Session DI vs HX Stomp

PANDAPANDELO · #1 03-27-2020, 06:21 AM

Hi there, everybody!

I would love to hear your opinion on the possibility to replace a Session DI (not thinking about the DI, itself... thinking about the Saturation Knob + Comp Eq) with the Studio Tube Pre (the Mic Preamp from HX Stomp).

The idea would be to use it as a little smoothness on the signal. I'm not talking about notch, high pass filters, ground/lift, etc... just Saturation+CompEq.

Have any of you guys any experience with both to clarify this to me?

Thank you!

jonfields45 · #2 03-27-2020, 07:04 AM

I bought and returned a Session DI. I think that is a matter of what sounds good to your ear. I found the saturation/compression effects too subtle to use for single note solo boost and not something that I liked for for strumming or fingerpicking. But many people really do like it and that might be you too. My guess is most users are pairing it with a piezo UST.

In theory, given the programmability of the HX Stomp, you ought to be able to find one of the compressors and one of the overdrive effects that can be programmed to the same degree of subtlety. I've found tweaking at the edges of audibility, which I think is what the Session is designed to do, frustrating and never ending.

I would stick with the Session if you like it.

63telemaster · #3 03-27-2020, 07:10 AM

HX Stomp user here and highly recomended.

Others will disagree but I find the Studio Tube Pre in the Stomp adds far too much colour to the sound to be of any use for acoustic. However, acoustic pickups can be made to sound very good indeed with the Stomp. I haven't used a Session DI so can't compare.

My advice if using the Stomp would be to use a basic gain block to increase your signal and then eq to treat any problem areas.....the parametric eq is a very powerful and useful tool for this. Once you've achieved a strong clean signal you can then experiment shaping it to your particular needs.

varmonter · #4 03-28-2020, 05:28 AM

As you know i have the stomp.
i use the tube comp but find at the
point of audible saturation its a bit too
much comp for my taste. I like it more
as a boost for leads.
I too tried the la studio pre but have
since removed it from the chain.
I just did not think it was worth a block.
Ive recently bought a Sarno black box.
now this thing is wonderful. it adds
that wonderful warm tube saturation
thats so missing in our digital world.
It is an actual analog tube (12ax7) buffer.
So my m80 equipped taylor now goes
into this black box then the stomp then
into an orchid muting di. so i have that
impedance match xlr out to a mixer.
Unfortunatly i only had it for 2 gigs before they all got cancelled. But it is promising. Ive never used the session di.
I may try this with my felix. with the stomp in the
fx loop. Just using it for fx.
Did you get your stomp back yet??

RockerDuck · #5 03-28-2020, 05:55 AM

I didn't like the Session Di because it was always on. This didn't allow me to tweak my gear to taste. I bought the Align session and put a Boss Cp1x in front of it. That's a great combination. I also hate programming anything or playing through software effects.

PANDAPANDELO · #6 03-28-2020, 06:05 AM

Wow... such a nice information, Varmonter! I've never heard about that black box before! I will take a look at it in the YouTube!

And no... I'm not with my Stomp. The guys from Line 6 have changed the Hardware of it, and send back to a friend of mine in the USA. He is coming back to Brazil next week, and I'll finally be with my Stomp again! Then, I will try it with the Session DI, and I'll probably free one block in the Stomp because of it.

Edit:

I couldn't find any video of the Sarno Black Box. Sad... Hahahahah! And I will probably use the M80, too, Varmonter. I was testing the M80 and Schatten HFN when my Stomp stopped working. But I was almost decided in go M80 all the way!

And RockerDuck... I know the Session DI can't be bypassed, but you could use it as a subtle effect, in a way that when you clay it softly, it won't be noticed. That's awesome, for me!

varmonter · #7 03-30-2020, 01:54 PM

9The sarno box is made for pedal steel guitar. But it works for any pickup.

Groberts · #8 03-31-2020, 09:37 AM

I use the Baggs Align Session for either 'always on' for mild tonal enhancement (It makes my Martin D-18 and HD28 w/Baggs Anthem PU's) sound amazing. But it's also a killer 'clean boost' for solo's. I set the Comp and Saturation very low and set the pedal for a slight overall enhancement. Sounds great. Can't say exactly what it does ...but my sound, which is already very very good with the Anthem PU alone is "better" with the Align Session

SpruceTop · #9 03-31-2020, 09:49 AM

I also have a Sarno Steel Guitar Black Box that I've only used so far with my new Republic Duolian Resonator with Schatten NR-2 Pickup (passive pickup). I get a nice warm, rounded tone with the combination.

I also have an LR Baggs Session Acoustic DI that I have yet to compare with the Sarno SGBB for tone using any of my guitars. Using it on its own with other guitars, I like the Session Acoustic DI as it adds some fatness, warmth and "touch-sensitivity" to their amplified tone.