Direct Boxes

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skaltpunk

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What's the deal with these things?

Can they be used with mics?
Are they essentially preamps?
Should I get one?
Which one?
 
skaltpunk said:
What's the deal with these things?
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They're used to match unbalanced, high-z sources with balanced, (and sometimes unbalanced) low-z inputs. Or is it the onther way around? :D

Can they be used with mics?
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They could, but I don't think they'd do you much good in that role. Not really a good idea.

Are they essentially preamps?
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If they have gain.

Should I get one?
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If you think you need one.

Which one?
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Try and get the best on you can afford.
 
im not sure i understand the whole lo-z and hi-z thing other than one is xlr and the other is 1/4"
 
skaltpunk said:
im not sure i understand the whole lo-z and hi-z thing other than one is xlr and the other is 1/4"
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I don't really understand all that mubo-jumbo, either. :D And it doesn't really even have to do with Z's anyway. I just threw that in there. Just remember that if you have a chord with one ring around it (meaning you have an unbalanced output), and you're trying to plug it in to something that's looking for a balanced input, then a DI box is probably a good way to go about doing it.
 
skaltpunk said:
im not sure i understand the whole lo-z and hi-z thing other than one is xlr and the other is 1/4"
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A DI box simply allows you to connect guitar amps,keys, tape recorders etc. to a mixer w/o using a microphone and with no hum loops.
DI's convert hi-impedance signals to low impedance signal (although it will accept a lo-imp signal from keyboards,active pick-ups or other electronic devices). It also converts an unbalanced signal to balanced.

There are 2 kinds of DI's; passive and active.
The simplest form of DI's contain a transformer to convert the signal (a hi quality transformer perserves the integrity of the signal's freq'y charateristics) to the mixers line level.

An Active DI allows you to fine tune the signal's characteristics to produce a wider freq'y response than you would be able to with a passive.
 
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To elaborate a little . . .

Suppose you're doing a live show, and you want to plug your bass guitar to an input of a mixer.

In order to avoid all of the RF hum, and all that other crap, it's probably best to balance the signal, lower the Z, and go in to one of the mixer's microphone / XLR inputs. That way, you get the benefits of the balanced cable run . . . plus you can control the gain using the mic pre.

Now suppose you're not playing live, you have a short cable run, and you're looking to record your bass directly to your multitrack recorder. Now suppose your recorder has balanced inputs. It's generally preferable to plug only a balanced signal in to a balanced input. In this instance, the DI again would be your tool.

Plugging a microphone in to it would basically be pointless and would serve no function.
 
Mr. Q's explanation is spot on, except for one point- It might be perfect for a mic *if you happen to have a high-Z mic*. A number of them were built in the good old days, and some of them are perfectly good mics. A good DI box will give you much better control over the gain structure using a high-Z mic than a simple transformer.
BTW, which one? That depends on your needs. The Countryman is used successfully by quite a few people, but it's hard to beat an Avalon U-5. Where else are you going to get an Avalon for about $500? Worth every penny. The trend lately has been for most preamps to include a High-Z instrument input which is basically a DI circuit, and some of them are very good. Aside from an Avalon AD2022 which I own (same DI circuits as the U-5, but you get 2 of them *and* the mic pres), I've had pretty good luck with a Joemeek twinQcs, on both bass and acoustic guitar.
Other uses for DI- Bass guitar in general, often better than mic'ing an amp. Guitars with active piezo pickups, like a Nashville Telecaster or a Parker Fly, where you want to take an unprocessed line off the guitar for separate processing or re-amping. Acoustic instruments with transducers, such as a violin. We actually use a Barcus-Berry on my wife's harp into the POD Pro, a guitar amp modeler which is also a DI. My wife calls it "Angels on Steroids".-Richie
 
Richard,

The Countryman is used successfully by quite a few people
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Dude, I just got 2 Countryman for free. My sister's ex-boyfriend was too lazy to get back and get those. I have no clue what these DIs represents. I simply own a IMP2 (Whirlwind) witch works fine to me.

So these Countryman are great ones? They are very solid, I also opened one of them to see what was inside, so I saw they were active. They are very solid, I'm sure I can throw them downstairs as hard as I can and thet'll be fine.

I also saw, on the web that they are list at 230$ usd!

I guess these are good piece oof gear.

I still hate my sister's ex-boyfriend.
 
hey, if you wanna do unto others as they've done unto you, i'll be glad to take one of those countrman's off your hands. i need a good bass DI. :D


wade
 
4 kids you say? how would i ever get any recording done? :D

besides, me wife might frown upon said course of action. but i've got a guitar playin buddy that might be interested. :p


serious about one of those countryman, though, if you wanna get rid of one.

and i'm with chessrock--i like your sister's ex too......that single act of leaving those DI's was prolly the best thing he did.



wade
 
nanana...I know this might be hard to understand. But the reason why he gave me all this is, and I'm sure, when my sister called him and asked him when he'll take back all his audio stuff, he was certainely watching a stupid movie, half asleep in a coutch, with a half a beer, half a joint, watching Madonna kissing Britney Spears cuz I'm sure he recorded this and the video tape is very used cuz he's watching it all day long, didnt took a shower for 2 weeks, etc etc. I wont be supprised if after drinking his beer, he pee on it the bottle cuz he's to lazy to go to the bathboom. Two doors on his left, too far.

Ok of course, its a little (a little litte LITTLE) bit exagerated.

Something more realistic will be:
He's too lazy to try to sell this gear. (maybe he also really pee in his bollte too..)

I hate this guy. Lot of thing happen with him. I shouldn't write this, but my sister's 4 kids also hate this guy. 10-9-8-7 years old. OH important point. He's not the father...

:D:D:D
 
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