The Singular Audio Tubedrve is a high voltage tube distortion pedal: an analog circuit built around a real 6AS6 vacuum tube running at 230VDC, a voltage RockBoard's PedalPedia says is normally only found in guitar amps and rack gear, but which is needed to provide the best possible distortion characteristic1. It sits in the distortion family, and the maker also lists it as a preamp, booster and overdrive, so it can be pushed from subtle saturation to full blown distortion depending on how it is set1.
The tube and the high voltage
Most tube-style pedals use low-voltage circuits that imitate the way a tube clips. The Tubedrve instead runs an actual 6AS6 tube at 230VDC, the kind of plate voltage found inside guitar amplifiers and rack units. The maker's position is that this high voltage is what gives the pedal its distortion character, describing it as needed to provide the best possible distortion1. The circuit builds on the architecture used in the Tubedrve modules1.
Because the circuit is analog and tube driven, the amount of distortion is set continuously: RockBoard's PedalPedia says it can be set from subtle saturation to full blown distortion, which covers the ground between a light preamp style push and a full distortion voice1.
Power and current draw
The Tubedrve runs from a 9V DC, center negative supply and draws 300mA1. That is a heavy draw for a single pedal, so it needs a supply output rated for at least 300mA.
At 300mA, the Tubedrve will overload most daisy chain outputs and low-current supply taps. Give it a dedicated supply output rated for its draw1.
Line and instrument level
The pedal accepts both line and guitar level inputs. RockBoard's PedalPedia says it can be used as a guitar pedal but also for synths, keys or with mixing, which makes it usable in front of an amp, in an effects loop, or on a keyboard or synth signal1.
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Questions
Does the Singular Audio Tubedrve use a real tube?
Yes. The Tubedrve uses a 6AS6 tube running at high voltage, 230VDC, to provide vacuum tube distortion. According to the maker, this high voltage is normally only found in guitar amps and rack gear, but is needed to provide the best possible distortion characteristic.
What power supply does the Tubedrve need?
The Tubedrve runs on a 9V DC, center negative power supply. Because it draws 300mA, it needs a supply rated for that current, which rules out most daisy chain setups and low-output supplies.
How much current does the Tubedrve draw?
The Tubedrve draws 300mA at 9V DC, center negative. That is well above what a typical single pedal draws, so it needs its own adequately rated supply output.
Can the Tubedrve be used with synths or keyboards?
Yes. The pedal accepts both line and guitar level inputs, so it can be used as a guitar pedal but also for synths, keys or with mixing, according to the maker.
Is the Tubedrve analog or digital?
The Tubedrve is an analog circuit, built around a 6AS6 vacuum tube running at 230VDC.
Sources (1)
- tubedrve by Singular Audio, RockBoard PedalPedia, 2026