looking for good DI is giving me a headache

[jasmangan]

please help if you can, all info is appreciated. i'm in the market for a high end DI. I play in a classic rock band and an original heavy metal band, so i need one that can provide a classic tone as well as an overdriven sound. i am hoping to get some comments on these di's- tab funkwerk v71di, REDDI, api 205L, and the u5. i would try these out myself,but i am unable to get my hands on any. thank you for any help

[Visirale]

No overdrive to be found on the U5. It's as clean as clean gets. For what you're describing the REDDI would be in that direction.

[kirkm24]

Why not get a programmable SansAmp DI? You can set three channels and it is capable of producing nice, tube overdrive sounds and it is about $500 cheaper than what you're mentioning. The Aguilar Tone Hammer might work for you too.

[Visirale]

Originally Posted by kirkm24

Why not get a programmable SansAmp DI? You can set three channels and it is capable of producing nice, tube overdrive sounds and it is about $500 cheaper than what you're mentioning. The Aguilar Tone Hammer might work for you too.

No offense, but when you're in the market for a high-end DI, you're in the market for a high-end DI. The Sansamp is an admirable unit, but for really high end uses, it has too much tone suck for most applications.

[kirkm24]

Originally Posted by Visirale

No offense, but when you're in the market for a high-end DI, you're in the market for a high-end DI. The Sansamp is an admirable unit, but for really high end uses, it has too much tone suck for most applications.

I agree with you to an extent but I have also known professionals who do recordings in LA and Nashville studios at a rate of $1,000 an hour and the engineer wants them to use Sansamps.

That being said, it is all based on preference and just because something costs more does not necessarily mean it will work better for your needs. If this guy is wanting some overdrive, I'm not sure he'll get enough of it with the REDDI or any of these high end boutique DI's. His best bet is to use a overdrive pedal and mic his cab unless he uses one of these preamp/tone shaping DI units with OD capability.

[Visirale]

Originally Posted by kirkm24

I agree with you to an extent but I have also known professionals who do recordings in LA and Nashville studios at a rate of $1,000 an hour and the engineer wants them to use Sansamps.

That being said, it is all based on preference and just because something costs more does not necessarily mean it will work better for your needs. If this guy is wanting some overdrive, I'm not sure he'll get enough of it with the REDDI or any of these high end boutique DI's. His best bet is to use a overdrive pedal and mic his cab unless he uses one of these preamp/tone shaping DI units with OD capability.

True. I too have heard of these producers. But they're always running the sansamp mixed with another DI. I've come to decide that the DI is the wrong place to try to add tone or shape your sound. It's good for some stuff but it's best at relaying your bass's sound. It an add a little character but trying to revamp your sound with the DI will leave you wanting.

But yeah, for what he's describing I'd recommend getting the sound he wants from the cab and mixing that sound with a DI...

[pasta4lnch]

fwiw the di's mentioned in the OP won't "overdrive" as in distortion. you can drive the tranny/tube's but at best it will only add a "little" hair around the edges.

it sounds like you may be looking for a pre-amp/DI like the SansAmp or the Kern. w/ exception of the U5 all those DI's don;t do much in the way of shapping the tone. they pretty much have a single color (however good or bad it may be)and that's it. a pre amp will have drive (some to the extreme) and a more versatile EQ.

but as for a DI I am dying to check out a Reddi! I have a Pacifica in my studio and it is just wonders, and built like a tank (though I haven;t done a lot of bass DI w/ it). a cheaper alternative is the brick as well . . .The U5 is pretty standard, I've been using one for years. Never tried the Tab/Funkenworks but I hear it's nicely colored. also fwiw I have come across a few high end studio pre di's that were amazing on most sources but not so good on bass. especially on a low B - just muddied it up

[BuffaloBass]

One thing the SansAmp DI does is handle the low B well. I donnow nothign about high end stuff, but the Sansamp sounded fine in the studio. I'm sure you can get it 5% better by spending 300% more though.

[bongomania]

Originally Posted by pasta4lnch

the di's mentioned in the OP won't "overdrive" as in distortion.

+1, not even the REDDI. The TABFunk and the REDDI will provide fatness and other tubey coloration, and the API may have a bit of transformer coloration, but nothing even approaching tube-amp overdrive. Another insanely good high-end transformer-based DI is the Phoenix Audio UK "Nice DI", it provides super depth and thickness of tone, but again it will not sound like an SVT.

As awesome as the REDDI and TABFunk are acknowledged to be for recording bass, they each have a specific tonal coloration with only minor variation depending on how hard you push them. So if you want a DI that can also do a super-clean sound, they're not your choice.

So I would suggest getting the best-sounding bass overdrive you can afford, whether it be a BJFE Blue Berry, an Aggie AGRO, a vintage SVT head, a B15N, or an emulator like the Sansamp (especially the new VT Bass), and then also getting a clean DI like the U5. Then you can create the perfect tone by recording your part on two parallel tracks, one through the overdrive and one through the clean DI, blending/balancing the two channels to create the perfect amount of warmth and dirt for that track and that specific mix. That's how the pro's do it most often.

[kirkm24]

Originally Posted by Visirale

True. I too have heard of these producers. But they're always running the sansamp mixed with another DI. I've come to decide that the DI is the wrong place to try to add tone or shape your sound. It's good for some stuff but it's best at relaying your bass's sound. It an add a little character but trying to revamp your sound with the DI will leave you wanting.

But yeah, for what he's describing I'd recommend getting the sound he wants from the cab and mixing that sound with a DI...

Yep. Get a good solid passive DI like a Radial JDI and blend that direct signal with an overdriven amp that is miced otherwise, use a Sansamp or one of those types of boxes if you want overdriven tone.

[fretlessrock]

The REDDI is a great piece of gear, but I prefer that a DI does "DI" things, and not get involved in tone shaping. If you are converting instrument level to mic level, that's a pretty awful place to get involved in tone. You want impedance and level changes without distortion. Get a Distressor (one choice) for your tone and leave the DI chores to a good DI like one of the Radial boxes.

[snaverb]

Is the Avalon U5 a passive or active DI?

[bongomania]

Active. Hella active.