The Moskyaudio XT ULTRA is a bass preamp pedal that combines a preamplifier, EQ, distortion and DI output in one box. Moskyaudio describes it as a "Bass preamplifier+EQ+Distortion+DI", and its product page states plainly that it is "Based on Darkglass Microtubes X Ultra", the bass preamp made by Darkglass1. For a player, that means one pedal can shape tone, add saturation, and send a balanced signal straight to a PA or audio interface without an amp.
Power and connections
The XT ULTRA runs on a 9V DC center-negative supply and draws about 200 mA1. That is a heavy draw for a single pedal, so it is worth planning your power: a daisy-chain output shared with other pedals may not keep up, and an isolated supply rated for the current is the practical choice. The input impedance is 1M and the output impedance is 1k1.
Connections cover the usual bases and then some:
- Input: standard 1/4" instrument input
- Output: 1/4" output to an amp or other pedals
- Direct Output: balanced XLR output "for connecting the pedal to a other device, etc."1
- Headphones: 3.5mm stereo jack output1
The XLR direct output is what turns this from a drive pedal into a stage tool: the balanced signal can go straight to a mixing desk, with cab simulation shaping what the sound engineer receives. The 3.5mm headphone jack supports silent practice; on the Darkglass original, the headphone output is driven by an internal stereo headphone amplifier capable of driving a minimum load of 16 ohms2.
Controls
The pedal splits the signal into low and high bands so each can be distorted separately. As Moskyaudio puts it, "The Microtubes XT Ultra allows you to select exactly what frequencies you want to compress and saturate for the low and treble respectively"1.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| High Pass Frequency | Sets the cutoff frequency to be distorted, from 100Hz (thicker, fuzzier saturation) to 1kHz (ultra-sharp definition)1 |
| High Drive | Sets the amount of distortion for the high pass side1 |
| High Level | Sets the output volume of the distorted high-pass signal1 |
The six-band graphic EQ works alongside the drive section:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| High Pass Frequency (S1) | Sets the cutoff frequency to be distorted, from 100 Hz for thicker, fuzzier saturation up to 1 kHz for ultra-sharp definition1 |
| High Drive (S1) | Sets the amount of distortion for the high pass side1 |
| High Level (S1) | Sets the output volume of the distorted high-pass signal1 |
The Darkglass Microtubes X Ultra it is based on
The pedal the XT ULTRA follows is the Darkglass Microtubes X Ultra, a bass preamp from Darkglass3. Guitar World's review of the original lists it as running on a 9 volt DC power supply4. Darkglass also makes the Darkglass Microtubes X, the related pedal in that line5. The XT ULTRA carries over the same core idea: band-split drive, EQ, cab simulation and an XLR DI in one preamp pedal1.
The XT ULTRA's roughly 200 mA current draw1 rules out battery power and makes it a poor fit for low-output daisy-chain supplies. Give it its own supply output.
For placement on a board, the XT ULTRA sits in the territory covered by preamp pedals, EQ pedals and distortion pedals, but combines all three roles with a DI output in a single 125 mm wide enclosure1.
Questions
Does the Moskyaudio XT ULTRA have an XLR output?
Yes. Moskyaudio lists a Direct Output as a balanced XLR output for connecting the pedal to another device, such as a mixing desk or audio interface. That makes the XT ULTRA usable as a DI box on stage or in the studio, sending a balanced signal from the pedal straight to the PA or recorder while you keep your normal amp output as well.
Can you plug headphones into the XT ULTRA?
Yes. The pedal has a headphones output on a 3.5mm stereo jack. The Darkglass Microtubes X Ultra it is based on has an internal stereo headphone amplifier capable of driving a minimum load of 16 ohms from that same 3.5mm stereo jack, so quiet practice without an amp is part of the design.
What power supply does the XT ULTRA need?
The XT ULTRA runs on a 9V DC, center-negative supply and draws about 200 mA. That current draw is high for a single pedal, so a battery will not run it and a shared daisy-chain supply may struggle; a dedicated isolated supply rated for at least 200 mA is the safe choice.
Is the XT ULTRA a copy of the Darkglass Microtubes X Ultra?
Moskyaudio's own product page states the XT ULTRA is based on the Darkglass Microtubes X Ultra, a bass preamp made by Darkglass. It follows the same idea of splitting the signal into low and high bands, distorting each separately, and adding EQ, cab simulation and an XLR direct output.
Does the XT ULTRA have cab simulation?
Yes. Moskyaudio describes the XT ULTRA as a bass preamp pedal with variable lowpass and highpass filters, a six-band graphic EQ, drive, mix and mid controls, cab simulation and an XLR DI output. Cab simulation shapes the direct output to sit more like a recorded bass cab, which is useful when going straight to a PA or interface.
How big is the XT ULTRA?
Moskyaudio lists the XT ULTRA at 125 mm wide (4.92 in), 96 mm high (3.77 in) and 57 mm deep (2.24 in), weighing 430 grams (0.94 lb). That is a standard compact pedal footprint, so it fits a normal pedalboard slot and takes a typical power supply connection.
Sources (5)
- XT ULTRA_Bass Effect Pedal_Products_mosky pedal, moskyaudio.com
- Microtubes X Ultra, Darkglass
- Microtubes X Ultra, Darkglass
- Darkglass Microtubes X Ultra review, Guitar World, 2020-07-22
- Microtubes X, Darkglass
