Can Anyone Recommend A Plain DI?

[Hi-End Basses]

What is this DI pedal you reference? An existing one you have or the new one your seek?


Correct.

- John

Thanks. I've had the amp for years, but I've never plugged into the back of the amp. Always used DI/Preamp pedals. I learned something today. LOL!

 

[pbassnut]

I'm looking for a plain DI; no distortion necessary, because I have a great tube preamp on the amp head. Most of the DI's that I see have a distortion circuit, but I'll have a drive pedal for that. I also would prefer not to buy a Reddi for $800! LOL! Plus it's the size of a damn lunch box. I don't want it to have any EQ; just a balanced XLR out and a ground switch. Any suggestions that fit into this category would be immensely appreciated.

The Whirlwind IMP-2 punches way above its weight class and is considered by many to be a "best buy" at 50 or so bucks a pop ...

Whirlwind IMP 2 1-channel Passive Instrument Direct Box

... I got mine used for $20. Does the job plenty good'nuff for most applications, IMHO. I use mine with my Tech 21 VT Bass V2 pedal and my even more bare bones Arkham Bullet bass preamp when I play in a sound reinforced setting and it works great for both.

 

[Mannyinnewyork]

I’ve got a radial ProDI. It appears to work fine. I use it when recording. I can’t tell the difference when using hi impedance (right out of bass with NO DI box) into “line in” on the mixer or going bass into DI box into mixer (I use a Mackie mixer in front of my DAW).

Everything I’ve read says the proper way to go is “bass into DI , into board”, but honestly, I don’t hear a difference. I chalk it off to age. A more discerning set of ears might hear a difference, but I don’t.

Trust the pros. I don’t think it cam hurt to use a quality DI.

 

[dreamadream99]

Invalid Link Removedis the class standard for stage and studio a phantom powered active DI.

Another vote for the Countryman. They were standard issue at Oppryland, when I worked there in the 90’s.

 

[65 P]

I have been collecting DI boxes since the 70's for live and studio work, so my 2 cents of knowledge. It pays to have both an active DI and a passive DI in your kit, even a cheap passive DI that uses a transformer that is not the "jensen" as they have become quite precious.

Invalid Link Removedis the class standard for stage and studio a phantom powered active DI. I have long used the 85 and it has never failed to deliver the goods.

Radial offers a broad selection of both passive and active DI the JDI is a favorite passive di as it utilizes the beloved Jensen transformer.

I have been blessed of late to use the Rupert Neve RNDI and it is my current favorite for studio sessions keeping my other collected DI boxes on the shelf.

Great recommendations here!!! Any of these would be what I would use and are basically industry standards.

 

[bumperbass]

Let us know how the built-in DI works. My SVT7Pro's DI (tube out DI) is flaky. I use a custom DI I made myself with a Cinemag transformer I had lying around. I use the tuner output.
Works great.

 

[Curtbass]

Radial JDI

 

[thumbslapper]

Anything by Radial is going to be built like a tank and sound great, they have models at different price points so you can pick one that fits your budget.

Note the Countryman is pin 3 hot, which means it has inverse phase coming out of the XLR (almost all pro gear is pin 2 hot), but this can be fixed in the unit itself or a patch cable that swaps pin2/pin3 (reverses phase), but if you don't fix it can result in frequency suck when mixed with a mic'd cab.

I have a Avalon U5 which is amazing but isn't meant for a stage DI unless you have it in a rack. Its big and expensive too, but the low end out of it awesome. REDDI or anything by rupert neve are great but $$$. (one of the best DI's i played thru was a Dan Alexander racked V72 mic pre that had a DI in it)

 

[devnulljp]

Radial JDI or the J48 depending on whether you want passive or active.
Or the Radial Bassbone if you want more of a preamp/DI

 

[Hi-End Basses]

Let us know how the built-in DI works. My SVT7Pro's DI (tube out DI) is flaky. I use a custom DI I made myself with a Cinemag transformer I had lying around. I use the tuner output.
Works great.

Thank you.

 

[shodan]

Monoprice DI. $28
Invalid Link Removed

 

[matante]

Active bass: Radial JDI
Passive bass: Countryman or Radial J48

Not necessarily. If he's using at least one buffered pedal (or one pedal that is always on), that's the same as having an active bass in terms of a low z signal reaching the DI box.

 

[matante]

I’ve got a radial ProDI. It appears to work fine. I use it when recording. I can’t tell the difference when using hi impedance (right out of bass with NO DI box) into “line in” on the mixer or going bass into DI box into mixer (I use a Mackie mixer in front of my DAW).

Everything I’ve read says the proper way to go is “bass into DI , into board”, but honestly, I don’t hear a difference. I chalk it off to age. A more discerning set of ears might hear a difference, but I don’t.

Trust the pros. I don’t think it cam hurt to use a quality DI.

When plugging bass, via DI box, into a mixer, you treat just like plugging in a microphone. That's a different input/different setting than "line in".

 

[xnewyorka]

Back when I used to gig a lot, I used the ProCo unit that was the predecessor to this one, and it worked great:
Pro Co DB-1, 1-channel Passive Instrument Direct Box

 

[Robal]

Neve RNDI is the best non-tube DI I have heard and it is reasonably priced.

 

[Drucifer]

If I do that, the effects pedals should come through to FOH, right?

Yes, the amp DI will send everything that goes into it. That's what I do, the only reasons I can think of for not doing that are if the amp is too far away from the board/snake, or if you happen to not like the sound of your amp DI and prefer a box (I personally haven't had any issues with the DIs in my amps) or if you want to use a DI that has other processing for FOH, like cabinet modeling.

 

[Low Key]

Not necessarily. If he's using at least one buffered pedal (or one pedal that is always on), that's the same as having an active bass in terms of a low z signal reaching the DI box.

True, that would be an exception and sufficient. I just know that long cable runs with a passive bass and passive DI (and no pedals) have caused issues for me in the past.

 

[bumperbass]

Back when I used to gig a lot, I used the ProCo unit that was the predecessor to this one, and it worked great:
Pro Co DB-1, 1-channel Passive Instrument Direct Box

Be careful using that box with a passive bass. The input impedance is 130K ohm, or thereabouts.

 

[ArtechnikA]

Neve RNDI is the best non-tube DI I have heard and it is reasonably priced.

I love my RNDI's but they require phantom power, which you can't always rely on...
So I also have a JDI in my box for such times.
Lately I've been tempted by the Radial FireFly which has a tube, and is not cheap - but I hear good things about the tone...
For my everyday use, tho, it's a DarkGlass VMT Ultra with switchable CabSim.

 

[xnewyorka]

Be careful using that box with a passive bass. The input impedance is 130K ohm, or thereabouts.

Coincidentally, I was using an active bass at the time. But what is the danger of using a passive bass with it? Just curious.