Is a HPF redundant with a SansAmp BDDI V2?

[Ian774]

Hi all,

My main sound comes from my pedalboard, which consists of MXR M76 -> OE DCX Bass -> SansAmp BDDI V2. I usually go straight into the Return input of any given amp, or straight to PA.

I see (almost) everyone raving about the benefits of a HPF to clean up the unruly low frequencies of one’s bass tone.
Now, the BDDI has quite prominent, punchy lows. However, the SansAmp circuitry is meant to emulate amp + cab. There’s an analog cab sim which usually means that the “high highs” and “low lows” are trimmed a bit.

So my question is, is a HPF redundant with the SansAmp? I was thinking of getting a Broughton adjustable HPF to put in front of my chain, to clean up my low frequencies.

What is your experience with this setup ? Thanks!

 

[vickerekes]

With the blend knob wide open, the cabsim in the BDDI reduces low lows quite a bit. I measured it. The curve won't be as steep as a HPF, but has a similar result.

 

[Ian774]

With the blend knob wide open, the BDDI reduces low lows quite a bit. I measured it. The curve won't be as steep as a HPF, but has a similar result.

I should have mentioned, I never play with the blend higher than 12/1 o’clock. Anything higher than that and it’s too scooped for me.

 

[13bass]

With the blend knob wide open, the cabsim in the BDDI reduces low lows quite a bit. I measured it. The curve won't be as steep as a HPF, but has a similar result.

I always keep my blend 100% BDDI and just add some mids by in and/or reduce the bass/treble a bit.

 

[Ian774]

I always keep my blend 100% BDDI and just add some mids by in and/or reduce the bass/treble a bit.

How does it work out for you?

Any more experience with HPF + SansAmp?

 

[13bass]

How does it work out for you?

Any more experience with HPF + SansAmp?

Works great, but I don't use a separate HPF.

 

[JohnnyChatter]

Man this won’t be a popular opinion. I bought the Broughton HPF a few years ago because I heard all the magic it does. First I tried it in my pedal chain and I liked it best all the way off. So I thought maybe I’m not doing this right. I tried it with no pedal chain. With my Sansamp. Different heads because I know some heads have built in non adjustable HPF’s. I just must really like the Lowes because I felt like it always took away and didn’t add to my tone. It’s kinda like a sonic maximizer. Ya either love them or ya don’t.

 

[prndltech]

… I just must really like the Lowes because I …

I’ve always been more of a Home Depot guy myself





Back to the topic at hand, I liked the bddi v2, I’ve never tried it with a HPF though, never thought it needed it.

 

[vickerekes]

I should have mentioned, I never play with the blend higher than 12/1 o’clock. Anything higher than that and it’s too scooped for me.

I run the blend at 50% too (for the sound of the instrument).
It looks like that scoop is just part of the cabsim for a big vintage cab:
you could try boosting mids @500hz to neutralize that.

 

[FirewalZ]

How does it work out for you?

Any more experience with HPF + SansAmp?

I have a Broughton HPF/LPF but I don't always use it, it depends on the rig and the room. However when I do it first in the chain and the BDDI v2 is last. I use the BDDI to FOH and the parallel out(unaffected) into my amp, so I don't see that the BDDI and HP/LP filter are really related or solving an issue the other introduces, if that's the implication?

 

[Ian774]

I run the blend at 50% too (for the sound of the instrument).
It looks like that scoop is just part of the cabsim for a big vintage cab:
you could try boosting mids @500hz to neutralize that.

Is 500Hz not too boxy?

 

[Slade N]

Man this won’t be a popular opinion. I bought the Broughton HPF a few years ago because I heard all the magic it does. First I tried it in my pedal chain and I liked it best all the way off. So I thought maybe I’m not doing this right. I tried it with no pedal chain. With my Sansamp. Different heads because I know some heads have built in non adjustable HPF’s. I just must really like the Lowes because I felt like it always took away and didn’t add to my tone. It’s kinda like a sonic maximizer. Ya either love them or ya don’t.

Fair enough. You might consider trying again someday as they are similar to compressors in that its not always obvious on how to get the best of out of them…or dont, if you are happy with your setup, skip it. Like compressors they can be helpful for many but not require for all.

 

[Azari]

The low end on a Sansamp BDDI, in my opinion, is attenuated well enough that adding filters after it is pretty much not needed. In my experience, any needed adjustments can be made from the mixing desk. Just plug in the XLR and enjoy. I love seeing a BDDI at the heart of a bass rig.

 

[darwin-bass]

I run a ParaDriver. Compared it to the VT Bass DI and did some low-tech frequency measurements on the two boxes. Neither are the BDDI but I found the results interesting. I'm guessing the BDDI and ParaDriver are more similar.

• ParaDriver has more extended lows than the VT Bass DI - If it is cutting lows, it is doing so gently and at rather low F3 point.
• ParaDriver has more baked-in mid scoop than the VTDI. In fact the VTDI measured flat-ish with all the controls at noon.
• Flat-ish on the ParaDriver is with the Air on, Bass and Treble cut to 10:00 position and mids at 1:30, 750 Hz.

Yes, I run the ParaDriver, blend 100%, with the Broughton HPF. Or in my case the RFE. I really like the resonance controls to boost the lows and highs just a bit for some subtle color. The difference is subtle but in the mix, the bass is just a bit more present and audible. Less subliminal rumble, more low-voiced musical instrument.

Again, this is NOT with the BDDI. I've never used one.

 

[vickerekes]

Is 500Hz not too boxy?

Well, no need to dime it, just enough to smooth this out some.

 

[mdogs]

I run both my BDDI, blend at about 1 o’clock, and my Broughton always on HPF 100% of the time. I see very little overlap between what they do. My pedalboard is pretty simple: tuner-HPF-compressor (never on), BDDI to FOH.

 

[ravlin]

I like an HPF because I can bias my eq very low end heavy and then just nip the "too much" part off. Alsu useful with Octave and wild envelope filters that throw some crazy stuff at the front end of the amp.

 

[DishDive]

I use Broughton HPF first in my chain (after tuner). The idea is that by reducing some of the low low end the compressor doesn't have to work so hard and can focus on more important freqs. The BDDIv2 is last and goes into my amp input. The rooms I play are usually boomy and I'm usually forced to stand right next to my amp where it's usually boomiest. So reducing boom is important to me.
The recorded signal that come from the BDDIv2 usually lacks just a dad low end due to the HPF. So still trying to figure it out as well. In my live situations, it’s helpful to reduce boom.

 

[Zbysek]

Well, no need to dime it, just enough to smooth this out some.
View attachment 7038032

What is the lower graph?

 

[Ian774]

Well, no need to dime it, just enough to smooth this out some.
View attachment 7038032

What’s the Blend 1-6 ranking?