Come on Tech 21!

[Deleted member 409773]

Yes, absolutely the SansAmp is legendary. Which is why I wish they’d evolve the product a bit if only to include both an FX loop and aux-in/headphone-out like some of the competition has. If it’s going to sit on my board permanently I want/need those features. The SansAmp Elite gets halfway there by adding the FX loop (though in a much larger enclosure).

"to include both an FX loop and aux-in/headphone-out like some of the competition has" - these are "bedroom player" or individual studio functions. BDDI was designed as a professional stage and studio tool. A sound engineer doesn't want send/return on your DI; they want a solid, properly compressed and equalized signal that won't give them problems in monitoring. Those who demand Aux-in and Headphone-out on a BDDI basically want it to become a midnight practice interface. But the SansAmp isn't for "practice," it's for delivery. It's like criticizing a jackhammer for not also having an electric screwdriver function — it's made to tear down walls, not to put up IKEA shelves.

 

[Zbysek]

Yes, absolutely the SansAmp is legendary. Which is why I wish they’d evolve the product a bit if only to include both an FX loop .

They have-the following Tech 21 devices feature FX loop:

RBI
GED-2112
BDDI Elite
XB Driver
Bass Flyrig

 

[Zbysek]

Can you have both phantom power and headphones/aux in?

Microbass II from EBS had both/all of them (FX return served as aux in).

The phantom power could not be used for the headphones output though...

https://ebssweden.com/wp-content/uploads/manual_microbass_2-1.pdf

 

[SDC1-ClickClack]

They have-the following Tech 21 devices feature FX loop:

RBI
GED-2112
BDDI Elite
XB Driver
Bass Flyrig

"have-the"?

 

[Zbysek]

"have-the"?

What I wanted to say is that they have evolved the product to include the FX loop… is it clear now?

 

[klattman]

The xB driver, while expensive, is incredibly flexible. Only issue is the loop is just post blend. Would be nice to have the loop selectable to drive side only.

The simplifier is very powerful if you want to use the loops.

 

[urkel3000]

An aux in would be a very odd feature for a preamp IMO

 

[RedHotFuzz]

An aux in would be a very odd feature for a preamp IMO

Plenty of preamp pedals have it.

 

[GrowlerBox]

An aux in would be a very odd feature for a preamp IMO

It can be useful, though; I have a Genzler Magellan on my small jam board that includes a Beat Buddy. I run that into the aux in so all the effects and EQ are bypassed, and then just one cable from the pedalboard to the effects return on whatever amp. The Magellan has no bypass, either, but it does have a very handy mute footswitch.

 

[SharpCat]

So beautiful…

I asked SW to include one in a candy shipment.

First impression...it's noisy. Will do some experimenting to figure out if it's the box or my environment. Might be power noise from the OneSpot I was using.

 

[SharpCat]

First impression...it's noisy. Will do some experimenting to figure out if it's the box or my environment. Might be power noise from the OneSpot I was using.

Yes, the Bass Master Simplifier is much quieter with a better power supply. The choice of a knob driven cab control interface is interesting and seems to work well. I wish I had an IR capable pedal to compare handy— I lent my Stomp to a buddy.

One minor whine—like many other devices and amps, the headphone jack is on the back. If someone is using headphones, they’re likely sitting in front of the unit. Here, not only do you have to route the phones cable through the other stuff plugged into the smallish pedal, you also have to fumble about on the back to turn the phones volume knob.

 

[gillento]

--- The choice of a knob driven cab control interface is interesting and seems to work well. I wish I had an IR capable pedal to compare handy— I lent my Stomp to a buddy.

To me, an analog cab sim is superior to digital IR based solutions. Latency/phase issues makes blending a clean signal very difficult with the latter.

 

[agedhorse]

An aux in would be a very odd feature for a preamp IMO

How would you play along to a track or drum machine if you were to use it to practice or learn new material without an aux input?

 

[urkel3000]

How would you play along to a track or drum machine if you were to use it to practice or learn new material without an aux input?

I use a tascam model 12 mixer/interface but a mini mixer like a mackie mix5, or something like an ART dual USB pre (pocket-sized and runs off a 9v battery) would work well too - I've used both in the past. A stereo headphone amp like the ones used for on-stage IEMS would be a great candidate too

My preamp isn't the the last pedal in my chain and I'm not trying to jam with tracks being run through impulse responses

 

[gillento]

I have never used any of my pedals (preamps or other) as a headphone amp/ mixer thing. This is definitely not a criteria for either putting it on a board or on my desk.... even IF it has a HP out and some AUX in.
I usually use a small mixer (Tascam, Proel, Behringer, etc....) or a small custom HP mixer by SFX sound.

 

[RedHotFuzz]

One minor whine—like many other devices and amps, the headphone jack is on the back. If someone is using headphones, they’re likely sitting in front of the unit. Here, not only do you have to route the phones cable through the other stuff plugged into the smallish pedal, you also have to fumble about on the back to turn the phones volume knob.

I guess it depends on how you have it oriented. Mine is on the “side.” There are so many inputs/outputs on this thing there seems to be no perfect direction for it to face.

As for the headphone volume knob, that doesn’t bother me as I’ll be controlling my aux audio volume from my playback device.

 

[agedhorse]

I use a tascam model 12 mixer/interface but a mini mixer like a mackie mix5, or something like an ART dual USB pre (pocket-sized and runs off a 9v battery) would work well too - I've used both in the past. A stereo headphone amp like the ones used for on-stage IEMS would be a great candidate too

My preamp isn't the the last pedal in my chain and I'm not trying to jam with tracks being run through impulse responses

I have never used any of my pedals (preamps or other) as a headphone amp/ mixer thing. This is definitely not a criteria for either putting it on a board or on my desk.... even IF it has a HP out and some AUX in.
I usually use a small mixer (Tascam, Proel, Behringer, etc....) or a small custom HP mixer by SFX sound.

So you don't personally have a need, but aux in and headphone out were two "must have" requests from the majority of players who provided input on this, mostly TalkBass players to.

I guess it depends on how you have it oriented. Mine is on the “side.” There are so many inputs/outputs on this thing there seems to be no perfect direction for it to face.

As for the headphone volume knob, that doesn’t bother me as I’ll be controlling my aux audio volume from my playback device.

Correct, and the evolution of the more comprehensive, higher end pedals is showing that more and more are abandoning side jacks/controls and moving everything to the back (top).

 

[EASonBass]

I can't believe it's called the Simplifier though

Complicator was taken

 

[sunbeast]

I always laugh when I see that Simplifier box with all the controls .. I'm sure its a nice bit of tech, but it seems anything but simple

I always assumed it was called a "Simplifier" because they were putting multiple utility pedals required to make a parallel signal path into a single box (multiple FX loops, multiple DIs, preamp, EQ, cab-sim, etc). Of course it is only actually simplifying things if you actually need all those utilities- if someone was looking for a simple mono preamp it might well be a complicator!

 

[sunbeast]

I use a tascam model 12 mixer/interface but a mini mixer like a mackie mix5, or something like an ART dual USB pre (pocket-sized and runs off a 9v battery) would work well too - I've used both in the past. A stereo headphone amp like the ones used for on-stage IEMS would be a great candidate too

My preamp isn't the the last pedal in my chain and I'm not trying to jam with tracks being run through impulse responses

The preamps I've used with headphone/aux capabilities and IR cab-sims have all routed the aux input directly to the headphone out (usually without any volume control) rather than through the preamp/cab-sim.