A little help (bass to 1212m)

  • Thread starter Thread starter dejan
  • Start date Start date
D

dejan

New member
Hello all,
i've been reading the forum for a while, but im not completely clear about something:
I have a bass guitar and a PC with a EMU 1212m audio interface. Also have 3way flourstanding speakers and 150wpc stereo hifi amplifier (I use EMU as a DAC, mainly)...
Now, I want to connect bass to the 1212m, to do some recordings and just for playing on my speakers, putting it trough PatchMix and adding some effects to the bass, etc...nothing professional...
The question is: What device I need to accomplish this???? Because i know that i cant connect (passive pickups) bass direct to the emu 1/4' TRS input. As i know i need some preamp, right?
Im thinking about Behringer BDI21 (mainly because i can aford it), but now I'm not sure it it is the right device for what i want???? Also, i planned to connect its balanced XLR output, over a bal XLR to 1/4'TRS cable, to the 1212m's input.Is that ok??
Or maybe M-Audio Audio Buddy???
Please, answer me. Once again, i just need a "device" that will make signal from bass guitar safe for EMU 1212m input, without risk of damaging anything. That is LINE-LEVEL signal, right?
Thanks,
Dejan
 
The Behringer BDI21 is pretty good. I wouldn't use a stereo just for playing bass - you'll be way too tempted to crank things & kill the amp & speakers.
The rig you have would allow you to record DI'd bass well enough with a good signal - adding the BDI will make it more flexible.
You only need a preamp or DI if you can't attenuate the signal from the bass as it goes into your EMU.
 
rayc said:
The Behringer BDI21 is pretty good. I wouldn't use a stereo just for playing bass - you'll be way too tempted to crank things & kill the amp & speakers.
Click to expand...
Im not sure i understand, but ok, ill play at moderate levels, ok?

rayc said:
The rig you have would allow you to record DI'd bass well enough with a good signal - adding the BDI will make it more flexible.
Click to expand...
How is the chain, please? What you want to say, that i can record bass now, without BDI or so???
rayc said:
You only need a preamp or DI if you can't attenuate the signal from the bass as it goes into your EMU.
Click to expand...
Why shoud i attenuate signal from bass? Bass is passive and i dont see why would i attenuate it more...i think i need to amplify it???

anyway, thanks for helping
 
EMU 1212m has 2 analog line inputs with Input Impedance 10K ohm, has no MIC input and the BDI has output 1K ohm and balanced output 200 ohm (microphone XLR)
Thats what im talking about.
Someone???
 
Wow. While 'Behri doesn't seem fit to actually include the input and out level specs in their manual :rolleyes:, they do imply it can be used at instrument level or line level on the 1/4" jacks ('as an effect insert' via the level controls on a mixer..') so it would seem to do the ticket bringing you bass up to level for 1212.
Their XLR out says 'mic level' so you wouldn't need that or the adapters.

BTW, impedance is good. You want higher impedance inputs receiving lower outputs.
 
Um, Behri GOOD. I use it, I like it, I try to blend the DI with a mic bass amp/speaker for the best sound. You may not need it.
PLAYING through stereo speakers via your computer for anything other than tracking NOT GOOD for the speakers, amp or much else.
BASS -> BDI -> your interface -> recording program
OR
BASS -> BDI -> your interface -> recording program
.............&.....................................................................................................................BLEND in Box
............Split signal at BDI -> amp -> speaker -> mic -> preamp -> interface -> recording program
 
Thanks friends.

Rayc, so BDI will give me good levels for line inputs?OK. I'll buy it. No balanced out, but ok. Its not expensive...Thanks.
What do you mean by "other than tracking"? Listening at very low levels??? Sorry, but my English is not so good. I have alredy done this: bass direct to the 1212m, Amplitube software with some effects, and output to amp. Not very loud listening. And nothing has died, amp nor speakers, but, is there posibility i damaged something?
Thanks,
Chears,
Dejan
 
rayc said:
PLAYING through stereo speakers via your computer for anything other than tracking NOT GOOD for the speakers, amp or much else.
Click to expand...

OK, Can you please explain me why it would not be good for speakeres, amp...? And what else? From the technical side. Im really curious.
 
Playing records and cd's are 'controlled signals vs the live dynamic of guitars and bass. Instrument speakers are a hell of a lot more rugged in general.
If you keep levels way down and/or keep a close watch for distortion, high cone excursions.. maybe ok.
 
Thank You. I keep amp up to 9oclock position max, and usually even lower. So, just low listening levels, just enough to hear the tone. I watch about clipping in PatchMix. Turn on subsonic filter on amp. I have no reasons to worry, right.
Thanks
 
Bass really needs to move air to sound real - big speaker, serious power, big IN & OUT movements.
Your bass, no matter how nicely treated inside amplitude could blow your speaker EASILY.
Believe me I know. I played my brand new bass through my folks new stereo - used an adaptor for the plub etc etc after about 5 mins the speaker just farted a lot. I'd blown it. Not loud, just a passive bass but the amp in the stereo and the speakers weren't made to handle real bass with real bass dynamics and the need to push so much air and extend so far in any one direction. (That was in 1974 and the stereo was a strong, beefy one with big speakers as were so popular back then - man I had to come up with some stories to cover myself)
You'd be better off using tracking quality headphones but FAR better off with a bass amp & cab - even a cheap one.
 
Thanks rayc.
How you connected your bass to your amp, directly? Or you had some preamp? Or active footswitch...?

Anyway, i got it that i need a good bass amp cabinet if i want real bass sound. I must get one. Thats about 300-400$. Until i get that, i thought just to practice a little on low volumes this way. Is situation the same when i record bass to a PC with sonar and a preamp like AudioBuddy, and than play it back to the same amp and speakers? Or is better to play it back from the PC to the bass amp that i'll buy? What i need to do to adapt the bass sound for usual stereo hifi gear listening? Compress? Limiter?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top