Best DI advise required

[CJ1973]

So what you are saying is for bass, try and of the 4 DIs you have recommended and add perhaps a nice compressor (any recommendations??) after it and it should be all good?
Can the Me1NV be used for vocals or any of your recommendations used for vocals at all?
Alternatively you are saying if someone goes JDI by Radial, perhaps find a Pre that would be strong and that would a good set up depending on taste and coloring of preamp?? That chain would need a compressor too yeah?
Right??

Originally Posted by popmann

I'm a fan of a handful of different DIs for bass...for different sounds and basses...

U5= clean, deep. Don't plug in a cheap bass.
UA 610= not as deep, but gives a healthy tubey softness. Nice 3d vibe.
RedDI= shallower, still--but, hella throaty and full in the low mids...classic sound.
Great River Me1NV-- Deep as the Avalon, but more foward and "solid" and growly sounding. Very 2d...in a good way.

U5 is king of easy to mix. Add good compressor. Done. Does a good job of focusing the low end of the bass in a mix. If you've just gotta have one...that would get my vote--unless you can use the mic pres in some of the others.

Radial is good as a general DI...but, it's SOOO dependent on what comes after it. All the solutions I've offered will take a bass to +4. Consistent sound.

[popmann]

The two that are mic preamps, the UA and the Great River both kick ass on vox, IMO. I've got final vox from both on my record. Different mics...the LA610 and the Sm7b marry in a beautiful way, IMO. The Great River was wonderful with brighter mics--like the U87AI I used for a few tracks.

Everyone has a different idea of what a great bass sound is...my album is mostly U5 and LA610. I think there may still be a few Radial tracks that I took into my Akai recorder...I know there's one, and it's a bitch to mix compared with the UA and Avalon tracks. I've run the Radial into the 610, but the 610's DI sounds cleaner. Run it into a Millenia Hv3...it's fine, but nothing you're gonna drool over. I say if you're gonna spend $200 on a Radial active...save up for a U5, which will free up a mic preamp (Radial runs on phantom--passive needs a preamp to bring it up to level), and take the bass "to tape" consistently every time.

Bass compressor? I actually don't compress on the way in. I aim for no compression...rarely get there. I'm not that picky...maybe because I don't crush it. I generally use an La3a, but...I've used all kinds -from old DBX to software to La2a...depends a lot on how much you've got to crush it, and how fast the part moves. The better DI, the less compression it needs, IMO.

But, really...grain of salt...I'm not a super accomplished bass player.

[CJ1973]

Hi THanks for that. Very nice information. Appreciate it!
Last qn...
If I purchase the Radial JDI Duplex purely for Keyboards along with a Demeter VTMP2a to add an etherial sound to strings etc., would you recommend that chain? If so, would I still use the Phantom on the Demeter while using the Radial?
Meaning Keys->Patchbay etc--> Radial JDI-->Demeter VTMP2a-->DAW...
Thanks!

Originally Posted by popmann

The two that are mic preamps, the UA and the Great River both kick ass on vox, IMO. I've got final vox from both on my record. Different mics...the LA610 and the Sm7b marry in a beautiful way, IMO. The Great River was wonderful with brighter mics--like the U87AI I used for a few tracks.

Everyone has a different idea of what a great bass sound is...my album is mostly U5 and LA610. I think there may still be a few Radial tracks that I took into my Akai recorder...I know there's one, and it's a bitch to mix compared with the UA and Avalon tracks. I've run the Radial into the 610, but the 610's DI sounds cleaner. Run it into a Millenia Hv3...it's fine, but nothing you're gonna drool over. I say if you're gonna spend $200 on a Radial active...save up for a U5, which will free up a mic preamp (Radial runs on phantom--passive needs a preamp to bring it up to level), and take the bass "to tape" consistently every time.

Bass compressor? I actually don't compress on the way in. I aim for no compression...rarely get there. I'm not that picky...maybe because I don't crush it. I generally use an La3a, but...I've used all kinds -from old DBX to software to La2a...depends a lot on how much you've got to crush it, and how fast the part moves. The better DI, the less compression it needs, IMO.

But, really...grain of salt...I'm not a super accomplished bass player.

[mmcfarlane]

Originally Posted by deve

I own both: jdi and pro di. I recorded bass with both of them using api312 and pacifica. Let me put it this way: I would have been very very happy with pro di if I didn't know jdi has existed.

Thanks Deve, I am curious what did you use as a preamp and A/D converter behind the JDI and ProDI when you compared them?

[Snatchman]

Originally Posted by CJ1973

Hi THanks for that. Very nice information. Appreciate it!
Last qn...
If I purchase the Radial JDI Duplex purely for Keyboards along with a Demeter VTMP2a to add an etherial sound to strings etc., would you recommend that chain? If so, would I still use the Phantom on the Demeter while using the Radial?
Meaning Keys->Patchbay etc--> Radial JDI-->Demeter VTMP2a-->DAW...
Thanks!

Hello. You wouldn't need to run phantom on the Demeter for the Duplex. It's passive. This chain you listed here IMHO, should sound good. Tho I agree with Popmann. The Duplex definately is very sensitive to what pre-amp is behind it. I think you will be ok with the Demeter tho'. Good luck...

[popmann]

If I purchase the Radial JDI Duplex purely for Keyboards along with a Demeter VTMP2a to add an etherial sound to strings etc., would you recommend that chain? If so, would I still use the Phantom on the Demeter while using the Radial?

I don't think it's gonna add anything "ethereal"...but...they make a fine DI box-it should be fine.

For the record--even their active makes a diff what you put behind it, as you have to put something to power it, and using less of it's gain or not, I've found it colors it. Which is why I like solutions for bass DI where I can get it's sound all the way to +4 by itself.

[chriscoleman]

I've never liked the Radial DI boxes I've tried. Too hard and strident...and the couple I've tried all ended up broken somehow (connectors, switches, buttons, etc.)

You can't go wrong with the Countryman Type 85 on just about everything, especially if you've got a decent selection of preamps to hit.

[nynofi]

Originally Posted by CJ1973

From my keyboards, I send standard audio cables into the patchbay.. From the patchbay, should I be using balanced cables or unbalanced cables into the JDI? From the JDI should I be using balanced or unbalanced Cables into my Mic input of the Demeter? What works when I hook up my AKG C12VR into the Demter mic input is a balanced cable. From the Demeter to the RME Multiface 1/4 DAW, I have balanced as well...
Any thoughts you have would be appreciated.

Thanks!!!

Hey CJ,

Sorry for the late reply. You should go unbalanced into the JDI(Bass, guitar, analog keyboards, instruments in general). From the DI OUTS, it should be balanced/mic cables to your pres. Done!

This is my usual chain:

MKS-80/Voyager/TB-303/TR-808/J-Bass/Strat>pedals>JD4/JD6>patchbay>API 512c>API 560>Demeter VTCL-2a>SPL TD>Rosetta 800>PT. Not always used in the same order of course! Good times! Enjoy!

[CJ1973]

Hi Nyofi
Thanks so much for the advise. Much appreciate it!!
I would also like to know your thoughts in regards to a preamp I could use along with my Akai Z8 sampler for primarily sampled drums such as 808 kicks....I am looking for a Preamp (ie. A Design, Great RIver, Brent Averill, Vintech, API etc etc) which I could also use for vocals as well however more for that slammin drum sound....
can you recommend anything that would compliment an AKAI Z8 sampler (same engine ias MPC4000)
Thanks!!!!!
CJ
ps. sounds like you have an array of keys!! nice!!!!

Originally Posted by nynofi

Hey CJ,

Sorry for the late reply. You should go unbalanced into the JDI(Bass, guitar, analog keyboards, instruments in general). From the DI OUTS, it should be balanced/mic cables to your pres. Done!

This is my usual chain:

MKS-80/Voyager/TB-303/TR-808/J-Bass/Strat>pedals>JD4/JD6>patchbay>API 512c>API 560>Demeter VTCL-2a>SPL TD>Rosetta 800>PT. Not always used in the same order of course! Good times! Enjoy!

[joshuag]

hello all - i've got a fairly large analog synth/drum machine/groovebox collection, way more than the 8 inputs on my rme multiface.
i just bought a speck x-sum, now i can finally have all my synths and drum machine individual outs connected at the same time! i'm stoked! so was reading this DI thread and now i'm kind of confused. do i need DI? i thought i would just be recording to my DAW via balanced line out from x-sum to balanced line in of multiface. am i sacrificing my synth signal quality by going from instrument to line mixer to interface with no DI? thanks for your advice here!

JG

[CJ1973]

Im not sure if you are sacrificing your quality but I can guarantee that you will enhance your quality by the use of various mic preamps or DIs. I have a decent synth/sampler collection and want to get the best out of each unit and some I send through the Yamaha 02R preamps which are infact very good (Madonna's 'Music' was done on the 02R) and I route those using an ADAT optical into my RME Multiface. On top of that, I use the Multiface analog inputs for my preamps. I have a few Preamps as well as a new DI I purchased connected to the inputs of the RME. The sound quality in my opinion is amazing. Particular preamps add a nice tone to particular sounds and they bring the sound to the front. THey let the sound sit up alot more infront. So in short yes. Maybe rent a preamp and try first to see what the difference is and go from there. You could read articles on famous Keyboardists out there who used various DIs and Pres for their sound, on top of Effex Units. cheers!

Originally Posted by joshuag

hello all - i've got a fairly large analog synth/drum machine/groovebox collection, way more than the 8 inputs on my rme multiface.
i just bought a speck x-sum, now i can finally have all my synths and drum machine individual outs connected at the same time! i'm stoked! so was reading this DI thread and now i'm kind of confused. do i need DI? i thought i would just be recording to my DAW via balanced line out from x-sum to balanced line in of multiface. am i sacrificing my synth signal quality by going from instrument to line mixer to interface with no DI? thanks for your advice here!

JG