BDDI blend/EQ question

sonic assassin · #1 02-08-2010, 08:31 PM

i didnt search because this would be an odd question to search.

do the EQ controls come before or after the blend knob?

i ask because i often like to overdrive my mids and highs and leave my lows alone. could i turn the bass control OFF, overdrive the sound and then blend my original signal back to fill it out?

or does the EQ work with BOTH signals?

thanks

acleex38 · #2 02-08-2010, 08:49 PM

I'm curious about this for different reasons - I've seen the readings on the mid-scoop on the BDDI and while people say to use the blend knob to bring the mids (from the un-affected tone) back in, I want to know if that actually works (if the EQ kicks in pre-blend).

Thanks for asking the question!

Ayliffe · #3 02-08-2010, 10:47 PM

the blend knob adds or takes away your completely untouched bypassed signal to the one eq'd by the sansamp. Hopefully this helps.

sonic assassin · #4 02-08-2010, 11:38 PM

so if i dump the lows on the sansamp tone, it wont kill the lows on the blended signal?

jtroska · #5 02-09-2010, 03:08 AM

I have the RBI, which I think is exactly the same (but in rackmountable format).

The EQ knobs on the RBI are post blend. They affect both the dry and sansamp signal.

I think the Para Driver (or RPM) may do more of what you want. It has a sweepable mid EQ within the sansamp drive section. So you could push or cut the appropriate frequency to get the kind of over-drive you want and then use the post-blend EQ to shape the overall tone.

gnasher1993 · #6 02-09-2010, 03:27 AM

You could try a crossover and just distort the highs?

acleex38 · #7 02-09-2010, 07:42 AM

That begs the question "is the mid-scoop function a function of the EQ or a function of the cab emulation (which is something that supposedly, you can blend out)"?

acleex38 · #8 02-09-2010, 07:54 AM

I owe the OP an apology for hijacking his thread. Sorry about that!

ga_edwards · #9 02-09-2010, 09:56 AM

Sounds to me like you need a two channel device that can mix both channels. Something like the EBS Microbass II - clean channel A with eq and dirty channel B with it's own eq.

There's other similar boxes out there that to more or less similar functions - MXR M-80 I think, and I have a feeling the Radial Bassbone may do it too.

jaywa · #10 02-09-2010, 10:01 AM

Not 100% to the OP's question, however...

Just recently I went from running the Blend on my BDDI (non para) wide-open, to backing it down to about 2 o'clock. In other words, the signal is only being partially "SansAmped", not 100%. I also took the Bass down from high noon to about 11 o'clock. The result has been MUCH BETTER TONE that really cuts through in the FOH mix while still delivering plenty of bottom.

YMMV but it's something to consider and I actually have to credit the TB'ers here for hipping me to the whole Blend thing.

acleex38 · #11 02-09-2010, 10:19 AM

I've been running the blend at 9 o'clock already - just wanted to figure out exactly what it was doing.

I have the bass at 11, the treble at 2, the presence at 2, and the drive different places based on what I need it for.

i_got_a_mohawk · #12 02-09-2010, 10:25 AM

I rarely used my BDDI with the bass and treble past the mid point.

You have some control over the mids, in that if you turn the bass and treble down a bit, the mids go up a bit (relatively)

jtroska · #13 02-09-2010, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by acleex38

That begs the question "is the mid-scoop function a function of the EQ or a function of the cab emulation (which is something that supposedly, you can blend out)"?

That mid scoop happens in the Sansamp drive/effect section. It doesn't happen in the post eq section. If you were to blend out the sansamp drive/effect, you wouldn't hear that scoop. Yet the post eq would still affect your dry sound.

acleex38 · #14 02-09-2010, 10:37 AM

THAT'S what I needed to know. Excellent! Thank you much!

jtroska · #15 02-09-2010, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaywa

Not 100% to the OP's question, however...

Just recently I went from running the Blend on my BDDI (non para) wide-open, to backing it down to about 2 o'clock. In other words, the signal is only being partially "SansAmped", not 100%. I also took the Bass down from high noon to about 11 o'clock. The result has been MUCH BETTER TONE that really cuts through in the FOH mix while still delivering plenty of bottom.

YMMV but it's something to consider and I actually have to credit the TB'ers here for hipping me to the whole Blend thing.

I started to really like my RBI Bass Driver once I let my ears rest and started the tweaking from scratch.

I had been trying to overcome the mid scoop with the post eq mid knob and Presence control for more cut. But the mid knob doesn't control the same mid frequency as is cut in the sansamp drive/effect section. And the presence knob seems to merely add 'clank' (at least with my bass).

Then I figured out to use the Blend knob as a 'mid' control since it adds in the natural sound of the bass without the scoop.

I don't go for a really distorted tone. I like to set the Drive knob just under the breakup point so it compresses without distorting. For my bass, I set the Drive to 10 o'clock.

Presense is also set to about 10 o'clock. Much higher than 11 causes a clanky quality that I don't want.

Then I start with the Blend on fully wet and back it down until I get the mid cut I need from the dry signal. Just checked my current setting and it's right between 1 and 2 o'clock. So it's right around where Jaywa sets it.

I've been keeping the post eq flat (12 o'clock) but I've only been using my RBI for recording and I like to save the EQing for mixdown. I don't know how I'd set it if I were driving a power amp for live sound.

sonic assassin · #16 02-09-2010, 01:25 PM

so i guess the answer is no. i was just trying to find a quick way around my biamping sound. some sort of outside blend or mixer is required.