how to use my m-audio audio buddy and my mesa for Direct input

[chestwick91]

so i have an m-audio audio buddy and i just figured out that it not only is a preamp (which is what i have been using it for) but it also is a direct box, it has in two instrument ins and two xlr ins and two outputs. But what i am not sure is how to take my mesa single rec and put it in to the inputs can you help?
thanks

[chestwick91]

any ideas on how i can record my mesa direct?

[ggunn]

Originally Posted by chestwick91

so i have an m-audio audio buddy and i just figured out that it not only is a preamp (which is what i have been using it for) but it also is a direct box, it has in two instrument ins and two xlr ins and two outputs. But what i am not sure is how to take my mesa single rec and put it in to the inputs can you help?
thanks

Direct boxes usually have an XLR balanced mic level output so that it can drive long lines. The Audio Buddy (at least the one I have) does not. But that's beside the point; what are you recording with? You can take the preamped output from the AB and go in to a line input of whatever recording rig you are using, but in that case you are using it as a preamp again.

[jonnyc]

If you try to record your mesa d/i and don't have a load like an attenuator or speakers you'll kill the amp. Trust me, I know, I learned this lesson the very hard way. You CANNOT record a tube amp direct in unless you have something to soak up the power.

[ggunn]

Originally Posted by jonnyc

If you try to record your mesa d/i and don't have a load like an attenuator or speakers you'll kill the amp. Trust me, I know, I learned this lesson the very hard way. You CANNOT record a tube amp direct in unless you have something to soak up the power.

Oh, good catch; I missed that he wanted to record his amp. The "DI" thing threw me; a DI does not take the signal from an amp in any case. To the OP: use a mic, or get a power soak that generates a line level signal from a speaker output.

[Thurgood]

G Gunn does your Mesa have a lineout? I know the Mark series do. Warning: the line out by itself sounds like yuck without either a cab sim or a an amp sim (pc) and judicious eq.applied. If you have line out run it into your di or into a line level in on your A buddy (if it has one) My Mark 3 has a varioble line out which could be run into the pre-amp in on ABuddy, but you could run into serious gain issues eg. the line level may be too hot for pre input. YMMV. If you can go line out - di- mic pre you should be alright with proper gain staging. But like I said, the tone will definitely need some shaping as you do not have the power amp/speaker/air/mic guitar interaction. YOu could run line out to Abuddy chain and mic the gtr cab and record onto seperate input channel on A buddy. I have done both with similar equipment and had mixed results. It has been a while. This will not work for silent recording as the amp will output to cab when line out is in use. Unless you have a Mark iv which I believe has a silent recording option. Check back tommorrow as we are closing shop here soon. Share you thougts and results.

[chestwick91]

all i have is a slace out and the fx out...so i didnt think so but my di box has xlr's and blanced inputs, so this is not possible unless i have a preamp....?

[Thurgood]

What is a "slace" out? If you mean that you have a line out use it to input the di balanced 1/4" input (its is ok if your line out is unbalanced it should still work on th balanced input of di) then out of di via xlr into mic input on audio buddy. By the way I posted to the wrong guy yesterday my bad. Long day.

[ggunn]

Originally Posted by Thurgood

G Gunn does your Mesa have a lineout? I know the Mark series do. Warning: the line out by itself sounds like yuck without either a cab sim or a an amp sim (pc) and judicious eq.applied. If you have line out run it into your di or into a line level in on your A buddy (if it has one) My Mark 3 has a varioble line out which could be run into the pre-amp in on ABuddy, but you could run into serious gain issues eg. the line level may be too hot for pre input. YMMV. If you can go line out - di- mic pre you should be alright with proper gain staging. But like I said, the tone will definitely need some shaping as you do not have the power amp/speaker/air/mic guitar interaction. YOu could run line out to Abuddy chain and mic the gtr cab and record onto seperate input channel on A buddy. I have done both with similar equipment and had mixed results. It has been a while. This will not work for silent recording as the amp will output to cab when line out is in use. Unless you have a Mark iv which I believe has a silent recording option. Check back tommorrow as we are closing shop here soon. Share you thougts and results.

'Twasn't me who was asking the question. My Mesa does have a line out, though. ;^)

[ermghoti]

Originally Posted by Thurgood

What is a "slace" out?

The V is right next to the C on a standard keyboard.

[chestwick91]

Yes my bad....all i have is a slave out and effects loop on the mesa single rec 50watt and my audio buddy has two balanced /unablanced and two xlr's in the rear...still possible to record direct?

[ggunn]

Originally Posted by chestwick91

Yes my bad....all i have is a slave out and effects loop on the mesa single rec 50watt and my audio buddy has two balanced /unablanced and two xlr's in the rear...still possible to record direct?

There's no reason to involve the Audio Buddy at all unless you are micing the cab and whatever recording rig you are using only accepts line level signal. You can record from the slave out on your Mesa (DO NOT do this without speakers connected), but the signal is already line level (preamped), so you don't need any more boost. The Audio Buddy is for raising instrument/mic level signal to line level; it's not a DI box at all. The XLR's in the rear are mic inputs.