Need simple/inexpensive solution

[Hookani]

Hello all,

I'm trying to find a cheap/simple/portable solution to an issue I have. Right now I'm using an M-Audio Firewire 1814 interface with my computer and it works great with my vocals and guitars but my problem is the bass guitar. The one I have is a passive bass so I need to find a way to boost the signal going into the interface so I can hear the bass playing while recording/monitoring. Right now it's barely audible thru the monitors while recording.

I'm thinking the easiest and smallest solution would be an active DI but being new to all this, I wanted to ask if there were other solutions I don't know of. What I'm looking for needs to be small and very portable and preferably battery powered (only so I don't need to carry around another transformer). And also would be good to have 1/4" output.

Any ideas?