Sansamp pedals

[Ashgray]

Hi guys

Having spent some time setting up a virtual recording studio on my PC, using Cakewalk and various add-ons (drums, Hammond, Mellotron, orchestra), I'm about to dip my feet into the world of home recording, as a diversion from band activities. The electronic stuff is all set up but as I'll need to record guitar (my PRS) and bass (my Ricks), I'll need some sort of interface between the instruments and the PC.

I've been very impressed with Tech 21's effect pedal range and the RotoChoir, Boost Bass Chorus and Red Ripper are on my pedalboard, so I became interested in their range of Sansamp products, either as an "amp effect" in their own right, but mainly to act as the interface, as I understand it's a role they perform well.

Does anyone here have any experience of using these, particularly with (Rick) bass? The VT bass pedal obviously is suitable but I'd like some variety of amp sounds and textures, so I need to know whether the 'British' (Marshall), 'Liverpool' (Vox) and 'Leeds' (Hiwatt) units would be suitable to act as bass pre-amps. From what I've seen of online videos, all of these seem to provide the guitar sounds they were designed to emulate, so it's really only bass compatibility that I'm checking out.

Ash

[woodyng]

I can only speak for the VT pedal,i've used it for 3 years now,and it is great not only for live playing,but as a direct recording tool as well. I redid several bass tracks that had originally been recorded using a Line 6 rack mount unit,that i thought were pretty blah sounding,the VT gave me the grunt, sparkle,and edge i wanted from my Ricks. I just bought a Landmark 300 head,which has a sansamp DI for PA or recording purposes. I really love the sounds available from these units,and can only imagine you will be happy with any of Tech 21's well designed products.

[tmossman]

Sansamp products do not offer A to D conversion and will not act as the interface for your computer. You can however connect them to an appropriate interface.

Choose your interface wisely. A good choice and you will record happily for a long time, a poor choice will cause you no end of headaches.

[cjj]

Sansamp products do not offer A to D conversion and will not act as the interface for your computer. You can however connect them to an appropriate interface.

This is a good point. A "DI" box, which is what the SansAmp products advertise, essentially means that it has a line level audio output so you can connect it directly into a mixing board. This line level output can be connected to the "line in" on your computer's audio card and used for recording. This may be OK, depending on your audio card. There are other audio interfaces that may be better for various reasons as well and a SansAmp "DI" should work with them too.

I can't say anything about the SansAmp pedals as I've never used one. I have used their RBI & RPM rack mount boxes, which are supposed to be pretty much the same as a couple of the pedals. They work great with a bass, I like the RPM a bit better due to the sweepable midrange control. I haven't used them for any sort of recording though... Yet...

[s4001]

I use the 'direct' box, but it's more than just a direct box, obviously.

Bass -> Sansamp -> board

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=409910

[cheyenne]

These are finally starting to ship:

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/SACVTBass2DI/

As far as the Sansamp character pedals go, a lot of folks over at Talkbass say good things about the "Oxford" when using a Rick.

[Ashgray]

These are useful comments. I might try the Oxford, as my first "proper" amp was an Orange and I liked it.

Ash

[DJJazzV]

I've been through a few of the Sansamp pedals, but none of the modeling ones yet. As of right now, the VT Bass DI pedal is easily my favorite, especially with a Rickenbacker bass. The Blend knob can be very useful.

[Ashgray]

I've been through a few of the Sansamp pedals, but none of the modeling ones yet. As of right now, the VT Bass DI pedal is easily my favorite, especially with a Rickenbacker bass. The Blend knob can be very useful.

Thanks for the info. I notice that the Blend knob is only present on this unit, no the others in the Sansamp range - how do you find it useful? Does it simply balance VT tone with that of your own amp?

Ash

[DJJazzV]

I've been through a few of the Sansamp pedals, but none of the modeling ones yet. As of right now, the VT Bass DI pedal is easily my favorite, especially with a Rickenbacker bass. The Blend knob can be very useful.

Thanks for the info. I notice that the Blend knob is only present on this unit, no the others in the Sansamp range - how do you find it useful? Does it simply balance VT tone with that of your own amp?

Ash

It actually balances the tone between the Ric alone and the VT Tone + Ric. The EQ still works even if the blend is at 0. Very cool.

[woodyng]

Channel one on the LM300 has the blend control. The manual says it allows you to blend the direct instrument signal with the Sansamp Tube amp emulation circuitry. It further says that most of the time the control will probably be at maximum setting,but if you want a cleaner or ultra-transparent sound,(or using piezo equipped instruments),the blend control allows more of that to come through,while not effecting the bass,treble,or level controls.

[Ack8236]

I use the Sansamp Bass Driver DI. It also has the blend control. Works great with my Rick 4003, the high growl still comes through but the driver gives the low punch a good boost. I like it to record, but our guitarist/engineer prefers the direct out, which is a very easy switch on the unit.

[vjf1968]

The Sansamp line of character pedals are not audio interfaces. You need a proper audio interface to route the signal into your DAW either via USB or Firewire. If it's just want to recored yourself and not a full band there are a bunch of interfaces you can get for under $300 and below. If your using a PC then go with a USB one like the Focusrite 2i2 http://us.focusrite.com/usb-audio-inter ... arlett-2i2. Once you get an interface you can hook up the Sansamp like you would a DI box. You don't need anything else.

[Captain Bob]

Well, since the interface concern has been addressed and your looking for the pre with line out, and some grit in a pedal form, I would research the Darkglass B7K.

[rickenbrother]

I have a Sansamp Bass Driver pedal. I like it, though I don't love it, as it kills certain mids that take out the punchy growl and it's terrible with any fretless bass guitar.
I had the second version of the Sansamp Character Bass DI. MUCH BETTER! So I went ahead and quickly traded it in for the deluxe version with 6 programmable settings and a balanced output.

The Radial Bassbone is also very nice DI with tone shaping capabilities.