SansAmp Acoustic DI vs. SansAmp Bass DI (recording and live direct into PA)

Gear_Junky · #1 01-02-2008, 06:58 PM

Hey, everyone.

Actually, I have to admit right off the bat, I can't really afford Tech 21 stuff (used to have it, great stuff!) so I'll be working with Behringer clones - more specifically adi21 and bdi21 - they are respective copies of the above SansAmps.

I used to have both Tech 21 sansamps but never thought of using the acoustic for bass. But recently I've seen a number of people saying that the acoustic DI actually is better for bass than the bass DI. I've heard that applied both for originals and the copies.

In my case: I am not "pro" or "working musician" at all. I do hobby jams with friends and hope to do some computer recording for fun in the future (do have "home studio" experience from years ago but will not invest into gear this time around).

For jams I am looking for the ability to plug the bass direct into the PA and get a nice sound - that way I can invest the money into the PA instead of spending on a good bass amp. I realize it isn't perfect, but i HAVE to go that route.

So, those of you who tried both Acoustic DI and Bass DI, which do you think is more useable?

P.S. I do play guitar and have an acoustic, so in my case an acoustic DI will be a mutli-tasker, which is great, but I still wonder if I should get the Bass DI for bass or just stick with the acoustic DI.

THANKS!

Vic Winters · #2 01-03-2008, 06:04 AM

I have the BDI21, and I can see how the Mid Eq and Mid Freq knobs would come in handy.

Gear_Junky · #3 01-03-2008, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vic Winters

I have the BDI21, and I can see how the Mid Eq and Mid Freq knobs would come in handy.

ok, i see what you're saying. but isn't the "presence" partly making up for that?

also, the adi21 doesn't have the "drive" knob - to a point that's what adds the "tube-like" warmth/compression (before it gets into distortion territory). So I wonder if I'd miss that feature with the acoustic DI?

basadam · #4 01-03-2008, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gear_Junky

But recently I've seen a number of people saying that the acoustic DI actually is better for bass than the bass DI.

I respect other's opinion but I don't agree. IMHO Bass DI is better for strictly bass. But if you're playing bass AND guitar AND some other stuff acoustic DI is better bang for the buck.

I have a programmable Bass DI, an RBI (rackmount equivalent), an RPM (rackmount equivalent of para DI which is the new version of acoustic DI) and Behringer ADI 21.

Behringer stuff is good as long as you're gentle with it. Mine is still alive for more than 2 years. The sound is right but it distorts if you dig too much. Also it eats batteries a lot. An adapter is highly recommended but it also has to be a good one which can provide plenty of current.

Gear_Junky · #5 01-03-2008, 01:27 PM

yup, i'm using danelectro noiseless adapters currently - i only have the gdi21 - SansAmp GT2 clone (yes, i play guitar too).

thanks, basadam, appreciate the input. for the price of behringers i could easily have both for my needs - it was whether i need bass+acoustic or 2 acoustics

what specifically do you prefer on the bass version (vs. acoustic)? which controls and what sounds better?

basadam · #6 01-03-2008, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gear_Junky

what specifically do you prefer on the bass version (vs. acoustic)? which controls and what sounds better?

I don't exactly know. I have setup my RBI&RPM as a 2-channel unit and as I switch between the two I find that I almost always like RBI better. Granted, they're setup differently but it seems that RBI has more punch, it's fatter, and cuts through better. Granted, I sometimes switch in RPM especially playing with a pick but my experince tells me *for bass* RBI (or bass DI) can approximate everything ac DI can do (see BLEND comment below) but the reverse is not so true. People will argue that ac DI is more true to your bass' sound but IMHO that's only true when BLEND is set to max. Also the lack of MID on bass DI is exaggarated IMHO, at least for my needs. RBI has MID, bass DI doesn't, but I can get similar tonality with both. RBI is just more hi-fi.

I do play guitar too (simple stuff only) and RPM is better in that department.

BTW, our guitarist has a GT2 and it can do some very good SVT stuff with bass - same should apply to GDI21.

Did I mention I also have PSA 1.1?

And no, I'm not on Tech 21's payroll!

Gear_Junky · #7 01-03-2008, 09:05 PM

yes, i am waiting to find some time to try gdi21 with the bass. i always knew that guitar sansamps can do bass too, GT2 even had a sample bass setting.

i even know what it'll sound like (or have an idea). but since i'm gonna get a dedicated unit, i thought i'd read up on it.

thnks!

Jim Carr · #8 01-03-2008, 09:14 PM

I like this for upright with a Gage Realist piezo pickup: http://www.tech21nyc.com/paradriver.html

Has parametric mids and can handle high impedance pickups.

Gear_Junky · #9 01-04-2008, 07:51 AM

yes, the ParaDriver DI is the Tech21's replacement for Acoustic DI, or possibly a better marketing name for the same thing. "Acoustic" may appeal more to acoustic guitarists, while this is now marketed to acoustic/upright bassists, etc.

basadam · #10 01-04-2008, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gear_Junky

yes, the ParaDriver DI is the Tech21's replacement for Acoustic DI, or possibly a better marketing name for the same thing. "Acoustic" may appeal more to acoustic guitarists, while this is now marketed to acoustic/upright bassists, etc.

para DI has DRIVE, ac DI hasn't.

Gear_Junky · #11 01-04-2008, 11:33 AM

that kinda makes it a merge of the former ac.di and bass.di, no? that's gr8!

Quote:

Originally Posted by basadam

para DI has DRIVE, ac DI hasn't.

basadam · #12 01-04-2008, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gear_Junky

that kinda makes it a merge of the former ac.di and bass.di, no? that's gr8!

Not IMHO. Their tonality is different.

Gear_Junky · #13 01-04-2008, 07:02 PM

you totally got me convinced - i'll be ordering both an acoustic and a bass di (behringers).

mgmadian · #14 03-04-2008, 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by basadam

Did I mention I also have PSA 1.1?

I'd be curious to hear your impression of the PSA 1.1 as compared to the RBI / PBDDI, for bass of course. Some of the sound samples of the PSA on SansAmp's website are very cool...

bassbrock · #15 03-04-2008, 10:51 AM

I need to throw in that I've owned two different Sansamp Bass Driver DIs (one with the line level switch, one without) and I currently own and use an RBI and my guitarist owns a GT2.

The RBI is a different beast and produces different tones than the pedal version. It has been my experience that the RBI is not just simply a rackmount version of the Bass Driver DI pedal. I was not able to obtain the variation in tones with the pedal version that I have with my rackmount RBI... and the quality of tone.

basadam · #16 03-05-2008, 02:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mgmadian

I'd be curious to hear your impression of the PSA 1.1 as compared to the RBI / PBDDI, for bass of course. Some of the sound samples of the PSA on SansAmp's website are very cool...

I'll say the same thing I said for RPM vs RBI. Strictly for bass, RBI is better, although PSA has a lot of distortion/overdirve possibilities if that's your thing. PSA's bass sounds are passable in most situations, RBI on the other hand is a lot more versatile (except in dist/overdrive department).

So; if you play both bass and electric guitar PSA is better choice. If you play bass and are into more-than-mild dist/overdrive, PSA is better choice. If you play bass and all you need is a plethora of *good* straight bass tones, RBI is better choice.

All IMHO of course.