reamping - do I really need a reverse DI?

[Randaji]

I understand the general idea of reamping a guitar track and I've done it with decent results. I hear often that you really need a "reverse DI" like Radial's X-amp or the equivalents from Little Labs or Reamp. As I understand those devices do 2 main things to allow your Multitrack output to feed your amp:
1) Convert low impedance (track output) to high (Guitar amp)
2) Pad the output so the amp is not overdriven

An optional 3rd might be ground lift.

If I'm generally correct about that, then I'm left wondering what I'm really getting for $179+. It seems like I can avoid overdriving (#2) by just reducing the volume of my track output. And though I understand that guitar amps are generally designed to take a high impedance signal from a pickup, most of us actually drive the amp input with pedals most of which have a low impedance. Since it's usually fine to drive a high impedance input with a low impedance output, why should I need an extra box to go from my audio card to my amp?

Just curious if anyone knows of a real sonic advantage, or if it's somewhat snake-oil or a piece of gear that just makes reamping more idiot-proof.

Also, does anyone just go direct from their audio card to their amp?

Thanks for any enlightenment you might have.

 

[jmorris]

When I reamp I just take a feed out of my console, send it to a guitar or bass amp, mic it ,record it,done. if ou are not using a console and are only using computer you should stil be able to do the same, at least I can,no extra gear

 

[Farview]

It won't hurt anything to try it. Some amps are more sensitive to what you plug into it than others. My Laney absolutely hates to be driven by anything active. Including EMG pickups. If it works for you, go ahead and do it.

 

[Ironklad Audio]

i tried re-amping a guitar track through the unbalanced mono output on my mixer(mackie onyx 1640) into my ampeg tube head, and got nothing but feedback...i was totally bummed. something tells me that there's GOTTA be a way to pull that off, but i'm yet to figure it out.

 

[$a1Ty]

i tried re-amping a guitar track through the unbalanced mono output on my mixer(mackie onyx 1640) into my ampeg tube head, and got nothing but feedback...i was totally bummed. something tells me that there's GOTTA be a way to pull that off, but i'm yet to figure it out.

feedback coming out the guitar amp or feedback from the mic on the amp going back out through the mono out

 

[Ironklad Audio]

feedback from the amp

it made so much noise that i never got around to putting the mic in front of it

maybe the level was too hot? who knows.

 

[Farview]

Line level is much louder than instrument level. You really do have to match the levels, that's the trick.

 

[xstatic]

Will it work without a reamping device? Sure it will. Will it sound much better and be much more usable with a reamping device? Sure it will. It seems to me that $200 or less to get better tone on ALL of your guitar tracks is an excellent bargain

 

[Ironklad Audio]

Line level is much louder than instrument level. You really do have to match the levels, that's the trick.

oh, i know...it was one of those deals where i just crossed my fingers and hoped it would work

now in the realm of "wtf?", i changed the mono output from unbalanced to balanced(there's a little rotary knob next the output jack that controls the level), sent it out to my amp, and it worked flawlessly. i don't understand how/why, but...whatever works!

 

[bigtoe]

an online pal blew an output by not using a reamp device. i do believe there is a small chance you can fry something without the DI.

if nothing else pick up a passive DI and use it. i ended up getting the radial xbox and think it was money well spent.

Mike

 

[Farview]

an online pal blew an output by not using a reamp device. i do believe there is a small chance you can fry something without the DI.

if nothing else pick up a passive DI and use it. i ended up getting the radial xbox and think it was money well spent.

Mike

This will only happen when the electrical in your room isn't wired right.

 

[bigtoe]

ah. how? i think i remember he said he was coming out of his 002 rack mount thing...and into and amp and poof...blew an output on his 002. if ya know fill us in...if not cool too.

Mike

 

[timboZ]

Recording mag had a DIY reamp box artical in it about a year ago.
If I can dig it out I will post some info on it. I think it was about $25 in parts.

 

[Farview]

ah. how? i think i remember he said he was coming out of his 002 rack mount thing...and into and amp and poof...blew an output on his 002. if ya know fill us in...if not cool too.

Mike

Stuff like that happens when an AC wall outlet isn't wired correctly. Say if the hot and neutral were reversed in the outlet that the amp was plugged into and the one that the 002 was plugged into was wired correctly, BAM!

This could also happen if the outlets weren't grounded properly (or if one wasn't grounded at all)

 

[bigtoe]

Stuff like that happens when an AC wall outlet isn't wired correctly. Say if the hot and neutral were reversed in the outlet that the amp was plugged into and the one that the 002 was plugged into was wired correctly, BAM!

This could also happen if the outlets weren't grounded properly (or if one wasn't grounded at all)

just remembered i asked this of ya. thanks a bunch!

Mike