Looking for a DI box

Gar23 · #1 10-23-2011, 02:42 PM

Sorry if this has been answered somewhere on these forums but I am looking for a DI box to record my bass playing so that I can get both Mic/Amp and Direct Injection to capture everything I need straight into my DAW.

My question is that there are a ton of these things on the market and I have no idea what a good one would be for my needs.

That's not a question though,

so here it is. I am also looking to play guitar through my DI box to use with Guitar Rig 4. Do i need any special considerations when looking to get a DI box for both Bass and Guitar?

Can anyone make a recommendation?

Thanks.

Leronious · #2 10-23-2011, 02:48 PM

check out the sansamp paradriver
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-0xoR7S_6A
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WByH0uiVnI4

bassgod0dmw · #3 10-23-2011, 06:02 PM

How much money are you looking to spend? Are the instruments you plan on using active or passive?

I use a Radial JDI and get fantastic results. It's an excellent box, very simple to use, and great stuff comes out of it. Radial also makes the J48 which is active...

And there is always the Countryman Type 85. It's an industry standard, but the Radial's are starting to catch up.

Gar23 · #4 10-23-2011, 07:25 PM

Thanks for the replies.

Right now everything is passive. I may get a pick up for my double bass sometime in the future but for right now I'm happy to use my mic.

If I can get something serviceable for $150+- that would be great, but then again I have no idea exactly what type of quality I'm getting. I'm thinking that anything more than that would be overkill for a small home studio.

I'm checking out your suggestions and I hope to have something by the end of the week.

bassgod0dmw · #5 10-24-2011, 06:38 AM

For passive stuff, the general consensus is you'll want an active DI.

It's hard to go wrong with the Countryman Type 85, you can get them for $180 from anywhere, or $150 if you look hard. Otherwise you'd be looking at the Radial J48 which is closer to $200. Either box will do you plenty fine, and the quality on each is outstanding. I'm sure there are other options available, but for a straight up, no bells & whistles, killer DI...these are 2 great options.

I use my JDI (it's a passive DI) for everything. Band practice, live shows, recording. Everyone thinks it sounds great. I plan on getting a Type 85 myself for all of my passive basses and just for a little different flavor.

MNAirHead · #6 10-24-2011, 09:35 AM

Generically, for recording... I'll grab the JDI first.

Unfortunately they almost need to be mated to your exact bass "I like mY' replies suck as there are tons of variables.

Generically I'll grab an MXR M80 for live

Gar23 · #7 10-24-2011, 03:23 PM

I went down to my local guitar center today to pick up a few things and while I was there I talked one of the guys in the recording department. A short time later I walked out of the store with a 40 dollar Live Wire Passive Direct Box.

I took it home and set it up. Then noticed that my recordings without the box sounded exactly the same as the ones with the box. Looking online I saw that I needed the XLR output to go to my DAW not the 1/4". (you can tell i'm a noob with this stuff can't you?) Now I have to run back to the store and buy an xlr/trs cord just to see if this will work for me.

Would it be better to just return it? The reviews looked pretty positive but I have a feeling i'll need something more than this.

Finally, I realized I may have a problem getting both Amp and DI signals into my DAW as I only have one input on my interface. Is there anything that can be done with some clever wiring or do I also need an interface with more than one 1/4" input?

loopmantra · #8 10-26-2011, 08:19 AM

mxr m80
3 channel outputs,colour switch,phantom/ground option,NICE sound.
using it,loving it.usually i go from xlr to a board/recorder,and other outputs i use for amps.

bassgod0dmw · #9 10-26-2011, 08:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gar23

I took it home and set it up. Then noticed that my recordings without the box sounded exactly the same as the ones with the box. Looking online I saw that I needed the XLR output to go to my DAW not the 1/4". (you can tell i'm a noob with this stuff can't you?) Now I have to run back to the store and buy an xlr/trs cord just to see if this will work for me.

Would it be better to just return it? The reviews looked pretty positive but I have a feeling i'll need something more than this.

Finally, I realized I may have a problem getting both Amp and DI signals into my DAW as I only have one input on my interface. Is there anything that can be done with some clever wiring or do I also need an interface with more than one 1/4" input?

The DI isn't really going to add much in terms of sound coloration unless you spend major bucks on a REDDI or something similar. Their basic purpose is to get a relatively clean & uncolored signal sent to the board/DAW/etc for further tweaking.

Should you return it? Only you can answer that. What are you expecting to get out of a DI anyways? If you want some sort of signal tweaking, you're probably going to want something with EQ or to use a preamp going in to the DI.

The 1/4" output is usually an unbalanced thru put to connect to your amp or whatever. The XLR is the balanced connection.

When you say that you're trying to get both your amp and DI signals into your DAW, are you micing the amp too? Or running from the amps DI? The simple answer to you'll need more than 1 input.

Jim Carr · #10 10-26-2011, 01:15 PM

As noted, a good DI does not add or subtract ANYTHING from your signal. If you want a preamp that also is a DI, that is a different animal, and is essentially an effects pedal with a DI built-in. If you already have all the effects/EQ/etc. you need, then just get the cleanest DI you can afford. I recommend Countryman type 85 or Radial JDI.

cegrant · #11 10-27-2011, 04:50 AM

F/S: BSS Audio AR-133 Active DI Box

Muttleybass · #12 10-27-2011, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leronious

check out the sansamp paradriver
Tech 21
Tech 21 SansAmp PARA DRIVER DI: Bass - YouTube

+1

**f64** · #13 10-27-2011, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassgod0dmw

For passive stuff, the general consensus is you'll want an active DI.

It's hard to go wrong with the Countryman Type 85, you can get them for $180 from anywhere, or $150 if you look hard. Otherwise you'd be looking at the Radial J48 which is closer to $200. Either box will do you plenty fine, and the quality on each is outstanding. I'm sure there are other options available, but for a straight up, no bells & whistles, killer DI...these are 2 great options.

I use my JDI (it's a passive DI) for everything. Band practice, live shows, recording. Everyone thinks it sounds great. I plan on getting a Type 85 myself for all of my passive basses and just for a little different flavor.

+1

Charling · #14 10-27-2011, 06:26 PM

The passive bass needs active DI thing is a bit of a falacy, in truth both work well for either. The fact that they are active or passive makes no difference, the only critical factor is the DI's input impedance, and the bass' output impedance. 'Vintage' basses with old pickups may well have a generally larger output impedance and as such may well do better with an active DI, where its easier for the manafacturers to give it a high input impedance, ie you can avoid a missmatch. Generally though, both will work fine for anything.

Its true that most DI's, especially most passive's, will colour the tone very little, but they WILL send the signal through a transformer which WILL colour the sound somewhat. Even top transformers like Lundhals and Jensens change the sound a bit, and its these characteristics that people seek out and take preference too in passive DI's. Like all variables for recording gear, the difference will be slight, but recording is ALL about the details so you need to learn to hear the differences to get the most out of your gear.

Yup, you'll need to come out of the balanced, xlr, di out for the signal to have been 'DI'd'. The thru or link socket is simply hardwired to the input socket on most DI's and as such is no different to running a jack directly to the interface. The DI simply splits this signal off in between the input and thru jacks, sends it to a step down transformer in a balancing circuit and comes out of the xlr out. Passive DI's are VERY simple devices and it the only real variable between the different makes is the transformer used, along with extra bits and bobs like pad switches etc.

A passive DI will reduce the level of the signal post transformer, so its customary to send it into a mic preamp. Is the 1/4" input of your interface listed as being a mic pre as well, or does it have an xlr in? If not you may find it does not have enough clean gain to make a passive DI worth it.

Is it a little guitar style interface like the line 6 stuff? If so the 1/4 input will likely have enough gain, but will probably already have a high enough input impedance that you don't need to use a DI, that said the colouration of the DI might still be desirable and its always useful to have one around.

Active DI's come in many more flavours, so its more of a item by item consideration, simple ones like the countryman may still reduce the signal by a bit (I'm not sure about this) wheras fancy ones like the avalon u5 will be able to give as much or as little gain needed to go into a mic pre OR line input at a good impedance.

Hope that helps a bit,

O