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Does anyone use a passive DI with a passive p-bass for live shows?

whatever4

whatever4

Dec 12, 2012
192
201
#1
I have never paid much attention to DI boxes. Usually the the sound guy at the club uses whatever he has on hand. But apparently, from what I've read, you're supposed to use an active DI with a passive bass. I mentioned this to the sound guy at my upcoming gig, and he said he had a passive DI that would work fine for my bass.

Has anyone gigged a passive P-bass through a passive DI? Were the results good or bad?

Mike
 
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#2
It really depends on the bass and the DI. A passive bass with a very high output, like a G&L, would have no problems driving most passive DI's. A vintage 60's P-bass, not so much. You might like the sound of an active DI with a passive bass more. Also, keep in mind that very long mic cables will load-down the transformer somewhat. That could affect the sound too. But I would not worry too much about that unless you are going over 100'. I've used a Radial JDI with modern passive basses in live situations and it sounded awesome.
 
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#3
whatever4 said:
I have never paid much attention to DI boxes. Usually the the sound guy at the club uses whatever he has on hand. But apparently, from what I've read, you're supposed to use an active DI with a passive bass. I mentioned this to the sound guy at my upcoming gig, and he said he had a passive DI that would work fine for my bass.

Has anyone gigged a passive P-bass through a passive DI? Were the results good or bad?

Mike
Click to expand...
Read where? What was the reasoning behind what you read?
If someone just spews an opinion without giving some reason, then it is just an opinion.
It may or may not apply to your situation.

I am curious to know more about this as well.
I hope we get a good discussion going.
Thanks for your post.
 
#4
Old Garage-Bander said:
Read where? What was the reasoning behind what you read?
If someone just spews an opinion without giving some reason, then it is just an opinion.
It may or may not apply to your situation.

I am curious to know more about this as well.
I hope we get a good discussion going.
Thanks for your post.
Click to expand...

I read it here:

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
 
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#5
In general we put passive DI's on active basses, active DI's on passive basses. There is a clarity to a PBass /J Bass on a countryman type 85 that doesn't translate as well with our Radial Passive DI's. It is definitely audible. Active basses don't seem to benefit - the highs can get a little aggressive- the transformer based DI's tame that.

In my personal rig I use primarily active basses and I almost always use the DI in my Bassbone. I believe that to be the equivalent of a Radial Pro DI which is passive.

As copper snakes go the way of the dinosaur, long cable runs are just going away. Longest we are likely to run at this point is cross stage so maybe 50'. All my 50's are either Canare Star Quad or Mogami so decent cable. At some point cable length won't be a factor in the selection at all...
 
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#9
the point is that a passive bass right into a passive DI will probably lose a bit of high end from the loading; whether that matters is up to the situation i suppose.

even many active DIs have a surprisingly low input impedance, like 220kΩ; that will still lose you a bit of clarity. the bass should really plug into a 1MΩ load for no loss, like it would see into a buffered pedal or an amp.

thing is, if you have a buffered pedal in line, that pedal is making the signal "active" and it'll run full-bandwidth into the passive DI. so say you have a boss TU2 tuner between the bass and the rest of the signal chain, you're "active" from the pedal on down the line.
 
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#10
walterw said:
the point is that a passive bass right into a passive DI will probably lose a bit of high end from the loading; whether that matters is up to the situation i suppose.

even many active DIs have a surprisingly low input impedance, like 220kΩ; that will still lose you a bit of clarity. the bass should really plug into a 1MΩ load for no loss, like it would see into a buffered pedal or an amp.

thing is, if you have a buffered pedal in line, that pedal is making the signal "active" and it'll run full-bandwidth into the passive DI. so say you have a boss TU2 tuner between the bass and the rest of the signal chain, you're "active" from the pedal on down the line.
Click to expand...

I suppose it would be the same thing with any guitar/bass player who's using a wireless system. It made the signal "active", right?
 
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#14
4Mal said:
There is a clarity to a PBass /J Bass on a countryman type 85 that doesn't translate as well with our Radial I've basses. It is definitely audible. Active basses don't seem to benefit - the highs can get a little aggressive- the transformer based DI's tame that.
Click to expand...

Agreed 100% on that - I noticed an improvement in my sound to FOH when I changed from a JDI to a Countryman 85 - I primarily gig with P Basses, FWIW...
 
#15
4Mal said:
There is a clarity to a PBass /J Bass on a countryman type 85 that doesn't translate as well with our Radial Passive DI's. It is definitely audible.
Click to expand...
mesaplayer83 said:
Ummm, Countryman 85s are active DIs - just sayin'...
Click to expand...
mesaplayer83 said:
Agreed 100% on that - I noticed an improvement in my sound to FOH when I changed from a JDI to a Countryman 85 - I primarily gig with P Basses, FWIW...
Click to expand...
the 85 has an input impedance of 10MΩ!

that's super high, enough to get full bandwidth out of passive piezos. with passive magnetic pickups it's way more than enough, that will let through every bit of treble clarity, maybe even too much for some people.

1MΩ is the normal standard input impedance for passive electric instruments to sound right with no loss.
 
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#17
Kijuer said:
So, by using a Line6 Relay G10, I'm turning my signal into an "active" one?

Also, I use a Korg Pitchblack Portable tuner which is always on. Does that work as a buffer as well?
Click to expand...

The DI on a G10 is basically an active DI, and a pretty good one, IME/IMO... IIRC, the Pitchblack is a true bypass pedal, so it doesn't serve as a buffer...
 
#20
In some situations, the sound engineer may insist on using a passive DI. Here is why:
Anything directly connected to the mixing console inputs could potentially send an electrical surge that takes out the channel, possibly the console, and sometimes even the amp and speakers. Although this is rare, the cost of the potential damage could be in the thousands of dollars. So in some situations, like in a festival, where change outs happen frequently, the rule is nothing is connected directly to the console inputs. That usually means either a mic or a passive DI. It's always a good idea to bring your own so you are not at the mercy of whatever the sound guy has handy.
 
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