DI guitars, another question

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cellardweller

cellardweller

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What is required to record DI guitars? Do I need a POD, or a Behri simulator? Or can I run the output from my guitar into the line of my mackie?

Just an off-handed thought I had. Maybe I could record one track DI to fill out my other miced tracks. I don't have the money for a pod, and I've heard the Behri recorded by a friend, so I think I'll save my money for a better mic, but in the meantime, would a distortion box suffice as a DI box?
 
cellardweller said:
but in the meantime, would a distortion box suffice as a DI box?
Click to expand...

It will give you an interesting sound, but not a traditionally good sound. You have to double problems of an impedance mismatch at the recording input and the fact that the tone on a distortion box is voice to go into an amp and speaker.
 
Ronan said:
It will give you an interesting sound, but not a traditionally good sound. You have to double problems of an impedance mismatch at the recording input and the fact that the tone on a distortion box is voice to go into an amp and speaker.
Click to expand...

What if I used the effects loop insert? Would it still be mis-matched impedance?
 
cellardweller said:
What if I used the effects loop insert? Would it still be mis-matched impedance?
Click to expand...
I've done that with my old analong 4 track. You have to turn the distortion way down, and tweek the hell out of the settings. It took me about an hour of messing with it to get a tone that I liked. I almost gave up. :eek:
 
Okay, here's from the .pdf at mackies site:


  • mic input: 3k ohm balanced
  • insert input: 10k ohm unbalanced
  • line input 40k ohm balanced
  • stereo line input 10k unbal.
  • tape input 10k unbal.
  • effect return: 10k unbal.

What the heck is the "standard" output impedance of a typical stomp-box?

Any suggestions?

Thanks.
 
cellar. for a few bucks in parts - say using FET transistor device (fets have very high input inpedence which guitars like !!) you can build
your own direct box. just google for "diy guitar direct box schematic". peace.
i think it cost me 5 bucks once including the 2NXXXX fet.
 
  • mic input: 3k ohm balanced
  • insert input: 10k ohm unbalanced
  • line input 40k ohm balanced
  • stereo line input 10k unbal.
  • tape input 10k unbal.

None of the above?
 
NO !! - none of the above are any good cellar. jeesh...
heres the tek lowdown, a GUITAR needs to "look into" an impedence of ONE MEGAOHM or more (ie..a very high impedence input). none of those mackie inputs are any good.
YOU NEED TO SPEND 40 bucks on a DI box specially built for the purpose.
 
OKAY!!!! ....geesh... :D

I didn't think you saw my post, because as soon as I made a slight edit/correction, your response was already there...
 
sorry. heres a rule to tape to the wall.
a low impedence output always wants to "see" or look into a following stage thats high impdence. at least ten times its impedence value.
all will become clear if you look at some guitar amp schematics.
as an example youll notice the mic input of the mackie is at least ten times a mic impedence. peace.
 
cellardweller said:
What if I used the effects loop insert? Would it still be mis-matched impedance?
Click to expand...

Most likely yes. Most FX loops are line level. Stomp boxes are instrument level.
 
Thanks for responses, and it's all good to know. But I was only interested in experimentation with DI at this time if it didn't require financial investment... I'll save my money for better pre's and mics.

When I first started this (what I will very loosely term "recording" thing) I ran my stompbox into the line of the mackie, and out into a cheap ol' dual casssette player. It was full of pops and sounded usually horrible, but there was ONE recording that turned out amazingly well...
 
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