need for a DI

[stupidfatnugly]

if my bass has active pickups does that mean that I do not need a DI to record directly through the interface?

is that all that that thing does (allow a signal)?

or does it make the bass sound better somehow?

 

[dualflip]

if my bass has active pickups does that mean that I do not need a DI to record directly through the interface?

is that all that that thing does (allow a signal)?

or does it make the bass sound better somehow?

Depending on the DI it may alter the sound of your bass depending on the type of design/components in it (like if its tube, transformers, etc...). Regarding the active bass, well i'd check the impendance of the bass, if its low impendance output you may not have any problems (anywhere lower or equal to 300 ohms will do fine)

 

[MessianicDreams]

if my bass has active pickups does that mean that I do not need a DI to record directly through the interface?

is that all that that thing does (allow a signal)?

or does it make the bass sound better somehow?

a DI is simply an impedance converter.

Unless it's a very special bass, I would use a DI. As Dualflip said, check the impedance of the output of your bass.

 

[stupidfatnugly]

so if my bass says somewhere on it that it is 300 ohms or less then I do not need a DI at all?

what if I don't see that anywhere? should I purchase a DI and see if it sounds better?

right now I turn the knob on the line-in (input) of the interface all the way down and it still records and I think it's getting distorted a little bit. does that tell you anything?

thanks