• 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.

DI box suggestions

B

bbocaner

Aug 17, 2005
203
53
Fairfax Station, VA
#1
Hi! I've been out of the bass playing game for a long time but I've recently got back into it and I need a DI box for recording. I have a mix of active and passive basses, and I prefer a hi-fi roundwound bright sound to a fat round sound.

I have a nice interface with instrument-level ins (Merging Technologies Anubis) but as great as that box is, I can't help but feel I might get better results with a dedicated direct box.

I used to own a Millennia TD-1 which I really loved. I never really used any of the reamping features on it, but it was nice having both tube and FET circuitry and the variable input impedance really came in handy. I also felt the built-in parametric EQ worked really well for emphasizing the Rickenbacker clank or the precision growl. However, Millennia doesn't make these anymore and the used ones are expensive.

I've used the Avalon U5 in the studio a bit and I never really liked the sound, it always felt scooped out, no matter how the tone shape knob was set.

I know a lot of people really like the REDDI and/or the Noble, but my impression of these is that they are more about the warm and round sound than I would prefer.

I realize this is all splitting hairs to the nth degree but I'm proud of my bass playing and want it to come across as well as possible.

Summit TD-100 sounds interesting to me but I can't find any clips directly comparing it to others.

Anyone have any other suggestions?
 
#2
I have a TD 100, and it just sounds good. It is very much on the subtle side of things, warm and rounded etc.
For what you are describing, you might want to try something with a transformer instead of tubes, like a Neve RNDI. It's not super expensive and sounds great for what I use it on. YMMV

Jesse
 
  • Like
Reactions: LowendG and Kevnn4
#5
Impedance conversion isn't where I'd focus if the goal is "better results". To be honest that is totally vague. What don't you like about the results now? What are you hoping to achieve?

The Millennia TD-1, Avalon U5, and Summit TD-100 are all preamps. Might just be me being picky about what words mean... but preamps that do impedance conversion are preamps. Whether it does impedance conversion or not is not the difference maker especially since your recording interface already does that. The perfect device to get the tone you're seeking may indeed have line level outputs and that's not a bad thing.
 
#9
maybe it does, but... do higher highs and lower lows matter in terms of the final mix? often the bass is going to be both high and low passed.

that said, i recorded through a Millennia preamp once. It was really truly outstanding. I was playing reggea style on a PJ with flats, so not exactly the hi-fi sound you're after... but it may just be your experience with this amazing preamp has set the bar high for your expectations.
 
#10
bbocaner said:
Hi! I've been out of the bass playing game for a long time but I've recently got back into it and I need a DI box for recording. I have a mix of active and passive basses, and I prefer a hi-fi roundwound bright sound to a fat round sound.

I have a nice interface with instrument-level ins (Merging Technologies Anubis) but as great as that box is, I can't help but feel I might get better results with a dedicated direct box.

I used to own a Millennia TD-1 which I really loved. I never really used any of the reamping features on it, but it was nice having both tube and FET circuitry and the variable input impedance really came in handy. I also felt the built-in parametric EQ worked really well for emphasizing the Rickenbacker clank or the precision growl. However, Millennia doesn't make these anymore and the used ones are expensive.

I've used the Avalon U5 in the studio a bit and I never really liked the sound, it always felt scooped out, no matter how the tone shape knob was set.

I know a lot of people really like the REDDI and/or the Noble, but my impression of these is that they are more about the warm and round sound than I would prefer.

I realize this is all splitting hairs to the nth degree but I'm proud of my bass playing and want it to come across as well as possible.

Summit TD-100 sounds interesting to me but I can't find any clips directly comparing it to others.

Anyone have any other suggestions?
Click to expand...

After reading your list of what you like and don't like, the first thing that came to mind was the Venus X.

Invalid Link Removed
 
  • Like
Reactions: Troutntacos
#12
EvilJ said:
For what you are describing, you might want to try something with a transformer instead of tubes, like a Neve RNDI
Click to expand...

Well... I took your advice and ordered the RNDI. I have world-beating mic preamps in my Merging Technologies Anubis and Hapi v2 and really just wanted to make sure I wasn't getting suboptimal results because of the way they implemented instrument inputs, so we'll see what happens. I'll report back!
 
  • Like
Reactions: EvilJ and And I
#13
Hi! My taste for hi-fi bass sound is similar to yours. The only DI box I have a personal experience with is the Radial J48, an active, transformer-based DI box, and it sounds very good with my passive basses. It is transparent enough so I don't lose any highs and mid-high contents (or none that I could notice so far), when using fresh strings, and chances are it still isn't exactly what you're after - a slight rolloff in highs is a given in my experience, even though this could be me as I don't have a personal experience with many different DI boxes, but if you can, I say you should give this one a try. Chances are you'll like it more than the Reddi, which is known for its warm sound that makes some bassists feel a lack of highs that cut through a mix.
 
Last edited:
#15
bbocaner said:
Maybe... I have plugins to do EQ though. My theory was that the instrument-level inputs on any multi-purpose interface may be a compromise design, and that I might get better results having an actual direct box in there.
Click to expand...

What is your interface? They've all be more than good enough for the past 20ish years or so. Even the humble Scarlett can get a nice capture.
 
#17
BrianVengeance said:
What is your interface? They've all be more than good enough for the past 20ish years or so. Even the humble Scarlett can get a nice capture.
Click to expand...

I've got Merging Technologies stuff (Hapi v2 with ADA8S and Anubis) which are some of the best preamps and AD converters you can buy, albeit on the transparent rather than the colored side. But I've heard tons of gear, including the Apogee I used to use, where the instrument input was disappointing.

I got the RNDI via fedex today. It's a subtle difference but I definitely like it better. It's a little less round than the instrument-level inputs on the Anubis.
 
  • Like
Reactions: EvilJ
#19
I may be missing something here, but if the OP is seeking bright and zingy, the source needs to be bright and zingy. Yes preamps can/do add color depending on how the knobs are twisted, but if the source is round and fat, thats what you will hear.

I've used the Avalon U5 and the Summit TD-100 (amongst many others) in a studio setting and I always kind of felt like it was my bass (source) that was what I was mostly hearing. Nothing against those, I LIKED what I heard, but it was pretty much my bass.

I am a Noble DI user and it's the same really ... it sounds like the source. The EQ options are there for some color if you want them (and I do use them myself) but, again, it's the source that matters more IMO/IME. FWIW the Noble can be plenty bright with the highs dialed up and the HPF on.

good luck on your search OP ... the tone chase black hole is very deep ;)
 
#20
bbocaner said:
I've got Merging Technologies stuff (Hapi v2 with ADA8S and Anubis) which are some of the best preamps and AD converters you can buy, albeit on the transparent rather than the colored side. But I've heard tons of gear, including the Apogee I used to use, where the instrument input was disappointing.
Click to expand...

Nice bit of kit there. I was actually a bit underwhelmed by the Apogee DI as well. Never tried it on my Metric Halo ULN-8 now that I think of it (have really fallen in love with the Fender TBP-1), and I'm liking the DI on the Focusrite 16line and ISA One so far.

I got the RNDI via fedex today. It's a subtle difference but I definitely like it better. It's a little less round than the instrument-level inputs on the Anubis.
Click to expand...

Nice. Have always wanted to try one of those.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back