DIing to enhance effects.

[TheBrokenDoor]

I was chatting on another forum about DIing bass and someone said if using effects, DIing from the amp is necessary.

It made me think. I'm assuming the idea is that DIing a fuzz-type signal sounds horrible, and much more musical with a mid-cut and bass boost associated with amplifying. As such, I was thinking this:

I gig all over and I'm used to the sound man DIing before my amp if that's what they want. Therefore, should I include a DI box at the end of my chain that includes an amp simulator, with the aim of producing a less artificial sound? Do any of you do this for specifically this reason?

Also, if I was to run it like this, I'd want to run this in parallel so the amp emulation would go to front of house but not to my amp. What products are available to do such a job?

Many thanks,

Dan
Liverpool, UK

[Happynoj]

I often DI straight to FOH without any kind of amp sim. However, most of the effects I use are very synthy souding, so I think they actually gain something from not getting the amped sound.

[walker rosewood]

Taking a DI from the amp head isn't much different then taking a DI before the amp. Especially if the amp DI is Pre-eq. In my ampeg head, for example, the DI is coming directly off of the 1/4" input, so it's exactly the same either way.

I think you mean speaker simulation, not amp simulation. Many effects like OD and fuzz interact with the cab/speakers. In this case folks suggest mic'ing the cab to get the 'full effect'.

A DI with a speaker sim (like the Tech 21 stuff) would be what you're looking for. Keep in mind that many 'speaker sim' features are just simple eq'ing tricks.

Personally I run a sansamp pBDDI at the end of my effects chain, sending the xlr to the house without any issues. If I need more stage monitoring I also send the 1/4" out to my amp.

[runmikeyrun]

I have played with distortion a long time. Usually when i ask the sound guy to mic my cab and he says "I always use a DI" i tell them i play with distortion and I prefer to have the sound of the amp and the speakers shape my tone, just like the guitar player. They'll usually just mic your cab and be done. In 10 years I've only had one place refuse, and it was because the stage resonated at 100hz and trying to mic the bass resulted in feedback.

If you're that worried, get a DI box with an EQ, so you can choose what eq settings to give your DI'd signal. The soundguy may still tweak at the board, but you'll have more control. Use the parallel out to feed your amp.

I've found most soundguys are pretty laid back and just want things to go as seamlessly as possible. As soon as you give them attitude, they shut down and just do whatever they want, usually sacrificing your tone. If you're polite, provide the right gear, and intelligently talk shop with them, they'll usually listen. If you're crass and give them a bunch of crap they'll most likely give you bad sound. They use DIs because it's a clean signal and usually gets a better tone. It's also easier for them to plug in a box instead of having to set up one more mic.

[TheBrokenDoor]

Originally Posted by Happynoj

I often DI straight to FOH without any kind of amp sim. However, most of the effects I use are very synthy souding, so I think they actually gain something from not getting the amped sound.

I'm mostly playing Live DnB and rarely use any sound that resembles a bass guitar in anything other than the envelope of the sustain so this is a good point.

Ta!

[Happynoj]

Originally Posted by TheBrokenDoor

I'm mostly playing Live DnB and rarely use any sound that resembles a bass guitar in anything other than the envelope of the sustain so this is a good point.

Ta!

Yeah, a lot of my sounds are coming from a Line 6 FM-4 and a Boss OC-2 with Oct1 soloed. I figure that taking a DI straight after the board will capture all of those lovely sub-bass frequencies that might be lost from micing the cab.