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| | #1 |
| Gear nut Joined: Nov 2003 Location: Staffs, UK
Posts: 135
Thread Starter | DI Bass - Suggestions?
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? |
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| | #2 |
| Lives for gear Joined: Oct 2003 Location: Nashville, TN
Posts: 1,010
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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.
__________________ "Lend me some sugar, I am your neighbor"- Andre 3000 |
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| | #3 |
| Lives for gear |
A-Designs REDDI!
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| | #4 |
| Gear maniac Joined: Jan 2004 Location: Australia
Posts: 185
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Buzz Audio SSA1.1 Great stereo mic pre as well. |
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| | #5 |
| Gear Guru Joined: Feb 2004 Location: Sacramento, CA
Posts: 10,229
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Millennia TD-1. For me no question! Then after that my fav is the Evil Twin.
__________________ All the best, Henry Robinett http://www.henryrobinett.com/ http://soundcloud.com/henry-robinett |
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| | #6 |
| Lives for gear Joined: Mar 2003 Location: Norway
Posts: 3,086
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A vote for the Avalon. ruudman |
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| | #7 |
| Lives for gear Joined: Jun 2002 Location: Lost Angeles
Posts: 4,069
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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. |
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| | #8 |
| Lives for gear Joined: May 2002 Location: Ans (Liege) Belgium
Posts: 3,286
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another avalon vote here.
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| | #9 |
| Lives for gear Joined: Jun 2003 Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 1,399
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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 |
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| | #10 |
| Gear nut Joined: Nov 2003 Location: Staffs, UK
Posts: 135
Thread Starter |
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.
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| | #11 |
| Gear maniac Joined: Jan 2003 Location: Richmond, Va
Posts: 260
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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. |
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| | #13 |
| Lives for gear Joined: Nov 2002 Location: Florida
Posts: 733
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This week got a pair of Groove Tube Ditto boxes (Direct Input Tube Transformer Output). Unbelievable sound through my Hardy Twin Servos.
__________________ Steve Cruz Cruzified Music Florida |
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| | #14 |
| Gear nut Joined: Jan 2004 Location: Denton, TX
Posts: 136
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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
__________________ <a href="http://www.valvestudios.net">http://www.valvestudios.net</a> |
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| | #15 |
| Lives for gear |
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... |
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| | #16 |
| Gear maniac Joined: Oct 2002 Location: Winona MN
Posts: 169
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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
__________________ Jason Spartz Web: www.mudstonemusic.com E-mail: mudstonemusic@yahoo.com |
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| | #17 |
| Moderator emeritus Joined: Jun 2002 Location: Nashville, TN
Posts: 3,152
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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.
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| | #18 |
| Lives for gear |
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 |
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| | #19 |
| Lives for gear Joined: Apr 2004 Location: Chennai, India
Posts: 1,257
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| | #20 |
| Gear Head Joined: Mar 2004 Location: Orangevale, CA
Posts: 35
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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. |
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| | #21 |
| Gear Guru Joined: Feb 2004 Location: Sacramento, CA
Posts: 10,229
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I take it then nobody here has yet used the Millennia TD-1? I think this is the Bomb of DIs.
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| | #22 | |
| Lives for gear Joined: Oct 2003 Location: Nashville, TN
Posts: 1,010
| Quote:
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| | #23 |
| Gear Guru Joined: Feb 2004 Location: Sacramento, CA
Posts: 10,229
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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?
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| | #24 |
| Gear nut Joined: Nov 2003 Location: Staffs, UK
Posts: 135
Thread Starter |
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!). |
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| | #25 | |
| Lives for gear Joined: Oct 2003 Location: Nashville, TN
Posts: 1,010
| Quote:
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| | #26 |
| Gear Guru Joined: Feb 2004 Location: Sacramento, CA
Posts: 10,229
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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. |
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| | #27 |
| Lives for gear Joined: Oct 2003 Location: Nashville, TN
Posts: 1,010
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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. |
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| | #28 |
| Gear interested Joined: Apr 2004 Location: northampton uk
Posts: 8
| di
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... |
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| | #29 |
| Gear Guru Joined: Feb 2004 Location: Sacramento, CA
Posts: 10,229
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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.
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| | #30 |
| Lives for gear Joined: Mar 2004 Location: Lake Cormorant, MS
Posts: 818
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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
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