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The Great Bass Preamp/DI Comparison

#5,501
I know this isn't officially part of this discussion thread, but.......

Re-amp boxes!

They're part of the recording process just as much as preamps, for the professional engineer and the enthusiastic home recording enthusiast. Is it something we should be down to discuss here, or would it belong in the Recording thread?
 
#5,502
Just wanted to share my recent studio experience with the RNDI - which was the only piece of gear I bought with me apart from the basses, synth and cables btw. Do note that we recently upgraded to a considerably more expensive mixing console which sounds awesome by itself and has immense headroom too.

It simply blew everyone away! we tried it on bass, synths and the acoustic guitar and it makes everything sound better. My bass and Moog Sub Phatty were the only channels that had absolutely nothing on them - this was the first preprod session so we mainly setup and tried stuff - and not only did we not mind it, it sounded better than ever.

I'm still GASing for a tube preamp/DI like almost everybody here but I think it's safe to say that for the moment my tone chase has ended. It may not work for everybody, but in my case recording a super clean DI works perfectly at home, in the studio and on live shows. Not having to worry about tubes and controls too is pretty convenient too.

Ordering another one in a couple of weeks.
 
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#5,503
alecvbass said:
Just wanted to share my recent studio experience with the RNDI - which was the only piece of gear I bought with me apart from the basses, synth and cables btw. Do note that we recently upgraded to a considerably more expensive mixing console which sounds awesome by itself and has immense headroom too.

It simply blew everyone away! we tried it on bass, synths and the acoustic guitar and it makes everything sound better. My bass and Moog Sub Phatty were the only channels that had absolutely nothing on them - this was the first preprod session so we mainly setup and tried stuff - and not only did we not mind it, it sounded better than ever.

I'm still GASing for a tube preamp/DI like almost everybody here but I think it's safe to say that for the moment my tone chase has ended. It may not work for everybody, but in my case recording a super clean DI works perfectly at home, in the studio and on live shows. Not having to worry about tubes and controls too is pretty convenient too.

Ordering another one in a couple of weeks.
Click to expand...
Seems like the RNDI is tailor-made for a studio situation, as it runs on 48v phantom power that is readily available from the mixing board. On a pedalboard, not so much.
 
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#5,504
R&B said:
Seems like the RNDI is tailor-made for a studio situation, as it runs on 48v phantom power that is readily available from the mixing board. On a pedalboard, not so much.
Click to expand...
Telefunken and Lightning Boy Audio make killer passive alternatives to the RNDI for that kind of “transparent sound but better” for anyone who wants to know; the Radial JDI too but it’s more transparent than those (could be wrong)
 
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#5,507
I have a Noble. I am using it tonight on a funk/jazz gig. I would say it really helps out with my tone, however I have this suspicion that if i really knew my rig well enough and how to make it sound good under all circumstances it would only be a small part of the overall tone. It’s a tone journey and lots of fun.
 
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#5,509
I know of him but not much about him, I really dig that clarity and bassiness of his sound. I think that's and all-Agular rig though, I didn't see a B-15.

I've got 2 Eden Class D amps and a 2x10 Eden and 1x15 Bagend, looking forward to trying out splitting a more bassy sound to the 15 and something punchier to the 2x10. I don't have a LS-1 but I do have a Radial Sound City. Plus an ever growing number of Broughtons.
 
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#5,513
JKos said:
As there is previous NuX NBP-5 pedal content in this thread, I thought I would post that they just released a firmware update that adds a Nordstrand Starlifter preamp model, doubles the IRs to 16 total slots with 8 user slots, and adds a drum machine and looper.
Click to expand...

I just upgraded mine.

The POD Go is still the champ for me, but I keep the NuX on a small board as a backup rig as for the money, the NuX is still a great option. So much flexibility and tone in that little pedal if you're willing to tinker with it.
 
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#5,514
Btbp said:
Some of you may have seen this from one of the FB groups. To me the sound is stunningly good.

According to one of the posts "Precision Bass + Flatwound LaBellas + Noble Preamp + Aguilar AG700 + 410 cabinet Mic'd. + Talent."

So those of you who have owned a Noble - how much of this is the Noble?
Click to expand...


I can get exactly the same sound , secret is : Sean Hurley CS PB with Labella full Open Tone + mute on + noble : perfect sound .
 
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#5,515
My RNDI continues to exceed all expectations. I actually moved it off my pedalboard and into the pocket of my gig bag (so it is always with me). For a demo session last week, we tracked a fretless J bass using only the RNDI into GarageBand, it sounded great. I used the bridge pickup only, and it was electronically very clean, with minimal single-coil noise.

I'm warming up to the DiVision, as well. The secret is to run a pedal before it with +10dB (or more) of boost. Lately I've been using my new-to-me Broughton High/Low Pass Filter for this purpose. Once I put the Gain knob on the Broughton above 12 o'clock, the DiVision becomes more "characterful." I don't know whether this coloration is coming from the tube, the transformer, or both. +20dB (max boost on the Broughton) is too much for my ear, but +10-15dB is a sweet spot.
 
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#5,516
emjazz said:
Thanks so much for the suggestions. I have a gig end of next month (FINALLY!) and I'll bring the Alix to see how I like it. It's been amazing playing duo during the past months, so it should be just as great with a group. If I decide I want something more I may try a tube something patched into the Alix first. Haven't tried that yet. I had an Edison early on. I think that they're wonderful, but they are also too compressed for what I do. It seems there are different types of compression with different tube preamps. Some feel super dynamic to me, and some just squash your signal too much (for what I do). The Edison was just on the edge of taking away too much of my dynamics...where as something like the Demeter preamp is super dynamic.
Click to expand...
Might be more than you want to haul around, but a small(ish) pedal board with the Alix & an Effectrode LA-1A tube compressor should be an awesome setup!
 
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#5,519
This may be mentioned someplace way back in this thread. I am looking for a recommendation of a compressor to go after my Arkham Oracle. I want something that is fairly transparent, just a little evening out and dash of something special you only hear when turned off, but I really need it to have a DI out on it. I know the JHS Pump 'N' Peel is one, are there any others that are good?
Thanks so much!

I also just realized maybe I should ask this in a compressor thread, but using with the Oracle kinda made it relevant.......maybe
 
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#5,520
SteveC said:
I wasn’t a compressor fan until I tried a good one. The LA-1A is amazing. So is the Empress Bass Compressor I’m using now. I also have found that I like it set pretty high. I use 10:1 on my Empress. Sounds like crazy talk but everyone LOVES my tone these days. Pump that through my REDDI and I’m rockin.
Click to expand...
Am sure I read it back then, but what made you switch from the LA-1A?
 

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