The Darkglass NSG is a noise gate effects pedal from Darkglass, part of the maker's Spot Series. Darkglass positions it as "a response to having extraneous noise in your bass rig"1, and GuitarPlayer's buying guide called it "the best noise gate for bass players"2. It was announced in March 2023, when Guitar World described it as "a noise suppressor designed for bass, guitar and any signal"3.
A noise gate mutes or reduces everything below a set level, so hum, hiss and idle noise from high-gain pedals disappear when you stop playing. The NSG does this with a single control: a large Threshold knob that sets the point where the gate kicks in3. Darkglass says the adjustable threshold "will filter out sounds below a certain threshold, allowing for only the desired audio signal to be heard"1.
One knob: Threshold with Soft and Hard modes
The NSG's front panel is a single push knob. Turning it adjusts the threshold of the noise gate; pressing it switches between the two operating modes1. Guitar World's launch coverage described it as "a giant Threshold knob to adjust the point where the noise gate kicks in"3.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Threshold (turn) | Sets the level below which the gate reduces signal1 |
| Threshold (press) | Switches between Soft mode (blue LED) and Hard mode (red LED)1 |
The two modes differ in how aggressively they cut signal, and each covers a different threshold range13:
- Soft mode (blue LED): softer gain reduction, threshold from -65 dBV to -30 dBV1
- Hard mode (red LED): more aggressive gate operation, threshold from -45 dBV to +5 dBV1
GuitarPlayer's buying guide lists the controls as "Threshold, Mode" and describes "a simple threshold control acting as your sole control option"2. For a player, that means no release-time, attack or reduction-depth knobs of the kind found on larger gates: set the threshold, pick a mode, and the pedal does the rest.
Power and connections
The NSG runs on a regulated 9V DC adapter with a center-negative plug, drawing about 60 mA1. GuitarPlayer's buying guide lists the same requirement: 9V DC, 60 mA power supply2.
Darkglass warns that unregulated power supplies or higher voltages "may result in suboptimal noise performance and even damage your unit, voiding the warranty"1. Use a regulated 9V DC center-negative adapter.
The pedal's audio specifications from the maker are a 1 MΩ input impedance and a 100 kΩ output impedance1. It carries EMC and environmental compliance markings including EN55013, EN55020, EN60555-2, EN60555-3, RoHS and WEEE1.
No effects loop
Unlike noise gates from Electro-Harmonix, Boss or TC Electronic, such as the Electro-Harmonix The Silencer, Boss NS-2 Noise Suppressor or TC Electronic Sentry, the NSG has no send/return effects loop3. A loop lets a gate sit at the end of the chain while keying its detection off your clean instrument signal, which keeps sustained notes from being cut off prematurely. The NSG instead gates the signal passing straight through it, which keeps the pedal small and simple but gives you less flexibility in a complex high-gain rig.
Where it came from
Darkglass announced the NSG at NAMM 2023, in coverage dated March 21, 2023, with a $199 preorder price3. At launch, Darkglass described it as an "innovative" and "cutting-edge" pedal that could "deliver crisp and clear output with minimal background noise"3. Guitar World noted it "works with guitar and bass"3, even though Darkglass's own framing centers on bass rigs1.
As of October 2026, the maker's product page shows the NSG as sold out1, with a listed price of £175.00 GBP1. Darkglass does not list it as discontinued.
Videos
Darkglass Electronics
Erik Arkö
Simon Meunier
Questions
Does the Darkglass NSG have an effects loop?
No. The NSG has no send/return effects loop, unlike noise gates from Electro-Harmonix, Boss or TC Electronic. It is a simple in-line gate, so it sits in your signal chain and gates everything passing through it rather than keying off a separate loop.
Does the Darkglass NSG work on guitar?
Yes. Darkglass designed it with bass rigs in mind, but Guitar World reported at launch that it works with guitar and bass, and described it as a noise suppressor for bass, guitar and any signal. GuitarPlayer's buying guide also called it the best noise gate for bass players.
What is the difference between Soft and Hard mode on the NSG?
Soft mode, shown by a blue LED, applies softer gain reduction and covers a threshold range from -65 dBV to -30 dBV. Hard mode, shown by a red LED, is the more aggressive gate operation, with a threshold range from -45 dBV to +5 dBV. You switch between them by pressing the knob.
Is the Darkglass NSG discontinued?
Darkglass does not list it as discontinued, but the maker's product page showed the NSG as sold out as of October 2026. It was announced in March 2023 at $199 as a preorder price, and the page also lists a price of £175.00 GBP.
Sources (3)
- NSG - Darkglass, Darkglass
- Best noise gate pedals: control your tone, GuitarPlayer (www.guitarplayer.com), 2024-09-24
- NAMM 2023: Darkglass seeks to shake up the noise gate market with mysterious and “cutting-edge” new NSG pedal, Guitar World, 2023-03-21
