I have a MIJ fender p bass 551, I’m having a difficult time choosing a DI that would give me tonal control and eq, I believe I need to get an active DI for my bass which is passive, I been looking at the radial jdi and countrymen 85, and Aguilar? Any recommendation will truly be appreciated. I have a motu m4 interface btw. The di box is going to be used for recording purposes in my bedroom. Thanks yall! Stay funky
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Need help with choosing a DI
- Thread starter Empyreal
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You don't need an active DI for a passive bass. A passive DI would do just fine, and more than likely no DI would be just as good. Assuming there is a hi-Z (maybe labeled Instrument) input on your recording device, you don't need a DI as you can plug your bass into an input that is already at the correct impedance. What are you recording to? No eq available there?
Hi thanks for the reply, my audio interface does have hi-Z inputs, I record into ableton as my daw, yet struggle to get my bass to have top end bite and a low end growl that I would like without overly compressing and enveloping the signal chain. Do you think it could be my bass pick ups?
proper pickup height is important to check. pickups too close to the strings can negatively affect tone. if you want a drastically different sound, there are lots of P bass pickups to choose from. the Seymour Duncan Quarter Pounders may fit the bill for the tone you're describing... but that'd be something i would do last, not first.
first, try some new strings? try NOT using compression or using very little of it (if your loud stuff isn't too loud and your quiet stuff isn't too quiet, don't compress). try using an equalizer to cut out frequencies that sound bad and gently boost the ones you want to hear more of. if none of that does it for ya, you might want a bass preamp pedal as opposed to a DI box. the SansAmp stuff tends to do the "growl and bite" thing. lots of other options too. good luck and happy bassing!
first, try some new strings? try NOT using compression or using very little of it (if your loud stuff isn't too loud and your quiet stuff isn't too quiet, don't compress). try using an equalizer to cut out frequencies that sound bad and gently boost the ones you want to hear more of. if none of that does it for ya, you might want a bass preamp pedal as opposed to a DI box. the SansAmp stuff tends to do the "growl and bite" thing. lots of other options too. good luck and happy bassing!
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You want a preamp, not a di for your needs imo. The pre will let you color the sound by playing with the gain structure maybe even have a bit of eq. Also don’t necessarily just consider bass preamps, a lot of studio gear has hi-z inputs these days. Plus you can use it for other instruments and vocals. Neve style is a classic bass sound, good lows and low mids and you can overdrive them a bit. Real neve is expensive but there’s tons of clones out there. API preamps are known for crispy high mid harmonics and would give you an edgier sound. You can go tube and push it for a bit overdriven sound. Lots of options if the money is right
Don’t really need it for recording, I was trying to figure out how to get the tone I desired, as C Niz said I’m probably looking for a pre amp to help shape tone. Any suggestions?
here is one of the classic bass tones I really like and would like to emulate:
https://youtube.com/watch?v=BRqSvqR2zME&list=LL&index=1
Technically, a D.I. is just a device that interfaces a bass (or other instrument) to a recording console. D.I.'s can be passive, utilizing only a transformer to do the interface function or be active, using electronic interface methods such as Tubes, transistors, or op amps. A D.I. in it's purest form should attempt to pass the bass signal to the recording board with as little coloration of the signal as possible. One of the original Motown D.I.'s, the Wolfbox was created to avoid any coloration from the bass amp, and also eliminate room noise associated with mic-ing a cab.
Because many modern amps, or pre-amps also now contain a built in D.I. function, our usage of the term has become confused. Likewise many devices we place between our bass and the amp serve multiple functions. Thus we must be careful to describe our sonic goals in terms of the desired results (as the OP has done) without restricting ourselves to equipment that might not have a singular, well defined purpose.
Since the OP is striving for a certain sound, it's more likely that he is looking for a pre-amp. But if the sound can only be achieved by directly connecting the bass to the console, a D.I. in it's classic sense is the tool. And most pre's that contain a D.I. output can be placed in bypass mode in order to reproduce the bass as directly as possible without coloration.
Because many modern amps, or pre-amps also now contain a built in D.I. function, our usage of the term has become confused. Likewise many devices we place between our bass and the amp serve multiple functions. Thus we must be careful to describe our sonic goals in terms of the desired results (as the OP has done) without restricting ourselves to equipment that might not have a singular, well defined purpose.
Since the OP is striving for a certain sound, it's more likely that he is looking for a pre-amp. But if the sound can only be achieved by directly connecting the bass to the console, a D.I. in it's classic sense is the tool. And most pre's that contain a D.I. output can be placed in bypass mode in order to reproduce the bass as directly as possible without coloration.
I don't what is your setup, but regarding tone, the trend is to use cabinet simulators with impulse response.
People do that through DAW plugins, to simulate whatever cabinet they want.
Of course you need a preamp as someone stated, but usually software have simulated preamps too, and poweramp, and cabinet, so it would be a good starting point.
Personnaly I use an EBS microbass 3 preamp, that I also use rehearsal and live, and Torpedo Cab M, that is basically a DI with an include cab simulation in pedal format.
I use it at home too, to play with headphones, without needing a computer.
It includes a basic preamp sim, power amp, and cabs.
You can get all that through your computer with Torpedo Wall of Sound DAW plugin.
So you get the idea.
Basically with cab sim, if you know the model reference of the cab that was used on the recording and eventually the microphone, if you can find an IR file that was made with that combination, the simulator will get you very close to that sound.
If you want tonal control and eq, it sounds like you might want a preamp with a DI out, not strictly a DI box-- though not necessarily since you said your interface has a hi-z input.
Are you aware of what your signal chain options are? A few options:
Preamp (as mentioned above)-- this could be rack-mounted, desktop, or pedal form
Pedal with desired tone/EQ controls into hi-z on interface
What is your budget?
Is there a specific constraint with regards to it being rack-mounted, desktop, pedal?
At the higher end, something like this from Broughton that is modeled after an Ampeg B15
https://www.broughtonaudio.com/product-page/P15
A pedal from Origin Effects is a little cheaper
Origin Effects BassRig '64 Black Panel Bass Preamp Pedal
SO many options out there...
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After going through many DI’s and preamps, my personal experience (and recommendation) is the Noble DI, which I’ve found to be worth the wait time and money. Hands down (besides music lessons from a good teacher), the Noble DI is the best investment in my live sound I’ve ever made. If home recording were my sole use case, the Quad Cortex and Kemper Profiler would certainly interest me.
I have a question, maybe stupid: connecting a equalization pedal to a passive d.i. box is it possibile (or is it possible only to connect the instrument)?
and if it is possibile, can the pedal power up the passive d.i. box or the passive d.i. box can take power only from mixer?
I'm asking that because already having a eq pedal: passive d.i. are cheap then the active ones.
Thank you
and if it is possibile, can the pedal power up the passive d.i. box or the passive d.i. box can take power only from mixer?
I'm asking that because already having a eq pedal: passive d.i. are cheap then the active ones.
Thank you
Actually a pretty good couple of questions in this.
A Passive D.I. does not need power. If the D.I. requires power, it is active. Some active D.I.'s can be powered from the mixer if the mixer can provide phantom power.
A D.I. should be the last thing in the chain if you want all the other effects to go to the mix. It's output is balanced, and low impedance, designed to feed a mixer. Effects peddles are high impedance, unbalanced devices which is not compatible with the D.I. XLR output.
What you do with the loop-through on the D.I. is a different story. Sometimes two D.I.'s at different points might be the answer. There are just too many variables to say one way is best vs another.
To avoid having to mic a cab. A D.I. eliminates room noise and picking up sound from other instruments. It's the best way to isolate tracks for recording. But having that extra noise may also be a desired result.
One can both mic a cab and D.I the instrument directly, then use a blend of both sounds. This is similar to combining pre and post D.I. tracks.
The D.I. is just one of many tools in the recording engineer's bag of tricks. Don't absolutely need it, but if you want it, you're glad you have it.
As far as I understand that you are not looking for DI but a pre-amp...welll may be a pre-amp with a built-in DI. There are many out there from cheap to expensive;
Joyo FOH, Behringer V-Tone Bass BDI21, Dr. J Sparrow Bass P, EHX Battalion Bass, EHX Battalion Bass Nano, Laney db-pre digbeth, Boss BB-1X, MXR M81 bass preamp, Ampeg SCR-DI Bass, Tech21 Sansamp Bass DI ...
Just google them and you will find many reviews and sound examples for each of them, and you may find many others too.
Probably 'DI' part confused you because many models include 'DI' in their models name. They did it because their pre-amps also include DI.
The work of a DI is (very simply) changing unbalanced signal to balanced signal. Tonal changes and all other stuff are part of 'pre-amp's job description. I also once obsessed with if the DI (only the DI, well actually balanced signal instead of unbalanced signal) has an effect on tone, i couldn't find any significiant result.
By the way there are 'DI boxes' just includes 'DI'.
Joyo FOH, Behringer V-Tone Bass BDI21, Dr. J Sparrow Bass P, EHX Battalion Bass, EHX Battalion Bass Nano, Laney db-pre digbeth, Boss BB-1X, MXR M81 bass preamp, Ampeg SCR-DI Bass, Tech21 Sansamp Bass DI ...
Just google them and you will find many reviews and sound examples for each of them, and you may find many others too.
Probably 'DI' part confused you because many models include 'DI' in their models name. They did it because their pre-amps also include DI.
The work of a DI is (very simply) changing unbalanced signal to balanced signal. Tonal changes and all other stuff are part of 'pre-amp's job description. I also once obsessed with if the DI (only the DI, well actually balanced signal instead of unbalanced signal) has an effect on tone, i couldn't find any significiant result.
By the way there are 'DI boxes' just includes 'DI'.
I use (live) a Radial JDX 48. It is “different” as it connects between the amp and cabinet. It is designed to replace putting a mic on your rig. It has been updated to work better with bass too.
In the studio I used a Avalon U5 and then re-amped to come to the tone that “ was wanted “
( not my choice, oh well ). Many options that have been offered here and like mine, are what works for us. Good luck.
In the studio I used a Avalon U5 and then re-amped to come to the tone that “ was wanted “
( not my choice, oh well ). Many options that have been offered here and like mine, are what works for us. Good luck.
I've owned at least two dozen DI boxes from Sans Amps to Noble and other high end DI's. I will say the reason the Noble is so successful is because not only does it sound great but its very compact and idiot proof. I also have a REDDI and actually prefer the REDDI over the Noble but these kind of things are very subjective. I recently sold my Noble and a bunch of other DI's and decided to move in the direction of 500 series modules. So far the sound is even better than all my portable DI's including the Noble and REDDI. Its a pricey option so keep this in mind but for those that want the absolute best keep an eye on the 500 series modules.
My first audio test with the 500 series gear. I gradually raised the volume of my P-Bass so you can hear how the preamps responded. I still have a long way to go to fine-tune everything just right. And it's hard to eq bass correctly where there are no other instruments to account for. The dirt is coming from the Lachapell Preamp. The lows from the Neve. And this is all 100% direct. https://www.dropbox.com/s/d1p0en95shcvzl3/500_Series_Audio_Test.mp3?dl=0
My first audio test with the 500 series gear. I gradually raised the volume of my P-Bass so you can hear how the preamps responded. I still have a long way to go to fine-tune everything just right. And it's hard to eq bass correctly where there are no other instruments to account for. The dirt is coming from the Lachapell Preamp. The lows from the Neve. And this is all 100% direct. https://www.dropbox.com/s/d1p0en95shcvzl3/500_Series_Audio_Test.mp3?dl=0
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You dont really need a DI to track your bass or other instrument but they are of great help! Especially if your going into a Mixer/interface/preamp with a MIC level input. The DI takes your high impedance instrument level output and converts it to a low impedance mic level input so that you can connect to your devices. It also allows you to get just the pure signal of your bass for backup tracks, reamping, playing live, and much more
If you’re distributing to multiple streaming platforms and cutting a couple of thousand vinyl discs then I’d get the best DI I could find. But if you’re making demos for yourself, I’d just plug into the hi z input and use a bass amp vst to give your tone some colour and compression. Or use something like the Tech 21 VT Bass DI and record that bass amp tone as you’re tracking.
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