Ultimate Bass DI Shootout!
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- Опубліковано 29 вер 2024
- Download all the audio files here:
www.basslessons...
This video features a direct comparison of some of the finest D.I Boxes on the market including:
Tonecraft 363 Tube DI - 2:00 / 4:40
www.tonecraftau...
A Design REDDI - 2:49 / 6:29
www.adesignsaud...
Avalon U5 - 3:56 / 5:24
amzn.to/2M9FomE
www.avalondesig...
Rupert Neve DI - 4:17 / 5:01
amzn.to/2CjON6B
rupertneve.com/...
TAB Funkenwerk V71 DI - 2:27 / 6:52
www.tab-funkenw...
Mindprint Envoice Mk1 3:11 / 6:08
Markbass Big Bang 3:35 / 5:46
amzn.to/2TPGfLT
My signal chain is:
F Bass VF5
fbass.com/
Nickel Strings
www.stringjoy.com/
Klotz Cables
www.klotz-ais.com/
Focusrite Saffire Pro 24
amzn.to/2D9LKzn
us.focusrite.co...
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They all sound pretty good. I'm surprised that the Markbass did so well. It held it's own next to those dedicated "industry standard" boxes.
james smith I think that’s a good point, if you were to make a serious recording on any of these units your bass tone would be faithfully passed on.
I like the reddi. Thanks for doing this.
Very cool demo. Thanks for posting.
+bumblesnowmonster you're welcome!
The Neve probably sounds great with some mix compression or tape saturation. Got that classic boxyness going on.
Not really DI boxes as far as I understand the term 'DI'.
The only real DI-Box is the Neve, all the others are preamps with DI-Output.
What I want from a DI-Box is that it transports the tone of my bass directly into the mixing console without changing it.
For that purpose i like the Radial J48 or JDI a lot more.
Totally understand where you're coming from with the transition of your bass signal. Of the high end boxes in the review only the Avalon and the Tonecraft had any time shaping capabilities and these were bypassed for the tests as well as on the mindprint and Markbass. The TAB REDDI and Neve only have gain controls. Thanks for watching!
+dalrok well Di boxes are for that purpose you want them to but these things are Di-preamps. basicly theyre DI's that can boost up the signal without changing the tone too much. The idea behind DI-preamps are so that the tone does not distort in wrong way when its enchanced inside digital audio softwares and such, because the DI-preamps are analog. (im no engineer so im just makin shit up, but this is how i have understand them xD)
+Bass Lessons Melbourne I think it's about the philosophy of a DI and the personal preferences.
My preference is not to change the colour of the bass signal and transfer it (at least nearly) without tonal change to the mixing console / the preamp. Same for my live setup, I most of the time play with EQ bypassed, only use the param. EQ if the stage or room has nasty resonances. My tone comes only from the bass.
In studio I normally put the bass into my Glock BassArt Pre with bypassed EQ to get a clear signal and use only it's DI Output. If I don't have the Glock with me I use the J48.
Maybe it's because I'm a studio guy too and want no EQing outside of the console / DAW / preamp.
I can add that to the signal later if I want to.
Same live, most of the FOH-guys I work with are happy with a clean not EQ'ed signal.
Lehle P Split II, WR "Gnome" Tube DI, Palmer, Radial, Countryman, Switchcraft, Behringer, ART, Little Labs, A Designs, Summit Audio, Pro Co, KV2 Audio, BSS, Whirlwind, Pedalpunk, Rupert Neve RNDI, etc ... Models without preamps or at least split the signal into dry and wet outputs
The RNDI can be used inline between the amp power stage output and speaker cabinet input to get the sound of the whole bass or guitar rig without miking the speaker cabinet and also be used via the normal method for getting a di signal direct from the instrument or after the pedal chain. Then you can manipulate the signal further in your daw with plugins if needed, cab impulse responses and effects or just use the clean signal as is which is usually fine for bass but not electric guitar
all pretty much sound the same, emperors new clothes again (thought that was confined to audiophiles- wrong!)
Never heard of the company before but that TAB Funkenwerk just sounds lovely...
The TAB stood out as having a lot of high end clarity and a tight low end, to the point where it sounded rolled off compared to the others. The rest were EXTREMELY similar, and I really don't think I'd notice a difference in a mix.
The Mindprint Envoice sounds bloody incredible! The TAB Funkenwerk V71 is a very close second, while the MarkBass Big Bang has a very special low end. The rest sound pretty much similar, with the exception of the Avalon, which sounds the most open of the lot.
Rupert Neve DI exellent
The Avalon doesn't seem to muddy the mids as the others. Love the tonecraft and reddi too!
Ben Cooper its just hyping up the highs and lows. Its a beautiful sound but its coloration
They all sound good. I wouldn't hear the difference in real life. When listening with good headphones, the Reddi might have been slightly deeper than the rest. Also, Avalon was just a hint lighter sounding of the bunch. The differences were the smallest kind, so I really can't be sure. Thanks for the great comparison
I like the REDDI and Neve.
Agree with everyone here: TAB preamp is simply amazing! I have.a markbass head and it sounds pretty good as well.
There’s something about the Envoice that I like:) other favorites are TAB, RND, and Markbass.
ampeg svt is missing
That NEVE thing is astonishing, but I totally dig the Mindprint. Such a nice warm bassy impression.
Hi! What do you think about Groove Tubes “The Brick”? Does it worth the money?
was the avalon used flat or with the eq and high cut like in the picture?
I think @ this level they are all good. I like them all. It would be interesting to hear the Universal Audio 610 & twin finity in direct comparison. My favourite blind listening through good headphones is The V72 Tab funkenwork.
Hope you kept that funkenwerk. Thanks so much. Hadn't heard it before. I was checking prices 5 minutes after watching your video.
I wish I still had it but unfortunately it belonged to a friend. :)
Reddi by far
MINDPRINT ENVOICE!!
To my ears it was the Tab V71 and the Rupert Neve DI. I heard clarity with no mudd in those 2. Been considering the Rupert Neve. Been using a Radial J48 👎 mudd
avalon di is super sick if u use it with warwick basses :S
i have noticed it sounded too bright and harsh here on good headphone to me the worst of the pack at least in this set up, the neve sound really great on slap seems to compress in a beautifull way for that, and tonecraft is superb, REDDI here to me also too bright but not harsh
Sounds more like growl than harshness to me... Plus it has tone shaping options. Never seen anyone complain about it until now lol. 😂
Reddi for fingerstyle. TAB for slap. Nice Fbass!
+Laurence Mollerup Yeah I liked the TAB for slap as well!
Arkham oracle is another great di i use it or my avalon oracle uses 300v dc for tube really nice
For a general DI i want as much detail as i can get in all frequency spectrums. that sounded like the Avalon U5 to me in this demo. there were sounds it had the other DI's were completely missing. was it always the best tone or most evenly balanced? nope. but it was the most detailed consistently across the human hearing range. As i always say, i can't boost in editing what isn't there in the recording. 1000 x 0 = 0.
Get a Sansamp RBI or Geddy. The Di does nothing for home DAW.
that funkenwerk is awesome goddamn!1
Good video bro, they all sound good.. Pretty surprised on how good the Envoice & Funkenwerk sound
REDDI + V71DI are my prefered.
They are all close but to discriminating ears you can hear it. IMHO
REDDI - The most balanced
The Neve design - Slightly darker
The Avalon - Slight mid scoop
Avalon 1st, Markbass 2nd, Reddi Tube 3rd.
the bass sounded great!
i got the u5 and a designs.. big fan of a designs here in the studio we got the mp2a pre hammers and nails eq and compression racks .. they make amazing stuff will be ordering the 2x red di rack i mainly use em for synths...
ALSO the ampeg scrambler stomp box di plus that awesome distortion actually works well in the studio not just live ..
Great video, I liked that you played the same thing for each DI so we could really get a good comparison. I must not have very refined ears because I was hard pressed to hear any difference at all between these DI's that a very little tweak of the EQ couldn't match. I think a quality bass and must importantly, fine playing is the key to great bass sound. These high dollar DI's are great for the audiophile, but the average bass player will find most any DI's useful.
+Matthew Frederick glad you enjoyed it! It's true that the differences are very subtle and unless you are using good headphones or some studio monitors, you may struggle to pick them out. EQ can certainly help, but it's much better to get as close to the sound you want when recording by 'natural' means first.
i´m using good headphones, big diferences they really sound all with a complete diferent character like if you are using diferent amps, to me the tonecraft and the Neve are my favorites big deception with the Avalon
I like em all! But The Rupert Neve, Tonecraft, and Big Bang would be nice to have
The RNDI seemed to be the most 'clear' of the bunch. I'd personally run a solid EQ after it to help bolster the lower frequencies, otherwise I really appreciated it's contribution to the 'direct in' tone. Maybe an on-board preamp on one's bass would be sufficient for those that either don't have a mind for loads of gear or don't have the capacity to learn it all. I also appreciated the broadness of the REDDI's tone.
Tone craft sounds muddy
Tonecraft is the best.
For me Wins Reddi
Excellent vid! Thanks for sharing!
tab v71 best
I detected a hint 4k phase interference in the Avalon in comparison to the Reddi which itself had less pretentious glare by contrast to the Neve box. Assessing the Mark Bass I feel it sounded rather "bass-like". The En-Voice Mindprint however did subvert my conciousness into a state of (thankfully) recoverable catatonia. The sound cut out during the Tab Funkenwerk.
Ill take the cheap one cuz, hey its just the bass...
Does the Mark Bass need to be connected to a load box?
Not at all, it can run by itself quite happily! Thanks
Can you recommend me valve bass recording preamp with the same or better quality as Mesa Boogie Rectifier recording preamp? P.s. I am not interesting in digital shit only analog!
Hey man. Just a quick question. Do you remember how you had the U5 set? Like we’re you using a tone setting? And we’re you using the line or the mic out? I’m curious because even though probably nobody caught this, but there was sort of a weird noise or a higher noise floor with the U5. Not quite a hiss, but there was def something there that wasn’t in the others. If you hear what I mean or anyone else does let me know.
I like the REDDI for the warm rounded low end and to me it has a pleasing punch. It seems to move my sub woofer the most. Mark Bass a close second. all sound great though.
Like the Funkenwerk the most out of these - impossible to find in the U.S.? But really I prefer the BAE DMP (mic pre) or the BAE VGDI is also a good and cheap little DI box.
RND MARKBASS AND A DESIGNS (les compressed, more dinámica and punchy)
is the envoice stuff better quality and sounding than the art stuff? any experience comparing the envoice stuff to cheaper tube type preamps etc? does the tube saturation control work pretty good . just wondering if i could get your 2 cents on the unit as ive thought about buying one but havent pulled the trigger. thanks
envoice mrk1 mindprint sounded best to me for both
I'd love to see a new shootout that includes some of the favorites from this video (Reddi, Neve, Avalon, etc) and also includes the Acme Mowtown DI, Zod IDDI, and Useful Arts BF-1
Very helpful. Thanks for this.
I only liked Mindprint Envoice
It’s the tonecraft 363 for me!!!
All same that's the youtube's trap
I wouldn't care they all sound great
The Reddi and the Tab Funkenwerk
Grace Designs preamp!!!
Thx for ur job ! What about ampeg scr di ?? Seems to sound good for cheap
I'm sure it does a great job but I've never tried one!
Really Great video. Thanks. Wish I could like it 10 times.
+DrewSorensenMusic thanks man, glad you liked it! :)
I own the Reddi and the Avalon U5 but they all sounded good to me. One thing that no one ever mentions in these reviews is the Reddi has considerably lower output than most other DI's. The U5 not only has more output but has some shaping options that are quite good as well. Truthfully, there is a lot of listening bias going on in the comments here. If the test was blind most would not be able to hear enough difference to pick the same one on multiple listens.
You raise some good points!
With that said.. The Avalon growls the most. You can hear it. With all the tone shaping options, is it a winner?
I liked the reddi the most and it honestly bothers me because it's also the less parctical to integrate to a live rig... A-Designs, please, if you read me, put out a rackmountable version of this thing !
pideuh weuh that could be cool! Also if the tone shaping was passed on to the jack output that could be cool
They do have a rack mount version and did long before your reply was posted. Granted it’s a 2 channel situation, it’s still a rack-mount :)
They should all be transparent. If not that's points lost. It's not an instrument or effects unit.
Avalon U5. It growls the most during slap and has loads of options. The other ones with options don't sound as good. The other ones that sound close or maybe af good as the Avalon don't have many options.
I'm surprised that there's no tone hammer by Aguilar.
Good suggestion! Maybe next video.
g
Put 'em all on Reverb and sell 'em. Get an Ampeg DI, Distortion combo. Then take all that leftover dough, invest it in a Ken Smith bass, and call it all good! 😆
I like TAB and Neve. I think TAB has the deepest low.
should i buy one on these or an ADA MB1?
EtherealAesthetic depends, do you just need a DI? Eq? Effects?
Bass Lessons Melbourne hi. i am looking for a tube preamp with FX and DI. i have 2 x ADA MB1 units available for me to buy. i use a line 6 bass pod but i find its sucks tone bad. or any preamp that can emulate a fender twin reverb guitar amp. i played my zon bass through fender twin reverb into a 2x12 bass cab recently and that was the kind of tone i'm looking for. it was a first time playing into tube amp and sounded great. super bright clear deep and punchy.
EtherealAesthetic hey mate I think we had this conversation already on Facebook!!;)
Bass Lessons Melbourne yeah i was posting a bit around trying to find a right gear setup.
EtherealAesthetic cool. We’ll again my advice would be leave the Fx to the effects guys and buy a dedicated tube preamp like an alembic, Demeter or noble
they all sound pretty much the same. i'm not gonna say there was a roll-off in the Neve cause it could've been the attack that changed, slightly. i'll take the one that cost the less. that's the best one.
Same here - i was listening while reading some comments and therefore couldn't see which one was used at the time.
The Neve has less low end than the Avalon U5 for exemple. It depends on the style and the sound you want but I'd go for the U5 as it's a more fat (for rock).
All great, slightly different but very hard to tell most of the time. It's not like picking the Tonecraft instead of the Reddi ... or whatever will be the reason you didn't win a grammy.
I prefer the Tonecraft 363. Very cool vid, thanks
The tonecraft is a beast! glad you enjoyed it :)
I thought they all sounded the same
The differences are very subtle. It seems that some people on web forums and such go on about how important it is to have the right DI box and pay hundreds for them but I think they're being very pretentious when the differences are so subtle - when mixed in with all the other instruments and with the attention on the actual music, I'm not sure how many people are even hearing any difference.
@@StewartBrand85 oh okay. Thanks fir the informative Info. I think Ile go fir the two notes torpedo
Friend can make your covers subtitled in Spanish ... or a sketch of how is your connection to play live ... thanks
All strings must sound 'dynamically tight' and 'defined'. Otherwise it will be difficult to blend the signal with a miced one. A 'tight time response' has prority over 'harmonic richness'. In this respect I prefer th Avolon's dynamic and sonic interpretation. The Mindprint was second in my book. The other ones including the Neve sounded a bit too glassy due to the lack of resolution in the upper mids. My AMS Neve does not behave like that.
no d.i shootout is complete without a UA solo 610!!!😠
E. A sorry I didn’t have access to all the gear in the world
Thank you so much for this video!!!.
Difficult to listen the "real" sound of each "DI" (or preamp) if you are using a focusrite. In my oppinion Focusrite destroy the natural sound, making it opaque and
without essence . (Make this test: plug your bass directly in your speaker and listen to your sound, then plug your bass in the focussrite and tell me if your are loosing high freqs and receiving low freqs they are not in your bass...). I did a similar test in my studio using apogee and SSL (the chipest ones and the expensive ones...) and for me Neve was the 2th , and of course the reply of the Telefunken V72 was the 1th. The rest of the DI-preamps add things they are not in my bass (some people can like that, of course!!!). This is my personal oppinion, I don´t want to disturb anybody...
Through my phone speaker, the Neve sounds the weakest in all reviews. Which is sad cause my local music store doesn’t have DIs that are listed in this video except for the Neve.