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Best DI box for $100?

#41
srxplayer said:
Go with the used Radial or Countryman options. Most small clubs, churches and even small live gigs that you run sound yourself through a powered box mixer you won't be able to tell the difference between a Rolls or a Radial. However, if you play a gig with a professional sound team with professional gear its good to have a quality DI. Of course they may already have Radials or Countyman DI's at the ready in case you have something weird. They generaly don't like to deal with a piece of gear when they don't know what to expect from it.

Save yourself some money in the long run and just buy the Radial.
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This - there are pro-level DIs, then a whole bunch under that... Buying a good used pro-level DI and a good tuner are a no-brainer for any serious bassist, IMO - if you're planning on playing for pay, those 2 items and a couple of good cables will cover alot of situations... I've owned and played a ton of DIs - and thru good PA's, too - and IME, the Countryman 85, Radial J48, or JDI are well worth the $100-$125 on the used market... Those definitely sound better than the next level of DIs - which include Radial's ProDI, Whirlwind's IMP2, Rapco/Horizon, and Behringer's DIs...


- georgestrings
 
#42
bassman314 said:
Only if you have the DI between you and your amp. I have my DI in the effects loop. That is after the Pre-Amp, so I get all of the goodness my amp brings to the table.
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right, and i like to run them that way too (sometimes it will fix a hum problem on a built-in XLR out while still giving me the amp tone), but the OP's combo does't have any 1/4" outs at all as far as i could tell, disallowing this option.

also, the DI doesn't need to be "in the effects loop", that is, jumped back into the return, too.

just take the "send", and you've got the preamp signal. it'll still go through the power amp and the speakers.
 
#57
MNAirHead said:
The project managers get sound clips to choose from m80 is the one that the blindly choose the most (after direct onto the interface/board)

JDI and countyman sometimes with one of the carbonfiber fretless--- commonly they request the JDI more as it can be warmer
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Let me see if I'm getting this right. You take recordings of different DIs with you to the studio, then you and the "project manager" sit and listen to the recordings, and they then choose what sounds the best on the recordings, and use your DI.
 
#58
Yep - do tons of showcase/concept/demo work for songwriters

I have short clips ... to save me from bringing a bunch of unnecessary gear, just send the sounds in advance... they pick them like a menu

I have nothing against the JDI, 85 etc...

Like noted, the most requested for studio is no DI.. just a specific bass to the board.... becoming more often the case, I'll just remotely punch directly in via Motu to to their Protools files.... more and more recording folks want just a clean and predictable signal and prefer rewire to alter to taste.

To add to the chuckleworthyness of this.. I've had more requests for Pbass copies tuned BEAD than my Fenders.

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I may be the most against the flow guy on TB as I'll let the guy who hires me to pick the gear I use... they then can tweek and adjust the tone... only when I'm asked to become involved do I present an opinion.

The last thing most bands and recording engineers need is resistance about "my tone" or challenges dialing in "their needed/wanted tone" ....... My "tone" is a ringtone and cash register (Yes you can call me a gig whore)

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For live, sound techs seem to have easiest time with the m80 as it's straight forward and easy to understand.... has a few more options than a passive box with ground lift (like the DBX etc)

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Like noted, I don't have a personal preference between them.... not out to start some silly "my tonebone beats my tone hammer beats etc" I have some that I personally prefer (not the M80)... the reality is out of the bag of gear, it's the one that gets the highest recording requests and sound tech acceptance.... it's predictable, flexible and simple.

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I've had tenured recording engineers request I redo a complete session using Bogart Fretless->Countryman... the request was to use the Radial to "warm it up" .... ended up redoing all of the tracks.

I've had others ask me to redo a JDI for clarity.

(yes I currently own a Countryman and JDI... and a bunch more.)

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The point that hasn't been brought up is that different basses respond and interact differently to the bass electronics. While other boxes may be "better" (personal choice) overall .... for the price it's the easiest to find something useful and tweek ------ I'm not self important enough to believe to most sound techs and recording engineeers that bass sound is more important than vocals or other "sweet spot" hearing spectrum slots.--

and yes... the distortion is silly

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The request was "under $100... overall this has been the best value.
 
#59
MNAirHead said:
I may be the most against the flow guy on TB as I'll let the guy who hires me to pick the gear I use... they then can tweek and adjust the tone... only when I'm asked to become involved do I present an opinion.

The last thing most bands and recording engineers need is resistance about "my tone" or challenges dialing in "their needed/wanted tone" ....... My "tone" is a ringtone and cash register (Yes you can call me a gig whore)
Click to expand...

When you're working for someone else, I'd say that's pretty standard to do what they want. After all, they are paying you.

Anybody saying they only record with "their" tone or whatever probably doesn't do any freelance work for others, nor would they get hired to in the first place.
 

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