Question about input/output impedances

[tony_clifton]

Hello,

I have a little problem with my amp's DI.
I like to use my preamp as some kind of compressor/limiter for when I dig in deep so I set the gain just below breakup. Unfortunately this way it clips every mixing desk I come along. At some gigs I have seen soundmen put some DI-looking device between the XLR out and the desk to reduce the volume and I thought it might come in handy to have one myself.

(I have even tried keeping the gain low to reduce DI volume without this fix, but then I won't have enough volume trough the cabs to replace the monitors).


I bought this microphone attenuator (an XLR in and XLR out with some swichtable resistors in between) and it seems to work with my computer. It doesn't clip the line in anymore with the gain set below breakup. For home recording it's perfect. However, I'm worried about loss of signal live.

The DI attenuator's input impedance is 1000 ohm, and output impedance is 150 ohm. Is this okay for a bass signal or does this defeat the purpose of having a DI?
According to Oranges manual the DI's impedance is 1200 ohm (1.2k), so it's about 20% off and even more on the output side .


Any help would be appreciated!
Cheers!

[billfitzmaurice]

Impedance is not the issue, level is. Console XLR inputs are at microphone level, as should be your DI. It would seem that it's not, probably being at line level, which is appropriate for driving a power amp. By your description I don't think what you have is a DI at all. If the attenuator you've tried works there's no reason to not use it.

[tony_clifton]

Okay, thanks!

It's probably not a DI but a balanced XLR-line out indeed.

I hope my -25 db fix will be sufficient. I'll be in the studio next week so I'll find out soon.
If not, do I have any options to use my amplifiers signal or do I have to go the Sansamp route?