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Tech 21 VT Bass DI
- Thread starter lustersilk
- Start date
I've not noticed any hiss, but the upper mids/highs are EXTREMELY goosed on all the VT pedals, and there has always been more noise with them particularly when the drive is pushed. Nothing bad, just the nature of that type of sound. Disabling the Bite on the new pedal definitely removes that because that frequency point is no longer so high. If you look at some of the old graphs on the frequency response around here, it's easy to see why there would be noise.
This is certainly unusual. It's been a while since I had a VT V1, but I did have a couple of VT Deluxe's, and I recall thinking that the 2nd one I owned was MUCH less clanky than the V1 I had. Never owned a V2.
But I have to say, the VTDI with the BITE on reminds me of my first V1, which is to say it's extremely clanky sounding. I have to turn the Bite off on this one, and when I do it's much smoother than any other VT variant I've owned. Maybe they changed the response of the Bite On to make the difference more drastic. I won't know for sure until I scope it, but if they did, I think that was a poor choice personally.
I've never had a v2, so I can't comment, but others have said the same thing you are saying. I don't understand this, but it HAS to be different from the VTDI. If you leave the Bite on with the VTDI but disengage the Sim, the sounds is so unbearably bright and clanky that I can't imagine anyone ever having any use for it at all. (Note: I'm sure I'm wrong there of course, but it sounds absolutely horrible to my ears unless the blend is set almost completely to the dry side).
It's almost like Tech 21 made the Bite control do what the Speaker Sim control did on the v2, and then they made the Speaker Sim just completely open up the top end with no roll off. I recall Tech21 saying here at TB that they HAD to put in some roll off with the Speaker Sim engaged on the v2 in order to tame the harshness that resulted from turning it off. That's what the Bite control sounds like it's doing to me on the VTDI.
At any rate, from my short experience, people should approach the VTDI as an entirely new pedal from Tech21. Though it has the same VT character as it's predecessors, it seems the addition of the Blend, Bite and Sim controls do things that are entirely new and require one to adjust to it differently.
For me, having fought with the VT v1 and Deluxe pedals, the VTDI is just freaking awesome so far, but I'm using EQ settings that I NEVER used on the previous VT pedals.
I think your speculation is correct. I'll report here as soon as I take the time to scope it.
Yep, that's how I'm running mine. EQ is almost perfectly flat (maybe a slight boost in bass and lows, as in 12:30'ish and a slight cut in Character, as in 11:30'ish), drive around 9 or 10, and then blend around 1 or 2 o'clock. Bite is off, speaker sim on. It's warm, fat, only slightly cranky, and sounds great. Wonderful.
However, I'm also finding that I love the drive settings and the way the EQ sounds there. I've even found that I can turn the Speaker Sim off, and dial in just a touch of wet signal, say blend around 8 or 9, with a low drive setting. It adds just enough harmonic content to give the bass some character, but the tone is still very full range with just a bit more fatness and punch.
Extremely versatile little pedal I'd say, as long as you like fat and punchy tones.
svtb15
Inactive
- Mar 22, 2004
- 13,004
- 4,741
- Disclosures
- I play it all. Whatever works for the gig. Q+
I think that Eublets idea if treating the VTDI as a completely different pedal is a good idea. Yes it sounds like the vt. But it does more. I takes getting used to.
So far, I've been enjoying the VT Bass DI the most as a preamp. Press the +10dB for the output, into a superlight Crest ProLite 2.0 poweramp, and it's a very versatile, light, and powerful amp.
I've found that using the Bite & Speaker Sim buttons really depend on what bass I'm playing. I can't seem to find out if the rack unit will have those buttons or not.
Great keeper pedal.
I've found that using the Bite & Speaker Sim buttons really depend on what bass I'm playing. I can't seem to find out if the rack unit will have those buttons or not.
Great keeper pedal.
The "Bite" & "Speaker Sim" are not on the rack version. I would have been interested in it if they were.
Just one question. I'm thinking about buying one VT DI, the main use will be in the rehearsal room. I my band we use a headphone system where each one can control what want to ear. We also record the rehearsals directly into cubase, my question is that I use a lot of distortions and fuzz in my sound, does the VT sounds nice in the end of the chain with this type of pedals behind?
I have a 3 channel programmable tech 21 bass driver that I've been looking to downsize because I use it as a nice tube-like preamp, so I only use one channel. I got the vtdi in today and compared the two directly. Sadly, I think the 3 channel sounds more organic and, to my ear, better. I did notice that "hiss" that was mentioned earlier, and did not like it. I turned the bite off and the speaker sim, but I still noticed there was a slight.. idk.. almost digital sound that was coming through. Some people may not notice it or even care, but I can't get it to have that real tubey sound that I easily got with the other driver
I think I'm going to return it and try the para driver..
I think I'm going to return it and try the para driver..
Thanks for sharing your comparison. I'm contemplating getting one of these pedals to replace my SABBDI, please report what you hear from the para driver if you do get one.
Interesting...it sounds just like all the other VT Bass version to my ear. That said, the BDDI has always been much more "hyped" sounding than the VT's. The BDDI was way more scooped, more extended in the lows, etc. They're different enough that I can see why folks prefer one or the other. I'm not sure what you mean by digital sounding...both are fully analog. I had a hard time adjusting to my first VT after being a BDDI owner for a long time, and now I can hardly use a BDDI because it sounds over the top.
I've always disliked the Para personally.
I think that's why Tech21 has all these options though. They're each different enough to have a spot in the market.
I may still get a para, just to compare.. But today I plugged both the bddi and the Vtdi into the fx loop on the back of my amp to A/B them.. Now I think I like the vt more. Eublet was right about the bddi being more extended, but the vt actually had a bit more smoother sound. I'm sure I'll be back and forth, but I'll report back when/if I get the para.
Yep, much smoother, especially with the Bite off. The BDDI always seemed to instantly make all basses sound nearly the same when I used it, for better or worse. The original VT was a little better at letting an individual bass' character come through. The VTDI, by disengaging the Bite, takes this even further. Finally, the VTDI actually sounds like an amp instead of an FX pedal.
Just got my VTDI yesterday. Wow!! Placed it last on my pedal board and then did an A/B between my GK 700 RB (with VTDI on) and my Ampeg SVT II (non-pro) with VTDI off. I could not believe how close the VTDI/GK mimicked my Ampeg tone! I also run an RPM and RBI in front of my GK. When I combined the VTDI with the RPM and adjusted the MID frequency, it sounded amazing. The Bite and Speaker sim switches are also very nice features.
Great pedal! Its a keeper for those situations where I don't have my Ampeg.
I'm looking for a processor which allows me to record guitars, bass and maybe vocals as well, as well as allowing me to make bass effects similar to muse or better to put allows me to make diverse bass effects that I can use live. I have a price range of around $550. Can you please give me any suggestions?
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Just bought the 1st used one I saw on the evilbay. I'll report my opinion by the end of next week. I'm on the 3rd incarnation. I've liked the past 2 in an upward trajectory, & I'm cautiously optimistic that the addition of the bite switch & blend will keep me with this version. Crossed fingers.
I've been using mine for 3 weeks now as a preamp into the effects return of my amp. I don't need the plus 10db switch on but it was usefull for recording into my laptop. I keep the bite switch off all the time & the speaker sim off more than not. I have been liking the character between 10 & 12 oclock. The blend from 12 to 3 oclock. Its got all the eq I need finally in one pedal. Good job Tech 21.
Its a Tubeworks RT3300 old mosfet amp. It has some issues however, sometimes I get a little distortion not the good kind, it might need new mosfets don't really know. I'm looking for another cheap bass amp to use as a poweramp for the VT Bass DI.
