Do I need a separate preamp?

[benchpress11782]

Hello. Here's my rig

Active bass-pedalboard-passive DI xlr to house.
Pedalboard consists of vol-tuner-delay-xotic boost.
And house is my church. Thanks friends

 

[s0c9]

No!

 

[fivestringgecko]

"Need?" No. Sounds like a nice tidy little rig. With an active bass, you should be set in terms of being able to adjust EQ.

"Want?" Now there's a whole different discussion.

If you want to go down the rabbit hole of preamp/DI pedals, there's a ton of discussion in The Great Bass Preamp/DI Comparison Thread.

5sg.

 

[benchpress11782]

"Need?" No. Sounds like a nice tidy little rig. With an active bass, you should be set in terms of being able to adjust EQ.

"Want?" Now there's a whole different discussion.

If you want to go down the rabbit hole of preamp/DI pedals, there's a ton of discussion in The Great Bass Preamp/DI Comparison Thread.

5sg.

But do I need one for a strong signal to send to house?

 

[WayneP]

No. You can actually plug an active bass directly into the console. The console has a gain adjustment for every input that can compensate for a wide range of signal strengths. You don't have an issue unless the sound guy says he can't get enough signal from you.

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt

Pedulla Club #45 Unique Arrangements of Hymns, P&W Standards, and Original Tunes
Administrator, Tobias Club #133
Administrator, Fretless Club #943
Big Cabs Club #23
My Basses
My Rig: Stage and FOH Friendly
Pedulla Club #45

 

[benchpress11782]

No. You can actually plug an active bass directly into the console. The console has a gain adjustment for every input that can compensate for a wide range of signal strengths. You don't have an issue unless the sound guy says he can't get enough signal from you.

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt

Pedulla Club #45 Unique Arrangements of Hymns, P&W Standards, and Original Tunes
Administrator, Tobias Club #133
Administrator, Fretless Club #943
Big Cabs Club #23
My Basses
My Rig: Stage and FOH Friendly
Pedulla Club #45

That is what he said. Signal was weak. I have a xotic boost that compensated in my board. Good? Thanks all

 

[s0c9]

That is what he said. Signal was weak. I have a xotic boost that compensated in my board. Good? Thanks all

I've not come across an active bass, DI'd to a console where I could NOT get a "good" signal level. Something is the pedal chain is hindering it!. The boost does what it says.. boost levels.. but.. You really don't want to have to keep the boost on permanently.

"ideally" you would have a DI that has an adjustable output level. "Ideally".
However, as @fivestringgecko stated above, that's a whole Pandora's box.

Meanwhile...
Where is your vol pedal set to? You really don't need one for most church scenarios. Bass vol works just as well!
Which delay pedal? Does it have an output level knob?

More details might help us help you!

 

[benchpress11782]

I've not come across an active bass, DI'd to a console where I could NOT get a "good" signal level. Something is the pedal chain is hindering it!. The boost does what it says.. boost levels.. but.. You really don't want to have to keep the boost on permanently.

"ideally" you would have a DI that has an adjustable output level. "Ideally".
However, as @fivestringgecko stated above, that's a whole Pandora's box.

Meanwhile...
Where is your vol pedal set to? You really don't need one for most church scenarios. Bass vol works just as well!
Which delay pedal? Does it have an output level knob?

More details might help us help you!

First off, thank you very much for all your help in my posts.
I go volume pedal into tuner into strymon timeline into ditto into xotic booster into jdi passive. I usually use the volume pedal to keep volume the same and fade out of songs.

 

[s0c9]

First off, thank you very much for all your help in my posts.
I go volume pedal into tuner into strymon timeline into ditto into xotic booster into jdi passive. I usually use the volume pedal to keep volume the same and fade out of songs.

Can I "assume" you leave bass gtr vol up full - as you have a vol pedal?
Looks like you only output level adjustment is one the Xotic.. which means you need it on all the time.
You might try bypassing the vol pedal at next practice, use the bass gtr volume and see if that fixes the problem.
It's a process of elimination.
An active [powered] DI won't generally alter the output level (depends on DI tho').
If removing your vol pedal doesn't provide FOH with enough signal, then your only choice might be to replace the JDI with a DSP-style DI with an output level/master control such as:

 

[benchpress11782]

Can I "assume" you leave bass gtr vol up full - as you have a vol pedal?
Looks like you only output level adjustment is one the Xotic.. which means you need it on all the time.
You might try bypassing the vol pedal at next practice, use the bass gtr volume and see if that fixes the problem.
It's a process of elimination.
An active [powered] DI won't generally alter the output level (depends on DI tho').
If removing your vol pedal doesn't provide FOH with enough signal, then your only choice might be to replace the JDI with a DSP-style DI with an output level/master control such as:
View attachment 3730604
View attachment 3730607

Does volume pedal usually restrict much output?

 

[Mushroo]

JDI is not known as a particularly "hot" DI.
Make sure your sound guy has the input set to "mic" not "line" level. And check that you haven't accidentally engaged the -15db pad.

 

[benchpress11782]

JDI is not known as a particularly "hot" DI.
Make sure your sound guy has the input set to "mic" not "line" level. And check that you haven't accidentally engaged the -15db pad.

Ok. All buttons are depressed

 

[benchpress11782]

Does volume pedal usually restrict much output?[/

 

[Mushroo]

Ok. All buttons are depressed

If by "depressed" you mean "pushed in" then you are "padding" the signal to the sound guy.

The JDI is loudest when all the buttons are in the "out" (not pushed in) position.

Sorry if I misunderstood.

 

[benchpress11782]

If by "depressed" you mean "pushed in" then you are "padding" the signal to the sound guy.

The JDI is loudest when all the buttons are in the "out" (not pushed in) position.

Sorry if I misunderstood.

No sorry. All buttons are not pushed in

 

[walterw]

Does volume pedal usually restrict much output?

where do you have it for normal playing?

if it's all the way up then no; anything else then yes.

honestly, you might be better off removing the volume pedal and just using the tuner's mute button for silent tuning, then using the bass volume knob for swells.

you definitely don't need to add a "preamp", the preamp built right into your bass is strong enough to give a big loud signal to the PA all by itself.

 

[pbass2]

you definitely don't need to add a "preamp", the preamp built right into your bass is strong enough to give a big loud signal to the PA all by itself.

That, and you've got the Xotic RC - man, you've got enough signal on tap for sure! My rig is passive bass, Xotic RC Booster, JDI. Never had any issue sending a hot enough signal to FOH.

 

[bbh]

While the bass can go direct to the board and work, it's not ideal. Mic'd and other direct signals will no doubt be a lot hotter. If the board allows, there are multiple ways of boosting within the console. Some of my favs are running your channel to additional channels for boost or better yet run your channel only to a sub or 2 and boost there.
The simplest method would be a pedal that can boost your output. I'm sure our friends here can suggest some if you like that idea. I can do it with my strymon and dark glass pedals.
Personally, I run a rack mostly so I can dial in the the amount I'm sending via built in D.I

 

[Zbysek]

You should be fine with the stuff you have in your signal chain, IME.

 

[frankie5string]

Is your passive DI a Radial JDI?

Those pull the signal down to mic-level. It's part of their design.

So your sound-guy should be treating it as a mic-in not a line-level in. Some sound guys are used to DIs that supply nearly line-level signals. If you have a JDI, just tell them to switch it to mic level and you should be ok.