DI for recording Bass

[chrispick]

Referring back to the Presonus Eureka suggestion --

I see that Sweetwater just dropped their b-stock price down to $400. I'd say that's definitely worth checking out.

FYI: I don't work for Sweetwater. Just spreading the info seeing as how it might be helpful in this case. I do own a Eureka though and can vouch for it. Clean pre, good comp, easy to use. And has an instrument input.

[James Steele]

It appears Neither the Grace nor the Avalon have a split feed which provides and output to a bass/guitar amplifier with similar impedance and level characteristics as if the instrument was plugged in directly to the amp

I'm not sure this is correct. On the front panel of the U5 there is a "Thru Out" 1/4 jack that will pass the signal along to an amplifier if you desire.

[spirit]

Thanks for the info about the front panel "thru" on the Avalon. It wasn't obvious from the product descriptions and the photo's were hard to read the label. It didn't appear the Grace 101 had a thru- but if someone knows better make a correction. The DI inputs of motu interfaces don't have throughs, many (if not all) of the Neve clone preamps don't have "thru"s, And on some direct boxes the thru changes the sound that comes out of the amplifier from what it would be with the Instrument plugged staight into the amp. Even with the same direct box some instruments may have the amplifier tone changed when fed from the thru, and some may not. This depends on the impedence and electric characteristics of the instrument, and/or the amp.

So if the Avalon has a through, this might be one advantage for certain users over others that don't have a "thru". A mic level, or line level output would not neccesarily present the same level and impedence characteristics as a "thru". If one wants a lot of "thru"s, for example for multiple amplifiers, Little Labs make some products addressing those features.

If one is not simultaneously using an amp then the absence of a thru might not be of concern.
Still waiting to know where to get a Grace 101 for $400?

[edwinh]

I use either a custom DI I made with Reichenbach transformers, or for a little more color, a Groove Tubes DITTO. When I started using the DITTO, I thought it was a little dark sounding, but cutting slightly at 100hz or so can give a very present crisp sound. I love it, as does every other bassist I have recorded with it.

YMMV, etc, etc,

Edwin

[dmsaudio]

Anyone have an opinion if the Avalon U5 DI sounds any different than their 737 channel strip using the DI?

Thanks,

Dave

[frontierfran]

Ive seen them here and there USED for $400. Heck, I am selling both of my Grace's for $500 each...or, $900 for both in a 1U rack.

Just want what I paid, but I HAVE seen them go as low as $400 on craigslist and such in the past....
I always recommend reamping bass if you have the time and the capability. but recording DI via a Grace, like I suggested, always has yielded great results.

[mhschmieder]

The U5 and 737 are entirely different, by design. The 737 is a tube/vavle design; the U5 is discreet class "A". They sound entirely different as well, as one would expect. Both are great units, but the 737 will colour your sound. In fact, that's why you would buy it.