Bass Direct Out Alternatives - Need Help

kyebass · #1 08-30-2011, 04:04 PM

Alright, so here is the situation. I have an Ampeg SVT-3 Pro and I love the tone I get out of the amp into my 15' + 2 10' yorkville cab. Problem is today when we went to play I went and plugged an XLR into the direct out to send to the board, and the sound guy said the signal was buzzing and un-ussable. After doing some research I have found out that SVT's have countless issues with the direct outs and many people have refrained from using them.

So what i am asking are what are some alternative ways to get the sound of my head out to the board, and through the mains. I have tried running DI right to the board and i hate the sound, i want the tone of the SVT. Some products i have taken a look at are the Radial JDX, and a Palmer cab sim. Wondering if anyone had any tips or help i could use.

possible dumb question - is there any way to run a signal out of the effects loop into a DI, and then to the board? just wondering

BillyIVbass · #2 08-30-2011, 04:18 PM

Can you mic it? Is there a ground lift on the amp out? Can you try a different outlet (maybe you're on the same outlet as lights?)

kyebass · #3 08-30-2011, 04:25 PM

Micing it is going to be the last ditch effort - i would rather not just because ive heard cabs with two diffrent types of speakers are hard to mic/ find a good sound out of. its a game of inches and i have to pick to mic the 15' or the 10'

there is a ground lift but it really didnt seem to be doing to much. I think the DI in the amp is done, the buzzing was pretty horendous even with the line out turned way down.

and no, im running my own power.

TC2112 · #4 08-30-2011, 04:28 PM

yes- you can run a DI in your effects loop

robd · #5 08-30-2011, 04:34 PM

you could try a countryman type 85 di between the head and the speaker

PurpleDrank · #6 08-30-2011, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TC2112

yes- you can run a DI in your effects loop

+1

kyebass · #7 08-30-2011, 06:05 PM

alright, sounds good.
tomorrow i will try running effects send to the DI with the return back to the head and the XLR to the board. ill let you know if it works!
thanks for all the help everyone

JimmyM · #8 08-30-2011, 06:06 PM

This may sound crazy, but you could get your XLR out in the 3 Pro fixed. I've used countless DI's out of Ampeg amps and have yet to have this problem. Maybe in the early days of DI's built into amps there was a problem, but in the last 15-20 years, I've never had any problems with them in pretty much any amp I've ever used, Ampeg or not.

Rob22315 · #9 08-30-2011, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

This may sound crazy, but you could get your XLR out in the 3 Pro fixed. I've used countless DI's out of Ampeg amps and have yet to have this problem. Maybe in the early days of DI's built into amps there was a problem, but in the last 15-20 years, I've never had any problems with them in pretty much any amp I've ever used, Ampeg or not.

The circuit designs for the XLR output on the Peavey amps I use are pretty simple - two ground-independent buffers from either the input to or output from the preamp (selectable).

I'd check for a loose solder connection on the back of the XLR jack or dirty connections on the jack itself.

KimGT99 · #10 08-31-2011, 12:58 PM

+1

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

This may sound crazy, but you could get your XLR out in the 3 Pro fixed.

I often use the direct out of my Ampeg and it works fine.

Dub Wood · #11 08-31-2011, 01:08 PM

I have had two Svt 3pros and have had this very same problem on both of the amps. it kind of seems though that at bars/clubs with very good systems and sound guys this problem doesn't exist. I started to use the sanzamp bass driver di to go into the PA if the sound guy says the signal from my DI (on the back of amp) isn't working properly. However, i use the sanzamp running into my head anyway.

billfitzmaurice · #12 08-31-2011, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dub Wood

it kind of seems though that at bars/clubs with very good systems and sound guys this problem doesn't exist. .

That's because knowledgeable soundmen keep on hand a cord or two with pin 1 disconnected. Noise is caused by groundlooping, explanation and cures found here:
Sound System Interconnection

Tunaman · #13 08-31-2011, 01:19 PM

I have an Eden that does the same. I have a Sansamp BDDI pedal, quiet as hell, I did a test yesterday. The hiss on the BDDI was way less than the Eden & on par with the quiet Streamliner 900.

I'm personally going to put my BDDI infront of my amp, pre EQ (ie disengaged) for both the board & then to my amp, I can still use my amp for wonderful tone out of my cab.

So get a Tech21 Sansamp... I A\Bd the programmable one & the paradriver... both are quiet.

WAY cheaper than a fix plus you have a fun pedal to use... also is a backup if your amp goes to hell on a gig

The soundmen want Pre-EQ, trying to be the master of your tone to the board is usually a big mistake bro

rockstarbassist · #14 08-31-2011, 01:25 PM

you shouldn't need the "return" necessarily... you could just go FX Loop out to the DI and save an extra cable. on the house rig at a place we frequent they do this with their SVT-4Pro b/c that DI is noisy w/ their system as well.