uk_lefty Posted April 1, 2023 Share Posted April 1, 2023 Does anyone here carry around a passive DI box instead of using a dedicated preamp/ DI pedal? I don't really have use for a dedicated preamp/ DI pedal but having that safety net of an option to DI off the board is comforting in case my amp packs in. Which has never happened, but I don't want to tempt fate. Just trying to weigh up pros and cons before parting with cash. I did just buy a Behringer BDI21 but I'm not exactly impressed with it. I thought I'd have it on my board as a drive/ boost but so far I think it might just be best staying in the gig bag as a cheap backup for emergencies... I'd just rather have something useful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tony_m Posted April 1, 2023 Share Posted April 1, 2023 Yeah, I've got an old SoundLAB SDB-20 passive DI box which lives in my spares bag for gigs - the very nice chap from whom I bought my Ashdown Five Fifteen Minirig donkey's years ago threw it in as a freebie as he had no use for it! Funnily enough, I've also got a Behringer BDI21 in the bag, just in case. Although my other two amps have got inbuilt DI's, the Minirig (which I'm using the most at the moment) hasn't even got a Line Out never mind a DI, so my main FOH feed comes from an Ashdown 12-band graphic EQ / DI pedal - hopefully the SoundLAB and BDI give me enough cover should the Ashdown pedal ever let me down! 🤞 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Downunderwonder Posted April 2, 2023 Share Posted April 2, 2023 It's not like a BDDI is a big investment. Then you're golden, if a little midscooped in the high mids, for some tone in the event of amp failure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted April 2, 2023 Share Posted April 2, 2023 Yes, but it’s one of many I had for a previous band. Otherwise I probably be looking for something with a bit of tone shaping. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
itu Posted April 2, 2023 Share Posted April 2, 2023 Mine's powered, Countryman type 85. Built like a brick. Can be used as a hammer, or a brick. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uk_lefty Posted April 2, 2023 Author Share Posted April 2, 2023 9 hours ago, Downunderwonder said: It's not like a BDDI is a big investment. Then you're golden, if a little midscooped in the high mids, for some tone in the event of amp failure. I got the BDI21 for £35 but so far I don't think it's usable. I could keep it for emergencies but even then it's noisy and for me doesn't sound very good. I'd rather have something else that if I need to use it I'll be happy with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lidl e Posted April 2, 2023 Share Posted April 2, 2023 Ive got a countryman strapped to the bottom of my pedalboard just in case. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Downunderwonder Posted April 2, 2023 Share Posted April 2, 2023 2 hours ago, uk_lefty said: I got the BDI21 for £35 but so far I don't think it's usable. I could keep it for emergencies but even then it's noisy and for me doesn't sound very good. I'd rather have something else that if I need to use it I'll be happy with. Knockoff by B'ringer not the real deal. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
javi_bassist Posted April 4, 2023 Share Posted April 4, 2023 (edited) I always have a Radial SB2 just in case. Small and good sounding. Edited April 4, 2023 by javi_bassist Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M@23 Posted April 4, 2023 Share Posted April 4, 2023 Radial Stage Bug for me, would recommend! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boodang Posted April 4, 2023 Share Posted April 4, 2023 3 hours ago, M@23 said: Radial Stage Bug for me, would recommend! Yep, always carry the passive Radial stage bug SB-2. In fact carry two of them as our guitarist is an idiot who insists on bringing active di's that always fail. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EBS_freak Posted April 4, 2023 Share Posted April 4, 2023 Orchid Micro DI. If wireless, straight out of the DI output from my ULXD. All tone shaping at the desk - digital split onto two channels, one for FoH, one for IEM mixes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elfrasho Posted April 4, 2023 Share Posted April 4, 2023 I've got a cheapo thomann passive di velcroed to the underside of my pedal board. My preamp is a stomp and that doesn't have an xlr out so its handy having a di there. It gets used quite alot for other things so it's really quite handy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skidder652003 Posted April 5, 2023 Share Posted April 5, 2023 11 hours ago, EBS_freak said: Orchid Micro DI. If wireless, straight out of the DI output from my ULXD. All tone shaping at the desk - digital split onto two channels, one for FoH, one for IEM mixes. Yep, Orchid gets a lot of love on here. I'd go for one of these if I didn't have my Laney Digbeth http://orchid-electronics.co.uk/classic_DI.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrDinsdale Posted April 5, 2023 Share Posted April 5, 2023 I got a Radial ProDI cheap on ebay and its a great backup. Very fortunate to have a Jad Freer Capo on the board now which has a pre and post DI which is super handy too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NAS Bass Posted April 5, 2023 Share Posted April 5, 2023 14 hours ago, Elfrasho said: I've got a cheapo thomann passive di velcroed to the underside of my pedal board. My preamp is a stomp and that doesn't have an xlr out so its handy having a di there. It gets used quite alot for other things so it's really quite handy! Which pre are you using and which di? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elfrasho Posted April 5, 2023 Share Posted April 5, 2023 3 hours ago, NAS Bass said: Which pre are you using and which di? https://www.thomann.de/gb/millenium_die_dibox_passiv.htm?glp=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwuLShBhC_ARIsAFod4fK9-UL87e8Z5fXeOrOCCqzruuOSUak4XVsG68lavEIKL012Hq8Tu_8aAo90EALw_wcB Don't think you'd get cheaper than that. Out from an hx stomp into that. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uk_lefty Posted April 6, 2023 Author Share Posted April 6, 2023 On 02/04/2023 at 20:52, Downunderwonder said: Knockoff by B'ringer not the real deal. Some people swear by it.. I was a bit wary because I don't really like the Sansamp sound anyway.... But I'll get this returned. I managed to sell off some stuff and make enough to buy an MXR preamp that has a distortion and noise gate as well as XLR out so will see if that does anything for me... Failing that I'll go for the £11 passive DI! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tayste_2000 Posted April 6, 2023 Share Posted April 6, 2023 On 04/04/2023 at 07:56, javi_bassist said: I always have a Radial SB2 just in case. Small and good sounding. This, I have 3, one in each gigbag. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmorris Posted April 7, 2023 Share Posted April 7, 2023 15 hours ago, uk_lefty said: Some people swear by it.. I was a bit wary because I don't really like the Sansamp sound anyway.... But I'll get this returned. I managed to sell off some stuff and make enough to buy an MXR preamp that has a distortion and noise gate as well as XLR out so will see if that does anything for me... Failing that I'll go for the £11 passive DI! Not seeing the problem with the BDI21. Simply use it bypassed and you have an effective clean DI. As you would with a passive transformer DI. Except the input impedance will be more like your amp or pedal input. If you find it noisy like that then probably a fault or noisy power or gain staging problem. I have both the BDI21 and the Sansamp BDDI (older model). Apart from the less robust build, odd foot switch and lack of ability to run off P48 there's not much in it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baloney Balderdash Posted April 7, 2023 Share Posted April 7, 2023 (edited) The Behringer BDI21, as is the case with the original Tech 21 Bass Driver pedal that it is a clone of, sucks the mids right out of your tone, and there is really no way to dial the mid scoop out with where it lies (just about 800Hz, exactly what you need for definition) and how the Low and High control acts, unless you dial in so much clean via the blend knob that the pedal as a preamp basically becomes completely obsolete as other than simply a DI box. If you happen to enjoy the dull inarticulate mud and fizziness of scooped mids for some bizarre reason though it's otherwise actually a great pedal that is basically indistinguishable from the real deal (meaning the Tech 21 Bass Driver pedal). Edited April 7, 2023 by Baloney Balderdash Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulThePlug Posted April 7, 2023 Share Posted April 7, 2023 (edited) Tried the BDI Mid Mod? A 10k resistor simply soldered to the back of the board... Top C19 to Bottom R16. Make sure the resistor leads don't touch other components. Edited April 7, 2023 by PaulThePlug Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmorris Posted April 7, 2023 Share Posted April 7, 2023 There are mods to switch in/out both the mids cut and the "cab sim" elements of the BDI21. But what I'm suggesting is that the OP can simply use it in bypass. Used like this it's simply a clean DI. That seems comparable with the passive DI option being considered. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uk_lefty Posted April 10, 2023 Author Share Posted April 10, 2023 On 07/04/2023 at 14:38, rmorris said: There are mods to switch in/out both the mids cut and the "cab sim" elements of the BDI21. But what I'm suggesting is that the OP can simply use it in bypass. Used like this it's simply a clean DI. That seems comparable with the passive DI option being considered. I've returned it and got a refund. For me, it sounded awful and introduced noise to my signal chain. Appreciate for others it's a great pedal, but I also can't stand Orange bass amps etc. Whereas other people can get phenomenal sounds from them... Each to their own. I've got an MXR M80 on the way so will see if that gives me what I'm looking for. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmorris Posted April 10, 2023 Share Posted April 10, 2023 2 hours ago, uk_lefty said: I've returned it and got a refund. For me, it sounded awful and introduced noise to my signal chain. Appreciate for others it's a great pedal, but I also can't stand Orange bass amps etc. Whereas other people can get phenomenal sounds from them... Each to their own. I've got an MXR M80 on the way so will see if that gives me what I'm looking for. Was the sound / noise a problem with the BDI21 in bypass ? What was it plugged into ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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