D.I. boxes I don`t get it

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presto5

presto5

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What does a D.I. box do for a bass that my interface doesnt already do? I`m looking at the Radial passive Direct Box and its basically saying that it cleans up noise when recording...Isn`t that what my interface does?
 
A DI Box basically takes a high impedance unbalanced instrument signal (guitar) and takes it to a low impedance balanced signal allowing for longer cable runs without adding a lot of noise and also to plug a high impedence unbalanced sources into a low impedance balanced inputs such as a mic input. The radial DI passive boxes (or any other passive boxes for that matter) do this by using a transformer to step down the impedence

If your interface has a true Hi Z (Hi impedance) inputs then you don't really *Need* a DI box enless you want longer cable runs

An audio interface doesn't clean anything up, it allows you to record whatever it receives at whatever quality it receives it.
 
Also, a DI box allows you to take a parallel output back to your amp just in case you wanna mic your amp as well as record a direct signal..Mostly, a DI box allows you to take advantage of using a good mic pre for the gain,by dropping the signal down to mic level, bring the gain up with good mic pre instead of gain on your interface which in most cases lacks the quality of good external preamps.. ( of course unless you have a hi-end interface)
 
okay

Bristol Posse said:
A DI Box basically takes a high impedance unbalanced instrument signal (guitar) and takes it to a low impedance balanced signal allowing for longer cable runs without adding a lot of noise and also to plug a high impedence unbalanced sources into a low impedance balanced inputs such as a mic input. The radial DI passive boxes (or any other passive boxes for that matter) do this by using a transformer to step down the impedence

If your interface has a true Hi Z (Hi impedance) inputs then you don't really *Need* a DI box enless you want longer cable runs

An audio interface doesn't clean anything up, it allows you to record whatever it receives at whatever quality it receives it.
Click to expand...

# Instrument Input
# Type: 1/4"
# TRS female unbalanced input impedance: 0.5 megohm....is this Hi Z or should I get the D.I.?
 
presto5 said:
# Instrument Input
# Type: 1/4"
# TRS female unbalanced input impedance: 0.5 megohm....is this Hi Z or should I get the D.I.?
Click to expand...

TRS is Balanced. And it is probably line level meant for plugging in an external preamp or mixer.
 
presto5 said:
I`m using the Presonus Audiobox...thanks guys...just tryin to figure out what to buy..my heads spinning!:D
Click to expand...

Buy what you need. If you plug a bass directly into your system and it is noisy crap, then look into a DI. If you plug a bass directly into your system and it sounds like a bass plugged directly into your system, forget about it and record.


Most DI boxes I use are simply because the guy on stage has a 1/4 plug and I've got an XLR snake. The ground lifts are often helpful as well. The pad less so, but sometimes useful.
 
The Audiobox only has Mic/Instrument inputs. Plug your bass into the front jack and start recording. No DI box needed.
 
k last question

dastrick said:
The Audiobox only has Mic/Instrument inputs. Plug your bass into the front jack and start recording. No DI box needed.
Click to expand...

sorry total newbie .....last question on this. Will I hear an audible difference if I do get one?
 
You shouldn't hear a difference with a passive DI. You can get active DI's which you would probably hear a difference.

I would try your bass going directly into your Audiobox, first. Then if your not happy with the sound (and you probably will be) explore other options. I would get a preamp before I got a DI, but that's just me. :D
 
Hey

dastrick said:
You shouldn't hear a difference with a passive DI. You can get active DI's which you would probably hear a difference.

I would try your bass going directly into your Audiobox, first. Then if your not happy with the sound (and you probably will be) explore other options. I would get a preamp before I got a DI, but that's just me. :D
Click to expand...

Thanks man! What I needed to know and then some! You da man:D
 
Yo

Bristol Posse said:
A DI Box basically takes a high impedance unbalanced instrument signal (guitar) and takes it to a low impedance balanced signal allowing for longer cable runs without adding a lot of noise and also to plug a high impedence unbalanced sources into a low impedance balanced inputs such as a mic input. The radial DI passive boxes (or any other passive boxes for that matter) do this by using a transformer to step down the impedence

If your interface has a true Hi Z (Hi impedance) inputs then you don't really *Need* a DI box enless you want longer cable runs

An audio interface doesn't clean anything up, it allows you to record whatever it receives at whatever quality it receives it.
Click to expand...
Thanks man I appreciate the info...this site is cool!
 
Balanced versus Unbalanced

A DI box also takes an unbalanced signal and makes it balanced. Look at Wiki RS-232 versus RS-422 digital interfaces to see how the 422 (balanced) cancels noise "magically"...
 
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