Running Keyboards thru direct box

  • Thread starter Thread starter tone_aot
  • Start date Start date
tone_aot

tone_aot

Owner of ToneJonez.com
Hello homerecording fam. I read in an article that running a keyboard thru a direct box or transformer and then into a balance xlr input will give a better overall quality sound. I was wondering if anyone has experienced this first hand. I was thinking about trying it until i saw the price of the direct boxes!! They're not that expensive it's just i don't wanna get them if the quality is not gonna be that much better. I usually just run my boards straight into the 1/4 input channels on my mixer and it sounds pretty good to me. People have described the sound as being "clear" and "phat" as opposed to going straight in. I know those terms are subjective but if anyone has any experience on this, holla at me!
 
All a DI does is convert a low impedance signal (like an instrument pickup) to a high impedance signal (aka line level) your keyboard already is at line level. A transformer (aka preamp) can color the sound though and that can be good or bad. A 70's SSL or Neve console will have a certain sound to its audio transformers, but unless you have thousands of dollars to spend to top shelf pre's, I would not worry about it
 
altitude909 said:
All a DI does is convert a low impedance signal (like an instrument pickup) to a high impedance signal (aka line level) your keyboard already is at line level. A transformer (aka preamp) can color the sound though and that can be good or bad. A 70's SSL or Neve console will have a certain sound to its audio transformers, but unless you have thousands of dollars to spend to top shelf pre's, I would not worry about it
Click to expand...

Thanks for the reply! You just saved me some bucks! I don't have thousands for top shelf pre's right now, but in the future that might be possible!!! I'll remember that.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top