Best Way to Tame a Hot DI (clipping interface)

chaosMK · #1 03-24-2013, 10:58 AM

My Bass 400 has a hot DI. It sounds awesome, but even at moderate amp volumes- less than what I'd use for rehearsal- it slams both of my recording interfaces, clip city. I have to run the interfaces at 0 on their input and I still have to run my amp lower than normal and cant slap without cutting my bass volume down to like 30-50%. Without driving my tubes the way I like 'em I get a shadow of my real tone. This is cramping my style basically.

Anyone else have a similar problem? What's the best way to handle it on a budget?

I can't even record with my D180 its DI blows stuff up.

I was thinking some kind of mic pre may be able to control things.

bassbrad · #2 03-24-2013, 11:13 AM

Here is something to know about DI outputs- some are at a mic level and others are at a line (1volt) output level. Sounds like the DI on the Bass 400 is at a line level, there are a few solutions. Having the same issue with the output on my Zoom B2.1u here is what I have found. If your interface has a line level option try that or even use the 1/4" output into the interface. Failing that you can always use a passive DI box to go into the interface, Whirlwind and Switchcraft among many others offer a decent passive DI that is very affordable, and should be in every bass players bag of tricks anyway. I made xlr pass thru box with a transformer to step down the signal but there are several products that are affordable to consider. ART makes the Pro Split that has a nice pad that might work for you for 50 bucks, that is handy & effective. Rapco offers the CVPBLOX mic pad but I have not used that particular item.

A mic pre with an input pad would be another option there are many solid state and tube options that can be affordable, I have gotten satisfactory results using an ART Tube MP.

chaosMK · #3 03-24-2013, 11:18 AM

Thanks, I appreciate the explanation and options. I should be able to figure something out now

mystic38 · #4 03-24-2013, 12:21 PM

if you have a line level DI and you are connecting it XLR>XLR into a mic/instrument input then you will certainly overload it.
Cheapest option is XLR>1/4 TS cable and put into a line level input, and if you have an interface with balanced inputs, get XLR>1/4 TRS and you are golden.