Sansamp Bass Driver DI V2: Issue with fizzle sound

J

Jiriho

Sep 4, 2024
16
6
576
#1
Hi,

This is my first time posting on TalkBass. I am a relatively new bass player, but have been playing guitar for many years.

I did a lot of googling to try to find if anyone else had experienced my below issue, but couldn't find anything that matched exactly.

I just purchased a brand new Sansamp Bass Driver DI, hoping to get a better tone for recording bass while going direct. My bass is a Squier Classic Vibe Jazz bass. My signal chain is bass - BDDI - WA273-EQ preamp - inserts of Audient iD44 into Logic DAW.

The issue I have experienced is that is seems I cannot get a totally clean signal when using the BDDI. Even with the drive knob turned all the way down, I can hear a fizzle sound behind the notes when playing. It appears to be worse when the treble is turned up and/or when playing low notes. It's almost as if the drive doesn't turn completely off.

Also, when turning the drive knob up, the drive sounds more like a broken speaker than the type of drive sounds I heard on YouTube before buying the pedal. They way the drive sounds on mine I wouldn't ever use it.

These issues remain regardless of whether I am powering the pedal through battery, 9V power supply, or phantom power with XLR.

If I remove the BDDI from the chain, the above issues disappear. I also don't experience this issue when recording any other instruments through my set up, including guitars with OX Box direct, mics, keyboards/synth.

I am thinking that the unit I have is likely faulty, but would be really appreciative for any insights or advice, or if anyone has experienced anything similar, and if this can be resolved without having to return the unit. I really like the pedal except for this issue!

Thanks :)
 
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#2
Presence knob is flat when fully counter-clockwise, not at 12 o'clock, start there. Blend knob sounds the best around 2 o'clock for most people but since you are talking about recording...

With your setup, personally, I would go bass driver's XLR straight into your audio interface, blend knob fully dimed. Then bass driver's parallel out sent into the preamp and then into another channel of your interface, and record two tracks that way. Then blend both to taste depending on what kind of tone you are seeking.
 
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#3
dax21 said:
Presence knob is flat when fully counter-clockwise, not at 12 o'clock, start there. Blend knob sounds the best around 2 o'clock for most people but since you are talking about recording...

With your setup, personally, I would go bass driver's XLR straight into your audio interface, blend knob fully dimed. Then bass driver's parallel out sent into the preamp and then into another channel of your interface, and record two tracks that way. Then blend both to taste depending on what kind of tone you are seeking.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the suggestion. So you think the fizzle sound / unpleasant drive sound could be the presence knob?

That sounds like a good idea with splitting the signals like you suggest, I will give that a go.
 
#4
Jiriho said:
Thanks for the suggestion. So you think the fizzle sound / unpleasant drive sound could be the presence knob?

That sounds like a good idea with splitting the signals like you suggest, I will give that a go.
Click to expand...

The presence knob is very reactive together with drive knob, I used to set presence around 3 o'clock and drive all the way down and it would still be plenty grindy. Turn presence all the way down and start from there.

Since you say that the issue is gone when you take the pedal out of the equation, double check your cables, as well as the ground lift switch on the pedal.
 
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#7
dax21 said:
Presence knob is flat when fully counter-clockwise, not at 12 o'clock, start there. Blend knob sounds the best around 2 o'clock for most people but since you are talking about recording...

With your setup, personally, I would go bass driver's XLR straight into your audio interface, blend knob fully dimed. Then bass driver's parallel out sent into the preamp and then into another channel of your interface, and record two tracks that way. Then blend both to taste depending on what kind of tone you are seeking.
Click to expand...

In your opinion, do these statements also apply to the BDDI V2, or is this only for the V1? I've heard of people pulling back the blend knob to tame the mid scoop on the V1, but I wanted to clarify.

I have a BDDI V2, so I was curious.
 
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#8
Plucky The Bassist said:
Try going direct from the Sansamp to your Audio Interface and see how it goes. Output from the BDDI can push a power amp, so it can be a rather hot signal. The "broken speaker" sound makes me think it could be imbalanced gain staging.
Click to expand...
Yeah, I will definitely try this. Initially I had thought it wouldn't be this because I have fed hot signals into the premap from my ox box without issues. But maybe the bass' low end is doing something
 
#9
Coldmilk said:
Just a thought, I’m guilty of having done this;
the toggle for the output was set on LINE instead of INST, producing a greater output than necessary.
Click to expand...
The BDDI V2 doesn't have line or inst switches, but instead has a +20db pad switch for XLR out, and +10db boost switch for 1/4' out. It is possible I'm doing something wrong with the gain staging. I'll try the pad switch and see if anything changes
 
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#10
Jiriho said:
The BDDI V2 doesn't have line or inst switches, but instead has a +20db pad switch for XLR out, and +10db boost switch for 1/4' out. It is possible I'm doing something wrong with the gain staging. I'll try the pad switch and see if anything changes
Click to expand...
definitely make sure you have the pad engaged if running XLR and the boost disengaged if running 1/4", this sounds like a clipping issue to me
 
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#12
Ok, so I've been doing some more testing this morning. Interestingly I noticed that a sound similar to the fizzy decay was slightly audible without the BDDI in the chain (although nowhere near as loud), particularly when digging in and only on low notes (E.g. open E, first few frets on E, open A - same as with the BDDI engaged). So now was thinking it may not be the BDDI that is the issue.

Then when putting my ear closer to the bass and playing acoustically, I can hear a vibration that can be heard at both the nut and the bridge. This vibration only occurs when playing the same notes as above. So now I'm thinking there is some vibration occurring on the bass that is being amplified by the BDDI. Problem is I can't tell if the vibration is at the nut or bridge.

When I palm mute the strings at the bridge, the sound changes, and sometimes seems that it is completely gone.

Also, de-tuning the E string to C seems to eliminte the vibration. When playing in this tuning with the BDDI, the fizzy decay sound seems to go!

I have a new set of strings that have a slightly thicker E and A string, so will put them on and see if anything changes.

The drive sound when turned up still sounds the same (a bit farty and broken speaker-like), but maybe this is the nature of the BDDI bass drive that I'm not used to?

Hoping this is the issue because I can fix this more easily.
 
Last edited:
#13
Jiriho said:
Ok, so I've been doing some more testing this morning. Interestingly I noticed that a sound similar to the fizzy decay was slightly audible without the BDDI in the chain (although nowhere near as loud), particularly when digging in and only on low notes (E.g. open E, first few frets on E, open A - same as with the BDDI engaged). So now was thinking it may not be the BDDI that is the issue.

Then when putting my ear closer to the bass and playing acoustically, I can hear a vibration that can be heard at both the nut and the bridge. This vibration only occurs when playing the same notes as above. So now I'm thinking there is some vibration occurring on the bass that is being amplified by the BDDI. Problem is I can't tell if the vibration is at the nut or bridge.

When I palm mute the strings at the bridge, the sound changes, and sometimes seems that it is completely gone.

Also, de-tuning the E string to C seems to eliminte the vibration. When playing in this tuning with the BDDI, the fizzy decay sound seems to go!

I have a new set of strings that have a slightly thicker E and A string, so will put them on and see if anything changes.

The drive sound when turned up still sounds the same (a bit farty and broken speaker-like), but maybe this is the nature of the BDDI bass drive that I'm not used to?

Hoping this is the issue because I can fix this more easily.
Click to expand...

Do you have both pickups turned up all the way? If not, jazz basses can put out some single coil 60 cycle hum that you could be hearing.

If both pickups are turned up all the way, you won’t hear any noise from the pickups.
 
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#14
Eric Mull said:
Do you have both pickups turned up all the way? If not, jazz basses can put out some single coil 60 cycle hum that you could be hearing.

If both pickups are turned up all the way, you won’t hear any noise from the pickups.
Click to expand...
Yeah, both pickups turned up. There is definitely more hum with just one pickup. I did what I mentioned above (put new strings on with thicker gauge), and also tightened a few things and put some pencil in the nut. Now the vibration at the nut seems to have reduced a lot - this also seems to have reduced or maybe even eliminated the weird decay sound I was hearing. I think it may have been vibrations from my nut being amplified as the note decayed. It's strange cause it sounded like a fizzy drive sound. But it seems to have gone for now.

I'll keep an eye on it and see if it returns. But now I'm actually really liking the BDDI, it's improved my bass tone a lot and can get it to sit much better in a mix!
 
#15
These phantom vibrations can sometimes be caused by loose saddle screws (saddle screw doesn't reach down into the bottom of the bridge and there is no weight/tension pressing it down). Also double check the tuning peg screws that secure the tuners into the headstock.
 
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#16
dax21 said:
These phantom vibrations can sometimes be caused by loose saddle screws (saddle screw doesn't reach down into the bottom of the bridge and there is no weight/tension pressing it down). Also double check the tuning peg screws that secure the tuners into the headstock.
Click to expand...
Thanks. Yeah I was having a hard time actually finding where it was cause I could hear it at the nut and the bridge. I tightened the areas on the headstock but didn't look at the saddle screws, will look at that too to make sure there's no vibrations there.

I also used slightly thicker strings. It's the first time I've re-strung it since getting it second hand. I noticed the previous owner had only made one wind of the string around the tuning peg, so there wasn't much break angle behind the nut. I put more winds with the new strings which I think has helped to add some downward pressure.
 
#17
Jiriho said:
Hi,

This is my first time posting on TalkBass. I am a relatively new bass player, but have been playing guitar for many years.

I did a lot of googling to try to find if anyone else had experienced my below issue, but couldn't find anything that matched exactly.

I just purchased a brand new Sansamp Bass Driver DI, hoping to get a better tone for recording bass while going direct. My bass is a Squier Classic Vibe Jazz bass. My signal chain is bass - BDDI - WA273-EQ preamp - inserts of Audient iD44 into Logic DAW.

The issue I have experienced is that is seems I cannot get a totally clean signal when using the BDDI. Even with the drive knob turned all the way down, I can hear a fizzle sound behind the notes when playing. It appears to be worse when the treble is turned up and/or when playing low notes. It's almost as if the drive doesn't turn completely off.

Also, when turning the drive knob up, the drive sounds more like a broken speaker than the type of drive sounds I heard on YouTube before buying the pedal. They way the drive sounds on mine I wouldn't ever use it.

These issues remain regardless of whether I am powering the pedal through battery, 9V power supply, or phantom power with XLR.

If I remove the BDDI from the chain, the above issues disappear. I also don't experience this issue when recording any other instruments through my set up, including guitars with OX Box direct, mics, keyboards/synth.

I am thinking that the unit I have is likely faulty, but would be really appreciative for any insights or advice, or if anyone has experienced anything similar, and if this can be resolved without having to return the unit. I really like the pedal except for this issue!

Thanks :)
Click to expand...

Just in case:
 
#19
Jiriho said:
Thanks. Yeah I do have this. I was actually wondering when reading through it, if I use XLR into my Warm preamp, do I have to use phantom power? Or can I still just use battery to power the sansamp? The instructions weren't too clear on this.
Click to expand...
As I understand it, phantom power is for microphones that require it. I've never used it for recording straight into my DAW. They may be someone else here that knows more about it.
 
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#20
Jiriho said:
Thanks. Yeah I do have this. I was actually wondering when reading through it, if I use XLR into my Warm preamp, do I have to use phantom power? Or can I still just use battery to power the sansamp? The instructions weren't too clear on this.
Click to expand...


Entirely your choice whether you use battery, PSU, or Phantom Power.

The advantages of batteries are the reduced potential for ground loops and interference, less cable clutter to trip over / wear out, independence from power points.

BTW, have you determined if the "fizz" is effected by simply turning down the volume pot on the instrument itself?
 
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