• Techniques
  • Suggestions on cost effective multi purpose Preamp/DI for guit/bass/vocals. $100-150? (p.2)
2015/06/10 17:14:06
jerrydf
Steinberg UR22 - very nice unit for 2 i/p's
https://www.steinberg.net/en/products/audio_interfaces/ur_serie/modelle/ur22.html
Great pre-amps and very well made
 
jdf
2015/06/10 17:46:07
batsbrew
but not a DI.
2015/06/10 17:48:32
arachnaut
Beepster
@arachnaut... If you want an educational read on DI boxes check this article out...
 
http://thehub.musiciansfriend.com/live-sound-buying-guides/how-to-choose-the-right-direct-box
 



Thanks, that was about what I expected, but it filled in a lot of blanks.
I have a pretty good analog electronics engineering background and I still remember a lot of it although I no longer build my own gear like I use to in the 70's and 80's.
 
2015/06/10 18:27:18
bluzdog
It doesn't have a mic preamp but the Little Labs Red eye is an incredible workhorse: http://www.littlelabs.com/redeye.html   http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/RedEye3D
 
Rocky
2015/06/10 18:51:35
Beepster
@Jerry... Thanks but that's an interface which I've already got covered. I should maybe edit my OP to say that. However it is interesting you posted that. It's the second time in two days I've seen the Steinberg units recommended. Perhaps Steinberg is upping their game in the interface arena to keep up with the competition. When I was looking at interfaces their selection in the lower price ranges was not great and they seemed to have some driver complaints. These look like a new breed (or maybe I just didn't see them back then). Cheers.
 
@arachnaut... NP. I actually want to take an electronics course at some point so I can try my hand at building my own little boxes or fixing/modding stuff I've got laying around. Someday.
 
@Rocky... I'll check it out. I think I've seen those recommended before. Over time I'd like to build a small army of such devices so I can use what's most appropriate or if I ever end up with another band room I have some input flexibility beyond just my board. Thanks. Edit: Ah... that does reamping which is something else I'll need at some point. Cool.
2015/06/10 20:33:32
tlw
The Art tube preamps actually aren't that bad, especially if you replace the stock cheap valve with a better one (e.g a JJ or NOS 7025). They're not "high end" of course, but will add a valve quality that solid state won't.

A dedicated guitar pre/DI that's just a high impedance input with XLR out to feed an interface line input may well add nothing that the interface can't already do, assuming it has a high input impedance "instrument" input. If it doesn't any Boss pedal will provide a 1MOhm input impedance and low impedance output, even with the pedal switched off and the Boss FET switching buffer is as good as any cheap DI you'll find.

By the way, if your bass is a Fender Precision with the split-coil pickup the two halves of the split are set up,so the pickup is actually a humbucker, not a single coil. The early Precisions had a small single coil pickup but Fender changed them round about 1957 when they became styled more like a Strat. Fender kept quiet about the humbucking nature of the pickup allegedly because Gibson/Seth Lover already held the relevant patent.

It's the humbucking characteristic that gives the Precision its deep, rounded tone and thump compared to a jazz bass.
2015/06/10 21:00:10
Cactus Music
I'm super happy with my Joe Meek ThreeQ. It will do exactly what you are asking for. And it does colour the sound a little if you let it. That's the whole point of it. 
http://www.joemeek.com/threeq.html
 
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/threeQ
 
I got mine for a price match @ $229 CAN.  which would be closer to $200 US. 
 
The optical compressor is worth the price alone. Simple and very easy to get what you want.
 
But this is the best part, your asking for both Guitar/Bass DI and a mike pre amp....
It has the mike XLR input and a 1/4" instrument input on the back. You can leave them both plugged in and even leave the Phantom power on. Just press the front "line"  button to toggle between DI and mike. This is so important to me because I'm forever needing to switch what I'm doing and I hate re-patching stuff. 
 
I also like the fact it has two parallel outputs. This have proven the perfect way to handle monitoring. One goes to a Mackie Mix 8 mixer I use for headphone control and a powered PA speaker ( for bass)  and the other is permanently plugged into input 3 of my interface. The interface 3/4 output also goes to the Mix 8. Talk about in your face headphone level.   It was like night and day on my vocal tracks,, problem is I now want to re do everything I did before I owned it!!
 
 

2015/06/10 23:37:47
mettelus
I forget what you have for an amp, but another option to consider it running an output from the amp (either direct out, or even an effects loop send). If the channels are clean, this can be used as input to an audio interface (for amp sims). If the speakers can be easily unplugged it is even better for not freaking out the neighbors. I am not sure if this is a feasible option for you though. Downside is there is no ground lift capability there and I know you have been struggling with that one.
2015/06/11 00:33:14
AT
The ARt MP tube series is worth having, esp. if you are short on funds.  It is basically a garden variety IC preamp/DI with a tube in the output, as I recall.  I still have one in the live bag.  It is starved plate and sounds like it if overdriven, tho you can get some pillowy bass.  I wouldn't call it a tone machine, but you have to spend some real money for that.  It can be a nice learning tool while you save.
 
@
2015/06/11 03:24:08
lawajava
Here I mention it again - the KB-37. It's like a miracle product. You can probably find one for resale or at a discount house in the neighborhood of $150. I use it with Amplitube 3 and Guitar Rig 5. New it comes with PodFarm. I happen to prefer Amplitube.

Some links:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRpCXWSC8TE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwBR1OfHRtM
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