Tech 21 bass driver (off) as a guitar di

[skinnypete]

i dont see why that wouldnt work.

[NoPro]

Originally Posted by skinnypete

i dont see why that wouldnt work.

I tried for abit it sounds naked and thin .. Then I tried a few pedals .. Still thin. Not sure what's up

[wxyz]

Try it into a Neve or Neve clone preamp or a Germanium pre

[NoPro]

[QUOTE=wxyz;8357054]Try it into a Neve or Neve clone preamp or a Germanium pre[/QUOTE

Yeah a neve might help.

[skinnypete]

from website: "Disengaging the circuitry enables you to use SansAmp Bass Driver DI as a standard active transparent direct box."

TECH 21 - SansAmp Bass Driver DI

what kind of pre are you using? are you sure there is decent signal going to the pre (is there a meter?). di guitar can be a really weak signal.

[litepipe]

It also sound ok when it's engaged. Don't forget a lot of guitarists use a bassman as a guitar head. I've used it a a regular DI too. DI sounds thin to me no matter which brand you use.

[NoPro]

Originally Posted by skinnypete

from website: "Disengaging the circuitry enables you to use SansAmp Bass Driver DI as a standard active transparent direct box."

TECH 21 - SansAmp Bass Driver DI

what kind of pre are you using? are you sure there is decent signal going to the pre (is there a meter?). di guitar can be a really weak signal.

The pre is a focusrite tonefactory . The instrument in sounds best over the sansamp going to mic level. All in all it's a very naked , thin sound...with very clean sounding guitar tracks its passable but nothing close to an amp pushing air. I've never been a fan of di unless it's been a pod (not a fan but closest to making a scratch track within same room as a drummer) curious if it's the di box or pre or just a sound with no umff. Di always for bass for the most part. I wonder why bass works di so much better and not on guitar.

[skinnypete]

Originally Posted by NoPro

The pre is a focusrite tonefactory . The instrument in sounds best over the sansamp going to mic level. All in all it's a very naked , thin sound...with very clean sounding guitar tracks its passable but nothing close to an amp pushing air. I've never been a fan of di unless it's been a pod (not a fan but closest to making a scratch track within same room as a drummer) curious if it's the di box or pre or just a sound with no umff. Di always for bass for the most part. I wonder why bass works di so much better and not on guitar.

I used to record with the sansamp for DI guitar. Sure its not great, but if you liked the POD, if sure there are some plugins you would like. I would just get a nice hot signal with the sansamp (no fuzz, but almost breaking up). Then add distortion or whatever ITB.

my 2¢

[NoPro]

Originally Posted by skinnypete

I used to record with the sansamp for DI guitar. Sure its not great, but if you liked the POD, if sure there are some plugins you would like. I would just get a nice hot signal with the sansamp (no fuzz, but almost breaking up). Then add distortion or whatever ITB.

my 2¢

I've taken to small tube amps and what you've mentioned. Both seem to work out. Would like to explore reamping when it comes to di's. Not there yet

[ChaosComplete]

It sounds like the DI in this case is acting as a tool to get to some other end result. What is that end result? I'm assuming you're recording since you mentioned focusrite pres? What kind of sound are you going for? Clean/distorted, dry/effected, digital/analog? If you are tracking with it, then what plugins are you using. Also, what type of guitar(s)? What style of music?

[Blast9]

I use my bass driver DI (pedal off) pretty regularly for guitar and it works out just fine - full range signal - no tone loss.

I assume you're DI-ing it because you have amp sim plugins?

Perhaps the tone is suffering because of the mic pre?

If you're trying to get a "clean guitar through an amp" type sound, DI is not gonna work. You'll need to re-amp as you mentioned or use an amp sim plugin.

In any case I'd just use the instrument in on the Focusrite if it sounds better.

[NoPro]

Originally Posted by ChaosComplete

It sounds like the DI in this case is acting as a tool to get to some other end result. What is that end result? I'm assuming you're recording since you mentioned focusrite pres? What kind of sound are you going for? Clean/distorted, dry/effected, digital/analog? If you are tracking with it, then what plugins are you using. Also, what type of guitar(s)? What style of music?

Clean ..fender tone. I could always distort with plugins after the fact. Indie rock

[ljefe]

Originally Posted by NoPro

Clean ..fender tone. I could always distort with plugins after the fact. Indie rock

You need to shape the tone, the D.I. just converts impedance. If you are recording direct, you can do that after the fact with software, or plug your guitar into something like a Sansamp Character pedal. The Blonde can give you decent clean Fender-ish tones.

Strictly as a D.I., the Bass Driver has always sounded fine to me. Works well.

[Blast9]

Yes good suggestion - get a few of the Character pedals if you're wanting to record amp tones... or a few of the Boss "amp style" pedals eg. FDR-1 - (Fender) Power Stack (Marshall vibe) Combo Drive (AC30 ish)

you could use the Bass Driver DI to spilt the signal and have a "just the DI track" and a "through the character pedal" track

What amp sim plugins are you using, and what platform - Mac or PC?

[ChaosComplete]

I think the thin sound you might be referring to is just because DI guitar is going to sound thin before you either re-amp it or go through amp modeling software. Think about when you play an electric guitar unplugged. A clean DI is just going to be that, but louder. If you only add effects like distortion, reverb, chorus, etc..., it's not going to sound like what you would expect from an electric guitar. I think most DAW software now has some kind of amp simulator, start with that. I use guitar rig, although I usually try to just mic up an amp when I can - but that's of course outside of the scope of the question you asked.

[NoPro]

Originally Posted by ChaosComplete

I think the thin sound you might be referring to is just because DI guitar is going to sound thin before you either re-amp it or go through amp modeling software. Think about when you play an electric guitar unplugged. A clean DI is just going to be that, but louder. If you only add effects like distortion, reverb, chorus, etc..., it's not going to sound like what you would expect from an electric guitar. I think most DAW software now has some kind of amp simulator, start with that. I use guitar rig, although I usually try to just mic up an amp when I can - but that's of course outside of the scope of the question you asked.

Your reply is on the spot. I'm trying to stay away from plugins and use small amps now but I'll use whatever sounds good. It's been hard to justify plugins when I have an amp but vice versa if it works. I try both until it works out

[skinnypete]

Originally Posted by NoPro

Your reply is on the spot. I'm trying to stay away from plugins and use small amps now but I'll use whatever sounds good. It's been hard to justify plugins when I have an amp but vice versa if it works. I try both until it works out

I have been amazed at some of the guitar plug-ins I have heard over the past few years, even clean amp tones. Maybe not as good as a great amp in a great room with a great mic and great pre recorded by a great engineer, but better than any pedal I have heard.