The DSM/Humboldt Black Clouds is a high-gain distortion pedal from DSM & Humboldt Electronics, a collaborative Chilean company that rose to prominence through the Simplifier analog amp and cab simulator1. The maker pitches it as "The Ultimate Distortion" and frames its purpose plainly:
"Our new Black Clouds translates a clear vision of what a Lead Tone Machine should be into stark reality."2
In practice that means a fully featured boost and distortion with a comprehensive EQ3: a 3-band EQ, what the maker calls tons of gain on tap, a dual boost function for extra gain and volume, and an onboard passive noise gate23. Press coverage has described it both as a high-gain distortion pedal4 and as a preamp pedal3, reflecting its Preamp operating mode.
A lead distortion designed from scratch
The design brief behind the Black Clouds is stated directly by the maker: "Designed from scratch, the Black Clouds features a powerful 3-band EQ, tons of gain on tap, plus a dual boost function"2. That phrase matters in a pedal market full of clones of classic circuits. The Black Clouds is not a repackaged Tube Screamer or RAT derivative; it is an original circuit built around the idea of a lead tone, with the EQ, boost staging and gating chosen to support high-gain playing.
The company behind it brings its own perspective. Delicious Audio notes DSM & Humboldt is "the collaborative Chilean company that rose to prominence through the Simplifier, an analog amp/cab simulator"1, so the Black Clouds arrives from a maker already known for amp-adjacent design rather than traditional overdrive pedals. MusicRadar covered it as "a fully featured boost and distortion with comprehensive EQ" and highlighted its promise of "high-gain and a low-noise floor thanks to its onboard X-Gate tech"3.
The controls
The control set splits into a distortion section, an EQ section and the boost and gating functions. Pedal of the Day describes the layout: "The Distortion section features Level and Gain controls, as well as a 3-band Treble, Mid and Bass EQ section"4. A separate footswitch triggers the boost, with its own amount control1.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Level | Controls the output volume2 |
| Gain | Variable gain bandwidth control6 |
| Pre Boost | 0 to 30dB input boost with a slight mid boost for definition; not functional in bypass5 |
| Master Boost | 0 to 20dB clean output boost; still works in bypass, so the pedal can act as an independent clean booster5 |
| Pre Tone | Tilt EQ balancing the high and low end entering the drive circuit; clockwise tightens the low end and enhances the top for aggressive chugs, counterclockwise fattens single lines2 |
| Treble | Frequencies above 2kHz, ±15dB6 |
| Mid | 300Hz to 2kHz, ±12dB6 |
| Bass | Frequencies below 300Hz, ±10dB6 |
| Mode toggle | Three-way switch: Normal, Preamp, Mid Boost3 |
| X-Gate switch | Passive noise gate plus crossover distortion5 |
The Pre Tone control is the one players new to the pedal should understand first, because it shapes the signal before the drive circuit rather than after it. The maker explains it as a way to "compensate for different pickup characteristics for a consistent tone": clockwise reduces low end and enhances top end for tighter, more aggressive chugs, while counterclockwise enhances the bottom and tames the top for fatter, fuller single lines2. MusicRadar gives the Mids dial's range as 300Hz to 2kHz with 12dB of boost or cut either way3.
The dual boost
The two boost stages do different jobs. Pre Boost drives the input harder, adding gain and compression along with a slight mid bump for definition, and it only works when the pedal is engaged5. Master Boost is a clean volume boost at the output, and because it still functions in bypass, the pedal doubles as an independent clean booster on its own footswitch5. Delicious Audio describes this as "one controlling the amount of Boost triggered by a separate footswitch"1.
The X-Gate
The X-Gate is the feature that most separates the Black Clouds from a plain distortion box. In the maker's words524:
"X-gate is a passive noise gate that chops the silent passages instantly. It's great for Djenty percussive breakdowns. It also adds crossover distortion which adds another layer of texture to the tone."2
MusicRadar reports the maker's claim that the X-Gate "can also add a 'crossover distortion' which can be used to add texture to electric guitar tones"3. For a player running the high gains this pedal offers, the gate addresses the noise floor that normally comes with that territory.
The three modes
A three-way mini-toggle selects between Normal, Preamp and Mid Boost modes3. Guitar Pedal X characterizes the positions as Normal (transparent), Preamp (insert) and Mid Boost (an 800Hz mid-hump drive)6. The maker's summary is that "Three modes of operation can adapt to virtually any setup"2, which is also how Pedal of the Day relayed it to readers4.
What reviewers said
Pedal of the Day reviewed the pedal in March 2023 and came away positive4:
"As soon as you engage this pedal, you know that the crew at DSM & Humboldt Electronics have got something special on their hands."4
Guitar Pedal X included the Black Clouds in its roundup of the best new distortion pedals of 2023, listing its full control set alongside its stablemates6. MusicRadar's coverage framed it as a lead tone machine with high gain and a low noise floor3.
Videos
Andertons Music Co
DSM / Humboldt
CesarHuescaMusic
Questions
Is the DSM/Humboldt Black Clouds a clone of another pedal?
No. The maker states the Black Clouds was designed from scratch rather than based on an existing circuit. It is presented as its own take on a lead tone machine, with a 3-band EQ, dual boost function and onboard X-Gate noise gate, rather than a copy of a classic distortion design.
What does the X-Gate switch do?
The X-Gate engages a passive noise gate that chops silent passages instantly, which the maker says suits percussive, djent-style breakdowns. It also adds crossover distortion, a second layer of texture in the tone. MusicRadar notes the pedal promises high gain with a low noise floor thanks to this onboard gate.
How much boost does the Black Clouds provide?
There are two boost stages. Pre Boost gives 0 to 30dB of input boost with a slight mid bump for definition, and only works when the pedal is engaged. Master Boost gives 0 to 20dB of clean output boost, and still works in bypass, so the pedal can serve as an independent clean booster.
How many modes does the Black Clouds have?
Three, selected by a three-way mini-toggle: Normal, Preamp and Mid Boost. The maker says the three modes of operation can adapt to virtually any setup. Guitar Pedal X describes the Mid Boost position as an 800Hz mid-hump drive.
Sources (6)
- DSM Humboldt Black Clouds Distortion, Delicious Audio, 2023-02-15
- BLACK CLOUDS, DSM/HUMBOLDT, 2026
- DSM Humboldt unveils the Black Clouds Lead Tone Machine, the “ultimate distortion” for high-gain adventure, complete with an onboard noise gate, MusicRadar, 2023-02-03
- DSM & Humboldt Black Clouds High-Gain Distortion, Pedal of the Day, 2023-03-19
- BLACK CLOUDS, DSM/HUMBOLDT, 2026
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2023-12-17
