{"id":549,"date":"2010-03-27T12:33:18","date_gmt":"2010-03-27T02:33:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.stillaslife.com\/?p=549"},"modified":"2014-09-22T15:16:31","modified_gmt":"2014-09-22T05:16:31","slug":"taurus-t-di-bass-preamp-and-di-box-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stillaslife.com\/taurus-t-di-bass-preamp-and-di-box-review\/","title":{"rendered":"Taurus T-Di Bass Preamp and DI-Box Review"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Taurus<\/a>
Taurus T-Di Box<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Previously<\/a> I mentioned being given a Taurus T-Di Bass Preamp and DI-Box<\/a> for Christmas by my parents. I also promised I would do a write up about it. I’ve been meaning to do it for quite a while – almost 4 months.<\/p>\n

Finally though, here it is!<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

What is a Taurus T-Di Bass Preamp and DI-Box?<\/h3>\n

The T-Di is a great idea by Taurus<\/a> that is a combination of a DI-box and a bass preamp in one nifty little foot pedal (effectively making it an active DI-box).<\/p>\n

\"Taurus<\/a>
Taurus T-Di Front On<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A DI-box, or direct input box allows you to directly connect an instrument such as an electric guitar or bass into a PA system’s microphone input. These are regularly used alongside a musicians amplifier, so that they can send a signal to both it and to the PA system.<\/p>\n

Excerpted from Wikipedia<\/a>:<\/p>\n

A DI unit<\/strong>, DI box<\/strong>, Direct Box<\/strong>, Direct Input, Direct Injection or simply DI<\/strong> is an electronic device that connects a high impedance, line level, unbalanced output signal to a low impedance mic level balanced input, usually via XLR connector. DIs are frequently used to connect an electric guitar or electric bass to a mixing console’s microphone input. The DI performs level matching, balancing, and either active buffering or passive impedance bridging to minimise noise, distortion, and ground loops. DIs do not perform impedance matching.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"Taurus<\/a>
Taurus T-Di Top<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In my own experience, I have never directly connected an electric bass to a PA system through a DI-box without also using my bass amp, the reason for this is simply because I have no control over the sound. Even with my amp I only have control over the sound coming from my amp, but it’s better than nothing. I have run an accoustic bass with pickups directly into the PA through a DI-box with no issues, in saying that though, my accoustic bass pickup has a lot of tonal controls which give me excellent control over the sound that comes out of the PA. The DI boxes I have used have always been passive, or in other words, they simply do the signal balancing and nothing else.<\/p>\n

The T-Di is effectively an active Di box, which means it performs the signal balancing but is also has a preamp built in, so it is capable of providing gain control. The geniuses at Taurus have added some other goodies for people that are picky about their tone, like me.<\/p>\n

What does a Taurus T-Di Bass Preamp and DI-Box do?<\/h3>\n
\"Taurus<\/a>
Taurus T-Di Back<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
    \n
  1. Gain<\/strong> – takes the input and applies gain to it. This can be set to true, in other words no gain applied, or turned up for a nice gain boost.<\/li>\n
  2. Bass<\/strong> – lets you adjust the bass tone after the gain has been applied. The knobs let you adjust it and a switch lets you set it as negative, positive or double positive.<\/li>\n
  3. Treble<\/strong> – lets you adjust the treble tone after the gain has been applied. The knobs let you adjust it and a switch lets you set it as negative, positive or double positive<\/li>\n
  4. Volume<\/strong> – is additional volume applied to the output after bass and treble adjustments have been applied.<\/li>\n
  5. Vintage-MIX-Modern<\/strong> – allows you to switch between three tone options, vintage, modern tube simulation, and a mix of the two. All three of these options are quite nice tonally, mix provides the least variation on the normal tone of the bass though.<\/li>\n
  6. Bypass options<\/strong> – give you the ability to set what you want the foot pedal to do when you press it. It can be set to mute the signal altogether\/utilise the preamp and mix controls or to bypass the preamp like a traditional DI box\/utilise the preamp and mix controls. Unfortunately it doesn’t seem to be able to mute as well on the second option, but that isn’t a big deal really.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
    \"Taurus<\/a>
    Taurus T-Di Glowing Red In Preamp Mode<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

    The T-Di also has a punch button that adjusts the midrange based on the bass and treble settings to get a punchy sound.<\/p>\n

    The bass and treble controls can get some interesting sounds since they allow you to apply the settings you have select in the negative, as well as the positive, or to double the positive adjustments. When I tested this I was using my Redback 5-String Bass guitar with a small Behringer 10″ amp (I haven’t yet had the opportunity to try it out with a PA system), and when I turned the bass knob right up and set it to double positive, the open G string actually resulted in the speaker cone rattling as much as playing the open B string with no tonal adjustments. That’s some pretty serious bass adjustment! The treble was similar, turned right up with double positive, the B string became extremely twangy and the little 10″ speaker was actually able to relatively effectively reproduce the sound (it struggles with the B string regularly). I’d like to give it a try on my 15″ Peavey, but unfortunately I don’t have an extra power adapter (more on this later).<\/p>\n

    The T-Di also has a ground lift switch to help reduce ground loop problems, if there are any.<\/p>\n

    \"Taurus<\/a>
    Taurus T-Di Back\/Top<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

    Something that caught me by surprise to some degree is discovering that not only does it have a little red power LED, but when you activate the gain controls with the foot pedal, the red sections on either side of the pedal light up and glow red. It’s pretty cool and really stands out whilst also serving the purpose of letting you know that the preamp is on.<\/p>\n

    What input\/output options does it provide?<\/h3>\n

    The T-Di has a mono input jack to plug your bass into along with a mono output jack to run to your amp.<\/p>\n

    It also has an XLR output to send to the PA system.<\/p>\n

    It’s nice and simple.<\/p>\n

    What does it come with?<\/h3>\n
    \"Taurus<\/a>
    Taurus T-Di Accessories<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

    My Taurus T-Di came with:<\/p>\n