REDDI Tube DI Mega-thread-II

**Chef** · #1 07-23-2012, 10:05 AM

from here:
REDDI Tube DI Mega Thread . Potential megathread that is.

RocketMusic · #2 07-23-2012, 10:27 AM

Subscribed!

nouroog · #3 07-23-2012, 11:46 AM

Subscribed for a new round

JimmyM · #4 07-23-2012, 12:51 PM

Good thread so far.

tekdiver500ft · #5 07-23-2012, 01:07 PM

I like it so far, too.

nouroog · #6 07-23-2012, 01:34 PM

Well as far as I recall, first thread covered being enthusiastic about it, carrying it around safely, comparing it to other DI boxes, marvel at how good it sounds and how well it sits in the mix, swapping and comparing tubes, evaluating it as a potential preamp... What do I forget ?

What's next ?
I've still to try the REDDI as a mic preamp to see how it colors the sound of the few dynamic mics I own (PR40, SM57, AKG D12), just for fun.
I don't remember if it has been covered yet, but I'd be interested to hear how you guys mix a REDDI track with a mic'ed cab track.

JimmyM · #7 07-23-2012, 01:53 PM

When I first got the REDDI, I figured I'd do both in venues where I could get two lines and the soundman wasn't a jerkoff. I love micing cabs and have traditionally not liked DI's. But I haven't really felt the need to mic cabs anymore. Somewhere in the advertising for the REDDI, there's a sentence that goes like, "The 1/4" out is untreated so you can run direct with the REDDI and have an untouched signal going to your amp for cab micing, and then you can erase the cab mic track when you hear that you don't need it." That's kind of how I feel about it, too. I mic'ed because I was looking for that level of balls that DI's weren't giving me. The REDDI gives it to me now, so I don't feel the need to mic like I used to.

The one thing I would still mic a cab for, though, is for distortion from a tube amp, but having said that, I'm very satisfied with how the REDDI handles distortion pedals as long as you cut highs past 5k. So I could go either way on that as well.

I know this reply is centered more around live work and not recording, but I think it still applies.

RocketMusic · #8 07-23-2012, 01:57 PM

I agree, Jimmy. Mic'ing a cab hasn't even crossed my mind since I've started using the REDDI...

RocketMusic · #9 07-23-2012, 02:02 PM

By the way - here's a pretty hip tip for adding some mild crunch after the fact in a studio/DAW environment. It's not REDDI specific... but it does sound REALLY nice when you do it to a bass track that was recorded through a REDDI.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDbDeTNHQiQ

nouroog · #10 07-23-2012, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

When I first got the REDDI, I figured I'd do both in venues where I could get two lines and the soundman wasn't a jerkoff. I love micing cabs and have traditionally not liked DI's. But I haven't really felt the need to mic cabs anymore. Somewhere in the advertising for the REDDI, there's a sentence that goes like, "The 1/4" out is untreated so you can run direct with the REDDI and have an untouched signal going to your amp for cab micing, and then you can erase the cab mic track when you hear that you don't need it." That's kind of how I feel about it, too. I mic'ed because I was looking for that level of balls that DI's weren't giving me. The REDDI gives it to me now, so I don't feel the need to mic like I used to.

The one thing I would still mic a cab for, though, is for distortion from a tube amp, but having said that, I'm very satisfied with how the REDDI handles distortion pedals as long as you cut highs past 5k. So I could go either way on that as well.

I know this reply is centered more around live work and not recording, but I think it still applies.

Well that's a very interesting answer for me. It more or less confirms what I had guessed from your different posts but I'm interested to hear you confirm that you (almost?) no longer mic your cab live since you use the REDDI.
I still have to find how I will use it live, since I like to overdrive my amps a bit, and don't own a VT pedal (yet...)
For recording, I'm still experimenting mixing the REDDI track with the mic'ed. But for now, I'm not satisfied with the results.
Thanks RocketMusic for the link ! I will watch that ASAP, hope it will give me hints I will be able to use.

JimmyM · #11 07-23-2012, 02:29 PM

Funny he pulled up a Sansamp plugin to do that trick with adding distortion

Anyway, it's basically the same thing you're doing, Nouroog, except you're using a mic'ed cab and they're using a Sansamp plugin, and they're rolling off the lows on the distorted track, which is usually how a blend is done. Stuff like that is just a matter of finding the right EQ combinations for each sound. Or maybe it's turning one off in favor of the other and not worrying about blending. Really hard to say without being there, but if you'd like to fly me and the wife to Paris, I'll be happy to be help

nouroog · #12 07-23-2012, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

Stuff like that is just a matter of finding the right EQ combinations for each sound. Or maybe it's turning one off in favor of the other and not worrying about blending.

That's the balance I'm still looking for.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

Really hard to say without being there, but if you'd like to fly me and the wife to Paris, I'll be happy to be help

Well if I had the money to do so, that would be an instant deal, with great pleasure !

JimmyM · #13 07-23-2012, 02:47 PM

I'd offer to have you just fly me, but if I went to Paris and didn't take my wife, guess who would come home to a divorce court summons?

nouroog · #14 07-23-2012, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

I'd offer to have you just fly me, but if I went to Paris and didn't take my wife, guess who would come home to a divorce court summons?

Mmmh. Yeah. A trip to Paris leaving wife at home seems something you can't justify to any judge. Nor any wife.
"But I swear, honey, I was just giving EQing advice to a fellow bassist ! ... Why, YES, I had to BE there for that!"
Tricky...

nouroog · #15 07-23-2012, 02:57 PM

Well, THAT had not been covered in the first thread.
Sorry for the OT...

**svtb15** · #16 07-23-2012, 08:03 PM

Subbed! Thank you Chef for keeping it simple and straight

stingray56funk · #17 07-23-2012, 08:54 PM

sub'd

JimmyM · #18 07-24-2012, 02:42 AM

You know, sometimes a wild idea that you think shouldn't work makes a real good first impression, and I've discovered that's what happened to me when I thought that running the REDDI into other amps not up to its tonal level to boost them up might work out. Not so much. Extensive recording tests tonight proved to me that it's only slightly better than the other gear by itself, and really takes a toll on what goes to the board. It fares quite a bit better going the other way, running other gear into the REDDI, but none of it is as good as the REDDI by itself. Made a good first impression when I tried it through my Micro VR the other day, but the comparison clips don't lie. Not going to bother posting them...I didn't even save them. No point. It's not even debatable.

OK, so I admit it...crazy idea is crazy. But I tried it out, and now I don't have to wonder about it anymore. That's worth two or three hours out of my life, right?

Right?

Testing one two...

tekdiver500ft · #19 07-24-2012, 03:07 AM

Well, that begs the question, Jimmy: What is your current signal chain when you include REDDI in it?

JimmyM · #20 07-24-2012, 03:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tekdiver500ft

Well, that begs the question, Jimmy: What is your current signal chain when you include REDDI in it?

Well Fritz...

Upright side goes Upright > X2 wireless > Barber Linden EQ >

Electric side goes Bass > X2 wireless > Boss OC-2 > Boss SYB-3 set for envelope filter > Modded JohnK Greedtone Overdrive clone >

Both sides go into a Morley ABY, then to a Korg Pitchblack and into the REDDI, then into my B-15 or SVT.

At least that's the way it goes since two weeks ago. I rotate pedals in and out here and there, and sometimes I don't use any at all.