DSM Humboldt launches Black Clouds Lead Tone Machine distortion pedal

February 3, 2023 · 3 sources

DSM Humboldt announced the Black Clouds Lead Tone Machine, a preamp-style distortion pedal, on February 3, 2023. MusicRadar reported the pedal as available now¹.

The pedal is built around a distortion section with Gain and Level controls and a three-band EQ². DSM Humboldt's published control notes give the EQ ranges as Bass at plus or minus 10dB below 300Hz, Mids at plus or minus 12dB between 300Hz and 2kHz, and Treble at plus or minus 15dB above 2kHz³. A Pre Tone control balances the high and low end entering the drive circuit to compensate for different pickups³.

Two boost stages sit alongside the distortion. Pre Boost adds up to 30dB of input boost with a slight mid boost, and Master Boost sets output clean boost from zero to 20dB; DSM Humboldt says Master Boost still works when the pedal is bypassed and can serve as an independent clean booster³. A three-way mini-toggle selects Normal, Preamp and Mid Boost modes¹. A second three-way toggle controls the X-Gate, a passive noise gate that DSM Humboldt says cuts silent passages instantly and adds crossover distortion for extra texture³. Delicious Audio describes the gate as applicable to both gain stages, to the boost alone, or off entirely³.

DSM Humboldt describes the circuit as designed from scratch rather than a clone of an existing design³. The company is described as Chilean and known for the Simplifier analog amp/cab simulator³.

No US list price appears in the published material.