Active / Passive Bass Connection

[Mick C]

Hi All,
I’ve recently bought a bass guitar that has an active/passive switch. What’s the recommended way of connecting to an audio interface when the bass is in each of passive or active? (I don't need no need to Thru to a bass amp - this is for low volume home studio use only via the monitors)

These are the options open to me:
Connect straight into the Inst input of my Focusrite Clarett

My Radial PZ-DI. This has a variable load switch for 220k-ohms, 1 meg-ohm, and a -15dB pad that drops the load to 50k-ohms

An Orchid Electronics Micro DI box, phantom powered

Is there a method that will work fine regardless of whether the bass is switched to passive or active – or do I need to change the connection methods depending on which way the bass is switched?

[Sam Spoons]

Any of those will probably work fine, the simplest way is, obviously, to go into the HiZ instrument input on the interface. All will provide a HiZ input so passive should work well, Active should be pretty agnostic when it comes to input impedance. Try them and see if any one sounds better than the others.

[Hugh Robjohns]

How is the active mode powered?

If it is via an internal battery, then there's no need to change the connection method. Any standard instrument input will work provided it has sufficient headroom (since active outputs tend to be at a higher level than passive outputs). The actual impedance of the input device won't make any difference to the sound of an active output, but it might to the passive mode.

As I recall, the Orchid DI has a great deal of headroom and can handle up to +16dBu which should be a good match for an active bass.

If it's powered externally, then you will need to go via something that can provide the power...

[Mick C]

The bass active mode is powered by 2x9v batteries in the guitar

So as I understand it, provided there's sufficient headroom then any of the three connection methods will work fine whether in passive or active mode - it's just a case of listening to the sound for preference?

[Wonks]

In passive mode, the Hi-Z 1 meg ohm mode would be the standard choice as it’s the expected amp input impedance. 220k will drop off some top end, and 50k will loose a lot of top end.

As has been said, in active mode all selections should work, (though there may be some very slight sonic differences). But if the bass puts out a lot more signal in active mode than passive (given the 18v supply for lots of headroom), you may need to use the pad mode.

[Sam Spoons]

The bass active mode is powered by 2x9v batteries in the guitar

So as I understand it, provided there's sufficient headroom then any of the three connection methods will work fine whether in passive or active mode - it's just a case of listening to the sound for preference?

Yes, in a nutshell

[Mick C]

Thanks Guys!