DarkPre

DarkPre

A preamp / console-channel saturation and tone-shaping plugin. DarkPre models a large library of classic mic preamps and console input stages — from British Neve and SSL desks to American API, tube, and germanium pres — letting you run any source through the harmonic character, EQ voicing, and transformer color of a real channel strip. Add HPF/LPF cleanup, an output EQ, parallel mix, and analog channel-variation drift for a convincing “ran it through the console” sound.

Preamp section

PREAMP (combobox) — Selects the modeled preamp/console stage from a large library (OFF + 50+ models, e.g. Neve 1073/1084/1081/1272, SSL 4000E/G/9000J, Focusrite ISA 110, Trident A-Range, Helios Type 69, AMS Neve 88RS, UA 610, 1176 Line Input, Avalon VT-737, Manley Voxbox, API 312/512, Chandler Germanium, Millennia HV-3, Telefunken V76, Fairchild 670, tape saturation, and more). Each model brings its own harmonic profile and EQ voicing.

DRIVE (0…100) — How hard the source pushes the modeled preamp stage. More drive = more harmonic saturation and color.

INPUT (−24…+24 dB) — Input gain into the saturation stage.

OUTPUT (−12…+12 dB) — Output makeup gain.

MIX (0…100%) — Parallel blend of dry and processed for parallel saturation.

Filters

HPF (20…300 Hz) — High-pass to clean up low end.

LPF (2k…20k Hz) — Low-pass to tame top end.

PHASE — Polarity flip.

VU + right column

VU — Output/level metering.

ADV panel

VARIANT (0…100%) — Analog channel variation, the L/R and instance-to-instance drift of a real console strip. 0 = perfectly symmetric. Each instance also gets its own “channel number” (1–72) so a project recall reproduces the exact same drift, like grabbing a specific physical strip off the desk.

Output EQ (mini display) — 6-band post-saturation parametric EQ. Drag bands on the display.

• EQ On, Type (Bell/LShelf/HShelf/LCut/HCut), Freq/Gain/Q — Full parametric control per band.

Transformer (combobox) — Output transformer emulation, 21 options (No XFMR, Carnhill, Sowter, Cinemag, Marinair, Haufe V72, Triad HS-30, Reichenbach, EA Edcor, Neve 1272, API 2520, UTC A-20, Peerless S-415, St Ives, Lundahl LL1538, Jensen JT-11, Tamura TKS-27, Burl BX5, Cinemag CMOQ-2H, Lundahl Amorph., Tamura Amorph.). Adds extra iron/harmonic color on the output.

Oversampling

x2 / x4 / x8 (combobox) — Anti-aliasing for the saturation harmonics. Default x4.