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Which DI? REDDI? Avalon U5? Summit? The Brick? JDI?

Which DI for my live setup?

  • Total voters
    115
#21
Poon said:
Let your ears decide. I've never done an A/B of the two. I would guess (no empirical reasoning) that the JDI would be quieter since it's a passive DI, but I'd wait for a correct answer to this. The Sadowsky is a cool sounding preamp for the modern slap stuff.
Click to expand...

Yeah it is. Considering that i get a DI/preamp boost and the sadowsky sound in a package for $200 (used) is pretty good to me. If it's just a *tad* better than the markbass DI, then i can consider it 'my' JDI! If i ever got serious enough into recording, i'd probably get a REDDI or something, but i'm good for now i guess.

Thanks everyone for your help.
 
#22
JimmyM said:
JDI's sweet. I used one a couple weeks ago as a speaker DI on my SVT, and it rocked.
Click to expand...

Do you mean you ran it post amp and pre-cab? is that possible or am i being an idiot?

I've heard you mention speaker DI's often, but I've never quite understood what you're describing. I'd like to run a DI from my SVT as well, and have been thinking about either a Radial JDI after my VT pedal, or ideally one from the amp, so I can get the natural breakup and compression from the amp, but the only thing I've come across so far that seemed to fit the bill is the Radial JDX, what they call an amplifier DI. it has a speaker sim, seems geared more towards guitar.

Excuse my ignorance, I've always miked my SVT or used the DI on my Eden (which sounds great).
 
#23
the JDI is a very quiet unit, wide sounding, and smooth...this being said, for live application, i'd just use the sadowsky DI if I already had one...

i use my JDI often, but sometimes use the cheap boxes at the venue, sometimes use my amp DI...the JDI sounds better than either other option, but in some of the venues we play, it's hardly noticeable with the house pa/mix...

at rehearsal and with better PA systems, it's pretty noticeably better to me, but again, not everywhere has a great PA, and your sadowsky would sound better than the cheap boxes and many amp DIs i've used
 
#24
After reading through this thread to this point, I ended up voting for The Brick. Not just because I own & like it, but based more on the following:

1) You already have great tone-shaping devices upstream. VT on top of REDDI going into another pre (necessary with the REDDI) is going to sound great, but possibly overkill as well. The Brick is only slightly 'colored' allowing you to lean more on your VT & Sadowsky units for overall shaping, while still leaving room (if desired) to lower the output of The Brick and use a studio's high-end pre's (Neve, API, etc) for the final 'sheen'.

2) The Brick gives you the full spectrum of output levels for whatever scenario you encounter. Turned all the way down for mic-level signals - on up to the ability to fully drive a digital converter expecting a full line-level signal. Some theaters & clubs I've been playing at are going to digital consoles- often the pre's integrated are pretty sketchy without a lot of gain. Having a DI/pre (as opposed to pure DI) gives you more volume to send to the console & with less noise (usually).

3) The Brick has huge headroom (so don't expect to be able to use it for "dirt")- you can boost the heck out of your clean lows & The Brick will deliver the Reggae goods! Also, the noise is extremely low (even when cranked), so you don't have to worry about treble extension either.

4) The Brick has 2 easily swappable tubes to change subtle characteristics (if you're so inclined!). The 3rd tube is basically 'fixed' & requires a tech to change. This 3rd tube is only for the extra 20db present on the xlr input, btw...

5) Bang-for-buck. $400 gets you a professional tube DI with excellent specs, can be used as a mic pre as well w/phantom, and allows you the flexibilty to drive other pre's or go straight to a Pro Tools (or other) digital converter. Keeps pro studios happy & the small-budget home studio guys as well!
 
#25
One Drop said:
Do you mean you ran it post amp and pre-cab? is that possible or am i being an idiot?

I've heard you mention speaker DI's often, but I've never quite understood what you're describing. I'd like to run a DI from my SVT as well, and have been thinking about either a Radial JDI after my VT pedal, or ideally one from the amp, so I can get the natural breakup and compression from the amp, but the only thing I've come across so far that seemed to fit the bill is the Radial JDX, what they call an amplifier DI. it has a speaker sim, seems geared more towards guitar.

Excuse my ignorance, I've always miked my SVT or used the DI on my Eden (which sounds great).
Click to expand...


yes, from what I've read, you can run the JDI between the amp and cab--you just depress the speaker pad button to bring down the signal level

...i haven't used mine like this, but i'm planning to try the exact setup JimmyM describes soon, running it after my SVTII, to hear how it sounds
 
#27
ac3320 said:
They were much cheaper on ebay!
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Even better!

I've been nothing but happy with The Brick. I do a mix of master & demo sessions for commercial release, indie projects, tv commercials, etc... I've been through a lot of gear & rented or used just about everything available at one point or another.

For sheer, inexpensive flexibilty - The Brick was a clear winner for me.

I love the sound of the REDDI and, of course, vintage Neves and some of the clones available. The Avalon has never 'wowed' me (admittedly, though, I'm in the minority here)- maybe it's sterile? But, honestly, the U5's smiley-face presets are useless to me and the bypass straight tone adds little to the tonal equation (in my opinion - no flames, please! :)). Radial & Countryman DI's are great- but remember, a pre is necessary when recording! If the studio doesn't have one (budget and 'project' studios), you're gonna need more level!

I've found that as a working player that I don't need to buy vintage pre's & comps- the sessions that these devices are called for on already have them at the studio & are well maintained with an engineer that knows best how to use them! I just need a reliable device that interfaces properly in a variety of scenarios & adds maybe a 'little something' to the sound.
 
#29
ac3320 said:
So if i just want a better/surefire DI in case the Markbass DI on my amp gives me any trouble, maybe the JDI would be fine? Any advantage to the J48? Would i miss out not having the U5 (with respect to my current setup) by going with one of the Radial/countryman DI's?
Click to expand...

You have a sadowsky pedal with a DI out as well as the DI out on your Markbass head. This meets your criteria of a failsafe. And probably sounds as good as any of the other products you are considering. If you like collecting DI boxes for a hobby or tax write-off then go ahead and buy another, but I can think of better things to spend money on.
 
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#30
()smoke() said:
yes, from what I've read, you can run the JDI between the amp and cab--you just depress the speaker pad button to bring down the signal level

...i haven't used mine like this, but i'm planning to try the exact setup JimmyM describes soon, running it after my SVTII, to hear how it sounds
Click to expand...

Thanks a lot, I'm going to give one a shot, too.

In any case a decent passive DI like this is a good thing to have in my gigbag, methinks.

edited to add:

I had missed the features and functions section on the Radial website: it says there is a second -30db attenuator that you use with the -15db one to hook it up between the amp and cab. This also engages the band pass filter which is supposed to emulate a 12" speaker, rolling off some highs and lows. It'll be interesting to hear how it sounds.
 
#31
One Drop said:
Do you mean you ran it post amp and pre-cab? is that possible or am i being an idiot?

I've heard you mention speaker DI's often, but I've never quite understood what you're describing. I'd like to run a DI from my SVT as well, and have been thinking about either a Radial JDI after my VT pedal, or ideally one from the amp, so I can get the natural breakup and compression from the amp, but the only thing I've come across so far that seemed to fit the bill is the Radial JDX, what they call an amplifier DI. it has a speaker sim, seems geared more towards guitar.

Excuse my ignorance, I've always miked my SVT or used the DI on my Eden (which sounds great).
Click to expand...
No prob. Yep, that's exactly what I'm talking about...you go between the head's speaker out and the cab's input. JDI worked great, so does the Countryman. The JDX looks more like a H&K Red Box, which is definitely more for guitar than bass. I have a Red Box and it cuts off too many lows.
 
#33
The U5 and Reddi are great DIs, but they are losers in the bang-for-buck category for live sound. There's really no need for them on stage. I'd go with a JDI or J48. If you want tone shaping, then maybe a SansAmp ParaDriver DI.

Unless you are recording, there's no justification for the extra cash. I have used my U5 on stage, and it sounded fine, but I'm the only one who might've discerned any difference between it and a Radial or Countryman, but maybe not.
 
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#35
I'd like to follow up on my post by saying that it's good to have an active DI, too (the PRO-DI is passive). If you do a lot of studio work, then an active DI will give you more control over your recording, whereas a passive one has no bells and whistles, but just cuts down on noise and puts out a worry-free setup (no plugs, phantom power, or batteries).
 
#36
Err, just to clarify--DI's that have "bells and whistles" are usually active, but active DI's as a category do not necessarily have any extra features or controls just by virtue of being active. It would be more accurate to say that a DI that has more controls offers more control--and incidentally it will also be active.
 
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#37
considering a battery in a countryman gives you about 400 hrs, i'm not sweating the active di so much. i think a little too much is made over active vs passive. just get a di you like and you'll be fine.
 
#38
For best tone shaping abilities I'd go with a U5...
Also, price wise, you can find a used U5 for $350-$400 (I paid $350)...you can't find a REDDI for much less than $600.

I run a '71 P -> Korg Pitch Black -> Maxon OD 808 -> EHX Bass Big Muff -> Avalon u5 -> Ampeg (American) SVT AV live (SVT CL (American) at practice) -> Ampeg (American) SVT 810AV (SVT810E x2 (American) at practice) and it works great for me.
 
#40
Scotch--I just recently picked up a Brick, it's very cool. I wanted to double check with you about these two things though:
scotch said:
1) ...The Brick is only slightly 'colored'
2) The Brick gives you the full spectrum of output levels for whatever scenario you encounter ...on up to the ability to fully drive a digital converter expecting a full line-level signal.
Click to expand...
The one I have has a very fat tubey tone, very strongly colored for a DI (though I guess that's relative, it's nowhere near as colored as a VT pedal). And it struggles to put out a line-level signal. I basically have to crank it to max and crank my line mixer's channel input to max in order to get a signal approaching (but not quite reaching, I think) +4 dBu.

Are we experiencing different things, or is it just a question of context and interpretation? :)
 

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