RMI Basswitch IQ DI has landed

[odin70]

I have used the BW for a little more than a month now and i can highly recommend it. I have used it both live and in the studio and i must say its a fantastic device.

[gillento]

Originally Posted by Robin Ruscio

...

On the mix channel, I saw that you can blend some dry/wet signal to retain bottom. I have a Darkglass B3k, which has a blend in it and sounds great at keeping bottom. Same with my TC Corona Chorus and synth. I assume that I can blend the it totally wet since these pedals already give me independent control of that by themselves.

correct!.... would be my first answer.

BUT......... maybe the blended clean sound of the Basswitch is cleaner/fuller depending on the quality of your pedals' blend sound.
I'd try both ways and decide then.

[Robin Ruscio]

Two other questions for anyone who wants to chime in:

1. Is the serial loop before the mix loop or after? I usually run my FEA Labs Dual compressor/limiter last in my signal chain to help control volume spikes from envelope filter, etc. Will using these two loops change this around? I'm not sure what everyone's philosophy on compressor placement in signal chain is.

2. I saw the video about using power supplies on the basswitch site. I'm currently using a 9v daisy chain from One Spot/Visual sound. I also have a Godlyke Isopump that lets me boost from 9v to 12v, 18v or, 24v. Should I use the boost to 12v for quieter switching?

OR should I get into a dedicated power supply to reduce noise further, and get one that can run at 12v? I have looked at the CIOKS DC 10 that is in the video of the demo board previously but I wanted to see if my noise problems are solved by the basswitch alone first. I've only got high quality pedals and I'm thinking my problems are more the result of signal degradation because of switches and cable length, but I haven't ruled out that power could also be a factor. I've had a few ground hum problems that were obvious but not on many gigs, and even then I'm not sure if it was power or something else.

[gillento]

Yes, the serial loop is after the switchable parallel loop. So you can keep your compressor as last device in the serial loop. So do I.

As for power, there seems to be a concern that switching PSU do induce pop noises into the switching process.
My board is powered by a Voodoolab Power Plus 2.

[Robin Ruscio]

That's it. I'm sold. Order placed with Gollihur.

Anyone want a bassbone? :0

[JCRob]

Originally Posted by Robin Ruscio

That's it. I'm sold. Order placed with Gollihur.

Anyone want a bassbone? :0

Hahahahaha!!! Had to sell mine as well!!!

[Got2SadowskyNYC]

Not all Switching power supplies are designed the same way. Although they are common in the US, it's difficult to make them quite in an audio circuit.

I have used the Visual Sound 1Spot for 5 years (the same one) with out ANY noise. Period. This includes both live and studio.

All power supplies add noise when compared to battery. Including isolated output supplies like Voo Doo. The truth is, assuming you're using a properly designed power supply, most noise caused is due to bad power filtering in a pedal not the power supply.

Besides, the Basswitch and Lehle products do all power filtering, regulation, leveling etc internally. So even if you did have a crappy power supply you wouldn't get power related noise.

Also the switches are not traditional switches. They are not mechanical (the noisiest especially in a "true bypass" circuit) or momentary (extremely quite but still can have a slight "tick"). They are very high quality relays and yet another reason you won't get switching noise from this set up.

These are only two of the reasons that the Bassswitch and Lehle products are so expensive by comparison.

[gillento]

Originally Posted by Got2SadowskyNYC

...

These are only two of the reasons that the Bassswitch and Lehle products are so expensive by comparison.

These are only two of the reasons that the Bassswitch and Lehle products SEEM so expensive by comparison.

[Robin Ruscio]

Originally Posted by Got2SadowskyNYC

Not all Switching power supplies are designed the same way. Although they are common in the US, it's difficult to make them quite in an audio circuit.

I have used the Visual Sound 1Spot for 5 years (the same one) with out ANY noise. Period. This includes both live and studio.

All power supplies add noise when compared to battery. Including isolated output supplies like Voo Doo. The truth is, assuming you're using a properly designed power supply, most noise caused is due to bad power filtering in a pedal not the power supply.

Besides, the Basswitch and Lehle products do all power filtering, regulation, leveling etc internally. So even if you did have a crappy power supply you wouldn't get power related noise.

Also the switches are not traditional switches. They are not mechanical (the noisiest especially in a "true bypass" circuit) or momentary (extremely quite but still can have a slight "tick"). They are very high quality relays and yet another reason you won't get switching noise from this set up.

These are only two of the reasons that the Bassswitch and Lehle products are so expensive by comparison.

That's what I had gathered. I think I will stick with the One Spot for now and see if my concerns about extra noise are solved by the buffer and effects loop solutions. Maybe a CIOKs down the line if only for convenience.

I do sometimes here some oscillating from my phaser in my signal even when it's bypassed but only at home. I'll have to see if that's improved by the Basswitch. I'm not sure if that's related to power or something else.

[bassistloaded21]

Originally Posted by Robin Ruscio

I've come back to looking at this unit again because it serves so many functions.

I've realized how much hum is being added by all my true bypass effects pedals, tuner, and compressor. If I understand this correctly, the buffer in the unit will reduce my impedance to create less noise in all the pedals. Plus I can run them in the mix effects loop and keep them out of the signal chain, which is good since most of my true effects (distortion, chorus, envelope, synth, phaser) are only used on a small percentage of my tunes with my main act, and not at all with many other gigs. This saves me from having to move pedals to another board for gig where I don't need everything on. And I can run the compressor through the serial loop and get the tune out of my signal chain together. AND i can turn some of those effects on simultaneously with the mix switch for times when i need a combo mid tune.



I also can replace my aguilar tone hammer that I use as preamp/DI and probably improve on the tone of the DI and preamp controls. I also have a radial bassbone I can sell for the times when I need to use URB or a second electric. The input impedance switch also reduces my need for an URB pre amp on gigs where I'm doubling.

I'm thinking when I factor in what it would cost to get a looper and after I sell my Aguilar and bassbone I'm not going to be spending too much money.

I do have one question about using the serial vs mix loop for Jacque: I use my buffered Tech 21 VT bass for some overdrive about 25% of the time on my main gig. Can I leave that in my serial loop so I don't have to also switch on my mix loop with all the other effects every time I want to use it? I'm not sure if the constant degradation of the signal is something to worry about, but we do not pause long between tunes so having to hit one vs two switches is something to think about. Plus that means all the other effects that are less used will be getting passed through more of the time; maybe 25% of the time instead of 10%.

Can you comment a bit about how it sounds vs the tonehammer?

[Robin Ruscio]

Originally Posted by bassistloaded21

Can you comment a bit about how it sounds vs the tonehammer?

Once I get it I will! Right now my thoughts would just be speculation.

[gillento]

The Tone Hammer has:
- the Aguilar signature sound
- can add drive/distortion

The Basswitch eq is a precise clean sounding device more in the vein of a channelstrip. The EQ has a lot more possibilties but stays more neutral.

To me the ToneHammer is more of an amp-like sounding device.
In fact I am using the Basswitch EQ for tailoring my clean sound and I have the VTBass (more of an Amp simulator, just like the Tone Hammer) for adding some grit.
-> different uses for different devices

[Robin Ruscio]

The only thing I'm holding my breath on by changing from the tone hammer to Basswitch is that I like the Aguilar signature sound when I'm running direct. It adds a little warm color that's musical.

Basswitch is in tomorrow and I have a gig that night as well, so I'll know more Thursday.

[Robin Ruscio]

Had my first gig with the basswitch last night. It definitely has a much pure cleaner sound. Actually there was a lot more bottom and presence that I was ever to get out of the Aguilar tone hammer.

[flobass]

Originally Posted by Robin Ruscio

The only thing I'm holding my breath on by changing from the tone hammer to Basswitch is that I like the Aguilar signature sound when I'm running direct. It adds a little warm color that's musical. ...

Hello Robin,
what about the Aguilar sound? Did you miss it?
And how would you compare the Basswitch to the Bassbone?

Kind regards,
Florian

[Robin Ruscio]

Originally Posted by flobass

Hello Robin,
what about the Aguilar sound? Did you miss it?
And how would you compare the Basswitch to the Bassbone?

Kind regards,
Florian

I didn't miss the TH. I thought I might want some more warmth or color, but the Basswitch had such a nice plush bottom that was clearer that I wasn't reaching for my bass knobs or any EQ for that matter most of the night, unless I wanted to change the sound of my bass for a particular tune or technique. There was less high end clack and smoother response all around. I always think that's a good sign.

I never use the AGS on the TH either.

The bassbone always sounded fine to me, but not quite the same quality as the Basswitch. Hard to pinpoint, but the BW really does seem like a high end studio DI; almost like a really high end board or maybe more like an Avalon or something. I am plugging a Fodera into a very high end Midas board and running in ear on the DI stuff this far, so I get some pretty accurate feedback on the signal and have quality parts all around it. I'm not sure it would matter so much on a typical PA or middle of the road amp.

It's like going from a totally fine car like a Honda to a BMW or something. (Nothing wrong with the Honda, but I prefer my BMW. )

That being said, if someone wasn't able to spend the money on the BW, the other two are great entry level devices for what they do. I just sold the Bassbone and will be listing the TH or selling to one of my students soon.

Next weekend I will use the BW through my amp (not in ears) on another gig for first time, which will give me another perspective on it. I will also be comparing the Di on the BW to the amp DI with my sound man to see if we have a preference.

[flobass]

Thanks for your detailed answer! Keep us posted about your experience of the BW in combination with your amp.

[Robin Ruscio]

BW has sounded very good through the amp, and two sound men have confirmed what un upgrade the DI is for front of house. One was skeptical and was ribbing me for always bringing new gear before the gig, but afterwards, he practically insisted that I take the board recording home because I was going to be blown away by the tracks. I must concur, it sounded better than most of the studio sessions I've done, and we spent about 60 secs getting the sound at the gig.

[pbass6811]

I just placed my order for the BW today(I got some good encouragement from flobass in another thread! Thanks, Florian! I also got a good deal from Dan@L.A.G)! I'm hoping to have it by Friday, so I can try it out Friday night(no test like throwing it into the deep end at a gig!). I'm also coming from an Aguilar Tone Hammer, which I just got, so I appreciate all the replies in this thread. Although I'm primarily a rock bassist, my original stuff is more funk/metal, so I am really going for a super clean sound that I can dirty up as needed. I want to get my effects out of my input signal, so I'm REALLY looking forward to the BW...

[Robin Ruscio]

Any suggestions on creating a slap tone on the preamp? I got the impression in the Manual that it was suggested to boost some upper mids for slap though I would usually reach for the treble knob and cut some mids.