Making recordings better? Preamp/DI box question.

[jaymelewis]

I think it's important to keep in mind that, even though signal chain improvement is improvement nonetheless, it is subtle most of the time. Any of these devices will alter your sound. Is alter a good thing or a bad thing? Could be either, depending on what you're going for. A pre with a HiZ input or a tube DI box or active or passive... It's just another thing in your signal chain.

All in all, I'd say that if you're doing pro recording work then it's a worthy investment. If you're just doing youtube videos or demos, then any modern "cheap" interface will do the trick; technology has come a LONG way in the past 2-3 years. If your current interface is older than that, check out some of the newer budget ones. Just my thoughts

 

[PDGood]

I bought an Apollo Twin and it has made a huge difference. Part of that I think is the quality of the AD converter, but the other part is the group of plug-ins that come with it. They have emulations of high end hardware - both pre amps and compression. Nothing fattens a tone like running through a good quality compressor (and it's not uncommon to run through more than one at a time). Apollo just introduced a new, more affordable line which I think is called Arrow. I haven't tried that. The Twin I can testify is amazing.

 

[AngelCrusher]

I bought an Apollo Twin and it has made a huge difference. Part of that I think is the quality of the AD converter, but the other part is the group of plug-ins that come with it. They have emulations of high end hardware - both pre amps and compression. Nothing fattens a tone like running through a good quality compressor (and it's not uncommon to run through more than one at a time). Apollo just introduced a new, more affordable line which I think is called Arrow. I haven't tried that. The Twin I can testify is amazing.

The Twin is so good.What I love is you can use the software emulations before hitting the convertors. Definitely the next step up, especially using the Thunderbolt connection.

 

[Frank Tuesday]

I forgot about the TSE BOD VST.

 

[bikeplate]

A grest inexpensive way is a Radial JDI. If you want to spend more go for an Avalon

 

[JimmyM]

I use all of the above.

 

[bassbrad]

With my MAudio Fast track I use various preamps depending on the tone I am looking for
Southampton Ictineo absolute magic many times this with a touch of small room reverb sits perfectly in almost any track effortless to mix. Makes any instrument just sound better.

John Kallas FET F2B Alembic tube pre in a stomp box.

Joyo California Sound a great sounding affordable option

and I use my multieffects for some sounds and preamps
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed] I use this often especially when tracking guitar parts, tweety bass or bass parts.
Zoom B2, B3, B2.1u or MS60B tasty magic in an inexpensive durable package.

Hard to find, discontinued but worthy of consideration:
Digitech BP8
Zeibek Submarine
[sfx]AY2 a take on the Yamahe NE-1 box.

 

[HolmeBass]

That is with mark studio: Invalid Link Removed
This is the same, but without any effects, absolutely clean: Invalid Link Removed
First of all: sorry for mistakes, I usually do better, but right now I'm little bit sick with temperature (I know it is sounds like justification, but who cares?). Think it is enough to check the sound.
Second: I know I could get better if I use mic input on my card and use bass amp to record it. But usually I play late at night, so I can't make much noise and my only option is to get better sound quality without recording an amp. Only bass to sound card (maybe with preamp, I still not sure).
The settings of MarkBass are those:

The EQ settings on your virtual MarkBass amp are way too extreme, especially the complete cut of low mids. Try something with far less EQing and see if the natural sound of your basses will work better.

 

[honeyiscool]

You keep saying that you don’t think the interface matters. It matters. I think it’s the most important starting point. Plus, the interface has built-in preamp and DI as well as converters and drivers. If you don’t have good conversion, nothing else matters. Once you get past about $125 per analog channel, you usually get incremental improvements at best so you can start thinking about how to optimize the channel for bass specifically, but at the lower end, you will notice some vast differences.

Also don’t forget that your pickup matters a lot, too. But even with all of the above, you need to learn how to do some basic signal processing in software. People often say things like “I go straight from my DI,” but I really wonder if these people are finishing busy songs with multiple parts and if the entire mixing process really leaves the bass untouched. If I went through a DI, usually the bass track requires a subtle, transparent compressor (or it was saturated during the recording process due to tape or pushed preamp or whatever) at the least to make sure the bass has its own space separate from the drums. Some parametric EQ often works well, too. The thing is, once you get used to creating mixes, you don’t think you’re doing much to your tracks when you throw in some light compression and EQ, but it makes a world of difference when taken holistically.

 

[GrapeBass]

How about a little compression/limiting before you go in the interface to help take the edge off.

 

[BoomSTICK]

Wasn't there a DI comparison done a few years ago featuring Tony Levin?? This is where he played his bass(es) through many top tier DIs? It may be helpful in your decision-making in terms of the DI question. Have a good time trying to decide after listening to those files . You may end up thinking about an interface after hearing those clips.

 

[Leo Dale]

https://www.thomann.de/de/ampeg_scr_di.htm?ref=search_prv_7

how would this compare with the tech 21 sansamp?

 

[AcridSaint]

I don't think your recordings sound bad, but I used to own (still own?) that interface and it was noisy and not at all good for me. I bought a Mackie Onyx Blackjack and I could not be happier. I would consider a different interface before getting a DI. What amp do you have and does it have a DI out?

 

[4001]

I get decent tone using the DI's straight out of my GK 700RBII's either pre OR post EQ and into a small mixer where I have a small 3 band EQ for each channel and compression if I want to add any and then it goes on to tape...

 

[saabfender]

https://www.thomann.de/de/ampeg_scr_di.htm?ref=search_prv_7

how would this compare with the tech 21 sansamp?

While I don't know that box specifically, just looking at the controls, features and price, I'd guess they are very similar. I'd certainly go for it. I rather like the built-in distortion pedal aspect of it. Having a drive level preset and switchable is an improvement over the SansAmp Bass Driver. Come to think of it, probably why I don't use OD on the SansAmp much. Not that it's bad, just not something to mess with during a gig.

FWIW, My preference is to place pedals on my (rather tall) amp rather than on the floor.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

Hello!
The story: I use Fender Jazz Bass passive directly to M-audio Fast Track, which goes to PC or MacBook with Reaper/Logic, but I don't like the quality of the sound, it is kinda plastic and cheap. Even with VST plugins. I see many youtubers get really clean and rich sound, using preamps and DI boxes (I don't speak about those guys using big amps and mics), and I'd like to make my sound better.
The question: what should I get to be able to record at home with good quality? A DI box, or a preamp such as tech 21 sansamp bass driver di programmable, or shiftline olympic mk2/mk3?
And 21 sansamp can be used as DI box, so is it best from both worlds?
Also I have a fuzz pedal bigmuff deluxe, which also can be used as DI box, can it help me improve my overall sound quality when recording?
And yes, I don't use old strings.

Hope you can give me good advice, I'm quite new to this and really need help. Thanks!

I use an Eden WTDI pedal, or an Eden Navigator. . You can also use the DI out of most Eden heads without the need to power up speakers. They work great.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

That is with mark studio: Invalid Link Removed
This is the same, but without any effects, absolutely clean: Invalid Link Removed
First of all: sorry for mistakes, I usually do better, but right now I'm little bit sick with temperature (I know it is sounds like justification, but who cares?). Think it is enough to check the sound.
Second: I know I could get better if I use mic input on my card and use bass amp to record it. But usually I play late at night, so I can't make much noise and my only option is to get better sound quality without recording an amp. Only bass to sound card (maybe with preamp, I still not sure).
The settings of MarkBass are those:

If I’m engineering the project, give me #2. Front end EQs are hard to fix at mix down time.

 

[Zermelo]

From "neh.." to GREAT, my experiencie:

. Bass direct to interface.
. Bass - Bass head with DI out - Interface
. Bass - Bass head with DI out - Good outboard preamp - Interface
. Bass - Avalon U5 - Interface (it kills)

 

[brianrost]

How about a little compression/limiting before you go in the interface to help take the edge off.

Better to do that in the DAW. Any signal procesing you do before the interface is permanently baked in. Only reason to ever use outboard is because it provides useful colorations or significantly better definition. That's where the interface can become a bottleneck...no sense using a $2000 preamp with a $100 interface.

Someone mentioned Warm Audio earlier. That stuff is all about coloration, as is a lot of the vintage gear that the big boys use. If you can hear the difference and like it, use it.

As someone else mentioned, what's the goal? Recording stuff for a commercial release is a lot different than just recording for fun. Just like all other gear discussions here at TB, the point of diminishing returns is reached very quickly with recording gear. My opinion is (as always) that more gear should be the last resort. Maximizing what your current gear can do should be exhausted first.

 

[GrapeBass]

Better to do that in the DAW. Any signal procesing you do before the interface is permanently baked in. Only reason to ever use outboard is because it provides useful colorations or significantly better definition. That's where the interface can become a bottleneck...no sense using a $2000 preamp with a $100 interface.

Someone mentioned Warm Audio earlier. That stuff is all about coloration, as is a lot of the vintage gear that the big boys use. If you can hear the difference and like it, use it.

As someone else mentioned, what's the goal? Recording stuff for a commercial release is a lot different than just recording for fun. Just like all other gear discussions here at TB, the point of diminishing returns is reached very quickly with recording gear. My opinion is (as always) that more gear should be the last resort. Maximizing what your current gear can do should be exhausted first.

I'm not talking about a great amount of compression or limiting. Just a bit to tame the dynamics and prevent clipping, you cannot fix that and the compressors on the DAWs don't cut it for this, especially with bass. Think of it as a bit of simulated tube amplification.