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Best DI

MN_Bass

MN_Bass

Sep 21, 2008
1,747
207
Minnesota
#1
Hello Everyone,
Have a show coming up and don't want to lug my ampeg stack (SVT6+8x10) up a Minnesota winter exposed metal stairway on the outside of the venue.
What would be a good DI to get so all I have to do is bring my bass, and use stage monitors to hear myself.
Or am I assuming to much from a DI and should buy a small 2x10/1X12 Cab. Basically I don't want to lug the 8x10. Thanks a bunch.
 
#3
If you'll have enough monitors and a great PA, you can manage with just a DI or a preamp. I don't know how fun that would be though. Don't expect to hear yourself as well as you do with that 810 cab behind you. A 210 isn't nearly as loud. However, it all depends on how loud you play. Maybe a small cab would provide enough stage volume for you?
 
#4
Deacon_Blues said:
If you'll have enough monitors and a great PA, you can manage with just a DI or a preamp. I don't know how fun that would be though. Don't expect to hear yourself as well as you do with that 810 cab behind you. A 210 isn't nearly as loud. However, it all depends on how loud you play. Maybe a small cab would provide enough stage volume for you?
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Ya, even a small amp/cab is better than a DI into monitors. Look into the Markbass combos, Genz Benz Shuttle combos, maybe an Ampeg B100R, things like that.
 
#5
If you just want a good solid, clean DI, use a dbx db10 passive direct box. These things are every bit as good as the high end DI's like Radial and Countryman and only cost $75 new as opposed to $200 new. They are built like a tank, quiet and sound great.

Sansamps and devices like that can be cool but in a live situation you want to give the sound guy the cleanest most transparent signal possible because what sounds good to you on stage might not sound good in the house mix. I have played lots of gigs with no amp using only a DI box and a pair of in-ear monitors and while the bass isn't flapping my pants, I can hear everything really well and clearly and I trust that there is plenty of booty being pumped through the house speakers and there usually is with most sound systems using subs today.

Old school guys on here will tell you you have to use an amp but most sound guys want as little stage volume as possible so if you're comfortable using only a DI and monitors, soundguys will love you for it. The trend in live sound and music is to have as little stage volume as possible. The days of bands having a wall of speaker cabinets behind them are fading away as more and more bands are relying more on the PA system. Some bass players now use no stage amp at all (ie. Rush). Even some guitar players are putting their amps back stage miced up.
 
#8
Hi.

While the "no amp, just the DI" (guitar and bass alike) approach is usually the best way to acchieve the best possible FOH sound in a difficult room (aren't they all) especially when the band and the sound person aren't familiar with eachother, You have the fellow bandmembers to consider too.

All of the band has to hear what the bassplayer plays, not just the bassplayer and the drummer. Often the slap echo from the back wall has to be fought too and that's difficult with just the house monitors.

If I ever again face the possibility to do major gigs, I'll invest in a good quality stage monitor or a two to haul around. That makes it so much easier for everyone IME.

Regards
Sam
 
#9
T-Bird said:
Hi.

While the "no amp, just the DI" (guitar and bass alike) approach is usually the best way to acchieve the best possible FOH sound in a difficult room (aren't they all) especially when the band and the sound person aren't familiar with eachother, You have the fellow bandmembers to consider too.
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Right. That's why I could never get rid of an amp. And not only them, but I have to like my sound more than anyone, otherwise I won't be at my most magnificent. You'll notice that while there are quite a few shows where they use IEM's and no amps, there are still way more shows out there that use amps onstage than don't. Even some of the ones who do the no-amp stage wish they could use amps. They just do it for the sightlines for multimedia or because their leader likes it.
 
#10
kirkm24 said:
Sansamps and devices like that can be cool but in a live situation you want to give the sound guy the cleanest most transparent signal possible because what sounds good to you on stage might not sound good in the house mix.
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I somehow missed this the first time...YOU want to give the cleanest and most transparent signal possible and that's cool. I want to give them MY sound, which is sometimes clean, sometimes dirty, sometimes fat, sometimes skinny, etc. Don't presume that everyone has your tonal goals in mind when they play.
 
#12
JimmyM said:
I somehow missed this the first time...YOU want to give the cleanest and most transparent signal possible and that's cool. I want to give them MY sound, which is sometimes clean, sometimes dirty, sometimes fat, sometimes skinny, etc. Don't presume that everyone has your tonal goals in mind when they play.
Click to expand...

I'm just telling people what soundguys want 99.9% of the time. My point is just because it sounds good on stage doesn't mean it will sound good in the mains. If you send an overdriven signal through the PA and you don't have a soundguy that knows your sound, it could really sound bad in the house.

Bands that have their own soundmen know what the band wants and they know how to dial it in effectively but if you go to a typical bar where your one of several acts on the bill, they are going to just want a clean signal that they can mix in. My personal experience has been that if you want to sit well in the mix and not be muddy or clanky sounding, a solid clean signal works the best. I know some people like their overdriven tones but it might not always sound good unless you have a guy that you work with a lot and knows what you like.
 
#13
kirkm24 said:
If you just want a good solid, clean DI, use a dbx db10 passive direct box. These things are every bit as good as the high end DI's like Radial and Countryman and only cost $75 new as opposed to $200 new. They are built like a tank, quiet and sound great. <SNIP>
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How long have you had yours? Do you happen to know whether they are equipped with a transformer to protect them from phantom power?
 
#18
Jazzdogg said:
How long have you had yours? Do you happen to know whether they are equipped with a transformer to protect them from phantom power?
Click to expand...

Yes, they do have a transformer. I recorded tracks with both the dbx and the Radial JDI and also the Countryman with both active and passive basses. The JDI and dbx were identical. The Countryman adds some color to the tone.

For me, I just want to send a clean, uncolored signal to the board that can then be altered after the track is recorded. If you send a colored signal to the board that color cannot be removed but more color can always be added so most engineers would prefer the cleanest most uncolored signal.

The dbx is an awesome unit and I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a quality DI but at a more affordable price. I wouldn't be surprised if this is introductory pricing and they will hike the prices once word gets out. Buy them cheap while you still can. No, I do not work for or endorse dbx products in any way shape or form. I'm just a fan.
 

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