What amps does a Tech21 Bass Driver DI emulate?

[Shual23]

Hi there!
I am interested in such a DI pedal going straight to PA.

I was wondering, what amp range is this supposed to emulate, and what knob is responsible for the "amp sim blend" ? Just trying to figure out what to expect in terms of character.

Thanks!

 

[Geogio]

There used to be indicators of what you were playing through SVT, Fender, and a few others but lately I've noticed the pedals don't do that. Maybe it's a trademark/copyright infringement now - that's the only thing I can think of.

I always wondered why keyboard sound selections don't include a "Farfisa" Organ they were dominant in the 60s. They do! But it is called something else (which varies between manufacturers) but I think using the term "Farfisa" must be a trademark/ copyright infringement as well.

 

[leonard]

The old wisdom was that it sounds a bit like an SVT with the ultra low engaged.

 

[JohnnyChatter]

So this is in the manual and I always thought it was “kinda” close but I got more of an SVT vibe from it. Now I have had a few different versions/era of this pedal and it could just be my ears but the older ones seemed to sound so much better. I’ve actually considered looking for a vintage one to compare but even tech 21 told me on the phone they “should” sound the same .

 

[Zooberwerx]

Supposedly emulates a mic'd-up SVT rig or I believe that was the copy behind the BDDI.

Riis

 

[jose edwardo]

I think it's it own thing , , none of the sample settings to me at least has ever sounded like what they claim. That being said I think it's a great pedal and legendary . And I have one on my board and love it!

 

[el murdoque]

The Sansamp idea is older than what we call amp simulation nowadays.

The Idea of a Sansamp is that you get what an amp does, but without the amp.

Your XLR out sounds like the output of a mic'ed amp. As in amp in general - but I always viewed the BDDI as its own thing with its own distinctive sound.

It's not the Kemper Idea, where the XLR out sounds like a 1972 SVT with Sylvana tubes played through a 410HLF miced with a Sennheiser 421 II that's slightly off axis.

 

[el murdoque]

but even tech 21 told me on the phone they “should” sound the same .

I had a BDDI v1, a PBDDI, a Deluxe and a V2.
While they all were kind of same ballpark, the PBDDI sounded a bit different in the crucial (for me) frequencies.
I asked Tech21 about it and they said since its all analog circuitry, no two are exactly alike and it is to be expected that one works better for me than others.

I bought and sold a few Sansamps, but that one PBDDI has always been with me.

 

[Lowbrow]

I’d recommend anyone to start out with the manual’s ’fat tube’ settings and tweak from there.

 

[Shual23]

That's nice! Thanks fellas that looks like a sweet pedal!

 

[antfarm]

The Tech 21 Sansamp VT Bass DI can emulate Ampeg SVT and B15 if that is what you’re after.

 

[_Some Dude]

I usually run my BDDI with the gain turned down to taste and the blend around 1:00, and when I pull out my IEM I'm surprised at how similar it sounds to my SVT behind me.

 

[Smooth_bass88]

They are all based on the SVT, specifically a mic'd 810. Obviously it's not a 100% accurate simulation, but thar's the starting point. Just look at the names: VT Bass, VT Bass 1969, VT Bass 200, VT Bass 500 etc. Even their Landmark series is based on the 'dna' so to speak

 

[wolffire99]

I think it's it own thing , , none of the sample settings to me at least has ever sounded like what they claim. That being said I think it's a great pedal and legendary . And I have one on my board and love it!

This. To me it’s modern scooped in a good way.

 

[HolmeBass]

Supposedly emulates a mic'd-up SVT rig or I believe that was the copy behind the BDDI.

Riis

That is what it sounds like to me.

 

[Shual23]

They are all based on the SVT, specifically a mic'd 810. Obviously it's not a 100% accurate simulation, but thar's the starting point. Just look at the names: VT Bass, VT Bass 1969, VT Bass 200, VT Bass 500 etc. Even their Landmark series is based on the 'dna' so to speak

Well, the Bass Driver DI doesn't have the VT in the name that's why I got confused !
They do have the VT Driver, but that's not the one I am talking about.

I am talking about the black one:

 

[leonard]

Yea, it's different from the VT Bass which is a later invention.

 

[walterw]

what knob is responsible for the "amp sim blend" ?

it's literally called the blend knob

dial it 100% up and you get the sansamp process; bring the master way up and the drive way down, like 9 o'clock, the drive knob is now your preamp gain.

it'll get a good driving amp-like tone with big clean low end, a sort of SVT-ish mid-scoop, and a little bit of grit on top. ideally you'd run it into a clean power amp as well as straight into the PA

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

Hi there!
I am interested in such a DI pedal going straight to PA.

I was wondering, what amp range is this supposed to emulate, and what knob is responsible for the "amp sim blend" ? Just trying to figure out what to expect in terms of character.

Thanks!

A sansamp. The "drive" knob is the "blend" in terms of character.

 

[walterw]

The "drive" knob is the "blend" in terms of character.

??

the blend knob pans between a dry unprocessed sound and the grindy sansamp sound

the drive knob affects how distorted that sansamp sound is