The Darkglass Alpha·Omega Ultra with Aux In is a bass preamplifier pedal from Darkglass built around two distinct distortion circuits, named Alpha and Omega, wired in parallel for what the maker describes as responsive distorted tones1. On top of the distortion engine it adds a six-band graphic equalizer with high and low shelves, a balanced XLR direct output, a headphone amplifier and a 3.5mm stereo aux input for practicing along with backing tracks1. Darkglass lists it at a regular price of £380.00 GBP in the UK, and the product page currently shows it as sold out1.
Two distortion circuits in parallel with a clean blend
Aion FX, which traced the Alpha·Omega circuit in 2025, explains the topology: after some standard tone shaping, the signal is split into two paths, and as with other Darkglass circuits a clean blend lets you mix the dry signal back in3. That parallel design is what lets the pedal keep low-end definition while adding drive, since the clean signal never passes through the clipping stages.
Guitar World's 2026 guide to the best bass preamp pedals, which names the Alpha Omega Ultra V2 its best modern pick, notes that "the dual distortion circuits, Alpha and Omega, are superb in offering more driven tones than you'll know what to do with"4.
The controls
The drive side of the pedal is straightforward, with the tone shaping spread across the graphic EQ and two voicing switches14.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Drive | Sets the amount of gain in the overdriven signal1 |
| Level | Sets the volume of the overdriven signal1 |
| Master | Adjusts the overall volume of the unit; also serves as the DI and headphone volume control; has no effect when the pedal is on bypass1 |
| Bass | Low shelf, ±12dB at 80 Hz1 |
| Treble | High shelf, ±12dB at 5 kHz1 |
| Mid bands | ±10dB at 250 Hz, 500 Hz, 1.5 kHz and 3 kHz15 |
| Bite | Boosts high mids at 2.8kHz for additional presence and definition1 |
| Growl | Boosts the bass shelf4 |
The six-band graphic equalizer with high and low shelves gives fine control over the direct and headphone signals, while the Growl and Bite switches offer quick, fixed voicing changes: Growl lifts the bass shelf and Bite lifts the high mids14. Guitar World's buying guide describes these as switches that "boost the bass shelf and high mids respectively"4.
Power and connections
The pedal runs on a regulated 9V DC adapter with a center-negative plug, drawing 130mA12. The manual warns against unregulated supplies or higher voltages, which may damage the unit and void the warranty2.
Darkglass specifies a regulated 9V DC center-negative adapter only. Unregulated power supplies or higher voltages may damage the unit and void the warranty, so this is not a pedal to run from an unspecified supply2.
The rear panel covers a full range of routing options:
- Input: ¼" mono jack for your instrument or the output of your pedalboard1
- Output: ¼" jack to connect to the input of your amplifier or another effects pedal1
- Direct Output: balanced XLR for connecting to a microphone preamp, PA system or similar1
- Headphone Output: internal stereo headphone amplifier capable of driving a minimum load of 16 ohms from the 3.5mm stereo jack1
- Aux In: 3.5mm stereo input for practicing with backing tracks from a phone or laptop; it can only be used with the headphone output, and its level must be set from the audio source1
- USB: Micro USB B connector to link the pedal to a PC or Mac for loading cabinet simulation impulse responses and controlling various other settings1
The headphone and aux pairing makes the pedal a self-contained practice rig: plug in, connect a phone with backing tracks, and play through headphones with the full EQ and distortion chain in the signal path156.
History and versions
Videos
Darkglass Electronics
Darkglass Electronics
Darkglass Electronics
Questions
Can you play along with backing tracks through the Alpha·Omega Ultra headphone output?
Yes. The pedal has a 3.5mm stereo Aux In for backing tracks from a phone or laptop, and an internal stereo headphone amplifier that drives a minimum load of 16 ohms. The aux input can only be used together with the headphone output, and its level is set from the audio source rather than on the pedal.
Can you load your own cab impulse responses into the Alpha·Omega Ultra?
Yes. A Micro USB B connector links the pedal to a PC or Mac so you can load cabinet simulation impulse responses and control various other settings. This is how the cab sims on the direct output are customized.
Does the Darkglass Alpha·Omega Ultra have an XLR direct out?
Yes. It has a balanced XLR output for connecting to a microphone preamp or a PA system, alongside a ¼" output for an amplifier or another pedal, and the headphone output. The Master knob also acts as the DI volume control.
What frequency does the Bite switch boost on the Alpha·Omega Ultra?
Bite boosts the high mids at 2.8kHz for additional presence and definition. Its companion switch, Growl, boosts the bass shelf instead, giving two quick voicing options on top of the six-band graphic EQ.
Is the Darkglass Alpha·Omega Ultra discontinued?
Darkglass lists the Alpha·Omega Ultra as sold out on its product page, as of October 2026. The original Alpha·Omega is also listed as sold out. Guitar World's 2026 bass preamp guide still covers the pedal as the Alpha Omega Ultra V2.
Sources (6)
- Alpha·Omega Ultra with Aux In, Darkglass
- Alpha Omega Ultra Manual, Darkglass
- Empyrean Deluxe Distortion / Darkglass® Alpha Omega, Aion FX, 2025-03-28
- Best bass preamp pedals: consistently great tone, anywhere, Guitar World, 2023-05-23
- Alpha·Omega Ultra with Aux In, Darkglass
- [Alpha·Omega Φoton
