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The Great Bass Preamp/DI Comparison

#4,901
I have the API Transformer LX and I am happy with the sound I get from it, however the XLR out is line level, not Mic level.
Question:
1. Does anyone know of a way to adjust that level down to mix level? Maybe some inline pad?
2. Assuming #1 is a no go, is there a good portable tube DI I use with it? REDDI is too big and too expensive.
2a. Would the SLO be a good choice as a tube DI?

Thanks
 
#4,903
Doug Bright said:
I have the API Transformer LX and I am happy with the sound I get from it, however the XLR out is line level, not Mic level.
Question:
1. Does anyone know of a way to adjust that level down to mix level? Maybe some inline pad?
2. Assuming #1 is a no go, is there a good portable tube DI I use with it? REDDI is too big and too expensive.
2a. Would the SLO be a good choice as a tube DI?

Thanks
Click to expand...
Why would you want to attenuate the signal only to raise it again during the mixing? A mixer can accommodate and mix different signal levels on separate tracks. If you need to mix a microphone with a line-level source, use a line level input on one track and a mic level input (with the integrated preamp) on another track. Most mixers have pads incorporated anyway.

Or maybe you need this for a different application?
 
#4,904
I use it mostly in live situations and it seems to overdrive the input for FOH and IEM.

frankzap said:
Why would you want to attenuate the signal only to raise it again during the mixing? A mixer can accommodate and mix different signal levels on separate tracks. If you need to mix a microphone with a line-level source, use a line level input on one track and a mic level input (with the integrated preamp) on another track. Most mixers have pads incorporated anyway.

Or maybe you need this for a different application?
Click to expand...
 
#4,908
PeterH said:
Saw someone in the Broughton thread talking about using this to get a tube power amp section feel for recording; otherwise I've read a bit here and there and it (or at least that company's gear) seems to be used by quite a few famous people across the pond...

Audio Kitchen, musically inspiring amp design

I've only heard one bass demo from a while back from the classic Pedals and Effects channel, and it was mostly dirty there but I'm preeetty sure you can get clean tone out of this one. Anyone else heard of this thing? There's a smaller DI version of just the first preamp stage as well (no power tubes)
Click to expand...

I use the Small Trees DI version and really like it. It definitely gives a nice tube feeling but in a very clean and usable way for pretty much anything I do. The Big Trees also has the clean channel which The Small Trees is supposed to be a copy of so you definitely have clean in that too, but I don't know how broad the driven spectrum is since I only know the Pedal and Effects demo where they don't really cover just slight overdrive.
 
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#4,916
jbhaugh said:
Depends on your definition of affordable. RNDI is probably the least pricy of the tube DI crop that I know of, but it runs on phantom power.
Click to expand...

jmbjandfam said:
This one has gotten good reviews and doesn't require any power.

Lightning Boy Audio Announces TI Box: Passive Vintage Inspired DI
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Neither of these have tubes, but they do sound great. I was surprised by how well the RNDI stacked up against the Khan, which is a fantastic tube DI. But the Khan is very pricey. I recently got a Telefunken DI, which I think sounds awesome, but also does not have a tube.
 
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#4,919
Not to stir the **it, but I've seen some pres lately that have the tone controls backwards IMNSHO, Treble to Bass going Left to Right, which messes with my OCD. I mean, I don't think I've ever seen a graphic Eq do that.

Having said that, I see that my old Acoustic 220 and SVT are similarly 'backwards'. Surely these were design considerations.

Just an observation.....
 
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#4,920
Btbp said:
Not to stir the **it, but I've seen some pres lately that have the tone controls backwards IMNSHO, Treble to Bass going Left to Right, which messes with my OCD. I mean, I don't think I've ever seen a graphic Eq do that.

Having said that, I see that my old Acoustic 220 and SVT are similarly 'backwards'. Surely these were design considerations.

Just an observation.....
Click to expand...
Never gave a single minute's thought about it, to be honest.
 

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