Using my B15N as a preamp to record

**garmenteros** · #1 10-13-2011, 03:02 PM

Calling JimmyM... and all fliptop and ampeg experts... I'm going to be recording some time this week or the next and I was just wondering if it possible to use my fliptop as a preamp to go into a DI to go the interface/board. I've got a radial JDI mk III and am going to be plugging into a focusrite saffire 56. Any experience with something like this? Is it worth the hassle? I plan on doing it anyway at home because its right next to my home recording setup but wondering if its worth to haul the fliptop to the recording studio...

aborgman · #2 10-13-2011, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by garmenteros

Calling JimmyM... and all fliptop and ampeg experts... I'm going to be recording some time this week or the next and I was just wondering if it possible to use my fliptop as a preamp to go into a DI to go the interface/board. I've got a radial JDI mk III and am going to be plugging into a focusrite saffire 56. Any experience with something like this? Is it worth the hassle? I plan on doing it anyway at home because its right next to my home recording setup but wondering if its worth to haul the fliptop to the recording studio...

Yep, it'll work - but you'll either have to pull the power tubes, run a dummy load, or run a speaker.

BassmanPaul · #3 10-13-2011, 03:16 PM

Or even better, stick a microphone in front of it and get all the B15 goodness there is.

**garmenteros** · #4 10-13-2011, 03:16 PM

I won't be micing for home use and don't think I will in the studio so I could probably also use it as a monitor and drop the headphones... what would be the correct way to connect all this up...

johnk_10 · #5 10-13-2011, 03:21 PM

as stated above, you'll either have to pull the power tubes or have an 8ohm load (resistor box) that can handle the output of the amp. if you're going with a load box, i'd recommend at least 150-200 watt capability0. then just use the ext amp output as the direct out.

**garmenteros** · #6 10-13-2011, 03:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnk_10

as stated above, you'll either have to pull the power tubes or have an 8ohm load (resistor box) that can handle the output of the amp. if you're going with a load box, i'd recommend at least 150-200 watt capability0. then just use the ext amp output as the direct out.

Or I can just use the ext amp out while leaving the speaker on?

beans-on-toast · #7 10-13-2011, 03:51 PM

Yes it is worth hauling the fliptop to the studio. Plug your instrument into the radial JDI, use a cable to go from the thru jack to the input of the B-15. Run the balanced out from the JDI to the mixer. Put a mic on the cab and record that as well. There is a lot of tone beyond the pre-amp so don't loose out in capturing it with a mic.

Yes, you can use the ext amp out and leave the speaker on.

johnk_10 · #8 10-13-2011, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by garmenteros

Or I can just use the ext amp out while leaving the speaker on?

and yes again......

vin*tone · #9 10-13-2011, 04:00 PM

Why not mic it? IMO a great deal of the "B15 tone" comes from the cab.

Personally I would record direct through a nice DI then re-amp the recording with a Mic. Or record DI and B15 simultaneously then mix the 2 signals. I once did this and we ended up canning the B15 track - DI signal was more appropriate for the mix we were working on.

JimmyM · #10 10-13-2011, 11:05 PM

Totally crazy not to mic it. The pre out is great, but even better is to stick a DI that can do speaker level DI between cab and head.

Duke21 · #11 10-13-2011, 11:13 PM

Totally agree to Vin and Jimmy, mic it. The B15 sound so sweat out of the cab!

enricogaletta · #12 10-14-2011, 01:12 AM

You should be fine! Anyway if isn't it a quick session try to mic the same take too and than merge both!
Cheers. Enrico
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beans-on-toast · #13 10-14-2011, 06:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

Totally crazy not to mic it. The pre out is great, but even better is to stick a DI that can do speaker level DI between cab and head.

You can do this with the DI that the OP is using. It requires a parallel connection to the speaker. Hard to do without an adaptor for the speaker cable.

I've used a 4-pin connector to speakon cable that the amp plugs into, the other end plugs into a parallel daisy chain box (see below), then a speakon to 4-pin cable that runs from the box to the cab. The box has a parallel 1/4" jack for the DI to plug into. It sounds more complicated than it is.

coreyfyfe · #14 10-14-2011, 07:06 AM

Can the JDI be positioned like the countryman between the head and cab - meaning can you use the input and thru connections to connect from head to cab when set in speaker mode with the JDI? The JDI manual shows using a second, parallel output from the speaker cab (or I suppose from the head), but if the connections are in essence the same, does it matter?

beans-on-toast · #15 10-14-2011, 07:28 AM

For the JDI, no not directly between the head and cab. As far as I know, it can only be connected in parallel with the speaker.

A set of cables that have 4-pin to 1/4" plug would be needed for the Countryman. This DI makes the connection a little easier.

prd004 · #16 10-14-2011, 07:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beans-on-toast

Yes it is worth hauling the fliptop to the studio. Plug your instrument into the radial JDI, use a cable to go from the thru jack to the input of the B-15. Run the balanced out from the JDI to the mixer. Put a mic on the cab and record that as well. There is a lot of tone beyond the pre-amp so don't loose out in capturing it with a mic.

Yes, you can use the ext amp out and leave the speaker on.

This

B15 is perhaps THE greatest studio amp of all time, mic it!

**garmenteros** · #17 10-18-2011, 05:03 PM

Thanks for the responses... Doing a test run tonight (based on beans on toasts advice on hooking up) on my saffire 6usb tonight before taking it to the studio... I'll post it on my soundcloud and let you guys know...

nysbob · #18 10-18-2011, 06:15 PM

Echoing the "mic the amp" sentiment.

I've had spectacular results just putting a nice condensor on my SB-12. If the engineer wants to run a parallel DI that's fine, but we usually wind up ditching it altogether in mixing.

No guitarist is going to settle for some DI chain over a good amp, why should we?

Jim Carr · #19 10-18-2011, 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vin*tone

...Or record DI and B15 simultaneously then mix the 2 signals. I once did this and we ended up canning the B15 track - DI signal was more appropriate for the mix we were working on.

This was my experience—more than once.

Jim Carr · #20 10-18-2011, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coreyfyfe

Can the JDI be positioned like the countryman between the head and cab - meaning can you use the input and thru connections to connect from head to cab when set in speaker mode with the JDI?...

Never could get an engineer to try it, with either the JDI or the Countryman.