Tech 21 gear on the Anagram

Tech 21 is a New York company started by Andrew Barta. Its SansAmp idea was simple and new at the time: an all-analogue circuit that sounds like a miked-up amp, straight into a desk. The Bass Driver DI pedal and the PSA-1 rack unit became studio and stage standards for exactly that reason.

Nembrini Audio says Bass Driver is based on the SansAmp Bass Driver DI, with crossovers added so you can drive bands separately. Its PSA1000 Analog Saturation Unit is described as a recreation of a classic 90s analogue preamp, and its name mirrors the PSA-1. It adds a dry and wet mix. Both are marked confirmed.

Darkglass's built-in Atomic Sans is likely a Bass Driver too, inferred from the name and controls. Fine Classics Plugins says Punk Sans is inspired by the defining tones of pop-punk; the SansAmp link is our guess, based on the name and the bright, gritty voicing.

The Bass Driver sound is a clean-to-crunchy DI with a lot of top-end bite and a cab simulation baked in. Players use it to get an amp-like tone without an amp, or as the dirt half of a rig. The PSA-1 is the same idea for guitar and anything else, often pushed hard on drums and synths in the studio.

On bass, keep the Blend below full so some of the clean signal comes through. The Bass Driver's Presence and Treble controls can get harsh at high settings, so start them low.

Try Atomic Sans first, since it costs nothing and is already on your Anagram. If you want more control over the lows and highs, Bass Driver is the next step.