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Preamp/di recommendations

M

Mattbassman1994

Aug 16, 2022
25
9
#1
Pretty new to the pedal game but have recently started gigging local venues with pa support and wanting to add a preamp/di pedal for some mild od to compliment tone and have the di as a backup option just incase my ampeg pf 350 decides craps out. The Sansamp v2 bddi has been the one I keep looking at the most but open to other suggestions. Im really liking the sound of the noble di and the new origin effects bass rig but unfortunately both are much too expensive for me.
I’m playing in a indie rock band using a ric with flats & mutes on.
 
#3
Chris_will_do said:
If your looking at the sansamp but its too expensive, try the Behringer BDI21. So inexpensive it shouldn't be legal. But does the trick well. I gig with it without any complaints.
Click to expand...

Counterpoint: the Behringer BDI21 is a copy of the older, now discontinued Bass Driver. The BDDIv2 has a mids control and some other buttons, which make for different voicings. Yes, they run over much of the same ground. But I can get sounds with my BDDIv2 that I can't with the Behringer. The BDDIv2 also has a lot more output. The Tech 21 is on my band board. The BDI21 is on my home board.
 
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#5
HelpImaRock said:
Counterpoint: the Behringer BDI21 is a copy of the older, now discontinued Bass Driver. The BDDIv2 has a mids control and some other buttons, which make for different voicings. Yes, they run over much of the same ground. But I can get sounds with my BDDIv2 that I can't with the Behringer. The BDDIv2 also has a lot more output. The Tech 21 is on my band board. The BDI21 is on my home board.
Click to expand...


Yeah I think I’m definitely leaning towards the bddi v2 at this stage
 
#8
Mattbassman1994 said:
Pretty new to the pedal game but have recently started gigging local venues with pa support and wanting to add a preamp/di pedal for some mild od to compliment tone and have the di as a backup option just incase my ampeg pf 350 decides craps out. The Sansamp v2 bddi has been the one I keep looking at the most but open to other suggestions. Im really liking the sound of the noble di and the new origin effects bass rig but unfortunately both are much too expensive for me.
I’m playing in a indie rock band using a ric with flats & mutes on.
Click to expand...

You're absolutely on the right track with the BDDI if you want the preamp with a DI. There's very good reason it's been around as long as it has. If you're using provided amps the preamp can be a nice thing. If not it can be in the way. As a backup for your amp a good DI is all you're going to need. If your amp dies during a set you'll get bass in the monitors and finish your set. You won't be screwing around fussing with a preamp.

If you don't really need the preamp a Neve RNDI is a great sounding DI. It would easily be my first choice under $300. For a simple high quality DI in that price range the passive Radial JDI and active J48 are widely used in the live pro audio world. They're built like tanks.
 
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#9
The NUX MLD is a good cheap DI/Preamp with XLR, 3 band EQ with sweepable mids, footswitch to engage the drive. It also has a few extra things like Aux in and Headphone out and IR loader.

One issue is that it can be tricky to get it talking to your Laptop to edit extra features like changing the EQ points and loading different IRs. Even without ever doing that it is still quite good value though.
 
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#11
BlueRock said:
You're absolutely on the right track with the BDDI if you want the preamp with a DI. There's very good reason it's been around as long as it has. If you're using provided amps the preamp can be a nice thing. If not it can be in the way. As a backup for your amp a good DI is all you're going to need. If your amp dies during a set you'll get bass in the monitors and finish your set. You won't be screwing around fussing with a preamp.

If you don't really need the preamp a Neve RNDI is a great sounding DI. It would easily be my first choice under $300. For a simple high quality DI in that price range the passive Radial JDI and active J48 are widely used in the live pro audio world. They're built like tanks.
Click to expand...
Plus one on the BDDI V2 if having some overdrive is essential to your sound. I've had Behringer gear that has worked fine as long as I looked after it carefully, but IME it's a false economy if you're gigging out.

I have pro gear that's over 25 years old (my DBX 163X is more like 40!), and still working AOK with zero maintenance. I can't say the same for "prosumer" stuff from Behringer, Samson, et al.

That said, on the rare occasions when I've had trouble at a particular venue, it's not been a problem with my amp.

IME, there's nothing like a passive, high-quality DI with a Jensen transformer for bypassing oddball electrical issues, as well as problems with AC or phantom power- could be incorrectly-wired outlets, a bad mixer channel, or even just a house sound guy who doesn't understand his equipment.

That's why my gigbag backup is a Radial JDI. Built like a tank, great isolation, doesn't require external power, and gremlin-free. The only downside to the JDI, is that it doesn't buffer passive basses.

I'm OK with how my basses sound with the JDI, but if you want that last little bit of zing from your Ric (unlikely given the fact that you're running string mutes and flats!), then you may want an active DI- I would be hard-pressed to choose between the J48 and the Neve:
  • I borrowed the Neve from a friend, and it does seem to add a little something that I can't quite put my finger on. However, it lacks that bulletproof build quality that I look for in stage gear. Not saying that it's flimsy, but it needs to be treated with respect.
  • That's where the J48 walks all over the Neve. Like the JDI, the J48 is built to be on the road, and tossed into milk crates or road cases night after night.
If $250 to $300 US doesn't fit your budget, I would go with the Radial ProDI for passive, or the Pro48 for active. Similar build quality to the JDI/J48, only $129 US, and while I can hear a subtle extra heft from the more expensive boxes in an A/B test during sound check, no audience (or sound guy, for that matter) is going to notice it on the gig.
 
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#12
I already have a classic tube preamp DI. First edition VTBP-201. Some of the labels are not even screen printed but have stickers and has bi-amp crossover as well. It is a 1U rack however. But for practicality I use the DI on a my 3 bass preamps Headway EBD2, Radial Bassbone or the NUX MLD. Also have a WARM Audio DI and an older Radial JDI - totally idiot proof but no added bells and whistles.

Impressed with the NUX MLD. You can set the HPF in software. Has a choice of 3 preamp models, has 8 cab IRs and you can load 8 more. You set these things once via software but for live situation the 3 band EQ and the drive option are pretty useable. The lack of tweaking without the PC is actually a blessings because it is a set once affair and the EQ helps for the room and stage. Also it is light yet sturdy and not too big and uses 9 volt power. And the DI is not bad - mic level but has a lot of output. You can choose to not put the models and IR out the DI with a physical switch . I put effects if needed before it but I am not a OD or muff guy so haven't tried those only compressor and envelop filter and wah.
 
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#14
Mattbassman1994 said:
Pretty new to the pedal game but have recently started gigging local venues with pa support and wanting to add a preamp/di pedal for some mild od to compliment tone and have the di as a backup option just incase my ampeg pf 350 decides craps out. The Sansamp v2 bddi has been the one I keep looking at the most but open to other suggestions. Im really liking the sound of the noble di and the new origin effects bass rig but unfortunately both are much too expensive for me.
I’m playing in a indie rock band using a ric with flats & mutes on.
Click to expand...

Eden WTDI would be a good alternative. Good EQ has built in compression. And much less. this one used is going for $79 on Reverb right now.

upload_2022-12-13_13-3-50.jpeg
 
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#15
HelpImaRock said:
Counterpoint: the Behringer BDI21 is a copy of the older, now discontinued Bass Driver. The BDDIv2 has a mids control and some other buttons, which make for different voicings. Yes, they run over much of the same ground. But I can get sounds with my BDDIv2 that I can't with the Behringer. The BDDIv2 also has a lot more output. The Tech 21 is on my band board. The BDI21 is on my home board.
Click to expand...
You could add an EQ pedal to the chain.
 
#17
BlueRock said:
You're absolutely on the right track with the BDDI if you want the preamp with a DI. There's very good reason it's been around as long as it has. If you're using provided amps the preamp can be a nice thing. If not it can be in the way. As a backup for your amp a good DI is all you're going to need. If your amp dies during a set you'll get bass in the monitors and finish your set. You won't be screwing around fussing with a preamp.

If you don't really need the preamp a Neve RNDI is a great sounding DI. It would easily be my first choice under $300. For a simple high quality DI in that price range the passive Radial JDI and active J48 are widely used in the live pro audio world. They're built like tanks.
Click to expand...

The radial jdi has been on my radar for quite some time now as I do like the sound of the preamp from my pf 350 gives me but was thinking a preamp pedal to add a touch of drive when needed in certain songs. But maybe I should just keep it simple with a decent di and add a od pedal later on.
 
#18
SumOne said:
The NUX MLD is a good cheap DI/Preamp with XLR, 3 band EQ with sweepable mids, footswitch to engage the drive. It also has a few extra things like Aux in and Headphone out and IR loader.

One issue is that it can be tricky to get it talking to your Laptop to edit extra features like changing the EQ points and loading different IRs. Even without ever doing that it is still quite good value though.
Click to expand...


Thanks for the recommendation I’ll check it out.
 
#19
steve_rolfeca said:
Plus one on the BDDI V2 if having some overdrive is essential to your sound. I've had Behringer gear that has worked fine as long as I looked after it carefully, but IME it's a false economy if you're gigging out.

I have pro gear that's over 25 years old (my DBX 163X is more like 40!), and still working AOK with zero maintenance. I can't say the same for "prosumer" stuff from Behringer, Samson, et al.

That said, on the rare occasions when I've had trouble at a particular venue, it's not been a problem with my amp.

IME, there's nothing like a passive, high-quality DI with a Jensen transformer for bypassing oddball electrical issues, as well as problems with AC or phantom power- could be incorrectly-wired outlets, a bad mixer channel, or even just a house sound guy who doesn't understand his equipment.

That's why my gigbag backup is a Radial JDI. Built like a tank, great isolation, doesn't require external power, and gremlin-free. The only downside to the JDI, is that it doesn't buffer passive basses.

I'm OK with how my basses sound with the JDI, but if you want that last little bit of zing from your Ric (unlikely given the fact that you're running string mutes and flats!), then you may want an active DI- I would be hard-pressed to choose between the J48 and the Neve:
  • I borrowed the Neve from a friend, and it does seem to add a little something that I can't quite put my finger on. However, it lacks that bulletproof build quality that I look for in stage gear. Not saying that it's flimsy, but it needs to be treated with respect.
  • That's where the J48 walks all over the Neve. Like the JDI, the J48 is built to be on the road, and tossed into milk crates or road cases night after night.
If $250 to $300 US doesn't fit your budget, I would go with the Radial ProDI for passive, or the Pro48 for active. Similar build quality to the JDI/J48, only $129 US, and while I can hear a subtle extra heft from the more expensive boxes in an A/B test during sound check, no audience (or sound guy, for that matter) is going to notice it on the gig.
Click to expand...

awesome appreciate the detailed response. If I went with the bddi v2 I would only use it as a light drive as I do tend it go for a cleaner tone with plenty of thump. I have heard great things about radial di’s do you think I should go for the j48 to pair with my ric or go for the added drive that the bddi will give me?
 

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