DI Bass - Suggestions?

[tee boy]

Hi
Im looking into getting a dedicated di box, mainly to record bass guitars. The two units that have really caught my eye are Avalon's U5 (cuz i really rate their stuff), and also API's 512. Anyone got any thoughts on these two, or maybe some others? Also, could anyone recommend a suitable comp to accompany the di? I thought maybe a Distressor?

[shikawkee]

I tested over 20 units two years ago and the one that impressed me the most was the Valvotronics tube DI. There were others that were very good but it was the best IMO.

[Teacher]

A-Designs REDDI!

[Markd102]

Buzz Audio SSA1.1
Great stereo mic pre as well.

[henryrobinett]

Millennia TD-1. For me no question! Then after that my fav is the Evil Twin.

[Ruudman]

A vote for the Avalon.

ruudman

[e-cue]

1st choice: A Design's Reddi.
2nd choice: Demeter Tube Direct

there on out, there's plenty of other choices dependent on the style you are looking for. the BAE API 312 comes to mind. The Avalon U5 comes to mind. The DI input in the AD MP-2 comes to mind. Just depends, but the REDDI works in almost all situations you are looking for pure fidelity.

[C.Lambrechts]

another avalon vote here.

[brownmouse]

there are a ton of boxes that will be excellent depending on the application. my personal favorite (at least for today) is the speck 5.0. although the great river mp-2nv and phoenix drs-2are definitely cool as well. i've heard nothing but great things about the tab funkenwerk v71 di as well.....
as far as bass compressors go... a cranesong trakker or distressor usually does it for me....
joshua

[tee boy]

Wow, looks like i better get my arse down the shop and try a few. I had no idea there was such a selection, great! I think i'l probably end up going for the Avalon, cuz iv worked with their gear alot and i do this its quality. Im after something thats versatile enough to do most stuff, but I particularly like big warm funky type sounds, like you hear on many acid jazz tracks.

[Dan-O]

Aguliar DB900
Little Labs IBP

Really want to hear the TAB.

e-cue - regarding your avatar...one of the most disturbing sites I've seen in awhile.

[Meriphew]

My fav bass sound I've gotten so far has been a Fender Jazz > API.

[Screws]

This week got a pair of Groove Tube Ditto boxes (Direct Input Tube Transformer Output). Unbelievable sound through my Hardy Twin Servos.

[elninojesus]

Anyone heard one of these yet? I hope it doesnt sound like the DI out of my SVT2.

http://www.ampeg.com/products.htm?product=96&catid=31

Mark

[cdog]

You just want a basic DI? Casa de banjitos has Wirlwind IMP 2s for like $39

But the sound you get plugging a P bass into a UA 2108 is simply

The Langevin DVC aint bad either, a little opto compression, a little 80 hz

3124+ never made a bass sound bad...

[jspartz]

I really like my OSA mutant as a DI. I have a chain setup that uses an Ashley SC-50 for compression. I think it sounds pretty good.

Jason

[Dave Martin]

There are so many different tones available with DI's - you'll really have to try a bunch and see which ones YOU like. And once you throw preamps with DI's into the mix, it gets nuts (and so do the prices). Bu to throw yet another name into the fray,I was using the A Designs pre as a DI yesterday - it was great.

[dave-G]

Since I first used the Eclair Evil twin about 6-7 years ago, I've never been quite as happy with anything else.

Has anyone got an update on Eclair's Bruce Seifried? IIRC, he was not doing so well, and I'm not sure if he's back to making these things, or if he will be. I hope he's okay, in any case.

-dave

[audiothings]

pointers, not recommendations:
summit td-100
sage electronics d.i. joe
radial engineering
ridge farm gas cooker
sansamp rmp john hardy amb
ear wedgeit
bbe di-1000
d,w,fearn pdb
cable factory d.is
aphex bass exciter and punch factory
manley tube direct interface
.02, self.

[bgavin]

Nobody has mentioned the Countryman Type 85, as a modest, no-coloration DI. Mine does the job and is very transparent.

However, it isn't suitable for active basses.

The only caveat with this one, is it wants a true +48 volts, if you choose to drive it with phantom power. It will use as little as +25v, but you have to remove the battery. This is a pain.

+48v seems to sound better than +9v battery power.

[henryrobinett]

I take it then nobody here has yet used the Millennia TD-1? I think this is the Bomb of DIs.

[shikawkee]

Originally posted by henryrobinett
I take it then nobody here has yet used the Millennia TD-1? I think this is the Bomb of DIs.

I'd really be shocked if it was that much better than the Valvotronics but I'd be willing to try it out. No-one I know has one unfortunately and I haven't seen one here in Nashville at retail.

[henryrobinett]

Well I haven't heard the Valvotronics either so I'm talking out my ass. But like you I'd be shocked if it were that much better! You know I guess there's only so much "great" a thing can be before it becoms apples and oranges. Same with musicians. This one's great and that ones great too. There's no "better than". It's just who/what would you prefer in a given situation?

[tee boy]

The reason Im after a quality d/i is that im doing a project which requires me to record a set of electric guitar multisamples. The idea is that they respresent the tone of the individual guitars, un influenced by mic's, amps' cabs etc. Ofcourse, its likely i'll be using the d/i for bass and stuff aswell though. Therefore, Im after something that gives a top quality, but fairly transparent tone. For this, I thought instantly of the U5, but unfortunately where i like its difficult to demo this kind of gear. This is a problem Im aware. I would never consider buying a musical instrument without playing first, but thats kind of what im doing here with recording gear. That said though, if i can get some opinions from some knowledgable people then i feel i can take a slightly more educated guess.

Thanks for all the suggestions (and especially for the non-recommendations!).

[shikawkee]

Originally posted by tee boy
The reason Im after a quality d/i is that im doing a project which requires me to record a set of electric guitar multisamples. The idea is that they respresent the tone of the individual guitars, un influenced by mic's, amps' cabs etc. Ofcourse, its likely i'll be using the d/i for bass and stuff aswell though. Therefore, Im after something that gives a top quality, but fairly transparent tone. For this, I thought instantly of the U5, but unfortunately where i like its difficult to demo this kind of gear. This is a problem Im aware. I would never consider buying a musical instrument without playing first, but thats kind of what im doing here with recording gear. That said though, if i can get some opinions from some knowledgable people then i feel i can take a slightly more educated guess.

Thanks for all the suggestions (and especially for the non-recommendations!).

You know what ? After reading this I would suggest you simply get a Radial DI. They are very transparent and won't cost you a bundle neither. It would be excellent for your application.

[henryrobinett]

OK I'll say this and then I'll shut up (maybe! ). If you know anything about high quality mic pres, the Millennia HV-3 is known for it's transparentness. It's one of the pres most often used when testing mics. But this DI also boasts a twin topology, meaning it has a tube section and a solid state section. But beyond that it has a phenomenal EQ, the very same that's in their NSEQ-2 EQ and the STT-1 (The Origin), only it's a two band EQ. It also has a Reamp, four inputs and NINE audio outputs! It has speaker soak (I haven't used this yet) and variable DI impedance. But more than that it just sounds great. For clean tones I run my guitar through this and I get the sound I have been looking for. For some live gigs I've been doing I've been using it on UPRIGHT BASS with great esults. I haven't even been using the mic. Forget it on electric bass.

As I said I can't say enough about this. Sure I haven't used close to everything out there. But I used the vil Twin a lot for many years. Stilll love it. But for my money I wouldn't ignore the TD-1. Twin Direct meaning two inputs HV-3 solid state and tube.

BTW this is OT - It's driving me crazy. How do I set the screen on Gearslutz to be less wide so it'll fit on my powerbook? Right now I have to scroll over to read.

[shikawkee]

Thanks for the ad Henry, I do hope to try one out eventually.
Let me just add that as much as the Milennia sounds great it's also almost three times what the Valvotronics or Little Labs or even the Avalon would cost. For this posters' particular app. the Radial is really his best bet and he's gonna' save a lot of coin even vs. the Valvo.
As always, YMMV.

[mittens]

evil twin does it for me...

although would be good to know if any1 has any bright ideas as to DI'ing an active bass... am mostly good but occasionally getting distortion with some of the harder played notes...?? any tips ???


thanks...

[henryrobinett]

Hey, I know! I remember when I was complaing about $800 for the Evil Twin. For a DI??? But for a HV-3 and all those features it's a steal. But I know what you mean. What is it, $1,400? That's a lot for a DI.

[Sugarnutz]

Jensen Transformers makes a DI transformer for $90 plus another $25 for box and switches. A lot of DI box makers use this transformer. I used one for years on bass. The best compliment I ever recieved was from a bass player named Mike Brignadello (Giant/Nashville session player) was "Why did it only take me 5 mins to get a bass tone that it took others hours to get something only slightly better?" We did a lot of jingles and low budget demo's so I did'nt have the time or money to spend hours getting a bass tone. I used the Jensen direct box that I built, into the console mic-pre with a Spectrasonics 610 (don't let the meter move more than just to tell it's working) patched on the insert. YMMV