Comparing - bass tracked with and without a DI, do YOU hear the diff?

[aviel]

just got my countryman 85 DI, decided to do a little test.
plugged in just a bass (forgive me, i am not a bass player). bass is musicman sterling active, tracked and recorded the signal from the DI, and the signal through the di, meaning i have to same tracks one going to a di and one just to the line in on my preamp (its a soundcraft spirit console).

first impression - i get a flipped phase, and bass is a little bit tighter on the DI version, other than that, i find the difference very subtle.

what do you think?

the riff is played 4 times, 1st time, DI version.
2- non DI
3- DI into amplitube
4- no DI into amplitube

http://min.us/ml7qyTTDP

 

[aviel]

Mmm someone?

 

[luismars]

Hard to choose, but I prefer #4

 

[mickrich]

Your active bass doesn't really need a di box.
Active pickups and electronics tend to output a low impedance line level.
Try the same test with a passive instrument and you will get very different results.

 

[aviel]

Your active bass doesn't really need a di box.
Active pickups and electronics tend to output a low impedance line level.
Try the same test with a passive instrument and you will get very different results.

interesting. i was sure a di box is needed, everyone here is talking a lot about the countryman 85, for active guitars also.

i have to say though that there is an audible difference with an active guitar (not bass)