• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Using Effects Pedals with a DI

C

Cmcard

Jul 15, 2014
28
3
42
#1
How do you guys prefer to use effects when you are sending a DI signal to FOH? I know there are a lot of options, but what you guys find most effective? Amp DI? Signal directly into DI Box? How do bands playing larger rooms(up to arenas) do this? I've searched around here and couldn't find exact answer I was looking for.

Thanks for the help
 
#2
No matter what, I think it is handy to have an XLR split off that goes to FOH. You're essentially splicing the cable that goes to amp, then speakers. After the split, one to amp, one to FOH. That's assuming no cab micing. Best setup with good options.
 
#4
BazzTard said:
If you want FOH to have your effects, put them before the DI. If you prefer a 'dry' signal to FOH, put your effects after your DI. Don't let the mixer dictate to you, he is in your employ,he does what you say. Never EVER forget that.
Click to expand...
Usually I just play in smaller rooms where sound is coming just from amp. Played a bigger venue recently and went effects straight into DI box(they supplied) and split signal to amp and PA. Kept getting a lot of buzzing, very loud buzz, not just a light hum. So didn't know if doing it that way was right...probably was a bad/cheap DI..I only run 4 effects and they are powered by a fueltank.

thanks for replies
 
#7
One suggestion I would make is that if you want to run effects directly into a DI to front of house, you may want to spend some time with a set of headphones listening to how the effects sound running direct. A lot of pedals sound very different direct to the board than they do through your amp, particularly overdrive, fuzz, distortion. Some pedals and preamps have low pass filters or eq that can roll off extreme high frequencies that are normally attenuated by your amp but sound harsh and unpleasant through a DI to front of house.
 
  • Like
Reactions: hintz and monsterthompson
#8
shinybeast said:
One suggestion I would make is that if you want to run effects directly into a DI to front of house, you may want to spend some time with a set of headphones listening to how the effects sound running direct. A lot of pedals sound very different direct to the board than they do through your amp, particularly overdrive, fuzz, distortion. Some pedals and preamps have low pass filters or eq that can roll off extreme high frequencies that are normally attenuated by your amp but sound harsh and unpleasant through a DI to front of house.
Click to expand...
Thanks, that is very helpful. One question, assuming it does sound harsh through FOH, is there a solution?
 
#10
To me this is one of the main challenges for bassists using effects live, because you're frequently asked to go DI. One answer is to use something like a Sansamp (BDDi, VT, etc) that has a built in speaker emulation circuit. Many of these are overall amp emulation pedals that add their own distinct character and tonal footprint that you may or may not want. There are also dedicated speaker simulator DI boxes such as the ADA GC2 and GC3 that do something similar without the EQ; I haven't tried these but I understand they're made for guitar, so there might be some low end attenuation. Radial makes a speaker-level direct box called the JDX that has speaker emulation circuitry that supposedly reacts to the speaker you connect to it; might be worth a look.

The option I'm finding most appealing at the moment is to use a low gain overdrive near the end of the chain that has a treble roll-off, in this case, the Fairfield Circuitry Barbershop Millenium Edition. It has a hi cut switch that really reins in the harsh fizziness of higher gain fuzz and distortion pedals that precede it. It results in an audibly darker tone, but I like that; some players might not. There are other options out there, so check out some of the other threads on using fuzz, distortion, etc. direct.
 
#11
I use the DI in my amp head or combo, or the one on my pedalboard; in both cases effects are included in the FOH sound - I don't see why anyone would use effects and then accept a dry DI to the PA.

As to dealing with a harsh or fizzy sound, my bass cabs on stage has a tweeter which I do use, so if the sound is acceptable there it will sound pretty much the same in the PA. Maybe because of this full range approach I tend to like darker sounding drive pedals that aren't fizzy to begin with, and I may roll off the passive tone control on my (active) bass a little and/or use the speaker sim button on my VT Bass DI. I do like it when drive pedals have an EQ section though, so you can rein in the fizz a bit and maybe push the low end a little too.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: blindrabbit and hintz
#13
I usually use a REDDI for a DI, and I plug my effects directly into its input. I use a pedal with a rolloff of the highs past 5k (SCR-DI or VT Deluxe) so dirt boxes don't blow tweeters, and also because I hate highs past 5k :D I love micing cabs but I got so much stick about doing it from occasional PA owners we are forced to work with (calling them sound techs would be a great injustice to real sound techs) that I just decided to get a DI I liked as much as micing tube amps.
 
#16
I dealt with this on my last gig, the soundman INSISTED i give him a clean signal along with a DI effects signal. I get it, but he never muted my clean signal... You cant do that if you use synthy octave effects and thats the sound your trying to achieve. Im still pretty pissed lol. I was adamant about micing my bass cab (fender super bassman 300 with a d112) but he said there was no lowend.. It seems like a struggle most of us go through, as much experience as our soundmen has he doesnt seem to hear my vision, i want somebody thatll hear what im trying to do.
 
  • Like
Reactions: blindrabbit and hintz
#17
The last pedal on my board is a Sansamp. It's always on, even if the other pedals on my board aren't. The sound men I've deal with the last couple of times have worked with me to make sure I'm not sending them an unusable signal direct from the Sansamp. It's worked out really well for me since I can still adjust volume levels from that, rather than going each pedal at a time. It's all a learning experience. Nothing remains the same.
And having been a soundman in the past, I come from the perspective of rather having an argument with a soundman over how I want to be heard vs. dealing with one that cuts me from the mix entirely without telling me because he doesn't like the sound or thinks it's too hot.
 
#18
I had the DI tone issue with recording. I could never get a direct tone I liked (not using a cab sim plug in) when I engaged fuzz/distortion effects, until I started using and Aguilar THDI with the AGS engaged at low gain settings at the end of my signal chain. It isn't a cab simulation but it does similar things to the highs and lows. I've since moved on to a Demeter VTBP 800D with a "dark" setting and EQ controls that get me where I want. Trying to get a FOH DI tone is what took me on my quest for a neutral/flat sounding cab. I hated the idea of my stage sound not being the same as the FOH. I went through various heads and cabs until I got where I am. It wasn't cheap but it was fun.
 
  • Like
Reactions: blindrabbit

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back