The Great Bass Preamp/DI Comparison

[Jonahlane]

Been doing quite a few sessions this month, and Ive been bringing my arsenal of DI's with me to each. Included would be the RNDI, REDDI, Tonehammer, Colorbox, and JDI. The engineer has been picking the RNDI as the fav out of the bunch, and I think id have to agree.

 

[scubaduba]

Been doing quite a few sessions this month, and Ive been bringing my arsenal of DI's with me to each. Included would be the RNDI, REDDI, Tonehammer, Colorbox, and JDI. The engineer has been picking the RNDI as the fav out of the bunch, and I think id have to agree.

Interesting. Any specific feedback from the engineer on the bunch? Also, what type of environment are you playing?

 

[jacoby75]

Been doing quite a few sessions this month, and Ive been bringing my arsenal of DI's with me to each. Included would be the RNDI, REDDI, Tonehammer, Colorbox, and JDI. The engineer has been picking the RNDI as the fav out of the bunch, and I think id have to agree.

Out of that list, the only one that I find surprising is that they would pick the RNDI over the REDDI. Granted, I've never used either, but the REDDI always sounds phenomenal in videos. Must just be a preference. Like, maybe the RNDI sends a cleaner, purer signal that they can then tweak in post-production more easily?

 

[SteveC]

Out of that list, the only one that I find surprising is that they would pick the RNDI over the REDDI. Granted, I've never used either, but the REDDI always sounds phenomenal in videos. Must just be a preference. Like, maybe the RNDI sends a cleaner, purer signal that they can then tweak in post-production more easily?

That’s my thought. For live I maybe want something not as pure?

 

[Jonahlane]

Interesting. Any specific feedback from the engineer on the bunch? Also, what type of environment are you playing?

Yep. He found it to be the ‘fastest’ of the bunch, and really liked the way it flattered my P bass. I was blending it with either my PF50T or a Silvertone 1483. I also ran some moog through it with great results.

 

[scubaduba]

Yep. He found it to be the ‘fastest’ of the bunch, and really liked the way it flattered my P bass. I was blending it with either my PF50T or a Silvertone 1483. I also ran some moog through it with great results.

Ahh yes. With the PF50T I can see where maybe a tube DI might not be of much benefit.

 

[jacoby75]

That’s my thought. For live I maybe want something not as pure?

It all depends. As we've discussed on the worship thread, we . . . or at least I . . . try to send the best possible EQ'd, tubed up, compressed signal I can to the soundboard, so all the inexperienced and under-trained church sound tech has to do is turn it up. If you have someone who is adding any kind of compression or color to your tone at the board, maybe it's less of a factor? I dunno. I'm totally making that up. I'm sure the RNDI would sound great in any and every situation, but not tubey.

 

[SteveC]

It all depends. As we've discussed on the worship thread, we . . . or at least I . . . try to send the best possible EQ'd, tubed up, compressed signal I can to the soundboard, so all the inexperienced and under-trained church sound tech has to do is turn it up. If you have someone who is adding any kind of compression or color to your tone at the board, maybe it's less of a factor? I dunno. I'm totally making that up.

Our sound guy sets gain and FOH mix. I believe he leaves individual channels basically flat for EQ and maybe some compression.

 

[scubaduba]

I am more and more coming to the conclusion that if I have a strong engineer(s) at the venue than I find it agreeable all the way around to send a quality unaltered signal. That's where some of these DI's I've been testing lately in the other thread really shine. They are definitely not uncolored, but they can operate in a manner that isn't obliterated with dramatic EQ. For example, the REDDI, Fatboy, Khan, and Groove Tubes Brick don't have any type of EQ adjustment but they all make the tone less sterile and bigger and fatter at the same time. But not in a hyped sort of way. Same with the Noble which to me anyway, the useful EQ is very limited before it becomes hyped in a way that might sound fun through earphones or at home, but not in a mix with many other instruments.

Honestly, a Khan, REDDI, Fatboy, Brick, or RNDI with nothing more than a bit of compression in front can sound glorious to FOH. All of these devices show a little more color when you dig in too. IMHO, this is even more true when you play a bass with onboard preamp where you can very subtly adjust a little bass/treble if need be.

 

[tedsalt]

Yep. He found it to be the ‘fastest’ of the bunch, and really liked the way it flattered my P bass. I was blending it with either my PF50T or a Silvertone 1483. I also ran some moog through it with great results.

I am more and more coming to the conclusion that if I have a strong engineer(s) at the venue than I find it agreeable all the way around to send a quality unaltered signal. That's where some of these DI's I've been testing lately in the other thread really shine. They are definitely not uncolored, but they can operate in a manner that isn't obliterated with dramatic EQ. For example, the REDDI, Fatboy, Khan, and Groove Tubes Brick don't have any type of EQ adjustment but they all make the tone less sterile and bigger and fatter at the same time. But not in a hyped sort of way. Same with the Noble. To me anyway, the useful EQ is very limited before it becomes hyped in a way that might sound fun through earphones or at home, but not in a mix with many other instruments.

Honestly, a Khan, REDDI, Fatboy, Brick, or RNDI with nothing more than a bit of compression in front can sound glorious to FOH. All of these devices show a little more color when you dig in too. IMHO, this is even more true when you play a bass with onboard preamp where you can very subtly adjust a little bass/treble if need be.

I think @Jonahlane sending both a tube amp transformer out and parallel RNDI out to the board would be the best of both worlds! What are you using to split your signal into the tube path / RNDI path? This is something I have been thinking about for awhile but haven't implemented due to cost. Well, and then I'd have to talk my church into providing bass two channels

I guess I'm mixing it a different way by running the RNDI after the Oracle tube preamp. That's not parallel channels though.

 

[labeledbass]

I am more and more coming to the conclusion that if I have a strong engineer(s) at the venue than I find it agreeable all the way around to send a quality unaltered signal. That's where some of these DI's I've been testing lately in the other thread really shine. They are definitely not uncolored, but they can operate in a manner that isn't obliterated with dramatic EQ. For example, the REDDI, Fatboy, Khan, and Groove Tubes Brick don't have any type of EQ adjustment but they all make the tone less sterile and bigger and fatter at the same time. But not in a hyped sort of way. Same with the Noble. To me anyway, the useful EQ is very limited before it becomes hyped in a way that might sound fun through earphones or at home, but not in a mix with many other instruments.

Honestly, a Khan, REDDI, Fatboy, Brick, or RNDI with nothing more than a bit of compression in front can sound glorious to FOH. All of these devices show a little more color when you dig in too. IMHO, this is even more true when you play a bass with onboard preamp where you can very subtly adjust a little bass/treble if need be.

I see alot of unaffected (sometimes tube/transformer buffered) slave 1/4" outputs running parallel with the EQ'd XLR output. Have you seen where there is either 2 or or at least a balanced XLR line out that's just buffered? You would think you'd want it that way, unaffected XLR for FOH or studio and your "wet" signal either XLR / 1/4" for and amp. I've noticed some pre/post switches for outputs but that's it

 

[tedsalt]

I see alot of unaffected (sometimes tube/transformer buffered) slave 1/4" outputs running parallel with the EQ'd XLR output. Have you seen where there is either 2 or or at least a balanced XLR line out that's just buffered? You would think you'd want it that way, unaffected XLR for FOH or studio and your "wet" signal either XLR / 1/4" for and amp. I've noticed some pre/post switches for outputs but that's it

I would expect or hope these are typically 1/4" balanced TRS connections where you can use a 1/4" balanced TRS to XLR adapter cable to plug into a snake. In the less optimal cases they are not, unfortunately. I would not buy one of those (w/o TRS).

 

[labeledbass]

I would expect or hope these are typically 1/4" balanced TRS connections where you can use a 1/4" balanced TRS to XLR adapter cable to plug into a snake. In the less optimal cases they are not, unfortunately. I would not buy one of those (w/o TRS).

Most of the ones I've seen are simply 1/4" "thrus" (NO TRS) or at the best buffered, but I've never seen balanced out that takes advantage of the core of said preamp, which is not affected by the gain or modeling. That would be pretty neat, I have seen selectable pre/post output types which could get close to what I'm describing

 

[scubaduba]

I put my REDDI in the classifieds.

 

[jacoby75]

I put my REDDI in the classifieds.

You need to quit it. I cannot afford to financially keep up with you, much as I might like to. I like catching the scraps from your table, lol

 

[SteveC]

I’m debating that scrap as well.

 

[scubaduba]

The REDDI is honestly one I think I will regret letting go. I have come to REALLY like it. But since I know I could get another I’m freeing up cash to keep these shootouts going.

Maybe better said, if I sell it I WILL get another someday.

 

[Ethereal Thorn]

The REDDI is honestly one I think I will regret letting go. I have come to REALLY like it. But since I know I could get another I’m freeing up cash to keep these shootouts going.

Maybe better said, if I sell it I WILL get another someday.

Any plans to try a Verellen Meatsmoke pre? I'm curious what your take on ones clean channel would be atleast.

 

[scubaduba]

Any plans to try a Verellen Meatsmoke pre? I'm curious what your take on ones clean channel would be atleast.

Not at this point.

 

[scubaduba]

Anybody have an Eclair Evil Twin?