Darkglass B7K in live situation without amp

[Crystalman85]

if I wanted the svt sound in a small/DI package, id go with the guys that invented that sound, I think ampeg is seeing how well tech21 us doing copying their sound....

plus the ampeg scr has ultra hi and ultra low switches, something the tech21 pedals don't...

the VT pedals seem cool, but id rather go to the source IF I wanted that tone!!

the only thing that tech21 has on either the ampeg or Darkglass preamp/DI's is the VT deluxe, only for the fact that it has 4 channels(which I really dig!) but I much prefer the dark glass b7k over the ampeg sound

The darkglass pedals is different. they have tube-emulated distortion sounds. it doesn't have that beefy sound the ampeg scr and tech 21 vt bass provides. if you wanted something that has an svt type sound, you're better off with either the ampeg scr or the tech 21 vt bass.

 

[gregmon79]

I have done this. I am very pleased with the B7K and I have found that i prefer it to the Samsap RBI and the Para Driver. I have also added a Sadowski pre in front of the Avalon U5 so one line is now active (Sadowski thru U5) and the other line is passive (B7K). I boost quite a bit of both low and hi mids and dial back the trebble.

THats exactly how I dial my B7K in. I think your original plan in you first post would work smashingly. Ive known some to mix the B7K with a Sansamp to great results. I myself run a rusty box before my B7K and I love it! I will admit though Ive only ran the DI out of the B7K a couple times, I usually run a DI out of my amps front end, but the times I did use the DI in the B7K, it sounded awesome IMO.

I guess it depends too on what tubes sound like to you. I think the B7K can get a tubey type sound to a degree. I tend to like its more aggressive qualities though. If you want a more mellow sound, maybe try the VMTD. That one is nicer and has more mid bump. But the B7K is very versatile IMO. Do some searching online and here on TB, you will find a ton of settings for it that will get you anything from metal clank to vintagey warmth. Thats my experience anyway.

 

[Mr. Wu]

I've had great success running my B7K into a Sansamp VTDI. I also run a Fairfield Barbershop into the B7K ... each adds its own nuance, which sounds great to my ears. I run this setup a number of venues without an amp; it gives me that "amp-esque" vibe with just a pedalboard setup.

 

[m0ranwad]

This will come across as a ridiculous question, but I just want a sanity check.

The Direct Output connection on the box is XLR, correct? It's not clear from the stock picture, but I assumed that's the only way it would send a balanced signal to a board.

 

[ole Jason]

Yeah it is XLR

 

[Nephilymbass]

Looking for advice and opinions from those who have used this preamp. My band uses in ear monitors. I currently use an Ampeg V4b tube amp run through a Palmer for my live sound. However it would be nice to not lug around an 80 pound head every night. Enter the Darkglass B7K. Can you get a good tubey sound from this without putting it in front of an amp? How close does this get to an actual tube Ampeg? If I could flop down a lightweight pedalboard and send a signal direct to the front of house console I would be in heaven. I also own a rack mount Sandamp RBI and have found that to get somewhat close to the Ampeg but not close enough for me to stop lugging it around. Anyone use the Darkglass unit without an amp for their live sound?

Keep your RBI and get a b7k.
I run my b7k ultra into my sans amp RBI and xlr out of the RBI to foh. I do use a crown power amp and ampeg cabs instead of in ears but my sound through the pa is just my pedalboard and the RBI.

To me the b7k and RBI compliment each other well. I actually always have my b7k ultra on and use it as my main eq and just use the dirt footswitch on it. I think the b7k is a little too direct sounding on its own but it definetly has more musical grit than the RBI. I tried it originally because the b7k ultra didn't have as much output to drive my power amp as the RBI. But loved them together and haven't looked back.

My setup

 

[SerratedBass]

Keep your RBI and get a b7k.
I run my b7k ultra into my sans amp RBI and xlr out of the RBI to foh. I do use a crown power amp and ampeg cabs instead of in ears but my sound through the pa is just my pedalboard and the RBI.

To me the b7k and RBI compliment each other well. I actually always have my b7k ultra on and use it as my main eq and just use the dirt footswitch on it. I think the b7k is a little too direct sounding on its own but it definetly has more musical grit than the RBI. I tried it originally because the b7k ultra didn't have as much output to drive my power amp as the RBI. But loved them together and haven't looked back.

My setup
View attachment 1022188 View attachment 1022187

Nice setup! I run mine in a similar way. I have a B7K which I had originally thought would replace my Sansamp BDDI. I found that as a direct to FOH or audio interface for recording DI, the B7K just never sounded sweet enough, too raw. After a bit of delving into TB threads I found some people were having the same issue. I think it's down to the fact that the B7K doesn't have a speaker emulation type tone to it, hence why a lot of demos are running the Omni cab sim after it, or cab IRs in DAWs. The best result I have found is using my Sansamp as my 'amp' (when running direct) with the B7K in front. The Sansamp is dialled for a nice cleanish tone, similar to the SVT settings Tech 21 suggest. The DG sits in front as a distortion pedal rather than as a preamp. Works great as the blend means I can get the cleaner low end of the Sansamp at the same time as some nice DG grind. That way the DG is like a second channel with a bit of grit on top. Having the EQ of the B7K rather than just the distortion section of the B3K gives me greater flexibility to dial the distortion just right. The B7K actually ended up replacing the modded RAT distortion I had on my board.

I send the XLR from the Sansamp to FOH, and I come out of the Sansamp's parallel unaffected out to my amp. So the amp gets the DG grind, but not the Sansamp amp emulation. Sounds great, and if FOH isn't mic'ing my cab, I can tweak the amp settings without messing with FOH. Also works great to record direct or jam along to tracks at home.

This isn't a criticism of the DG pedal btw, for me it is just a completely different tool than the Sansamp. I think if the XLR out on the B7K had a degree of speaker emulation, with the jack out being as it is, it would be perfect and I could do away with the sansamp. The DG as it is works as a kick ass distortion with blend.

 

[waveman]

I probably use my B7k differently than most. I haven't run it into my Sansamp just yet like others. The B7k sounds nothing like an Ampeg. Side by side, I like the sound of the Sansamp better as an always on DI.

At home, I use the B7k DI into the and just leave it off most of the time, and use the on as adding some modern grit. I put my other pedals in front of the B7k. One thing to know about the the DI on the B7k is it has the highest output to the board than anything I have ever seen.