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Ampeg SCR-DI vs Tech 21 Sansamp BDDI

SCR-DI or BDDI?

  • SCR-DI

    Votes: 49 51.6%

  • BDDI

    Votes: 46 48.4%
  • Total voters
    95
#21
wolfkeller said:
Btw, defiantly not knocking tech 21, they make great things, just not what I was needing
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Yeah, I like VT Bass on clean setting. I actually got it because I wanted an "ampegish" sound. But now I understand that if to be real it doesn't sound like ampeg, BDDI sound more close to an ampeg amp. I had a chance to play thru a real SVT amp on one gig and my god, it's low end is so big and powerful, but it is not muddy at all. Even though people say that ampeg amps are coloring the sound, they do it in a very good way, they are very clear sounding, they can get farty and compressed, but never muddy, unlike my VT Bass, it's lows is very different, that's the main thing that I don't like. It's hard to describe but it's like comparing "smoke" to a "steam", where steam is ampeg (colored, but clear) and smoke is VT Bass(colored and muddy).
 
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#22
recode said:
I'm playing direct into my recording interface. I don't really care how it sound thru an amps, I don't want to relay on backline at all, I care about is how it will sound D.I., for example in in-ear monitors on stage, or thru headphones plugged in directly into my audio interface. And now after using VT Bass V2 for so long I feel like I'm starting to hear things that I don't like, for example, as I already said low end is not thight and clear, especially when character control is above 12 o'clock and as you add more drive it's getting worse, low end disappears and when you try to bring it back with low control it adds mud, for me it sound like a low mid mud, but I want a real lows thight and punchy. That's why I think that BDDI is a much more better than VT Bass in that response.
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Are you using an active or passive bass? The function of the Character control is that the pedal gets more aggressive as that control is turned clockwise. In general as the sound gets more distorted the low end content needs to be trimmed out a bit or the sound will start to fall apart and lose definition. Not to spam, but maybe the Bass Driver DI would be more to your liking or possibly the VT Bass DI since it has a Blend control, maybe even the new dUg Pinnick DP-3X since that is based on a bi-amped type system.

Since you already own the VT Bass it is kind of easy to use it like the DI version in a recording situation. If you have a pedal with stereo outputs or even something like a Boss TU-3 tuner with two outputs just send one output to the VT Bass pedal into your interface and the second output directly to the interface. This will give you the ability to blend the sound of the VT Bass with your direct sound. That way you can hear if the Blend control would be what you're looking for. You can easily do that live with a standard DI but don't count on the average sound tech being willing to run two channels for bass unless you are paying them.

recode said:
Yeah, I like VT Bass on clean setting. I actually got it because I wanted an "ampegish" sound. But now I understand that if to be real it doesn't sound like ampeg, BDDI sound more close to an ampeg amp. I had a chance to play thru a real SVT amp on one gig and my god, it's low end is so big and powerful, but it is not muddy at all. Even though people say that ampeg amps are coloring the sound, they do it in a very good way, they are very clear sounding, they can get farty and compressed, but never muddy, unlike my VT Bass, it's lows is very different, that's the main thing that I don't like. It's hard to describe but it's like comparing "smoke" to a "steam", where steam is ampeg (colored, but clear) and smoke is VT Bass(colored and muddy).
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This is a common experience. When you play a real SVT at volume you will never play as hard as you will with something like the VT Bass through headphones. The shear volume holds you back. The VT Bass is able to get its overdrive no matter what the volume level is unlike a real amp. If you were to use an amp like our VT Bass 1000 through 410's with the level up high and gradually started increasing the Drive you would most likely have the same impression. Conversely if the real SVT were placed in an isolated room and mic'd, where you wouldn't be hearing the actual volume and could only hear it through phones you would have the same experience of the low end crapping out, and then it would probably blow up.:)
 
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#23
recode said:
Hi guys! First of all, I got to apologize for creating a thread that already been discussed a million times, but let me tell you my story. I've been using Tech 21 VT Bass V2 for years, about 5 years now if to be precise and it was doing fine, but I always felt like it's lacks something. The problem is that for me drive on this unit is very unusable, because it doesn't have a Blend function and bass get lost in the mix easily even if i put drive to about 12 o'clock. Another thing that i don't like is it's lows, they are muddy, when i try to boost the bass, it doesn't add kick and punch to the sound, but muddiness instead, it doesn't sound tight. So lately i thought that i need to get a regular Sansamp BDDI, because a lot of folks here had the same issue with VT Bass as I do and BDDI helped them to resolve this. I also like the fact that it has blend function, because i'm 100% sure the I will never use Blend function on full like Tech 21 suggests, because again I want to blend clean signal with driven to retain lows and punch. So the thing is I don't know which one should i get Ampeg SCR-DI or Tech 21 BDDI. I don't use a low of drive in my sound, but still want it to be separate from clean signal. About Ampeg, I had a chance to play them live and I absolutely love them, if I would play a real amps, I would go for Ampeg amps for sure, but my idea is to play ampless live and to have i D.I. that i can give to a sound guy and make everyone happy. Make you vote please.
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Well, a lot of good questions here! It turns out, I've actually played all of the Tech 21 flavors of the VT. The one I find I like the best is the VT Bass DI. With that said, I have a BDDI and SCR-DI too. The latter is what I settled on and use live. It also makes a great practice amp with the aux in and headphone jack. The VTBDI is an attempt to capture the Ampeg sound. To me, it's close but if I did not know that was the intent I honestly would not look at it and say "that sounds like an Ampeg". The SCR-DI sounds awesome to my ears, completely different than the VTBDI. I have version 1 of the BDDI, I agree with the points here regarding the mid scoop. It has a very noticiable one all day long.

Here's how I boil this down; if you're looking for the Ampeg tone go with the SCR-DI. It sounds like that's what your after. If not, the BDDI and VTDI are very good tools as well but, different IMHO. It comes down to what your needs are. For me, after trying all of the Tech 21 stuff (including a paradriver v2), I settled on the SCR-DI since I feel it sounds the best out of all of them. Just my 2 cents.
 
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#24
I agree with the previous post. I too have owned the Tech 21 Sansamp BDDI V2 (no mid), VTDI as well as the Behringer BDI 121 (cheap alternative). All these are great products and very usable. I Kept the Ampeg SCR-DI. The main reasons is the 1. Sound 2. Simplicity of use 3. And practice feature. The Ampeg’s sound was much better than the others going direct and listening through in-ear monitors. Very rich, smooth and less ‘buzzy’. Going through a amp, not as much difference. For $30, the Behringer with their 5 channelmixer (Total of $65), is not a bad (and economical) practice tool. Overall, I like the SCR-Di best though.
 
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#25
Guys I have one question for those who use SCR-DI - did you had a problems with preamp clipping from active bass or high output pickups? I'm asking because I'm playing Fender Standard Precision Bass which has been modified. I have a PJ configuration and my pickups are DiMarzio Will Power and Ultra Jazz, those are very hot pickups. I heard that if you turn internal switch for -15db in SCR-DI it will suck your tone is this true?
 
#26
recode said:
Guys I have one question for those who use SCR-DI - did you had a problems with preamp clipping from active bass or high output pickups? I'm asking because I'm playing Fender Standard Precision Bass which has been modified. I have a PJ configuration and my pickups are DiMarzio Will Power and Ultra Jazz, those are very hot pickups. I heard that if you turn internal switch for -15db in SCR-DI it will suck your tone is this true?
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Nope custom preamps and emgs in many basses. Always sounds good . Have to bring the volt down that's all
 
#36
Guys for those who have SCR-DI, why does it say that power adapter should be 500mA(it's written on the chassis of SCR-DI itsefl near power input)? and in manual it says 100mA. I have a power supply box True Tone ISO and it's 9-12V outputs only provide 200mA. Power consumption cannot be so big on analog device, that's unreal.
 
#37
recode said:
Guys for those who have SCR-DI, why does it say that power adapter should be 500mA(it's written on the chassis of SCR-DI itsefl near power input)? and in manual it says 100mA. I have a power supply box True Tone ISO and it's 9-12V outputs only provide 200mA. Power consumption cannot be so big on analog device, that's unreal.
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It's 100 mA. It will be fine on a 200 mA output. I've run it on a 100 mA output and it's been fine.
 
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#39
Ok guys, so I made my decision. Even though I was hyped about Ampeg SCR-DI at one point, in the end I decided to go for Tech 21 product. First of all, those guys are just amazing because of their support and I was playing VT Bass for almost 5 years now, even though now I want to have something else, I still love this pedal. Another thing is when I recorded a song with my band, our sound engineer, who was mixing/mastering our song, actually used Tech 21 BDDI to reamp the bass, because we were working remotely, we just sent him a D.I. tracks and I mean bass sounds awesome on record, that's exactly this rock studio bass soind that I was loookil for. So now I were sure that I'm getting BDDI V2, but Tech 21 posted a dUG pedal in their instagram and maaaan, this thing is badass, I saw a review/interview from Pete Thorn with dUg, this pedal does everything I need, it has compression in it and two separate channels that works together, one clean and one with overdrive/distortion. Just check the review, this pedal can literally do any sound you want.
 
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#40
recode said:
So now I were sure that I'm getting BDDI V2, but Tech 21 posted a dUG pedal in their instagram and maaaan, this thing is badass, I saw a review/interview from Pete Thorn with dUg, this pedal does everything I need, it has compression in it and two separate channels that works together, one clean and one with overdrive/distortion. Just check the review, this pedal can literally do any sound you want.
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Don't want to derail this thread but since you're OP and you are "derailing" it yourself :D, how do you compare the clean sound of the dUg to the clean sound of the BDDI V2/Ampeg SCR DI?
 
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