HX stomp + what bass DI?

[jakobrojs1]

Hi all,

This is my first time posting on here so I hope I'm not in the wrong place or asking a dumb question. Anyways... I am building a MINI pedalboard around the HX stomp. It really is meant to be just two pedals: the stomp and a preamp DI so I can go direct out and gig amp free.

My question is: What preamp/ DI pedal do you recommend for such a setup? I am planning on using the HX stomp for compression and any effects including drive while keeping the preamp/DI practically clean. Using it to amplify/saturate my signal (excuse me if my terminology is wrong) coming from the stomp and sometimes tweaking it based on the preset to give it a bit more punch/warmth/drive etc. BUT the goal is for the preamp/DI to stay relatively untouched (although still have room for tweaking), allowing me to seamlessly switch between tones/sounds (mid gig) just by scrolling through my presets on the HX stomp.
I think an obvious/most popular answer would be something like the JF capo, the bassrig supervintage or the Darkglass ultra. But those are all 500eur ballpark pedals and
1) I am not even sure if I need all of the features on those pedals
2) I wonder if there's any cheaper alternatives that do basically the same thing just as well (maybe something like the MXR bass DI+ ?)

I'd be happy if anyone could tell me, based on my description, what I actually need from a preamp/DI pedal and give me a recommendation based on that. It's fine if you just say stick to the capo or the supervintage, I'll save up for it eventually haha.

ALSO I've seen some people running HX setups with external compressors... Is that just a personal preference or does anyone find any really convincing benefit in that?

 

[Fondsdale]

Why are you wanting to add a seperate DI pedal? The HX Stomp has balanced outputs. You can add two paths, one distorted and one clean (there are two outputs on the Stomp). The thread below hints at possible latency issues if you're sending both the Stomp and DI simultaneously to the board:

Thread 'Do I need a DI Box?'

Sep 22, 2023

Helix straight to front of house vs dry DI and wet Helix to front of house. Which is better?

• kyral210
• Replies: 18
• Forum: Live Sound [BG]

DIs are usually used to add a buffer to avoid signal loss and/or to boost low signal outputs such as a passive bass. The Stomp outputs act as a DI for this purpose.

What is a DI? - Radial Engineering

A DI box, also called a direct box, converts the unbalanced, high impedance signal output of an instrument to a balanced low impedance mic-level signal.

www.radialeng.com

If there's a particular sound you're after that isn't in the HX, then it makes sense to have extra gear. Regarding the compressor, if it does what you want, you don't need a seperate pedal.

 

[gtirard]

• Have you tried a simple TRS <-> XLR adaptor?
• I've seen a few pedalboards with HXS + a tube DI: Sushibox Finally, Kahn DI, or Jad Freer Luce. I suppose it can warm up your sound and add nice harmonics/3D effect/magic powder…

 

[jakobrojs1]

Why are you wanting to add a seperate DI pedal? The HX Stomp has balanced outputs. You can add two paths, one distorted and one clean (there are two outputs on the Stomp). The thread below hints at possible latency issues if you're sending both the Stomp and DI simultaneously to the board:

Thread 'Do I need a DI Box?'

Sep 22, 2023

Helix straight to front of house vs dry DI and wet Helix to front of house. Which is better?

• kyral210
• Replies: 18
• Forum: Live Sound [BG]

DIs are usually used to add a buffer to avoid signal loss and/or to boost low signal outputs such as a passive bass. The Stomp outputs act as a DI for this purpose.

What is a DI? - Radial Engineering

A DI box, also called a direct box, converts the unbalanced, high impedance signal output of an instrument to a balanced low impedance mic-level signal.

www.radialeng.com

If there's a particular sound you're after that isn't in the HX, then it makes sense to have extra gear. Regarding the compressor, if it does what you want, you don't need a seperate pedal.

The main reason I want an external preamp DI is
1. Having a direct out xlr output and not needing a TRS XLR adapters because adapters give me an ick
2. I want to be consistent in the volume each preset is giving me and seamlessly switch from going direct out to using instrument out and to my amp. My main issue on the stomp is if I go direct out the loudness is OK but it's way too loud if I go through my amp (because the signal is being amplified by the stomp and my amp) and it differs from preset to preset. Whether I go instrument out to the amp or direct out from the stomp is dependent from gig to gig. My main idea is that if I had an external DI, I could set the loudness of each individual preset pretty low (by not using cab sims, preamps, amps in the stomp block signal chain) and then let it be amplified by the preamp/DI if im going direct and then just switch off the DI and let it be amplified by my amp when im going instrument out to amp. Important to mention is that my amp is always clean so it really serves no specific tonal purpose just purely as something that makes me louder. Also important to mention is that I do not want to be tweaking knobs such as the volume knob on the stomp in order to set the loudness right.

Hope this makes sense...

 

[Fondsdale]

IDK about spending $500 to avoid using a $20 adapter, but it's your money. You can probably just use the cheapest DI box (Behringer, Pyle, etc) if all you want is to avoid adapters (or use a Radial for a higher quality, but affordable box).

Sorry, I'm not sure I'm really following. You can and should set all the presets to the same volume within the Stomp. You can start with a basic clean tone, then copy + paste this across to other presets as the base starting point.

If you make the clean tone the same volume as the bypassed signal, it shouldn't change the signal going into the amp.

Is the issue that turning off the amp sim makes it louder when going into your amp? Does it look something like below?

Scenario 1: OD Pedal sim >>>> amp sim >>>> direct output = OK volume
Scenario 2: OD Pedal sim >>>> into real amp = too loud

 

[MartinB]

If I were you, I would start with this:
- Check that Global Settings > Ins/Outs > Output Level is set to Inst
- Check that Global Settings > Ins/Outs > Volume Controls is set to Phones
- Set all your presets to unity gain (i.e. output level sounds about the same as an empty preset)
- Ideally, also set every block and split return to unity gain (i.e. block level sounds about the same when enabled and disabled)

This should solve your issues with varying levels, as you'll no longer to be using the Stomp to amplify the signal.

 

[bench]

If you don't want "sound" from your DI you don't need those expensive units that you mentioned. A "pure" DI is sufficient. If you have a passive bass and want the DI before the Stomp i would choose an active DI. If your bass is already active or your DI comes after the Stomp i'd probably go with a passive one.

 

[JamesGrant]

I use a Radial Stage Bug 2 SB (link below). It’s properly galvanically isolated, ground lift works perfectly (when needed!).
It’s small, it’s super well made and tough without being weighty. And it’s a sensible price and it’s passive so doesn’t need any help or coordination with venue PA people.

The HX stomp compressor can be setup to sound as good or better than the best standalone bass compressors (I am a former Origin Effects Cali-76-TX owner - great but physically massive! (Also owned all sorts of other compressors from ‘fixed-ish ratio’ like Diamond bass comp, to studio gear)) My conclusion is, keeping everything in one DSP-based box results in a good, if not better result than daisy-chaining super expensive pedals. (I love pedals, don’t get me wrong - but for gigging I love instant recall and repeatability more). If you want ‘warmth/fattening’ then there’s a mirriad options in the HX including a Noble emulation which I have relabelled ‘fattenWarm’

The only FX pedal I have is after the HX is a UAFX Golden reverb pedal - I like it because the knobs are ‘stiff’ and every venue and event benefits from specific reverb shaping to get the bass to ‘sit’ right in that venue. (Sometimes that’s no reverb). Usually subtle. I like that it has High and Low reverb FX feed controls as well as blending (mix) and delay length all as separate, well labelled physical knobs. Anyway, I digress! DI link:

StageBug SB-2 - Radial Engineering

The StageBug SB-2 is a compact passive direct box that is perfect for active basses and keyboards, is small enough to fit inside an instrument case, and features a stereo to mono mix function to save mixer channels.

www.radialeng.com

Good luck!

 

[MartinB]

ALSO I've seen some people running HX setups with external compressors... Is that just a personal preference or does anyone find any really convincing benefit in that?

Some folks prefer an external compressor with a gain reduction indicator, as they find it easier to dial in. Aside from that, it's the same reason as for any other external effect - sometimes you just can't find the sound that you want in the box.

 

[Bertone]

I have the Capo and the Origin Effects Super vintage. Great pedals. If you want something cheaper, maybe the MXR M81? The advantage of this compared to a plain DI (Radial or similar) is that it gives you easy access to EQ and level without having to go into menyes in the HX stomp. Also nice to have some options should the HX Stomp go down during a gig.

 

[lyonaudio]

Hi all,

This is my first time posting on here so I hope I'm not in the wrong place or asking a dumb question. Anyways... I am building a MINI pedalboard around the HX stomp. It really is meant to be just two pedals: the stomp and a preamp DI so I can go direct out and gig amp free.

My question is: What preamp/ DI pedal do you recommend for such a setup?

Cheap? Get a Behringer BD121.
Expensive? Get an Ampeg SGT-DI.

 

[turcmic]

Welcome to TB! The place where you discover you need to spend more money than you’ll ver make

I had he same dilemma when I bought the HX a couple months ago. After asking myself a few hundred questions and reading the equivalent of an encyclopedia of comments, I decided to go with a Radial Pro DI stereo. Couple of reasons :
- the line signal coming out of the stomp was too high for the Presonus mixer we use for IEM. I don’t play with an amp anymore. Going through a DI solves this
- I spent time to build the presets I use. I didn’t want to have an additional tool to mess with the sound I like, especially just before a gig when, you know, can I improve this or that, and lose focus on the gig. Stability is the key. I let our soundman deal with FOH
- I also play electric upright. My bass presets are sent on the left, my EUB on the right, on separate lines

That said, I always wonder if a better preamp/DI would sound better… hey it’s TB after all…

 

[Low Down Brown]

I built my main board around the HX Stomp. The Stomp is good enough to run straight into the board and get a fantastic sound, but I wanted to have a transformer balanced DI on the output to add some harmonic weight to the signal. I chose the Lighting Boy TI Box cause it has a custom transformer that adds some nice oomph to the signal. The Warm Audio passive DI, or if you feeling frisky, an active Neve DI or possibly something like the Khan (yummy toobz) may be the ticket to breathe life into your setup while providing that xlr out you want. With a digital device like the Stomp, adding the warmth of tubes and/or transformer metal really takes it to the next level.

 

[midichlorine]

that Luce and the regal ( noble clone) inside the stomp would be a pretty simple and nice Tran/tube based DI
You could run deluxe comp and graphic eq when needed in stomp as well.
Or!
The sushibox offering ( some discontinued) but pop up occasionally.

Bass boi from temple audio sounds good as well

Bassrig sv is outstanding but your tied to cabin but that is truly the best “amp in a box” out!

Never tried the mxr but it’s in a sweet price range and I’m sure sounds great!

For me,
The most I could get out of one box that included a DI would be a good move because it saves processing or space in presets

Which brings me back to bass boi!

Preamp, DI and comp

Broughton messenger ?

Dang,
Do many options

 

[FightMilk]

Cory Wongs compressor has a good DI on the side.

 

[prndltech]

I use the hx stomp for everything. Compression, drives, octaves, chorus, fuzz, amp sims, you name it! I currently run the mantle after it, but I have used and still own a neve rndi-m, khan vtdi and walrus audio canvas line isolator/di.

Sometimes the sound guy wants a wet/dry signal so I can always patch in one for a clean sound as seen below. It’s quick and easy to set up with just an extra DI and one extra patch cable.

 

[JamesGrant]

I use the hx stomp with the mantle preamp/di at the moment. But I have used and still own a neve rndi-m, khan vtdi and walrus audio canvas line isolator/di.

Sometimes the sound guy wants a wet/dry signal so I can always patch in one for a clean sound as seen below. It’s quick and easy.


View attachment 7472002View attachment 7472003

Super high end, nice carpet, suspect cable management . Must be a church?

 

[FronTowardEnemy]

I like SB finally. V3 with the stomp. You can always just get a line isolator as well. As far as compression goes, I like to see gain reduction on my compressors, and I like to be able to taylor them to what ever instrument I have going into it. Easier having a physical compressor. Just preference.

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/CanvasNano--walrus-audio-canvas-nano-line-isolator-pedal

 

[PotsdamBass8]

I ran this setup for a little while, and basically so the same now but with a Cortex Nano instead of a Stomp. It saves you a block or more on the stomp by using the di for eq and any amp/cab simulation. I’ve used the tech 21 VT bass DI and now use the Tonehammer DI, both of which can be found used for 200 and do a great job or allowing eq control and carrying amounts of emulation/grit if you want it. If you just want a flexible eq section, the Q strip is a good choice as well. There are honestly lots of great options and it really depends on what particular features or sound you want from it.

Regarding the compressors and other separate effects, sometimes people just want something that’s not on their multi. I personally liked the LA2A compressor on the stomp.


I think you’ll sometimes get some pushback when you ask about things like this because everyone wants to believe that their route is the best and there’s no reason to buy anything more than the Stomp. We have all of these great pieces of gear available to us now, but everyone needs to keep in mind that we all have our own preference about what we want to use and how we want to use it. You could absolutely get everything you need with just the stomp and an adapter. I could also (and have) played the same gigs with just a single flat DI, or a Quad Cortex with 8 different scenes. Take all advice, mine included, with a grain of salt.

 

[scuzzy]

No need for a fancy DI to follow the stomp, which will likely handle all the tone/eq shaping.

For the money, I very much like the Warm Audio DI's. Very pleasant sound. Also can't go wrong with a JDI or a J48. Keep it simple. And likely keep it passive.