ashcat_lt
Well-known member
Didn't I say this right off the bat?!?A passive DI takes a line level signal and makes it a mic level signal. It relies on the mic preamp to get the gain.
A hi-z input is designed for an instrument level signal
A passive DI is a step down transformer with some jacks attached. The voltage going in is stepped down by something like 20db just by going through it, and before you engage any pad switches.
The "Instrument" input on most interfaces assumes the signal will be a little weak, and usually has about 9-10db gain over the line input (or the mic pre at unity). The hot humbuckers in my guitars cause those to clip.
What I do for recording guitar is just run through a buffered pedal and plug right into the line input. In fact, in my live rig I go TRS>XLR right into the mic in.
You don't need any of that for a keyboard, though. Plug into the line input. Add gain in the box if necessary.