• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Para Driver or BDDI?

slap5string

slap5string

Jul 19, 2010
373
3
Cleveland, Ohio
#1
I recently picked up a Bass Driver DI and while it works as I would have expected (I've owned many sansamp products through the years) I find myself leaning towards the Para Driver because of the mid-freq control and mid-level control. I own a Sansamp RPM and love the ability to adjust the mids, unlike on the RBI. Has anyone played both and know how the Para Driver compares to the BDDI?
 
#3
slap5string said:
I recently picked up a Bass Driver DI and while it works as I would have expected (I've owned many sansamp products through the years) I find myself leaning towards the Para Driver because of the mid-freq control and mid-level control. I own a Sansamp RPM and love the ability to adjust the mids, unlike on the RBI. Has anyone played both and know how the Para Driver compares to the BDDI?
Click to expand...

The RPM is the rackmount version of our Para Driver.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Franz975
#4
slap5string said:
I recently picked up a Bass Driver DI and while it works as I would have expected (I've owned many sansamp products through the years) I find myself leaning towards the Para Driver because of the mid-freq control and mid-level control. I own a Sansamp RPM and love the ability to adjust the mids, unlike on the RBI. Has anyone played both and know how the Para Driver compares to the BDDI?
Click to expand...

I used to have a Paradiver, and traded with a fellow TB'er for the BDDI. My Carvin BB76 has it's own mid-sweep, and wanted to give the BDDI a shot.

I do miss the Paradriver at times, and feel it can get more aggressive. I use the BDDI for dirt with my main rig, and as a pre-amp for my backup with a Crown XLS 1500. I've spent the past week using the BDDI/Crown exclusively, and by cutting various degrees of bass and/or treble, find that it is almost a versatile as the PDDI. The deeper I get into it, the better it sounds.

Long story short, if my Carvin didn't have the active EQ that it does, and get another Paradriver. As is, the BDDI is more than enough.
 
#6
So many treads on this - I had the paradriver but now use only the BDDI, it has a better grit when pushed hard, it could be just me and my setup. I use it only for direct recording and not in fron of an amp.

My favorite setting on the BDDI is the SVT setting with drive turned back to 10 oclock and presence set at 9 oclock. mess with the level a bit to get it right. I play with a P bass!
 
#9
I recently purchased both the BDDI and PDDI and have found that the clean sounds are more flexible on the PDDI.

If you are looking for grit, however, you may be better served with the bass driver. The Para breaks up pretty quickly and there isn't much between clean and full out crunch, whereas the bass driver has more subtle grit available. This can be remedied on the Para driver by lowering the mid control though.

Being that I am looking for clean sounds, I'm keeping the PDDI. The semi parametric mid control is awesome, and it allows so much versatility.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Jazz Bass Girl
#10
I agree with the last post. Mids are where I want the most control on bass, I like the mids around 250hz most of the time, sometimes around 800hz when playing the p pickup soloed on my pj bass. I just recorded this past weekend with it, worked great. VT bass version 2 would be my second choice out of the Tech 21 lineup. I have had BDDI's in the past, liked them well enough, the mid scoop can be remedied somewhat with the blend & cuts of treble & bass. In the end there was not enough control of the mids in the BDDI for me.
 
#11
tech21nyc said:
The RPM is the rackmount version of our Para Driver.
Click to expand...

Ahhh, ok. In that case, I'm going to return the BDDI and get the Para driver. I'm looking for that deep, slightly dirty (or clean if I need it), sound I get from the RPM. Its so versitile, I absolutely love it - the only problem is its a rackmount and I can't get my 73 SVT into a rack :)
so having the rackmount RPM does me no good when giggin with my SVT / 810 rig. I do however use the RPM with my GK rig on other occasions. It's nice to know I can get the RPM in a more portable / pedalboard design :D
 
#14
swspiers said:
It's fricking great to see someone else post how to boost mids on the BDDI.

+1
Click to expand...
I have been tempted to launch an education campaign on these forums when reading other posts, lol. Also to note, I believe that adjusting the midrange this way is much more musical and it's really hard to dial in a bad tone.

With my Fender PJ bass I remember having the presence cranked to about 2 o'clock, treble at about 10 o'clock, bass at 11 o'clock and adjusting the drive until I got "the" sound. I was unable to replicate this on the RBI by adjusting the mid control, rather I had to leave it straight up then reproduce the adjustments to bass and treble to get that "sound". Slight amount of break up, the right amount of snap up top, and beefy.
 
#15
tylerwylie said:
I have been tempted to launch an education campaign on these forums when reading other posts, lol. Also to note, I believe that adjusting the midrange this way is much more musical and it's really hard to dial in a bad tone.

With my Fender PJ bass I remember having the presence cranked to about 2 o'clock, treble at about 10 o'clock, bass at 11 o'clock and adjusting the drive until I got "the" sound. I was unable to replicate this on the RBI by adjusting the mid control, rather I had to leave it straight up then reproduce the adjustments to bass and treble to get that "sound". Slight amount of break up, the right amount of snap up top, and beefy.
Click to expand...

Yep. And altering the amount of cut between bass and treble has a pretty big impact regarding low and high mids. Heck, I swear everything effects the mids on this pedal!
 
#16
swspiers said:
It's fricking great to see someone else post how to boost mids on the BDDI.

+1
Click to expand...

I wasnt concerned with "boosting" the mids and after 20+ years I certainly dont need educated on how to use the BDDI. I prefer having the ability to control the freq and boost/cut of the mid is all. If you are a "set it and forget it" guy, the the BDDI may be your thing. I play many styles and prefer the flexibility the Para Driver provides. FWIW - Geddy Lee also prefers the RPM to the RBI also because of the mid freq flexibilty.
 
#17
slap5string said:
I wasnt concerned with "boosting" the mids and after 20+ years I certainly dont need educated on how to use the BDDI. I prefer having the ability to control the freq and boost/cut of the mid is all. If you are a "set it and forget it" guy, the the BDDI may be your thing. I play many styles and prefer the flexibility the Para Driver provides. FWIW - Geddy Lee also prefers the RPM to the RBI also because of the mid freq flexibilty.
Click to expand...

And I certainly wasn't directing my comment towards you...

I just think both of these pedals are misunderstood by a lot of people. Since you're the OP, I can see where you might think I was being flip though.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Franz975
#18
slap5string said:
I wasnt concerned with "boosting" the mids and after 20+ years I certainly dont need educated on how to use the BDDI. I prefer having the ability to control the freq and boost/cut of the mid is all. If you are a "set it and forget it" guy, the the BDDI may be your thing. I play many styles and prefer the flexibility the Para Driver provides. FWIW - Geddy Lee also prefers the RPM to the RBI also because of the mid freq flexibilty.
Click to expand...

Yea.. the RBI has a midrange control as well, thought not sweepable. I still found that using it as a 2 band EQ was more likely to produce better sounding results. I should be trying that with my other preamps and EQ's.... hmmm.
 
#20
Used the SABDDI for years. Got a paradriver. The BDDI started collecting dust. Finally sold it last month. The paradriver is now getting used on 100% of my bass guitar gigs.

The overdrive has a different vibe on the two. I like enough hair to fatten up the tone without being noticeable (even when solo'd). If you like audible distortion, it is really just a matter of preference at that point and you'd need to a/b the two.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back