

[@Rafunker]

@UC4awt58T0gc1WzvNMdZL8Cg the device you used to post this and 90% of its components are madre in china, moron

[@greganderson7216]

@@Rafunker don’t call people names. Almost all the electronics in my house are from China (but not my Gallien Krueger 400rb!). Much of it made with slave or near-slave labor. We can’t compete with that. Instead of mandating vaccines we should stop trade with them. Start manufacturing our on electronics again.

[@kgbdesign1227]

How the Chinese get away with selling these clones is beyond me. Cheap components, cheap look and cheap labour. Buy a real one and stop funding these rip-off merchants!

[@metalprognosis]

I can see where you are coming from. It's not limited to one country that is making clones... This one is for sure a stand out... But it didn't clone it all, which makes me giggle a bit, they cloned all the art work, but not the all the functions... I'm also happy some clones are created as something are too hard to get your hands on, not just financially, but out of manufacturing.

[@Fred_Guerette]

Tottally agree, how can you get a 700$ pedal vs a 90$ without sacrifice. you get what you get. Don't purchase chinese shit.