For clean tones, DI with or without preamp?

I don't think there is one right or wrong answer because any combination will sound good to great. There are so many wonderful preamp DI choices today you really have a challenge choosing the right one for the sound and features you really want and need to have. Were I to go that route I would shop for the preDI that sounded most like the amplifier I most preferred or desired to sound like.

I personally like to keep my preamp and DI separate so I can mix and match as needed and because I have several of each to choose from. My current set up is a Sushi Box Particle Accelerator mini, Southampton Ictineo, LBA 2020 direct to my M-Audio interface. I will use my Countryman Type 85, RNDI or one of my passive DI boxes if that colorationis needed or insert an effect as needed.

 

In my case any way, the pedals are the preamp.

First in line is used as a clean boost to match gain from bass to bass.
Second is a soft overdrive
Third acts as a compressor, in the fashion of a tube amp just on the verge of breakup
I chose the JDI for its transformers ability to be “graceful” when pushed

 

Once you start to listen critically and have a reference system you can begin to hear the subtle differences in color and character. I work with producers and engineers that are very critical listeners that hear everything so they can get very very particular. Every change I make gets noticed so I have been working very hard on my recorded sound since all this COVID stuff started to keep my clients happy. Where I used to drive to their studios and plug into their gear I'm now doing my best to deliver .wav files that they can process as needed.

The Countryman Type 85 is such an ubiquitous sound that folks don't notice it anymore unless it is missing, much the same with a Jensen DI. Both are great sounds that a bassist might want to have in their collection. I also think that evaluating each other piece is important, for example the Ampeg B15 or SVT sounds are very popular choices so you might want to explore those. OTOH those are not my preference for recording or gigging.

The Rupert Neve RNDI just has a different character akin to plugging into an older Neve desk or other mixing console with the old style input transformers and EQ staging. I especially like running the Southampton Ictineo into the RNDI for a classic late 70's-80's bass DI solid state sound then adding a touch of limiting and studio or room reverb. By this time most bass tracks were recorded DI and monitored in the control room or in headphones very rarely were there bass amps in the studio.

The RNDI, JDI or TYPE 85 are very different from plugging into a preamp DI IMHO and that is one reason I prefer to keep things separate and flexible.

 

I'm another adopter of separate preamp and DI solutions. Also I'm an RNDI owner and it's so good, any instrument I need to record, I'd rather plug into that vs direct to studio interface. It's clean, but unmistakably analog and just full.

If I want ultra clean, I'll typically use a Linden EQ (and a couple things prior, like HPF and very lightly blended-in compressor) into the RNDI, and for extra character I'll add one of two Sushi Box tube preamps (Particle Accelerator or Slampegg). But if I had a client who wanted a 100% unprocessed, dry signal, I'd feel perfectly fine plugging my bass into the RNDI and tracking that way.

It's for reason of having all of those options, and not feeling like I'm wasting any bells & whistles, that I like having a dedicated pre and dedicated DI.

 

It ain't cheap! But it's built like a tank and has incredible headroom. And if you have an amp head you like, you can even insert the RNDI between head and cabinet and capture its character... in essence using a head as a preamplifier in its own right. Lot of options.

 

Like others said, there is no right or wrong. Some people resample through broken speakers to get a low quality sound intentionally.

me personally I like as little stuff between me and the interface. So bass (passive), DI, Audio interface, PC. All else like compression, eq, boost, dirt…etc is added in the software after takes.

 

You can hear the Subway vs RNDI here:


Both are great DIs, but rndi wins if you’re comparing DI outs, in my opinion. You get A LOT of headroom and clarity with it.

Here’s a vid using the Subway DI:


If you really want to add EQ before hitting your DAW, then you can get the Subway

 

There's nothing more direct than plugging straight into your interface. Not sure why you think you need a DI for home recording. The purpose of a DI box is to be able to run *long* cables without signal loss or added noise. At home, if you can plug straight into your interface with a 15' cable, no DI box is necessary. Less is more.

 

I’ve got both the Countryman and the RNDI.

For bass, I’ve had a slight preference for the Countryman most times. It imparts a subtle but noticeable warmth to the overall sound. I wouldn’t characterize it so much as “colorization” however. It hits me more as adding a little texture. So I guess you could say it’s not so much affecting tone as it is enhancing timbre. And I almost always will put something in front of it. Preamps that I own which work well with it are:

• DiCosimo 360+
  
• One Control Crimson Red
• Barber Electronics Linden
• SushiBox Slampegg Bee
• Broughton Alex-1 BAX (custom box essentially identical to his Fliptop pedal)

Note: you might notice a certain liking for a B-15 type sound in the above list.

The RNDI has a different quality compared to the Countryman. To my ears it’s more solid-state sounding. Exceptional clarity and headroom that pairs well with anything you’d care to put in front of it. @bassbrad ’s characterization of it in an earlier post describes it better than I can. If I had to describe the difference, I’d say the RNDI (to me) sounds more ‘console’ whereas the Countryman sounds more ‘amp.’

FWIW I’m also now using a Black Lion Audio Auteur MKII 2x2 as my interface. It’s a very affordable (~$400 last I looked) high quality interface that sports an Edcor transformer in its output stage. It finally bumped my trusty Focusrite Scarlet to extra channel and backup duty. And it’ll probably end up relegating my Countryman to live sound duty because the musical warmth that Edcor imparts eliminates the need for an outboard transformer to provide it. The only regret I have about buying it is not biting the bullet and going a model up for the Quad 4-channel version instead. Highly recommended.


For what the OP is doing I think the RNDI might slightly edge out the Countryman Type 85. But either way, both the Countryman and the RNDI are excellent choices. You can’t really go wrong with either one.

 

From what I see the answer is: Yes a DI would probably be redundant, since your Pedals already act as a preamp.

DI's are made to connect a high-output impedance, unbalanced output signal to a low-impedance, balanced input. They are not "Soundshaping" tools by design.

I think your Setup is fine as it is. I use a similar setup for recording for years now. Never had any complaints from someone who had to deal with the recorded material afterwards (Audio-Engineers,Producer, other Bandmenbers).

That beeing said I did add a passiv DI just recently. Reason is that I wanted to split my signal and be able to have one "Full-Wet Channel" and one "Full-Dry Channel" recorded. So it is really just a signalsplitter to me.

 

I use a DI as a DI when I need it - my sound comes from my pedals, my bass and my fingers and is done when it hits the next stage.
In my home studio my cable from my preamp into the mixer is about four feet long, so I don't see the need of a symmetrical signal. There's no interference to speak of and by ear I can't make out a difference between running the cable straight vs. running DI.

 

Q strip. It's neutral. It doesn't effect your tone at all when off. What comes in is what goes out. Volume and all.

 

IF home or any kind of recording was what I was doing maybe I would use a different setup … but my rig was geared for live, but I feel it would work well for recording too.

 

^ Important point made in the above.

If you don’t hear an audible difference after adding something to your signal chain - leave it out.

 

Just asking, as long as you have a decent interface I’m not sure why would you need a DI for recording?

I use Cubasis with a Steinberg UR12, from there you can import whatever effects you need online. Or you can just connect at the end of your signal chain into the UR12. Just a thought.