Recommend me a preamp/DI for live and studio recording

[SC Bassboy]

Hello,

New member here. I'm looking for recommendations for a preamp/DI for both live and studio recording. I want something mostly clean but with a bit of character (not purely clean). I will probably end up using it along with a bass amp. Also, I have a distressor compressor I'm planning to use as well.

Instrument: I play a p-style bass (Reverend Decision P).
Genres I play: modern country, pop/rock, alternative rock, indie rock.


I want to use the bass amp for a slightly overdriven aggressive sound and the DI for a thick, warm, consistent low-end.

I'm leaning slightly towards the Summit TD-100. It's a tube preamp. What would you recommend?

The Avalon U5 is top notch. I've had one for years and it does have an incredible setting for thick, warm, clean bass. It's what Geddy Lee uses for his clean signal. I've exclusively used it for recording, but now I have a U5 plug-in that does the job on the DAW. If you decide to go with a U5 let me know, I would sell mine at a very fair price.

 

[ColonelZulu]

Your heart may be set on one of these options already. For live shows, I usually go ampless. I prefer a DI that has a preamp (or vice versa). It should include a cab sim switch to make it sound more like a mic’ed amp through the PA or into your workstation.

I think the ones you are showing as options are excessively expensive. It’s your money though. I think I would go with the Broughton only because of the tube along with the Bass / Treble controls and it seems to be something you can fit on a pedal board.

But I think you would sound just fine with a preamp / DI at a much lower price point.

 

[j.albert]

A Caveman Audio BP1 or BP1 Compact works really well in my experience with a P-style bass.

 

[OldManNewBass]

Hello,

New member here. I'm looking for recommendations for a preamp/DI for both live and studio recording. I want something mostly clean but with a bit of character (not purely clean). I will probably end up using it along with a bass amp. Also, I have a distressor compressor I'm planning to use as well.

Instrument: I play a p-style bass (Reverend Decision P).
Genres I play: modern country, pop/rock, alternative rock, indie rock.


I want to use the bass amp for a slightly overdriven aggressive sound and the DI for a thick, warm, consistent low-end.

I'm leaning slightly towards the Summit TD-100. It's a tube preamp. What would you recommend?

They are hard to find, because they were limited to 1000 units worldwide, but the JHS Punchline Bass Station is pretty sweet; I have one available, message me if you are interested in more info...

 

[pbass2]

I have owned and used the Summit, the Avalon, and the Reddi. All have their pros and cons. I now use a Radial JDI for live.
My opinion - get the bass sound you want with whatever pieces get you there regardless of whether they incorporate a DI or not. Then add a separate DI if whatever you ended up with doesn't have that feature.
In a pro studio situation, you're likely gonna use the DI they want you to use. You need flexibility in that environment. You should be prepared to send your desired signal w/o your DI if it's decided it's not doing the trick.

 

[hz_41]

I have owned and used the Summit, the Avalon, and the Reddi. All have their pros and cons. I now use a Radial JDI for live.
My opinion - get the bass sound you want with whatever pieces get you there regardless of whether they incorporate a DI or not. Then add a separate DI if whatever you ended up with doesn't have that feature.
In a pro studio situation, you're likely gonna use the DI they want you to use. You need flexibility in that environment. You should be prepared to send your desired signal w/o your DI if it's decided it's not doing the trick.

What do you think of the Summit? How would you describe it? Eventually, I want to run two parallel signals (amp and DI). I still don't have a bass amp I currently use the DI input on my RME audio interface but it's too clean and dry. I'm thinking of getting the Aguilar Tone Hammer 500 head. It has a DI out with cab sim and a line-level effects loop so I can use outboard compressors.

 

[hz_41]

The Avalon U5 is top notch. I've had one for years and it does have an incredible setting for thick, warm, clean bass. It's what Geddy Lee uses for his clean signal. I've exclusively used it for recording, but now I have a U5 plug-in that does the job on the DAW. If you decide to go with a U5 let me know, I would sell mine at a very fair price.

What U5 plugin do you use in the DAW?

 

[NKBassman]

What do you think of the Summit? How would you describe it? Eventually, I want to run two parallel signals (amp and DI). I still don't have a bass amp I currently use the DI input on my RME audio interface but it's too clean and dry. I'm thinking of getting the Aguilar Tone Hammer 500 head. It has a DI out with cab sim and a line-level effects loop so I can use outboard compressors.

Can't go wrong with Aguilar. I've been using a TH500 for years.

 

[pbass2]

What do you think of the Summit? How would you describe it? Eventually, I want to run two parallel signals (amp and DI). I still don't have a bass amp I currently use the DI input on my RME audio interface but it's too clean and dry. I'm thinking of getting the Aguilar Tone Hammer 500 head. It has a DI out with cab sim and a line-level effects loop so I can use outboard compressors.

The Summit sounds really nice. I still have the little half rack 2BA mic pre and TLA-50 compressor. Good stuff. I didn't think it sounded great pushed too hard though. Nice on stuff other than bass too.
IMO if you need an amp, get an amp, and if it works for recording DI in your home rig, that's cool but I wouldn't want to rely on that as my DI'd sound for going into different studio scenarios - I want to be able to deliver my ideal tone even if they want me to use their DI (often the case). Rare to see someone using the built-in DI on a bass amp in a pro studio. Home studio? Anything goes, have fun.
FWIW I have a few different pres and outboard at home and now for bass I always go straight to my Empirical Labs Mike-E. Highly recommended. It's essentially a great mic pre, a Distressor, and Fatso in one strip. Kills on bass. Can't get a bad sound out of it.

 

[hz_41]

Can't go wrong with Aguilar. I've been using a TH500 for years.

It seems like a really versatile amp. What genres do you mostly play?

 

[DeepHz]

All good choices there. I found the Reddi great quality but to suttle for my taste. I loved the Avalon, as it had many options to dial in. And you can't go wrong with any Summit product. I voted Avalon.

 

[SC Bassboy]

What U5 plugin do you use in the DAW?

Its in the Bass Amplifier Designer on Logic Pro X. One of the amp choices is "Direct Box" and it looks and sounds just like a Avalon U5. Really clean and thick. I make a copy of my bass in Logic so there's two identical tracks. One track runs through the U5 plug-in and the other one is re-amped through my effects pedal chain. There are other U5 plug-ins but I have not tried them. The one in Logic is really good.

 

[NKBassman]

It seems like a really versatile amp. What genres do you mostly play?

My main band is Top 40 country, generally spanning 90s to present. My other band is more 70s'ish classic rock covers.

I love the Tonehammer all on it's own, but when I had the Broughton P15 that I mentioned earlier in this thread I was typically running it into the FX Return input on the TH500 FX loop, bypassing the Aggie preamp straight into the poweramp, and simultaneously sending the P15 XLR to FOH. Sounded glorious on stage (typically with Bergantino NXT212 cab), and always got compliments from soundfolks who usually couldn't be bothered to say a word unless something is wrong.

 

[hz_41]

My main band is Top 40 country, generally spanning 90s to present. My other band is more 70s'ish classic rock covers.

I love the Tonehammer all on it's own, but when I had the Broughton P15 that I mentioned earlier in this thread I was typically running it into the FX Return input on the TH500 FX loop, bypassing the Aggie preamp straight into the poweramp, and simultaneously sending the P15 XLR to FOH. Sounded glorious on stage (typically with Bergantino NXT212 cab), and always got compliments from soundfolks who usually couldn't be bothered to say a word unless something is wrong.

Nice! Hearing this is making me want to buy either the P15 or the Aguilar. Do you usually mic the cab or just use it for monitoring?

 

[pbass2]

Its in the Bass Amplifier Designer on Logic Pro X. One of the amp choices is "Direct Box" and it looks and sounds just like a Avalon U5. Really clean and thick. I make a copy of my bass in Logic so there's two identical tracks. One track runs through the U5 plug-in and the other one is re-amped through my effects pedal chain. There are other U5 plug-ins but I have not tried them. The one in Logic is really good.

The Logic stuff has just gotten better and better. Love the Pultec EQ emulation, I use that all the time on bass (and drums, and....).

 

[NKBassman]

Nice! Hearing this is making me want to buy either the P15 or the Aguilar. Do you usually mic the cab or just use it for monitoring?

I have never mic'd a bass cab on stage in my life. In the studio yes, but not live on stage. I guess I don't see the point for a live mix in a bar or a medium sized hall... the stage is usually cramped and chaotic with mic stands and cables as it is, and the room is already going to be getting a lot of sound off the stage anyway. Fewer variables with DI, cleaner full range signal, and just fewer things to go wrong... I'll pull out a cab sim DI for the odd gig where I might be using more distortion than normal before I insist on micing anything up. But typically I just set my rig how I like it to sound on stage and leave the rest up to the soundperson to make it sound cohesive at the end of the day. Hopefully they like whatever I'm giving them off my pedal board .

 

[SC Bassboy]

The Logic stuff has just gotten better and better. Love the Pultec EQ emulation, I use that all the time on bass (and drums, and....).

Absolutely! Some of the plug-ins have gotten good enough that I just quit using most my stand alone devices. Thankfully I was able to purchase EZDrummer 3, which is incredible as well, so there's not much holding back my recording ambitions aside from my ambitions.

 

[NKBassman]

there's not much holding back my recording ambitions aside from my ambitions.

I feel seen

 

[LowWay]

I can't believe no recommendations from the Walrus Audio Mantle owners yet. It's new. People who have them love them. I love mine. It is my current preffered pre/DI. I have Noble, SushiBox, Edison Night Owl, Nordstrand Rocket Surgeon, Radial JDI, and the Mantle has held my attention since getting it.

Here is the thread discussing it:

Post in thread 'Walrus Audio Mantle'

Apr 1, 2026

OK, I ordered a Mantle. I got a B-Stock plus the 15% discount, which came to about 1500% off!

Looking forward to trying it out!

• smeet

• 
• 

 

[bullshark]

A thousand + dollar for.... a DI? Seriously, does it cook breakfast in the morning and massage your back at night? At that price you can get an extremely nice power amp with... a nice EQ section, a pre and a DI output!


(yeah, I know, I'll show myself out, but this is insanity)