• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Can a DI box replace an amp?

F

Fretloos

Jul 11, 2006
81
0
Haarlem
#1
My question is like the title, will buying me a good quality DI box (sadowsky?) give me better results than using a decent amp ( <€1000 )???

I'm playing a cheap passive fretless bass, but at the moment getting myself amplified is more important than getting a more expensive bass. And the PA I will (usualy) put the DI into is a Mackie 3000w (i think).

((kinda offtopic: I heard about people using their instrument straight into a Laptop, and the laptop into the PA. What software/hardware is needed for this? As I see the posibiltys in shaping my sound will be almost infinite))
 
#3
I am sure others will chime in, but just to get the ball rolling - yes a DI box can replace an amp, provided that you have a good set of monitors with enough bass going through them to hear yourself on stage..This will also depend on the Soundman (or woman).

In ear monitors are also something to consider.

As far as the laptop into the PA, I've personally never heard of this method for bass. Perhaps others can answer that one for you??
 
#5
If you are running the sound, or trust the guy that is, d.i. is the best way to go. I played in a three piece where both I and the guitar player just went through digitech pedals into the p.a., and it sure was nice to carry a couple pedals instead of a couple amps. Sure, most computers have a 3.5 mm trs input and headphone output. Any recording software would do, I use acid pro, but I wouldn't want to use a laptop on stage. And why would you, if you're in the P.A. you can use any rackmount processor to tweek your sound. IMO the laptop idea is a disaster waiting to happen.

f.y.i - some of those "big" rock shows with the guy standing in front of a wall of cabinets, he is actually d.i. through the P.A. and there is no sound coming from the cabs, just the monitors !!
 
#7
Would you think buying a sadowsky preamp/DI is a waste, when only used for my &#8364;150 bass? (of course, In time I'll be buying a better quality bass and doing studio recordings...) And if so, will a standard DI (samson or something) do a good enough job for bass?
 
#9
It's always a good idea to have a decent DI in your bag. Radial makes very nice DI's. I have a Radial JDI - passive with a Jensen transformer. Nice sound and simple.

If you want some tone shaping, the Sadowsky is a good choice. Many people like the SansAmp Bass Driver DI as well.

I've seen keyboard players using a laptop for their interface. You need something like an M-Box for the connection and I'm not sure about software. Might be an option.
 
#10
as long as your pa has enough power and has speakers that are able to handle full time bass amplification it works fine. The pa also has to have monitors that will be able to handle the bass enough for you to be able to hear yourself. (this is a great way to go, but will be more expensive than a bass amplifier by far. It is a great investment, but works best when you own it. Otherwise you only get to play with those that own the pa, and when you part company, you are at square one).

A quality DI is always a good investment, however i would own an amplifier 1st. many amplifiers also have a built in di out, some of which are pretty darned good.
 
#12
Here are my thoughts:

A) Is an amp a part of "your sound"? If so, you may be better off sticking with the amp. Some people also use SansAmps or digital amp modeling (Line6, etc.) to accomplish this.

B) Will you have adequate monitoring without an amp? If there's a killer monitor system with an adept engineer operating it, you should be in good shape. A bad monitor or monitor engineer can really ruin your day, on the other hand!

C) Will the rest of the musicians be able to hear you properly? You're probably not the only person who needs to hear you with a decent sound. This is important whether using an amp, or just a DI through the monitors.

D) What's the matter with both? Even players with incredible amplifier set ups are still using a DI 99.9% of the time. Usually the front of house engineer defaults to the DI signal to start with. Buying a good DI now is probably a good idea. You'll be sure to get lots of use out of it.

And now for how I really feel!
I almost never play a show without an amp. I consider the "amps' tone" a big part of my personal sound. I don't like relying on a monitor engineer that usually has less than 30 minutes to make a whole stage full of musicians happy! For me, personally, an amp is almost as important as the instrument itself.
On the other hand, I have played under circumstances where it just makes more sense to go with just the DI. For these types of situations I either use a Line6 Bass POD, a SansAmp BDDI, or an Aguilar tube DI - depending on the style of music involved.
To sum it up, I don't think DI's will ever really replace amps. That's just my opinion. I know plenty of professionals who don't use an amp for live shows, but I'd argue that most still prefer the advantages an amp gives them.

Ultimately, you have to go with what works best for you!
 
#13
I play bass for a Young Life church-type thing once or twice a month, and about 3 years ago we lost our soundguy, so I took over. Now I play a wireless into a tech21 bassdriver di, straight into the board. I sit at the board and play bass, and I can wander around and listen at different parts of the room, say hi to people etc, it's kinda cool. I hear what the audience is hearing, and since I have control of the board I think I get a good tone, -and you can always hear the bass in the mix!
 
#14
scotch said:
Here are my thoughts:

A) Is an amp a part of "your sound"? If so, you may be better off sticking with the amp. Some people also use SansAmps or digital amp modeling (Line6, etc.) to accomplish this.

B) Will you have adequate monitoring without an amp? If there's a killer monitor system with an adept engineer operating it, you should be in good shape. A bad monitor or monitor engineer can really ruin your day, on the other hand!

C) Will the rest of the musicians be able to hear you properly? You're probably not the only person who needs to hear you with a decent sound. This is important whether using an amp, or just a DI through the monitors.

D) What's the matter with both? Even players with incredible amplifier set ups are still using a DI 99.9% of the time. Usually the front of house engineer defaults to the DI signal to start with. Buying a good DI now is probably a good idea. You'll be sure to get lots of use out of it.

And now for how I really feel!
I almost never play a show without an amp. I consider the "amps' tone" a big part of my personal sound. I don't like relying on a monitor engineer that usually has less than 30 minutes to make a whole stage full of musicians happy! For me, personally, an amp is almost as important as the instrument itself.
On the other hand, I have played under circumstances where it just makes more sense to go with just the DI. For these types of situations I either use a Line6 Bass POD, a SansAmp BDDI, or an Aguilar tube DI - depending on the style of music involved.
To sum it up, I don't think DI's will ever really replace amps. That's just my opinion. I know plenty of professionals who don't use an amp for live shows, but I'd argue that most still prefer the advantages an amp gives them.

Ultimately, you have to go with what works best for you!
Click to expand...


+100 on every point above.
 
#15
scotch said:
Here are my thoughts:

A) Is an amp a part of "your sound"? If so, you may be better off sticking with the amp. Some people also use SansAmps or digital amp modeling (Line6, etc.) to accomplish this.

B) Will you have adequate monitoring without an amp? If there's a killer monitor system with an adept engineer operating it, you should be in good shape. A bad monitor or monitor engineer can really ruin your day, on the other hand!

C) Will the rest of the musicians be able to hear you properly? You're probably not the only person who needs to hear you with a decent sound. This is important whether using an amp, or just a DI through the monitors.

D) What's the matter with both? Even players with incredible amplifier set ups are still using a DI 99.9% of the time. Usually the front of house engineer defaults to the DI signal to start with. Buying a good DI now is probably a good idea. You'll be sure to get lots of use out of it.

And now for how I really feel!
I almost never play a show without an amp. I consider the "amps' tone" a big part of my personal sound. I don't like relying on a monitor engineer that usually has less than 30 minutes to make a whole stage full of musicians happy! For me, personally, an amp is almost as important as the instrument itself.
On the other hand, I have played under circumstances where it just makes more sense to go with just the DI. For these types of situations I either use a Line6 Bass POD, a SansAmp BDDI, or an Aguilar tube DI - depending on the style of music involved.
To sum it up, I don't think DI's will ever really replace amps. That's just my opinion. I know plenty of professionals who don't use an amp for live shows, but I'd argue that most still prefer the advantages an amp gives them.

Ultimately, you have to go with what works best for you!
Click to expand...



What he said...



- georgestrings
 
#16
I agree with the points made in the above post/quoted post.

However, I don't view my amp as a big part of "my sound" any more. I sound basically like me no matter what gear I use. Yeah, there are neuances and extremes you could argue, but basically, I sound like me.
 
#17
SteveC said:
I agree with the points made in the above post/quoted post.

However, I don't view my amp as a big part of "my sound" any more. I sound basically like me no matter what gear I use. Yeah, there are neuances and extremes you could argue, but basically, I sound like me.
Click to expand...

That's an interesting point, and is much discussed around here... whether it be couched in the 'flat' vs. voiced idea, or in general.

I have to use different backline on occasion, and I too always sound like me. However, some gear (heads, cabs, etc.) just make that effortless, and I believe for most of us, there are some rigs that truly do 'speak to you' regarding translating the 'sound in your head' to the audience (or the other band members if you are using your backline more for monitor purposes.

Even those rigs that are marketed as relatively transparant or flat all have very unique tone to them that works great for some players and not for others.

That being said, I'm in general agreement with you... there's no rig I couldn't make do with, and would pretty much sound like me. However, there are some rigs that make it a whole lot easier and more fun!!!:D
 
#18
I use a Sansamp BDDI > PA whenever possible. I have found that on the biggest stages, pretty much all of playback is heard through only the monitors anyway... unless I am standing right in front of my bass cab. On smaller stages I use a small head/cabs up for a stage monitor and go Sansamp BDDI > PA as well. I don't know anything about Sadowsky, but the Sansamp BDDI was the best $100 I ever spent on gear. YMMV :bassist:
 
#19
8mmOD said:
I use a Sansamp BDDI > PA whenever possible. I have found that on the biggest stages, pretty much all of playback is heard through only the monitors anyway... unless I am standing right in front of my bass cab. On smaller stages I use a small head/cabs up for a stage monitor and go Sansamp BDDI > PA as well. I don't know anything about Sadowsky, but the Sansamp BDDI was the best $100 I ever spent on gear. YMMV :bassist:
Click to expand...

Yeah, my Avalon U5 thus far has been my best $400 spent... ;)

I kinda want two now, though-
one for each bass!!! :hyper: :hyper: :bassist: :bassist:
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back