Line6 wireless DI?

Aaron_D · #1 09-06-2011, 12:55 AM

I have an XDR95 rackmount wireless by line 6. I was thinking about using the XLR out to send my signal to the front of house.

Any reviews on how this sounds vs the XLR out on my shuttle 12, dbx 160, and sadowsky preamp/di?

walterw · #2 09-06-2011, 08:49 PM

it would obviously be bone-dry with no tone shaping at all. if you want to give the house guy that, then it should be good.

personally i'd want some of that juicy shuttle pre/dbx160 goodness out front.

Keithwah · #3 09-06-2011, 10:34 PM

99% of house mix guys who are worth their salt, don't want anything to do with an amp's DI out. Does it work in a pinch, yes. Will they grin and bear it when they have to use it, sure. But nothing replaces a quality DI signal vs. an amp's DI out (OK Mic nazis, this is for the DI guys). Your sound is only as good as it's weakest link. In this case, the weakest in the chain is the DI on your amp. Not saying your amp isn't a fine little rig, it is. But the DI is more of a convenience plug than a clean preamp like your Sadowsky. But it's nice to have a touch of compression on your signal as well. But no, don't send your wireless straight to the board, but do use its xlr output of the wireless receiver to send on to the comp then to the preamp and split it off to house mix and to your shuttle.

Aaron_D · #4 09-07-2011, 01:30 AM

I will definitely be trying that! Thanks for the advice! We have a steady soundman, so next time Ill have him A/B a few of them and report back.

Medford Bassman · #5 09-07-2011, 06:22 AM

I remember reading an article on TB about the Shuttle's DI. As I recall, side by side tests showed it's DI was comparable to a countryman. I run my Shuttle DI in pre EQ mode when I send it to the FOH. just wanted to point that out I don't think it should be discounted as other amp DIs

JackANSI · #6 09-07-2011, 09:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Medford Bassman

I remember reading an article on TB about the Shuttle's DI. As I recall, side by side tests showed it's DI was comparable to a countryman. I run my Shuttle DI in pre EQ mode when I send it to the FOH. just wanted to point that out I don't think it should be discounted as other amp DIs

The DI's in quality amps are great. "All amp DI's suck" is another one of those things (like "wireless is never as good as cable") that people keep saying but have zero clue as to the changes (for the better) that have come along in the last 10 years.

I'd definitely be taking my signal out of the Shuttle. Its not going to make much of a difference for the better, if any difference at all, taking it straight out of the XDR.

CapnSev · #7 09-07-2011, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Keithwah

99% of house mix guys who are worth their salt, don't want anything to do with an amp's DI out. Does it work in a pinch, yes. Will they grin and bear it when they have to use it, sure. But nothing replaces a quality DI signal vs. an amp's DI out (OK Mic nazis, this is for the DI guys). Your sound is only as good as it's weakest link. In this case, the weakest in the chain is the DI on your amp. Not saying your amp isn't a fine little rig, it is. But the DI is more of a convenience plug than a clean preamp like your Sadowsky. But it's nice to have a touch of compression on your signal as well. But no, don't send your wireless straight to the board, but do use its xlr output of the wireless receiver to send on to the comp then to the preamp and split it off to house mix and to your shuttle.

I disagree totally. Unless the sound guy is packing some uber-nice DI around, your average amp's DI is going to sound every bit as good as your average DI box, maybe better. Plenty of high quality DIs are built into amps these days with lots of options (separate volume controls, post/pre switch, ground lift, etc.)

rockstarbassist · #8 09-07-2011, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Keithwah

99% of house mix guys who are worth their salt, don't want anything to do with an amp's DI out. Does it work in a pinch, yes. Will they grin and bear it when they have to use it, sure. But nothing replaces a quality DI signal vs. an amp's DI out (OK Mic nazis, this is for the DI guys). Your sound is only as good as it's weakest link. In this case, the weakest in the chain is the DI on your amp. Not saying your amp isn't a fine little rig, it is. But the DI is more of a convenience plug than a clean preamp like your Sadowsky. But it's nice to have a touch of compression on your signal as well. But no, don't send your wireless straight to the board, but do use its xlr output of the wireless receiver to send on to the comp then to the preamp and split it off to house mix and to your shuttle.

lol no. just, not even close...

also, plenty of people use the XLR-out from their wireless receivers. the worst thing you can do is try it...? shocking revelation, i know.

it's about as "pure" a source as you can get, if that's what you're after. as long as your amp isn't eq'd all to hell and stuff there's no reason to get that extra tone out of the chain. in my 12+years of playing i've yet to have someone say "ya know man it would've just sounded SO much better had you given me a pre-DI signal!"

rockstarbassist · #9 09-07-2011, 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CapnSev

I disagree totally. Unless the sound guy is packing some uber-nice DI around, your average amp's DI is going to sound every bit as good as your average DI box, maybe better. Plenty of high quality DIs are built into amps these days with lots of options (separate volume controls, post/pre switch, ground lift, etc.)

i'd put my Mesa's DI up against anything I've ever used in "box" form. only thing I'd swap it for that I could rack up and use consistently would be the U5 but that's a lotta $$ for something I already pretty much have.

SteveC · #10 09-07-2011, 02:29 PM

No one has complained about my Shuttle DI. It's as good as any I've used.

DuraMorte · #11 09-07-2011, 03:29 PM

I know I'm probably going to get flamed for this, but I've recorded the XLR output from a Line6 LD400, and it sounded great. I wouldn't hesitate for a second to use it live. I know some tone gurus will probably say that's blasphemy, but whatever; it sounds great.

Barisaxman · #12 09-07-2011, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rockstarbassist

i'd put my Mesa's DI up against anything I've ever used in "box" form. only thing I'd swap it for that I could rack up and use consistently would be the U5 but that's a lotta $$ for something I already pretty much have.

+1 bazillion.

cableguy · #13 09-07-2011, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CapnSev

I disagree totally. Unless the sound guy is packing some uber-nice DI around, your average amp's DI is going to sound every bit as good as your average DI box, maybe better. Plenty of high quality DIs are built into amps these days with lots of options (separate volume controls, post/pre switch, ground lift, etc.)

The DI on my GK700RB-II has been got great reveiws from the soundguys I have worked with.

Aaron_D · #14 09-07-2011, 04:49 PM

Is there some sort of master review with objective measurements of DI's vs each other?

georgestrings · #15 09-07-2011, 05:48 PM

I've used the DI on my XDR-95 to record with before, and it worked very, very well... I kinda use it as a backup for gigging, but don't use it live for 2 reasons: I don't know for sure if it's phantom power protected, and there's no way for me to mute it for tuning purposes... It did "go to tape" quite well, and I have no doubt that it would provide an excellent DI send for live purposes, if I needed to use it that way...

- georgestrings

georgestrings · #16 09-07-2011, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CapnSev

I disagree totally. Unless the sound guy is packing some uber-nice DI around, your average amp's DI is going to sound every bit as good as your average DI box, maybe better. Plenty of high quality DIs are built into amps these days with lots of options (separate volume controls, post/pre switch, ground lift, etc.)

Agreed 100% - I've gotten excellent results with built-in DIs in amps from Mesa, G-K, G-B, and Peavey... I've also used a Radial JDI exclusively for a couple of years, and currently own a Countryman type 85 - arguably to of the best DIs available - and the DIs in both my Mesa M-p 600 and G-K 700rb-II are both atleast as good as either of those...

I usually run a post-EQ DI send, and don't use any crazy EQing at my amp - and have never had a complaint from a soundman...

- georgestrings

walterw · #17 09-07-2011, 06:36 PM

and when i do sound in my typical bar/small club world, i'd be one of those soundmen who wouldn't give you a complaint. i usually go for the amp DI (post even!), if the player has no preference, and if i see that his amp settings are not all crazy.

i figure his sound is his sound, and my job is to make the band sound good, but like themselves, out front.

TimmyP · #18 09-08-2011, 10:49 PM

Silly though it may be, some wireless don't like to see phantom power on the XLR. I worked with one wireless that had the XLR feeding the console and 1/4" feeding a comp (and on to an SVT) - if phantom was turned on, all the comp's LEDs would illuminate.

rockstarbassist · #19 09-09-2011, 09:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TimmyP

Silly though it may be, some wireless don't like to see phantom power on the XLR. I worked with one wireless that had the XLR feeding the console and 1/4" feeding a comp (and on to an SVT) - if phantom was turned on, all the comp's LEDs would illuminate.

So click Phantom Power off on the board for that channel...?

I'll be using my Mesa's DI tonight at the gig. Hope I don't get stuff thrown at me for (gasp! teh horrorz!!) going Post-Pre on my DI out... Wish me luck.

DuraMorte · #20 09-09-2011, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rockstarbassist

So click Phantom Power off on the board for that channel...?

Unfortunately, it isn't that easy... A lot of boards have universal phantom; on or off, for all channels.
So, yes: in a perfect world, you'll only have phantom power on channels with condenser mics or active direct boxes.
Unfortunately, this isn't a perfect world. :/