Direct box / preamps

[songsj]

The answers to my last post provoked a few more questions

I want to be sure I have this straight.
My bass is a Peavey Cirrus 5 [ Active 18v electronics ].

I should plug this into a direct box to knock the level down to line
level and then plug the output of the direct box into my Alesis or DBX compressor. Or does the output of the direct box go to a preamp and then to my compressor? Or do I just plug the bass
into a preamp and go into my compressor from there.

I think I have the mic thing straight, I run the mics into a preamp
and the preamp outs go to my compressors or recorder?

Can anyone recomend a good direct box and preamp [ on a budget ] ? I could probably start with 2 channels of preamp
with the ability to go up to 6 channels later.

Thanks

 

[TexRoadkill]

You need a preamp with any guitar type instrument. Some preamps have an instrument input. If not you need to use a DI. The DMP3 and AudioBuddy are popular cheap preamps.