Who supplies the D.I.?

[GeneralElectric]

I always bring a DI with me. Its a countryman type 85. I've had it for years and it sounds great insofar as it doesn't alter my signal. If the FOH is supplying the DI its usually some cheap POS wrapped in duct tape and scum.

I started bringing it because I was told that amp DIs generally aren't very good. It became an necessity once I had an amp blow up during a show. Now I never leave home without it.

Nowadays I'm looking to DIs that have an fx loop and a preamp so I get my sound every time through every amp.

 

[iiipopes]

As above, always have a good quality D.I. box. If the sound engineer prefers something different, so be it. As least the player is prepared.

The first time this happened to me was when I was playing bass for a group for an all-day regional Independence Day festival, which, of course, closed with the regional symphony and fireworks. I brought a bass, direct box, and cables. When the setup guy asked about an amplifier, I told him his side fills were larger than my rig, and he could run me direct. He did. Great sound. I have never been without my own direct box since, even if the sound engineer preferred a different setup.

 

[rtslinger]

Never leave home without it. in fact I have two one of them is passive, which one of the festivals we perform at demand it if you want FOH. I it's piece of mind to have your own in your gig imo once less think to worry about

 

[40Hz]

Have Radial will travel.

If you do the sort of things where you'll be going through a DI, bite the bullet and get your own for your gig bag. It'll be money well spent.

 

[Johnny Crab]

For "FOH-provided" shows, I expect the sound crew to supply one(if needed) although the Line 6 HD500X does have good built-in DI. I carry one also b/c I've had the experience of either a ground loop using FOH's DI that did not have a GND Lift switch on it.

If I get issues from Line 6's XLR/DI then I split the line level(1/4") output with a DI box.

 

[stonewall]

Mine is built into my amp woth a level control .Simple and easy

 

[JimmyM]

I always bring my own because I hate most DI's.

 

[brianrost]

Like most folks I'll use whatever the sound man gives me.

In case he has nothing, I carry a Radial Pro DI with me.

 

[Doner Designs]

I normally carry a Noble tube DI/preamp, but plan to always keep my Radial JDI in the gig bag in case I don't feel like bringing the Noble or if I run into a soundman who insists on passive or if somebody like my son needs to borrow one. The house DI's where I play are of the $10 variety and I want to sound as good as I can. This is OCD overkill, but I even bring my own XLR cable to run from the DI to the snake.

 

[SanDiegoHarry]

When do you feel it's up to the bassist (or not up to the bassist) to supply the D.I. box for his signal?

Every gig where I had FoH, I have been offered a DI box. I usually just connect to my amp (since they've all had DI's since... forever). So I've *never* felt the need to carry an extra DI.

 

[hintz]

I've never met a sound guy who didn't have one. I have pretty much always gigged my own though, you just never know. I use the internal one in my Markbass these days.

Thats been my experience as well!! And usually the sound tech insists on using *their* DI and most of the time its a Countryman. But you never know so its good to have one handy!! Lately I've been fortunate to work with techs who are willing to go through mine so I guess that depends...

 

[Muttleybass]

Most soundmen carry simple DI boxes that don't add anything and bypass your amp you paid so much for. I take my SansAmp so I can have some control about what he gets to the board.

 

[Medicine Man]

I love the aguilar tone hammer pedal, which has a pre amp and di, and I carry an additional el cheapo passive backup. Sound reinforcement pros always have a di unit, but you never know when you will run across sound reinforcement amateurs for foh. I played a gig last summer where there was supposed to be a backline, but the sound guy they hired didn't provide any di, mics, mic stands, xlr cables, or monitors. (Board, snake and mains only.)

 

[NKBassman]

Thats been my experience as well!! And usually the sound tech insists on using *their* DI and most of the time its a Countryman. But you never know so its good to have one handy!! Lately I've been fortunate to work with techs who are willing to go through mine so I guess that depends...

Lucky you. Most of the guys around here have never even heard of Countryman. I see a lot of Behringer, and a lot of the "Pro" series Radials.

 

[Billybladez66]

Mine is on my head...Hartke 3500. Has always worked like a champ....even has pre and post bypass for the 10 band eq....I always run the pre signal.

 

[Billybladez66]

I love the aguilar tone hammer pedal, which has a pre amp and di, and I carry an additional el cheapo passive backup. Sound reinforcement pros always have a di unit, but you never know when you will run across sound reinforcement amateurs for foh. I played a gig last summer where there was supposed to be a backline, but the sound guy they hired didn't provide any di, mics, mic stands, xlr cables, or monitors. (Board, snake and mains only.)

Wha????????. What kind of soundguy is that...hired from a local temp agency for a one off??????

 

[hintz]

Lucky you. Most of the guys around here have never even heard of Countryman. I see a lot of Behringer, and a lot of the "Pro" series Radials.

Thats kinda what I meant, those DI's that provide zero tone shaping, I've probably used plenty Radial or Behringer more than once....But I have used plenty of Countryman 85's too, I've just paid more attention to these things over the last few years

 

[Killens84]

I have a REDDI, so of course I always use my own. Most sound engineers I've encountered have always just had the $30-$40 direct boxes, which I don't want to use. If I'm not using my REDDI, I'll use the DI from my amp. My Mesa Subway D-800 has a great DI built in. I'd use that over a cheap direct box any day. But my REDDI is always first choice.

 

[Planespotter]

Any self respecting venue should have one, but bringing your own is always a good idea. It also get you extra pro points!

 

[Big Hoss]

I have a DI in my amp, and one in my FX box, so I am covered there. I typically don't run into PA with my signal though, (we typically gig small venues). But on the occasions we have done larger gigs, we have gone into the board straight out of my amp.