New Origin Effects DCX Bass

[PWolverine]

I'm not sure what would be the point. Everyone knows the Noble is the gold standard but that's not what any other pedals like the bassrig are for. The Noble isn't a can sim nor does it do distortion. So again I don't think there would be much of a point.

Yes, so with a gold standard item, how do others stack up to it? If you are looking for a clean tone, does the bassrig get close? What about other pedals?

Origin Effect (and others) do pedals that are trying to come as close to a tube as possible, with its dynamics and so on. Noble has that tube, so how close are those emulations in real life?

Is it simply that when people drop $1500 on a pedal they don't want to hear that it sounds really close to a pedal 1/4 of the price? Because you often just don't get a straight answer, or even straight comparison.


Edit: Also "everyone knows" .. how? Because people that spend $1500 tell them that their purchase is worth it?

 

[odarellmc]

Yes, so with a gold standard item, how do others stack up to it? If you are looking for a clean tone, does the bassrig get close? What about other pedals?

Origin Effect (and others) do pedals that are trying to come as close to a tube as possible, with its dynamics and so on. Noble has that tube, so how close are those emulations in real life?

Is it simply that when people drop $1500 on a pedal they don't want to hear that it sounds really close to a pedal 1/4 of the price? Because you often just don't get a straight answer, or even straight comparison.


Edit: Also "everyone knows" .. how? Because people that spend $1500 tell them that their purchase is worth it?

Yes, very reputable players use it or they wouldn't endorse it. That's good enough for most plus the price tag really is for Touring or session musicians. Maybe when I get to that level I'll be more interested. Start a poll and see how many are interested, they may be.

 

[Colum]

I do also wonder why there isn't stupid amount of XXX pedal vs Noble videos - If the noble is the gold standard, why aren't we comparing most other pedals to it?

The Noble is a DI box, not a stomp box and there are many DI box comparison videos.
Here’s one

 

[PWolverine]

The Noble is a DI box, not a stomp box and there are many DI box comparison videos.
Here’s one

yup that is probably the best video out there, and there aren’t too many unfortunately. but still doesn’t look into tube emulators vs the gold standard tube in a box. I’d still love to see how close they do get, especially the bass rigs and origin products.

Yes, very reputable players use it or they wouldn't endorse it. That's good enough for most plus the price tag really is for Touring or session musicians.

Yup, but very reputable players also endorse non tube pedals and tour with them at a fraction of the price. The bass rigs are good enough for the Super Bowl. Price tag shouldn’t be an indicator, other than contributing to buyers bias for spending mega bucks and wanting to hear it sounding “better”, possibly? Confirmation bias has to be factored in,. Which is why that blind test is great, but I’d still love to see how close some of these pedals match up to the gold standard.

Maybe it is just me, or I’m looking at things the wrong way, but I’d love to see more comparisons trying to achieve the same results as the gold standard, or how close they can get.

 

[odarellmc]

yup that is probably the best video out there, and there aren’t too many unfortunately. but still doesn’t look into tube emulators vs the gold standard tube in a box. I’d still love to see how close they do get, especially the bass rigs and origin products.



Yup, but very reputable players also endorse non tube pedals and tour with them at a fraction of the price. The bass rigs are good enough for the Super Bowl. Price tag shouldn’t be an indicator, other than contributing to buyers bias for spending mega bucks and wanting to hear it sounding “better”, possibly? Confirmation bias has to be factored in,. Which is why that blind test is great, but I’d still love to see how close some of these pedals match up to the gold standard.

Maybe it is just me, or I’m looking at things the wrong way, but I’d love to see more comparisons trying to achieve the same results as the gold standard, or how close they can get.

I think so. They're so different they really don't need a comparison. The Noble is a Pre Amp. The pedals you're talking about are "amp in a box". Two different animals. You'll probably do better comparing the Noble to say something like the REDDI or Arkham Oracle??? Or something along those lines...and there are plenty of fair comparisons in that category.

 

[Stranger Danger]

I could definitely see this as a fattener, boost and tone shaper for a passive bass with lower output pickups. Anyone using it for that purpose?

 

[PWolverine]

I think so. They're so different they really don't need a comparison. The Noble is a Pre Amp. The pedals you're talking about are "amp in a box". Two different animals. You'll probably do better comparing the Noble to say something like the REDDI or Arkham Oracle??? Or something along those lines...and there are plenty of fair comparisons in that category.

See I don't see them as being "So different they really don't need a comparison" ... get a Bassrig 1/4" out and compare them as pre-amps if that is an issue. I see lots of tube against tube comparisons. Very little Noble against anything non-tube that has been released recently.

I see it as, Noble is a gold standard tube sound on a pedalboard size. Bassrig (and others) are trying to emulate that gold standard tube sound in a pedal board sized device. Let's see how close they can get. I see a lot of "they don't need a comparison" "they are different beasts" and so on - basically a "trust me" it is good - don't ask questions type of cult mentality to shut down any further investigation. But if something is the gold standard that everything is compared to and striving to be, why not see how close others can come to that.

It is getting a bit off topic, so I'll leave it here, but the more I read some responses I get the feeling that people don't want to be told that their $1500 rare, very sought after device only gives them a 1% difference that isn't noticeable to many people. Make something hard to get, high priced and limited, maybe once you actually get it you don't want to admit maybe it is not all it has been cracked up to be. But i'd love to see people tackle it definitively - and there are plenty of comments in the videos asking for a Noble VS Bassrig comparison.

Or maybe it is some holy grail of bass sound that has some special something that cannot be replicated in any way by any other manufacturer throughout time, making it worth the price, I can't say without seeing some decent comparisons.

 

[Derek Williams]

See I don't see them as being "So different they really don't need a comparison" ... get a Bassrig 1/4" out and compare them as pre-amps if that is an issue. I see lots of tube against tube comparisons. Very little Noble against anything non-tube that has been released recently.

I see it as, Noble is a gold standard tube sound on a pedalboard size. Bassrig (and others) are trying to emulate that gold standard tube sound in a pedal board sized device. Let's see how close they can get. I see a lot of "they don't need a comparison" "they are different beasts" and so on - basically a "trust me" it is good - don't ask questions type of cult mentality to shut down any further investigation. But if something is the gold standard that everything is compared to and striving to be, why not see how close others can come to that.

It is getting a bit off topic, so I'll leave it here, but the more I read some responses I get the feeling that people don't want to be told that their $1500 rare, very sought after device only gives them a 1% difference that isn't noticeable to many people. Make something hard to get, high priced and limited, maybe once you actually get it you don't want to admit maybe it is not all it has been cracked up to be. But i'd love to see people tackle it definitively - and there are plenty of comments in the videos asking for a Noble VS Bassrig comparison.

Or maybe it is some holy grail of bass sound that has some special something that cannot be replicated in any way by any other manufacturer throughout time, making it worth the price, I can't say without seeing some decent comparisons.

@IvanBassist recently compared his Noble with a Caveman BP1 (which has no tubes), 2 devices going for the same goal. This video makes me happy that I didn’t spend the money on a Noble, as I prefer the BP1:

 

[odarellmc]

See I don't see them as being "So different they really don't need a comparison" ... get a Bassrig 1/4" out and compare them as pre-amps if that is an issue. I see lots of tube against tube comparisons. Very little Noble against anything non-tube that has been released recently.

I see it as, Noble is a gold standard tube sound on a pedalboard size. Bassrig (and others) are trying to emulate that gold standard tube sound in a pedal board sized device. Let's see how close they can get. I see a lot of "they don't need a comparison" "they are different beasts" and so on - basically a "trust me" it is good - don't ask questions type of cult mentality to shut down any further investigation. But if something is the gold standard that everything is compared to and striving to be, why not see how close others can come to that.

It is getting a bit off topic, so I'll leave it here, but the more I read some responses I get the feeling that people don't want to be told that their $1500 rare, very sought after device only gives them a 1% difference that isn't noticeable to many people. Make something hard to get, high priced and limited, maybe once you actually get it you don't want to admit maybe it is not all it has been cracked up to be. But i'd love to see people tackle it definitively - and there are plenty of comments in the videos asking for a Noble VS Bassrig comparison.

Or maybe it is some holy grail of bass sound that has some special something that cannot be replicated in any way by any other manufacturer throughout time, making it worth the price, I can't say without seeing some decent comparisons.

There is a computer plug in that I feel best represents what the noble does. It's called the virtual tude preamp by studio devil. Studio Devil - Virtual Tube Preamp this add an indescribable depth to your sound. It's excellent. This is the best way to show you how it sounds. I can't find another piece of software that does what this does check it out. I think you'll understand once you hear it.

 

[odarellmc]

@IvanBassist recently compared his Noble with a Caveman BP1 (which has no tubes), 2 devices going for the same goal. This video makes me happy that I didn’t spend the money on a Noble, as I prefer the BP1:

He's clearly stating you can't compare the two it's like comparing a Cadillac to a Tesla. Like I stated earlier if you really want an idea of how it sounds check out the tube pre amp from studio devil

 

[silky smoove]

this add an indescribable depth to your sound

Run it through Plugin Doctor and it will be easily describable.

 

[odarellmc]

Run it through Plugin Doctor and it will be easily describable.

Please do so I would love a description

 

[Derek Williams]

He's clearly stating you can't compare the two it's like comparing a Cadillac to a Tesla. Like I stated earlier if you really want an idea of how it sounds check out the tube pre amp from studio devil

That’s hilarious. Sure they can be compared.

 

[odarellmc]

That’s hilarious. Sure they can be compared.

I'm not sure how you can describe the difference in sound. If you can I'm open to hearing your opinion. Honestly I feel as though you're really don't care to compare what I'm describing so I'm not sure why you're commenting. If by some chance you really are, I'm open to hearing your opinion.

 

[Derek Williams]

I'm not sure how you can describe the difference in sound. If you can I'm open to hearing your opinion. Honestly I feel as though you're really don't care to compare what I'm describing so I'm not sure why you're commenting. If by some chance you really are, I'm open to hearing your opinion.

Just because something is not exactly describable in english does not mean it isn't describable. These are circuits and software. We have tools to measure frequency response, distortion, and all the rest. These boxes are measurable, reproducible, and comparable.

When it comes to relating those descriptions to eachother in words it becomes an approximation. But that doesn't negate anything.

We would be completely lost if we were incapable of relating a tube preamp to a solid state one. I may not be able to properly describe the differences in sound, but that's on me. I'm not comfortable enough in this field. But I would never say it isn't possible to do.

And why am I commenting? I started this thread to discuss the DCX bass. you don't want me here? go somewhere else to talk about your magic boxes that no one can comprehend.

 

[odarellmc]

Just because something is not exactly describable in english does not mean it isn't describable. These are circuits and software. We have tools to measure frequency response, distortion, and all the rest. These boxes are measurable, reproducible, and comparable.

When it comes to relating those descriptions to eachother in words it becomes an approximation. But that doesn't negate anything.

We would be completely lost if we were incapable of relating a tube preamp to a solid state one. I may not be able to properly describe the differences in sound, but that's on me. I'm not comfortable enough in this field. But I would never say it isn't possible to do.

And why am I commenting? I started this thread to discuss the DCX bass. you don't want me here? go somewhere else to talk about your magic boxes that no one can comprehend.

As always you have to get the last word, nevermind what I was talking about, an actual comparison. I concede sir.

 

[Derek Williams]

As always you have to get the last word, nevermind what I was talking about, an actual comparison. I concede sir.

I came into this line of conversation responding to @PWolverine , not you. I was giving another example of an actual comparison between the Noble and another similar device, because there are very few of them. A real, actual comparison between 2 high-end preamp/DIs, where there are good sound samples in different styles, along with impressions by the reviewer to describe how he felt about using them.

But no, I don't belong in this conversation. I'm off topic here. You even asked me "I'm not sure how you can describe the difference in sound. If you can I'm open to hearing your opinion." And when I do give you my opinion, you act like it's unwanted. You play the victim and that I "always need to get in the last word". Come on.

I even agree with out about comparing the BassRig and Noble. They are different enough that a comparison about which is "better" is not possible. The only good comparison that can be made is how they are different, and which situations they each excel at.

 

[SteveFromBerlin]

Guys, if you could be so kind and get a room

Here's a quick vid comparing a few takes on the combinations I kinda liked the best.
Excuse my amateur playing, I'm an enthusiastic tone seeker.
P with Flats and a P with Rounds. Nothing special.
Such good products.
They all sound good but I like the way the analog stuff "Feels" while playing much more.
Lemme know what you guys think and if you have a request i'll try to make it happen.
I've got a nice AM Jazz bass and an JMJ mustang as well. But my CS P's are my best.

What's the signal chain for London Calling? I don't see the DCX in there, so is it UA Comp + some Helix Amp Sim? Sounds great man!

 

[Colum]

@IvanBassist recently compared his Noble with a Caveman BP1 (which has no tubes), 2 devices going for the same goal. This video makes me happy that I didn’t spend the money on a Noble, as I prefer the BP1:

To me, the Noble sounded superior in all those examples and I would never spend that on a bass DI/ preamp. The other one sounded perfectly fine too.
If I had a professional studio I probably would buy the Nobels. Pro audio is eye-wateringly expensive but so is studio time so if it gets the sound you need quickly and consistently then it's worth it over time as an investment. This stuff isn't meant for the part timers.
If you can't be with the one you love then love the one you're with.

 

[Avalon5]

It would be cool if IvanBassist or some one else, with great chops, would compare the DCX Bass and these other preamp/DI’s. The Caveman seems to be on back order status, so not sure if one can get a new one if they wanted to. My interest in this preamp is, will it thicken up a transparent amp, will it take the over the top High-end out of a bass, and maybe start adding a little bit of fuzz to my tone or tape saturation to my sound. As it was eye opening that when listening with headphones to an old Motown Jamison bass sound that had some grit to it. So for them to go direct wasn’t as clean as I thought it was.