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Countryman Type 85 DI Box

#81
So I changed my mind again haha. I was in the studio last night finishing up the final touches on our new EP we're working on (doing gang vocal harmonies. I'm so excited!!!! :D) and I started asking our engineer/producer what he thought I should do about my live DI situation. I noticed he had a Countryman 85 in his studio the first day we started cutting. In fact I believe I used it for my bass tracks.

Anyway, I asked him what DI would he go with if he were me using dirt all the time. He didnt even have to think, he said the Countryman. Now, I know this is all personal preference. He is also a guitar player. But he is in a regular gigging band and he is a total gear hound like me/us. He knows his DI boxes as well as a lot of other things/effects. I asked him about the JDI and Countryman. He said he would choose the CM85 over the JDI becasue of it's ability to handle a ton of power and stay super clean. He also specified that I can use the CM85 like the JDX and I can put in between my amp and cab as well. That is a selling point for me too. So I think I'm going to end up getting the CM85.

He also said if I get a mic that I would be good with a Beta 57. So I am taking his advice on this stuff too. He's been around for a long time and has toured and messed with live sound for years. So these are the things I'm thinking now. What do you guys think??
 
#82
gregmon79 said:
So I changed my mind again haha. I was in the studio last night finishing up the final touches on our new EP we're working on (doing gang vocal harmonies. I'm so excited!!!! :D) and I started asking our engineer/producer what he thought I should do about my live DI situation. I noticed he had a Countryman 85 in his studio the first day we started cutting. In fact I believe I used it for my bass tracks.

Anyway, I asked him what DI would he go with if he were me using dirt all the time. He didnt even have to think, he said the Countryman. Now, I know this is all personal preference. He is also a guitar player. But he is in a regular gigging band and he is a total gear hound like me/us. He knows his DI boxes as well as a lot of other things/effects. I asked him about the JDI and Countryman. He said he would choose the CM85 over the JDI becasue of it's ability to handle a ton of power and stay super clean. He also specified that I can use the CM85 like the JDX and I can put in between my amp and cab as well. That is a selling point for me too. So I think I'm going to end up getting the CM85.

He also said if I get a mic that I would be good with a Beta 57. So I am taking his advice on this stuff too. He's been around for a long time and has toured and messed with live sound for years. So these are the things I'm thinking now. What do you guys think??
Click to expand...

Sounds like a plan. You can also tell the sound guy to low pass the bass to keep it out of the tweeters (that's what I usually do). But you can help by getting a sound you like with headphones (to mimic a full range sound system). This will be the sound the board gets and you'll know it sounds good. You can then tweak your amp as a stage monitor (that's what I usually do).
 
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#83
This kind of issues are exactly what i had in mind when i designed the Omnicabsim..
Going FOH is becoming more and more popular as stages get smaller, and working musicians have to work in many different venues, recording sessions, and different bands to put bread on the table..
I thought about a version of the OCSD that could support speaker levels, but the amount of heat and power to be dissipated, specially for bass amps is huge!!
As the power section of a bass amp is very linear (as modern guitar amplifiers) the advantage of having the cabsim between the amp and the cab, vs the fx loop, or into the amp, is marginal, specially for the cost of a huge glorified resistor..
 
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#84
father of fires said:
Sounds like a plan. You can also tell the sound guy to low pass the bass to keep it out of the tweeters (that's what I usually do). But you can help by getting a sound you like with headphones (to mimic a full range sound system). This will be the sound the board gets and you'll know it sounds good. You can then tweak your amp as a stage monitor (that's what I usually do).
Click to expand...

Headphone huh?? Interesting.....so that mimics the sound of a PA type sound....
 
#85
Dsmnoisemaker said:
This kind of issues are exactly what i had in mind when i designed the Omnicabsim..
Going FOH is becoming more and more popular as stages get smaller, and working musicians have to work in many different venues, recording sessions, and different bands to put bread on the table..
I thought about a version of the OCSD that could support speaker levels, but the amount of heat and power to be dissipated, specially for bass amps is huge!!
As the power section of a bass amp is very linear (as modern guitar amplifiers) the advantage of having the cabsim between the amp and the cab, vs the fx loop, or into the amp, is marginal, specially for the cost of a huge glorified resistor..
Click to expand...

Yeah your pedal was a big contender. Its still something I would really like to research and try when money permits. I think once I get the DI and LPF, play a few shows that way, I'll know where I'm sitting better. At that point I may or may not end up snagging an Omnicabsim. Either way you slice it, I think you have really created an amazing pedal for the working bassist. Not many other builders/companies do what you have done. So thank you!!!
 
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#88
father of fires said:
Headphones aim for full frequency response like a PA system.

If it sounds good on headphones it'll sound good in FOH.
Click to expand...

bongomania said:
Especially if you choose a set of phones that have "open" back (Grado, Beyer DT990), because closed back phones increase the bass in your ears, which can throw off your perception of the highs.
Click to expand...

Cool, thanks guys! I didnt know that. I can see what you're talking about though bongo. Learn something new everyday.
 
#89
gregmon79 said:
Yeah your pedal was a big contender. Its still something I would really like to research and try when money permits. I think once I get the DI and LPF, play a few shows that way, I'll know where I'm sitting better. At that point I may or may not end up snagging an Omnicabsim. Either way you slice it, I think you have really created an amazing pedal for the working bassist. Not many other builders/companies do what you have done. So thank you!!!
Click to expand...
Yeah, the omni is such a niche product for very specific needs..that's why going into mass production is very hard..investors want the next facebook guy, not something that appeals 1% of musicians..but someone got to do it!

As you say, any lpf will improve your DI tone. The omni is more versatile and flexible, but it is amazing what a well tuned lpf can do to "naturalize" the foh sound
 
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#90
Dsmnoisemaker said:
Yeah, the omni is such a niche product for very specific needs..that's why going into mass production is very hard..investors want the next facebook guy, not something that appeals 1% of musicians..but someone got to do it!

As you say, any lpf will improve your DI tone. The omni is more versatile and flexible, but it is amazing what a well tuned lpf can do to "naturalize" the foh sound
Click to expand...

Yeah, that is my ultimate goal if anything, a sweepable LPF. So I'm hoping a builder here comes through for me. Which it sounds like he will. Just gotta get my cashola in order.
 
#91
gregmon79 said:
Yeah, that is my ultimate goal if anything, a sweepable LPF. So I'm hoping a builder here comes through for me. Which it sounds like he will. Just gotta get my cashola in order.
Click to expand...
Thats great, tell him you need a sweepable lpf between 3kHZ and 8kHz, 4th order, and also throw in a HPF with a, 2nd order, 70Hz, and you will have a nice cabsim
 
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#93
Resurrecting this thread. Why would you use the countryman DI if your amplifier (in this case an orange ob-500) has a DI out?

Maybe it's because you're using a wireless system? or does the DI not have anything to do with going wireless?

Just trying to learn about how all this stuff works.
 
#95
Rnr..........4 said:
Resurrecting this thread. Why would you use the countryman DI if your amplifier (in this case an orange ob-500) has a DI out?

Maybe it's because you're using a wireless system? or does the DI not have anything to do with going wireless?

Just trying to learn about how all this stuff works.
Click to expand...
Some sound techs like the DI separate from the amp so the player doesn’t jack their PA with sudden massive volume increases.
 
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#96
Rnr..........4 said:
Resurrecting this thread. Why would you use the countryman DI if your amplifier (in this case an orange ob-500) has a DI out?

Maybe it's because you're using a wireless system? or does the DI not have anything to do with going wireless?

Just trying to learn about how all this stuff works.
Click to expand...
As others have said, lots of sound guys (IME) want to take a DI before the amp (sometimes even before effects, though I always successfully quash that!). 90% of places I play have their own DI for this, but worth it to have one in your bag just in case. There is also occasionally issue with specific amplifier DIs, and something like the Countryman might give a more predictable output
 
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