Double Bass What order should I put these in?

[neddyrow]

So I just got a Nobelium....And I love it! This pedal gives me a rich tone that I am loving. I used to have a Sarno Black Box in my chain and I plugged in to it first and used my Alix as a DI out. Eventhough it is overkill, I'd still like to use the Alix for the HPF and mute button when I tune during a show. The thing is that both boxes have a DI out and I'm not sure which I should put first in the chain. Do I plug into the Nobelium first to get the tube sound or will it be squelched by the Alix. I am leaning towards the Alix first and then the Nobelium to add the tube warmth going FOH. But I know you guys are the specialists at what to do, so any advice would be appreciated.

 

[Wasnex]

Try it both ways and judge for yourself.

My guess is Nobelium first and use its DI. The idea is to send a minimally processed signal to FOH. As a veteran audio tech, I find this approach tends to work best; especially with upright bass. A good audio tech with decent gear will be able to address the interactions between your, bass, pickup, the PA, and room acoustics.

Use the Alix to drive your stage rig. The Alix processing is then used to deal with the interactions that occurs between your bass, pickup, amp, speaker, and room acoustics.

The exception: If the audio tech does not know how to deal with an upright bass, it may be better to take a post EQ DI from the Alix. This is also true if you rely on a stage monitor rather than using a stage rig.

 

[neddyrow]

I don't use a stage rig. We use in-ears. As a bluegrass/old time fiddle band, we use just one or two condensers on stage and I go direct.

But I totally agree with you. I'd rather just send the Nobelium direct. I just wish it had a mute switch on it.

 

[Wasnex]

I'd rather just send the Nobelium direct.

A possible option: The full size TU3 tuner has a mute and bypass option. Input impedance is 1Meg.

If you get any special mojo from plugging the pickup straight into the Nobelium's tube input, the mojo will be lost if you run the tuner first.

Other possible options. There are 1/4" cables with a mute switch. You could use an ABY or mute pedal. As long as the pedals are true bypass, you still get the mojo from the tube input. If they are buffered, like the TU3, the mojo is lost.

 

[neddyrow]

I was thinking I could just use the volume knob on the Nobelium and keep it simple. I only tune once or twice a show.

 

[bherman]

If you don’t need the tone shaping capabilities of the Alix, sell it and add a simple mute switch and fdeck hpf to your board. Otherwise the Alix is really just a very expensive mute and hpf.

 

[Jeff Kissell]

I was thinking I could just use the volume knob on the Nobelium and keep it simple. I only tune once or twice a show.

Keep in mind, the volume only affects the 1/4” out signal, not the DI.
Chris Hasty is working out a mini toggle mute circuit for the Nobelium and similar effects.

 

[neddyrow]

Good to know. Thank you.

 

[neddyrow]

I did the A/B with the Alix and it definitely sounds way better without it.

I’ll be putting it up for sale and replacing it with a Saturnworks mute pedal. $29 no battery required and line level.

I’ll report back on how the new setup works.