The Great Bass Preamp/DI Comparison

[Mr. voodoobass]

I think the two modes are mutually exclusive. The one that is "best" is dependent on the scenario/need.

Stomp mode can have up to 8 combinations, however, within all 8 combos you can't change the parameter of the blocks themselves. Instead it is 8 combinations of blocks being on/off. This may be perfect/plenty for some people.

With Snapshots you are turning off and on as many of the 8 blocks as you want and (potentially) changing settings within the blocks themselves. Lets say you want your LPF to be set at 7k but then when you trigger your fuzz you want that to change down to 5k.....and boost the Bass on your amp sim......and turn on the Chorus pedal.....and change the wet/dry mix on your Reverb. So forth and so on.

Here is another sidenote. With a simple midi switch (like a MIDI Baby) you can switch modes between Stomp and Snapshot or have a combination of both modes and bring both worlds together.

I set my Stomp up as each song having their own Preset. I name the Preset the song name. Then I use FS1 and FS2 as Preset Up/Down. FS3 is sort of an "X" stomp switch that can be assigned to whatever is needed. Changing how your 3 onboard footswitches function can be done in Command Center (in my case Preset Up + Preset Dwn + FS3).

Then I use a MIDI Baby 3 on the side for 3 Snapshots + Tuner. I never need more than 3 Snapshots + FS3 "X" switch for any given song and since each song has their own Preset, I can have a whole different array of blocks (effects, amps, cabs, EQ, Filters, etc) per song. The cool thing about this set up is that I have more versatility, per song, than I will ever need, and I keep a bank of songs at the ready within the Stomp.

Band leader says we are playing "X", I just bring up the Preset. I dont have to worry about the Stomps limited DSP, or swapping in more "specialty" types of blocks (Chorus/Reverb/Delay/etc) at the detriment of losing some other block. The Preset for that song is already set. And here is yet another bonus. Since each Preset = a different song, I can pre-set the tempo of the song in HxEdit when I am setting up the "song" (preset). So when I switch from song X to song Y and song Y needs a Delay...I don't need a tap tempo. The tempo is already set for that song.

And of course, the MIDI Baby 3 can be configured however I want. So I could move the 3 Snapshots over to the Stomp and instead use the MIDI Baby for the Preset Switching if I wanted to.

Here are some pics illustrating what I am talking about. You can see the Preset number and Song Name at the top.

well not quite true about stomp mode and not being able to change parameters.
I do that all the time in stomp mode. Say I turn a dirt block on/off with fsw1. At the same time set control changes for fsw1, to change settings on an amp block and an eq block at the same time the dirt block is turned on.

 

[fivestringgecko]

well not quite true about stomp mode and not being able to change parameters.
I do that all the time in stomp mode. Say I turn a dirt block on/off with fsw1. At the same time set control changes for fsw1, to change settings on an amp block and an eq block at the same time the dirt block is turned on.

Since this is the Great Preamp thread, I'd say anyone that's giving the Stomp actual consideration might want to go check out the HX Stomp thread. It's a considerable read, but there's a TON of great info about the Stomp and people have all sorts of great tips they're posting there. (also of interest might be the closely related HX Effects thread, there's lots of overlap in firmware. Just a different hardware format)

But to echo @Mr. voodoobass's point: There's a lot you can do with the footswitches. With the Bypass/Controller tab, you can assign a footswitch to control parameters of blocks you already have assigned to another footswitch, even in Stomp mode. And you can assign it as latching or momentary, as well.

As an example, before Line 6 added the new Poly Sustain model in 3.0, people were figuring out ways to cop the EHX Freeze sound. Check it out below... Footswitch 1 controls both the routing of the Split A/B path (blocking dry signal to path B until you press FS1), and it also changes both the min & max delay times to achieve a "Freeze" effect. FS2 is assigned to bypass both the chorus and reverb blocks themselves so you can turn off the freeze.

Just for another fun example: I assigned footswitch 3 to boost just the 500Hz band of the 10-band EQ to +15dB. That'll cut through a mix! HA.

Or you can use the new Command Center they added in the Stomp's firmware 3.0 to do a variety of MIDI things as well.

5sg.

 

[Doug Bright]

Ok, I have read a lot of this thread and it is wonderful and overwhelming. So help an old guy out...
I have the API Transformer and I love the way it sounds, but I hate that the XLR out is line and not mic level.
I would like to add a tube DI after the API to add just a little tube grit.
Thoughts or suggestions?

 

[R&B]

Ok, I have read a lot of this thread and it is wonderful and overwhelming. So help an old guy out...
I have the API Transformer and I love the way it sounds, but I hate that the XLR out is line and not mic level.
I would like to add a tube DI after the API to add just a little tube grit.
Thoughts or suggestions?

Simple: Khan, Noble or REDDI. I have a Khan. It sounds very big and appropriately tubey. (Fatboy if you like having a single knob to dial in the amount of drive.)

Complicated: Many choices!! As you now know from perusing this thread.

JMHO, YMMV. My own search for “the” tone continues!!

 

[Bassworship1]

Ok, I have read a lot of this thread and it is wonderful and overwhelming. So help an old guy out...
I have the API Transformer and I love the way it sounds, but I hate that the XLR out is line and not mic level.
I would like to add a tube DI after the API to add just a little tube grit.
Thoughts or suggestions?

You couldn't go wrong with any listed in this thread but the ones I've owned like Reddi, Firefly, Noble and Khan, I would choose Khan easily. I've not played anything live I like better.

 

[scubaduba]

Ok, I have read a lot of this thread and it is wonderful and overwhelming. So help an old guy out...
I have the API Transformer and I love the way it sounds, but I hate that the XLR out is line and not mic level.
I would like to add a tube DI after the API to add just a little tube grit.
Thoughts or suggestions?

The API is nice, no slouch there. I can see where you would want a little more edge though.

Is size or cost a factor for you? If not, and since you want a little tube grit from a Tube DI I'd recommend one of these that has a gain control and will deliver some hair:
- Mozztronics DI-2
- Fatboy
- Jule Simone

Other possibilities:
- REDDI
- ZOD DI

For your scenario where you want grit you can hear, most of my love would go toward the Mozzy or Jule.

 

[SteveC]

Love my Empress/REDDI combo.

 

[furym]

Ok, I have read a lot of this thread and it is wonderful and overwhelming. So help an old guy out...
I have the API Transformer and I love the way it sounds, but I hate that the XLR out is line and not mic level.
I would like to add a tube DI after the API to add just a little tube grit.
Thoughts or suggestions?

Simple: Khan, Noble or REDDI. I have a Khan. It sounds very big and appropriately tubey. (Fatboy if you like having a single knob to dial in the amount of drive.)

Complicated: Many choices!! As you now know from perusing this thread.

JMHO, YMMV. My own search for “the” tone continues!!

You couldn't go wrong with any listed in this thread but the ones I've owned like Reddi, Firefly, Noble and Khan, I would choose Khan easily. I've not played anything live I like better.

A new Khan convert here also. Sansamp BDDI v2 into Khan VTDI. Loving it!

 

[jacoby75]

A new Khan convert here also. Sansamp BDDI v2 into Khan VTDI. Loving it!

Ooooh. I'll bet that sounds good. An Ampeg fridge you can carry in your pocket.

 

[SteveC]

The Empress MKII/REDDI combo is proving to be quite nice.

 

[monkeyfinger]

I would love to see Mesa Boogie provide a preamp pedal version of the WD-800.

 

[SteveC]

I hear rumors about Bergantino working on a pedal version of their stuff. I know people would like a Mesa version. A Genzler version would be nice as well. Tube versions would be nice.

 

[Ethereal Thorn]

I would love to see Mesa Boogie provide a preamp pedal version of the WD-800.

Id be cool if it was just a new design tube preamp or tt800 style pedal even. I like the eq and options on the wd but I like the tube warmth of the tt even more. so for me a pre combining a best of both worlds aproach in a preamp would be amaizing.

 

[Btbp]

From my FB feed today, has this come up in conversation here before?:
Studio Devil - Virtual Tube Preamp

 

[Mr. voodoobass]

Um...it’s a plug in, so not really fit the bill?

 

[Deleted member 360599]

From my FB feed today, has this come up in conversation here before?:
Studio Devil - Virtual Tube Preamp

Atomic makes the Bass Box that is the physical pedal of this plugin, and yes it has been discussed.

 

[JKos]

For anyone on the edge about an HX Stomp (or the other Helix options), the new 3.1 firmware really ups the game with a new tape saturation effect. Total yumminess.

 

[Ryan L.]

For anyone on the edge about an HX Stomp (or the other Helix options), the new 3.1 firmware really ups the game with a new tape saturation effect. Total yumminess.

Agreed. I’ve been messing around with it quite a bit since updating my Helix, and I think I’m going to add it to a couple of my presets now. It sounds *really* good.

 

[MascisMan]

For anyone on the edge about an HX Stomp (or the other Helix options), the new 3.1 firmware really ups the game with a new tape saturation effect. Total yumminess.

Also the Dynamic Hall reverb is fantastic as is the Rockerverb 100 (though I haven't tried it on bass yet).

 

[Dr Greenthumb]

I'm looking to buy another preamp and I think I've narrowed it down to the JHS Colour Box v2 and the Rusty Box. I'm looking for an end of chain toneshaper that can give some OD but I'm looking to run the preamp mostly clean. I know the Rusty Box is praised for its overdrive but was wondering how clean can it get? And also how is the noise floor? The Colour Box seems really interesting but it's definitely pricey and I'm kinda wary about the Hpf not going low enough. Maybe I should look for another Messenger and leave to OD to other pedals on the board? Thoughts?