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DI guidance

FDR Jones

FDR Jones

Inactive
Apr 7, 2018
249
322
#1
Hello, I'm working on my signal chain for recording at home. I currently run straight into my interface. I want to buy a Cloudlifter for a ribbon mic I have, but I noticed they have another model that includes the option to run an instrument through it and adjust the gain and impedance (hopefully without increasing the noise floor). It's quite the upgrade at $379 vs. $150 (new).

I have a Hofner Club bass with flatwounds. Frankly, it doesn't have the most tone options. I was thinking the Cloudlifter DI could be an interesting variable. However, I could also use the difference ($230) to purchase an entirely different piece of gear, such as a preamp or pedal, or buy nothing at all.

This setup is just for me recording bass softly with myself on (usually acoustic) guitar and (occasionally) vocal. I could also use the DI as a boost for my electric piano.

I don't think I really need a full-on Sans Amp, but I would like to boost the signal to take the pressure off the interface and any outboard ability to shape tone, such as an EQ or Compressor is just a bonus (otherwise I just have plugins, which are ok). I'm not sure if anyone makes a plug-in for variable impedance modeling.

Anyway, this is basically my inner monologue at this point and I would appreciate any guidance from other people who think about these things.
 
#2
Sounds to me like you could use a hardware channel strip - which would handle both mic and instrument in front of your interface. Channel strip would have preamp, EQ and compression...usually. There’s a range of pricing- from something like the ART Pro Channel stuff, dbx, Presonus around the $200 level and up to the higher end stuff like Neve around $2000 and beyond....

Should also have phantom power for mics. These things are the Swiss Army knives of signal processing.
 
#3
DirtDog said:
Sounds to me like you could use a hardware channel strip - which would handle both mic and instrument in front of your interface. Channel strip would have preamp, EQ and compression...usually. There’s a range of pricing- from something like the ART Pro Channel stuff, dbx, Presonus around the $200 level and up to the higher end stuff like Neve around $2000 and beyond....

Should also have phantom power for mics. These things are the Swiss Army knives of signal processing.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the suggestion. For my purposes, I could probably get by with the Art Tube MP/C, which I didn't know existed until just now. Not sure I want to get into rack mount gear. I don't need the mic pres because I'm fine with the ones in the interface.

So my options right now are:
Record dry, $0
Get an inexpensive preamp/eq/comp box, $100
Cloudlifter Upgrade, $230
Some other DI, $?

I'm not sure there's going to be much bang for the buck with the Cloudlifter, but I do like the idea of using the variable impedance dial to get different tones. It's just a different concept than fiddling with EQ and Comp. Along those lines, another box I was interested in is the BBE Acoustimax ($150), which has boost, EQ, and magic(?) sonic maximizing capabilities. I also saw the Darkglass Vintage (and Vintage Deluxe) Microtubes preamp pedals, but-- as with the SansAmp-- that might be overkill (also $$).

I knew I had set myself up for a rabbit hole here, haha.
 
#5
Don’t you have EQ, compression etc within your DAW? It would be more flexible there as you can record and then apply/change it after the fact. With outboard effects you are stuck. Keep in mind you’re recording things piecemeal one instrument at a time so you’re best to EQ at the end when it all fits together. Perhaps some people can weigh in on plugins.

If your interface has two inputs, one for your instrument direct and one for a mic, you could try direct and mic your amp. That could be fun and educational for you. There’s an interesting series of articles in sound on sound on recording bass.
 
#6
craigie said:
Don’t you have EQ, compression etc within your DAW? It would be more flexible there as you can record and then apply/change it after the fact. With outboard effects you are stuck. Keep in mind you’re recording things piecemeal one instrument at a time so you’re best to EQ at the end when it all fits together. Perhaps some people can weigh in on plugins.

If your interface has two inputs, one for your instrument direct and one for a mic, you could try direct and mic your amp. That could be fun and educational for you. There’s an interesting series of articles in sound on sound on recording bass.
Click to expand...

Right, I wasn’t interested in EQ and compression. The first person who replied suggested a channel strip, and I said that having outboard controls for that stuff is a nice bonus, but really all I need is a hotter signal going to the interface, so I’m looking for a DI or a preamp. The rest of the chain would be in the DAW. I don’t even own a bass amp.

So, back to my OP, I was wondering if the Cloudlifter Zi would be a good choice or something else (BBE, Darkglass, SansAmp).
 
#10
FDR Jones said:
Anyway, I came up with an idea— run the bass through my 5w tube guitar amp from the headphone out. We’ll see if the signal is strong enough.
Click to expand...
probably it will sound very different. i would guess it will lack low-end.

Cloudlifter-CL-ZI seems like an intriguing option. I use a cloudlifter for my ribbon mics, I'm going to guess the CL-ZI will make your bass signal louder without adding noise. and that "z" knob will let you vary the tone to some extent.
 

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