SVTDI Ampeg vs Demeter Compulator

ozrider · #1 07-09-2008, 07:42 AM

This may sound strange but I am wondering if the ampeg SVTDI which is a tube buffered DI offers the same result in terms of compressing the signal (analog compression by the tube) as my demeter optical compressor. I only use a touch of compression and am wondering if the SVTDI on its own does a similar job? Any tech guys out there can answer this question? Thanks in advance.

sonicvi · #2 07-09-2008, 08:13 AM

Doubtful.

bongomania · #3 07-09-2008, 09:24 AM

I haven't used the SVTDI in particular, but I have used many other tube DI's/preamps/compressors/etc. and I have in fact A/B'ed their soft clipping (compression) against the Demeter. The answer IMO is generally no, they compress very differently. The Demeter compresses very smoothly; while of course it will compress "more" or "less" depending on your settings, the functionality of the compression is not changed by the input signal. Whereas with tubes, the functionality and character of the compression change dramatically depending on the input signal. If you are running the tube stage fairly clean, then there will be almost no compression at all. The higher you run your levels into the tube, the more distortion you get along with the compression. And the attack and knee characteristics of the compression from a tube change very much depending on the type of signal it's being fed.

So they're different. But that said, if you really do want only a "touch" of compression, and you like the idea of some coloration from a tube, you can get that from some tube DI's/preamps (but not all). FWIW I have read reviews saying the SVTDI does provide some light tonal coloration.

ozrider · #4 07-09-2008, 05:30 PM

thanks for the info. I actually have the SVTDI and the demeter. I run the guitar signal straight into the DI. Should I be doing that? or running the DI in the effects loop? I actually find running humbucker pickups into the DI seems to fatten the signal. But what I really notice when using the DI is that it definitely reduces the amp clipping when playing hard- is this a compression effect? I am not sure what you mean by "clean"

mbw82 · #5 07-09-2008, 05:45 PM

i used the svt DI for a while. It's nice and tubey but very very colored and not that great in my opinion. i'd find yourself another box....aggie DI rips

bongomania · #6 07-09-2008, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ozrider

I run the guitar signal straight into the DI. Should I be doing that?

Yep!

Quote:

Originally Posted by ozrider

...or running the DI in the effects loop?

Nope! Definitely not.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ozrider

...what I really notice when using the DI is that it definitely reduces the amp clipping when playing hard- is this a compression effect?

If you are using the 1/4" thru output into your amp (which is the normal way to do it), and if that output jack is post the tube stage, which is only true for some DI's, then yes I'd say that's a compression effect.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ozrider

I am not sure what you mean by "clean"

I mean at signal levels which do not cause audible coloration of the signal.

ozrider · #7 07-09-2008, 06:44 PM

I actually tried overdriving the DI with the Demeter first in the chain for a greater tube tone and more compression characteristic. I cranked the gain on the Demeter but it made a puffing accent to my notes which I really don't understand.. so i have set it back to the factory presets. Any thoughts? What I understand from your comments is that the DI will not offer compression unless the signal is hot enough...