DI to Line Level conversion, XLR-XLR

The Carvin takes XLR or 1/4" inputs and needs a line-level signal as input.
Are you looking for XLR because that's what's on your amps line out connector or ?
DI's tend to be low-Z so they can get plugged into a stage box/snake.

You could try one of these.. and keep the levels low.. cheap too..
http://www.amazon.com/Behringer-MA400-BEHRINGER-MICROMON/dp/B000KUCQXY/ref=sr_1_4?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1420215647&sr=1-4&keywords=headphone amps

Ideally, you would feed your amp and anything else you need in the Carvin from a mixer feed.
I hope you are not putting your IEM in one ear (with your amp) and leaving the other out to hear stage volume? That's not good for your ears.

My advice... bite the bullet and buy a cheap mixer..
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0..._m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0K12A7PKBZ49YS51BVQ4

Both options are cheaper than the Rolls MB35

 

With a small mixer, the outputs are usually balanced, but sent out via TRS (tip, ring, sleeve) 1/4" connectors that look like guitar plugs. You can get a very simple TRS - to - XLR adapter to come from the mixer to a mic cable and send to your IEM transmitter's input.

The mixer is a good idea, because you can take a send from the house mixer and blend in your bass with the house mix. You will probably need a -20 or -30db pad on the house mix send as it will be too hot for the mic-level input on your little mixer. It should be available from the same place you get the TRS-to-XLR adapter.

 

+1 to needing a mixing solution anyway; even if you could run the IEMs straight off the bass amp, you wouldn't hear the rest of the band!

 

Why not? If 1/4" unbalanced solves your problem, then use it. For short runs, balanced doesn't buy you anything besides 3dB more gain, and if you've got enough signal without that 3dB, then why make things more complicated than they have to be?

 

i dunno, good bass through IEMs is all about the seal! if you can hear the rest of the band with nothing but your bass in IEMs, the earbuds probably aren't gonna make you happy with your bass tone.

also, single-driver earbuds are a waste of money IMO, you want dual-driver at the very least.

then you definitely want to wrangle some kind of little mixer, like the rolls or whatever, even if just to blend in the main mix with your "more me" bass. if you're singing too, then it becomes even more critical to get your "more me" vocals happening as well.

good.

 

What walterw said. Also I find it weird that your amp DI won't drive the Carvin IEM's loud enough - I have a Shure PSM200 and drive it from my GK MB500 Fusion's DI and have PLENTY of headroom left. I suspect that the reason you can't hear yourself (and that you think you will be able to hear the band despite earbuds) is you aren't getting a good seal! I tried the SE215's that came with my PSM200 system - thought they sounded OK - until I upgraded to Westone UM Pro 30 triple drivers - the difference is striking!
How are there "no PA monitor mixes"!

 

As well it should. If you are going to rely on IEMs for monitors and if your earpieces are any good, you'll need a monitor mix in them, not just your bass sound. That your amp's DI puts out a mic/instr level signal and whatever you have driving your "earbuds" needs a line level signal is not a surprise to me. If you are determined to have leaky cheap earbuds with only your bass in them and to hear the rest of the band by way of the leakage, then get a mic preamp and put it between your amp and your earbud amplifier. There are plenty to choose from and some of them are pretty inexpensive.

 

Hey, easy, now, folks are trying to help. After all, you asked...

Actually, I think you are on the right track. If you want to take it a step at a time, that's a reasonable course of action. I, like others here, do think you'll eventually find the need for a small mixer. It's inexpensive and very easy to do. But carry on as you see fit. Not a bad way to go. The Westones are a good idea. With any generic earbuds, make sure you have the right inserts that are comfortable AND give you a good deal.

Good luck!

 

I used IEM's for years with a cover band I was in. I had a mixer that combined my vocal mic, my acoustic guitar, the mic in front of my guitar amp, a monitor mix, and an ambient mic into a stereo (panning made things much more intelligible) mix for my custom molded IEM's. The thing about good IEMs is that they seal very well and if you don't send them a signal containing what you want to hear, you won't hear it.

The ambient mic made a lot of difference in my situation. Drums and bass were rarely in the monitors, so without the ambient mic I'd not have been able to hear them. The mixer was a 4 channel one with individual channel passthrough to the snake, and aux inputs. The monitor mix came in through an aux.

 

If there is ANY monitor mix going on - you should be able to get it to your IEM transmitter somehow. Most power amps have parallel inputs and you could take a feed out from an unused input. If powered monitor speakers they almost all have a "through" jack that could be your feed.
Using the Tube MP (I have one I keep around too) to boost your DI signal should solve your immediate problem.
I wasn't doubting your experience, just still find it strange your DI won't drive the EM900 transmitter. I've used my PSM200 with the DI on my MB500 Fusion and my TC BG250 combo - plenty of volume with both the input on the transmitter and the volume on my body pack well below 50%. Many people suggested the Carvin unit to me as an alternative to the Shure PSM200 - but if it needs that hot of a signal to drive it that would have been a deal breaker for me.
The PSM 200 is mono but has two input channels with independent level controls, plus a through jack for each. I run the DI from my bass head to one channel with the through jack out to the PA - that way I have instant "more me" control of my bass. I run a monitor aux send from the PA into the other channel. Our regular sound guy has a x32 digital board with plenty of auxes and we can control our own mixes from our iPhones.

 

i's not, and in fact is just what we're all talking about when we say "small mixer"!

something like the rolls, or any number of little $99 mixers from mackie, behringer or whatever, would fit the bill; if you're gonna run IEMs without control of the overall PA situation, this is the way you need to go.

especially if you're not singing, you could use the other channel to get even the main mix from the PA, which should be enough to track what's going on around you. there are even cheap DI boxes that are padded down to where you could plug them into the PA speakers and get a usable signal tapped off.

you could also (or instead) throw out a mic on a stand to get the stage sound and pipe that in, so you hear everybody without getting blasted.

 

I have the carvin IEM unit. When I don't think I'll be getting a custom IEM mix, I bring my allen and heath zed10 mixer. They sound great and have a ton of routing options, plus I can record demos at home with it. I've also used it as a drum submixer a few times, they're handy. Sometimes we'll be at a venue where I know I won't be able to make a bunch of adjustments -- like a crowded stage where our PA mixer will be set up on the other side -- so a little mixer of my stuff plus a main mix feed is better.
I'd like to perhaps get an art tube or other small preamp and use it for an ambient mic. So far I haven't felt the need for stereo panning or ambient mics with my in ears.