DI question

I prefer the idea of having it miced personally and maybe having it DIed to get extra low end if needed.

I don't get why amp manufacturers make it so you HAVE to have your DI pre-EQ though, don't see why they can't just have a switch for pre/post. I'm taking my Laney to get fixed this week and getting the DI made into a post EQ while it's there, really annoying to spend ages getting your amp sounding good only to have it come out the front muddy, flat and thin sounding.

 

Although many amps offer the option of pre or post eq on the DI, most soundmen prefer to do the eqing for the house. You still set your own stage sound, but unless it's your PA system, a good soundman is your friend.

 

Lot's of discussion on various threads about this.

Here's the scoop. First, you can very easily change the DI from post to pre EQ by changing the position of a simple little jumper inside the amp (assuming you have an LMII.. the larger heads all have pre/post switches on the back of the amp). The LMII ships with the jumper set to post EQ. So, you aren't stuck either way.

Regarding live performance, the reason most use a pre EQ DI that does not send the EQ'd signal to the board is that often times the settings you use to make your on stage bass cab sound great is TOTALLY different than the EQ needed to make your bass sound good through a mixing console and a huge front of house system. Most pro players who are looking for a clean tone actually run a high quality DI prior to their amp (like a Countryman DI or Radial JDI or Avalon U5, etc.) to get the cleanest, purest signal to the board.

Even if you run your amp reasonably flat, you would not want your master volume that you use for your stage sound to impact the front or house.

For recording, it's a different situation, which is why these amps have both a pre and post setting.

If you are one who likes a tube based distorted, grindy tone, much of that comes from power tubes and speakers, so even a post EQ DI wouldn't help much... a mic would be the only way to go there IMO. That's why you see a lot of mic'ing of SVT's but fancy DI's sitting next to Eden's and other rigs designed to be 'clean' sounding.

IMO and IME!

 

If your distortion is coming from external pedals, then that will come through a pre EQ DI anyway, so you are good there.

Most solid state heads work fine without a cabinet attached (i.e., if you really want to use the head as a pure DI, and not run a stage cabinet). Usually, it is recommended to have the master volume completely off if you do this. If you are really using the head as a pure DI, then actually post EQ might make some sense, since you wouldn't be EQing for stage sound.

Just to make sure, I would check with the Markbass guys prior to doing this to make sure there would be no damage to your amp by running it with no cab.

 

I was just thinking about this today, and was curious. I haven't seen really that much live work (for having played for 7 years )

How common is it to DI the bass and mic a cab with something like a 57? I mean, get a clean low-end and use the mic for mid/high end.

 

Again, FOH sound and stage sound are two different things. In order for each to sound good, you may need different EQ on each one. Yes, a FOH person could take your EQ'ed signal and re-EQ it at the board, but it is much easier to deal with a "flat" signal to begin with. Hence the pre/post option on many amps.

 

If you're replying to me, I wasn't really referring to FOH vs. Stage sound (necessarily).

I was referring to taking a pre-EQ DI and a mic and mixing to taste. That would give a good starting point, IMO, to EQing (or just mixing) FOH with a sound (close to what) I wish to get to the audience.

 

My SVT4 has a pre/post switch for the line out...