Simple bass DI for home recording

[smackbass]

Can anyone recomend a good bass DI for home recording. I am happy with the tone of my bass alone so have no need for a DI with tone shaping options, i just need a simple DI for use with a passive bass guitar.

 

[()smoke()]

for going straight into your computer or through an interface?

for going stright into usb port, the CEntrance Axeport Pro is an amazing unit for about $150--i love mine

 

[Greyvagabond]

The Countryman DI is my personal favorite. Clean, transparent, but lets a warm bass stay warm. Cheap, too.

 

[VroomVroom]

My go-to is the Radial JDI, although all of my instruments are active. The Countryman is definitely another great option. IMO. a good DI box is a great investment - you may find it has value well beyond a home recording effort.

 

[Thor]

If you can find a used Aguilar DB900 it's a great tool.

Here is a review.
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/document?doc_id=81987

 

[Old Cane]

I have a Great River preamp that I use for a DI. I think it sounds great but ya, know, it's a lot more than a DI and costs a lot more. I've used a lot of countryman over the years with great results.

 

[cripula]

I like the Radial stuff - JDI or if you want a phantom powered box, J48.
For more money I like the Avalon U5, and the Demeter VTBP-201 is very nice as a DI as well.

 

[pasta4lnch]

Countryman, JDI, Brick, U5, Reddi from cheapest to priceyest . . .

personally I use a u5 w/ a SABDDI, havent mic'd a cab in a long time

 

[theoldmiami]

Countryman. If you want a "Simple bass DI for home recording."

 

[251]

Is there a line out (DI) on your amp?

 

[theoldmiami]

A line out will not be as clean (unless you have an awesome amp like the Aguilar DB750) as a good DI box.

 

[N.F.A.]

Phil Jones Bass Buddy

 

[Charling]

a little mentioned but cost effective route is the radial pro DI, its not quite the J Di but is quite a bit cheaper and still a very fine, clean, well built DI. though to be honest I'd drop the extra cash on the jdi myself!

251 - a line out is not always a DI out, line out is often an unbalanced 1/4" line level signal, whereas a lot of amp DI's behave like a normal DI box and give out a balanced, low impedance instrument level signal...

theoldmiami - yeah true, the line out is after the amps pre amp and often the eq etc, which shapes the tone a lot, the DI is normally before the bass even gets to the amp and is, as such, really clean. generally though I prefer a bit of character on my bass tracks, in addition to a good di!

 

[251]

My bad. Both of my amps have a balanced output. I sometimes call it a line out because I send it to the line in of my sound card. I know there's some engineering nuance I bypass for convenience. I don't often record & haven't had the pleasure of being in a professional recording studio where the difference would be heard. Thx for the feedback.

 

[Ronan]

For cleanly capturing the tone of the bass I love the Little Labs DI (I use the PCP)
For giving it a bit of an amp vibe, I love the A Designs REDDI
For great quality at a low price I love the Radial JDI

 

[smackbass]

Thanks for all the advice. I just got delivery of a used Sansamp bass DI, the original version with just the basic internal controls. I have set them to what i think is a nice sound and now the cover plate is screwed back on i have worries about losing the settings.

 

[xqusemuah]

Radial JDI

Simple, bomb proof. I always have it with me, i play a lot of different places and more often than not the DI's a marginal at best.

 

[gnasher1993]

If you want a preamp/DI, check out the Focusrite ISA or the Avalon U5 (used to be my two personal favourites).

Now, I use a Ted Fletcher preamp with an Orchid Electronics Classic DI. The DI was cheap and is really good quality to my ears, a really true tone with no noise. I paid £33.50 (including P&P) which is about $55.