direct box question

[smcbutler]

hi all,

i know that DI boxes are used to impedance match but its not clear to me when i should be using them..

here are some scenarios that i use often, can anyone clarify when i should be using my demeter DI box?

thx in advance, -simon-


1) do i need the demeter DI box if i my gibson 335 (with paf mag
pickup) is going into a line input on my mackie 1604?

2) do i need the DI box if the above instrument goes into the mic
preamp input of the 1604?

3) do i need the DI box if my electric nylon (with fishman piezo
transducer) is going into a line input on my 1604

4) what is effect on the sound if the impedances are not properly
matched (ie: you don't use the DI). what does it sound like? is it
just a volume or is the tone affected in some way?

5) if i use the demter DI for an electric bass into the 1604 will
that work ok or is your point below that the 1604 has some inherent
issue?

thx in advance. -simon

 

[crosstudio]

i use a tech21 sansamp bass DI into the 1604vlz pro. it works great.

i also use a tech21 classic (it has a 9-volt) into the line-in of the 1604vlz pro and it sounds great.

i also use a whirlwind director DI connected to the 2nd amp output of my fender hotrod into the 1604 mic-in. it sounds great, but i can't always crank it up that loud... that's why i got the sansamp classic.

but i have never been able to get the kind of results that make me happy at the end of the day by going direct from the guitar into the line-in.

 

[Shailat]

First of all you can use a pre amp instead of a DI but it usualy is more expensive plus there are other benefits to using a DI other then impendance matching.

* Using a DI's output, you can get better "noise reduction"
* It can help a bit to tame some of the shrillness in a direct conection to the mixer.
* An active DI can help the low and high end of the freq spectrum, giving your sound more punch and clarity.
* If it has a ground lift it can help you against ground loops.
* If it has a lowpass filter it can also help your guitar sound.
* If you have the right kind of DI, you can use it with the speaker output (only if you use a DI with such an option ! or else beware) of your amp to the mixer so you can retain your effect as well.
* It allows you to use your mic inputs so you can free up line inputs for more gear.
* It will balance your cable so you wont have signal loss and degration of your signal and give you the option of using longer cables.
* A combined DI signal with a amped one will give you a better signal to noise ratio
* A DI will give you a different sound then a mic'ed one

Understand that going direct to mixer from Guitar will usualy result in a dull lifeless sound.


That should answer your questions.
Investing in a DI is money worth spent. But go for a quality DI and you'll get your moneys worth.

Are you using a Demeter solidstate DI? those tend to be a bit harsh and edgy.......If its the tube then it should sound pretty decent.
AS for your Piezo....You'll have to measure the DI's input impendance, make sure your DI offers a high input impendance
so your acoustic will sound full and not overloaded.

Some guitar players today use Tube DI's and sucssesfully bypass the micing of an amp yet still retain a warm full sound.