Sansamp: How to?

[Staccato]

The features of my BDDI are many, and some are still confusing...



--How to use as a preamp or for use when plugging into a preamp? (I have not owned a preamp previously, or used one)

--How to plug into a power amp or bass amp AND a PA system simultaneously?

--Effected vs. unaffected outputs?

From the description:
“For studio and live applications, SansAmp Bass Driver DI is engineered with 3 outputs: an effected XLR, and effected 1/4 in., and a parallel, uneffected 1/4 in.”

[bongomania]

Have you read the manual?

[Staccato]

Bongomania, if you don't like to mentor, I understand. However, there's no glossary or breakdown for a beginner's understanding in the manual.
If you really think this is written for a beginner's understanding, I'm not sure you remember when...

Examples of the 'Greek' from the Bass Driver DI (V1) manual:

"BALANCED XLR OUTPUT: Balanced low Z output. Sends effected
or uneffected signal to mixing console/recorder, depending on the orientation
of the Footswitch.

PARALLEL OUTPUT: 1/4” unbalanced direct output is “hard-wired”
parallel with input jack. Instrument signal passes through, UNEFFECTED, to the
input of your stage amplification system."

Manuals like this are not written for beginners, that's my story, and I'm stickin' to it!

[Deluge Of Sound]

So what do you want to know, exactly?

If you're plugging it into a preamp, set it up like an effects pedal.

If you're going into a DI or a mixing board, use the XLR.

[insomniac2295]

--How to plug into a power amp or bass amp AND a PA system simultaneously?
power amp- just use a cable going from the regular output of the sansamp and plug it into the input of a power amp. I don't recall if the model pictured above offers the right line level to properly drive a power amp, but i've done it just fine.
Bass amp AND PA-Normal(not parallel) output to your bass amp and DI output to a channel on the PA.

--Effected vs. unaffected outputs?
Not sure what you're asking, but the Effected outputs would be the Normal (not parallel) 1/4" output AND the DI out, and unaffected output would be the parallel output.

[bongomania]

Ah OK, it's one thing if you're not familiar with the terms used in the manual, and entirely another thing if you hadn't read the manual. A lot of people come on here and ask "how does my bass/amp/pedal work", and it turns out they didn't read the manual.

Here are my translations from "Greek":

Originally Posted by Stacatto

"BALANCED XLR OUTPUT: Balanced low Z output. Sends effected
or uneffected signal to mixing console/recorder, depending on the orientation
of the Footswitch.

The XLR output is the larger jack with 3 pins inside. This is intended to be connected to a mixer--either directly to a microphone input on the mixer, or first to a "snake" which is a box of XLR jacks onstage that all connect via a long bundled cable to the PA mixer.

Balanced means it uses 3 wires, and two of the wires carry the signal. There's more to learn about this, how/why it works, but the reason for it is that the 2 signal wires cancel out any noise that gets picked up along the long snake cable. A regular instrument cable has only one signal wire (the other wire is a ground/common), and a long instrument cable will pick up noise.

Low Z means the connection will be very efficient, sending your signal very strong and clear into the mixer. "Z" stands for the word "impedance", which is explained further in the FAQ linked in my sig, in the "preamps" article.

An "effected" signal is one that is shaped/processed by the Sansamp effect, and an "uneffected" signal is just the same as whatever you fed into its input. The footswitch selects which of those goes out the XLR jack to the mixer.

I'll answer the next one in the next post.

[Gab124]

plug bass into INPUT. OUTPUT goes to power amp or regular bass amp input. XLR out goes to mixing board for pa signal. Parallel would go to your regular amp input with out any effects from the unit itself - you would use this for a setting for the mixing board that you wanted to be different than your stage rig. Set LEVEL for how strong your signal is going to said units - start with it low and raise as needed for strong signal so not to distort any input stages for other equipment.

[bongomania]

Originally Posted by Stacatto

PARALLEL OUTPUT: 1/4” unbalanced direct output is “hard-wired” parallel with input jack. Instrument signal passes through, UNEFFECTED, to the input of your stage amplification system.

Actually, this one is totally self-explanatory. I don't know if I can make it any simpler. Hmmm....


bass --> input of pedal

parallel output jack --> amp head

The tone that goes out that jack is just whatever you sent into the pedal--no effect on it at all.

[Deluge Of Sound]

So, if you want the BDDI to effect the tone that's coming out of your amp, as well as the tone coming from the PA, use the normal output jack.

If you just want the PA to have the BDDI sound, and want to keep your amp sounding just like your amp, use the parallel output jack.

[Staccato]

Thanks for the helpful comments. Using this pedal before the amp (effects through amp), or for recording did not seem so difficult to fathom. Preamp signal is for boosting (ramping up) the or strengthening it. Seems like a bigger amp would do that nicely, not sure of benefits of having a preamp.
The uneffected signal is an unchanged signal from the bass. An effected signal is one boosted or otherwise colored by the settings. Close?

[Deluge Of Sound]

Exact, in fact.

[bongomania]

Originally Posted by Stacatto

Preamp signal is for boosting (ramping up) the or strengthening it. Seems like a bigger amp would do that nicely, not sure of benefits of having a preamp.

It will sound different than the preamp built into your amp head. That's all.

[Nikoubis]

Originally Posted by Stacatto

Examples of the 'Greek' from the Bass Driver DI (V1) manual:

I'm offended.

[bongomania]

γειά Χάνεται!


(internet translation of "hey get lost!")

[phatbass]

Just a note. The later Bass Drivers have level switches (I notice the pic in your post is an earlier one without these); when plugging into a Pre amp, or the instrument input on a Bass amp, make sure you set the level switch for the appropriate output to "Inst".

When driving a power amp, set it to "Line".

The earlier Bass Drivers may not be able to drive a power amp to usable volume.

[Nikoubis]

Originally Posted by bongomania

γειά Χάνεται!


(internet translation of "hey get lost!")

Actually, this translates more like "Hello, it's gone!", but it gets the job done. I'm out of here!

[Nikoubis]

Originally Posted by phatbass

The earlier Bass Drivers may not be able to drive a power amp to usable volume.

I think that even the newer ones have issues with certain power amps (the higher wattage QSC PLX models, for example). I remember reading here that these issues don't actually have to do with the Sansamps' output level, though.

[smackbass]

Originally Posted by Stacatto

there's no glossary or breakdown for a beginner's understanding in the manual.


Manuals like this are not written for beginners,

Sorry to hijack someone elses thread, but I too am struggling to understand certain elements of this units use.
I am doing some home recording using a Sansamp Bass DI and a Tascam Portastudio. When using the XLR output from the Sansamp, connected to the 1/4 input of the Portastudio (no phantom power in the chain), should the ground switch be "engaged" or "lifted" ?

[bongomania]

The ground switch is there to help avoid some types of ground loop hum. If there is no ground loop hum, then the ground should not be lifted (lifted means removed, i.e. the unit is not grounded).