potentially bone-headed question on DI boxes

[dancrocker]

Are DI boxes bi-directional? I understand that they are normally used to take a 1/4" output and convert it to XLR for connection to the input of a mixer. Will they also allow me to take an XLR output (e.g. a Mic) and connected it to something that has a 1/4" input (e.g. an amp)?

[JimmyM]

nope, but you can get a little transformer from radio shack for $20 that will.

[dancrocker]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

nope, but you can get a little transformer from radio shack for $20 that will.

Thanks.
Could you tell me more specifically what I would look for? I assume it's a box that has XLR on one side and 1/4" on the other. But, what is it called?

[JimmyM]

xlr to 1/4" transformer

[dancrocker]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

xlr to 1/4" transformer

How conveniently named

[5StringBlues]

No box. It'll look something like this.









Or you could get a cord,1/4 in. on one end,XLR on the other.

[walterw]

Originally Posted by dancrocker

Are DI boxes bi-directional? ...Will they also allow me to take an XLR output (e.g. a Mic) and connected it to something that has a 1/4" input (e.g. an amp)?

actually, yes they will. it's just a transformer in a box, and AFAIK a transformer doesn't care which side is driving, it just steps the signal up or down. you'll need an XLR turnaround to get the mic output into the XLR side of the box.

Originally Posted by 5StringBlues

No box. It'll look something like this.

that is not what you want. that's just an adaptor, changing the 3 pins of XLR into the three contacts of TRS 1/4".

the one you'd want has a mono 1/4" plug and a longer barrel to put the little transformer in. it's also usually a lo-fi piece of crap, and best avoided. (of course, if you're plugging a mic into a guitar amp fidelity is right out anyway )

[5StringBlues]

^ If he's just going mic to amp,this will work fine. If he wanted to run a 1/4in to a mixer he'd need the transformer.





Above poster is correct tho,all the options are lo-fi crap ,and best avoided.

[JimmyM]

well i wouldn't record an album at a $100 an hour studio with one, but they work in a pinch. i've actually used them to record tracks on my little home studio before when i didn't have my mic preamp and had to use a bass amp instead and they work fine.

[MNAirHead]

replies always crack me up - nobody asked about model.

What DI box are you using and do they have anything called "through" or stereo/mono?

Many already have this function included..

OVERALL if you don't (and have spare change - and are a lifer in the gig department), it is good to have a DI that will do this for you vs more cords or conectors.

[ric stave]

What DI has an XLR input?

[PJSShearer]

Yo can get an XLR to Mono Jack with a Lo -Z to Hi-Z transformer in the case (looks like the pictures above). I have one 'cos my vocal mike is an SM57 (I got it in 1981) which is Lo-Z and so I can plug into any PA system I come across.

[megadan]

A studio I've used a couple times uses DI boxes in reverse all the time to do long cable runs out to amps in the hallway.

Just plug it in backwards, it doesn't really care which way the signal is going. These were passive DI's fwiw.

[ric stave]

Originally Posted by megadan

A studio I've used a couple times uses DI boxes in reverse all the time to do long cable runs out to amps in the hallway.

Just plug it in backwards, it doesn't really care which way the signal is going. These were passive DI's fwiw.

Then he needs a DI AND an XLR turnaround (female to female)...

[megadan]

Originally Posted by ric stave

Then he needs a DI AND an XLR turnaround (female to female)...

I guess I wasn't quite clear enough, I left out a detail, sorry.

This is done using a PAIR of DI boxes.


so:
Bass 1/4" --> DI, DI XLR --> 2nd DI XLR, 2nd DI 1/4" --> amp.


Make sense?

[ric stave]

Originally Posted by megadan

I guess I wasn't quite clear enough, I left out a detail, sorry.

This is done using a PAIR of DI boxes.


so:
Bass 1/4" --> DI, DI XLR --> 2nd DI XLR, 2nd DI 1/4" --> amp.


Make sense?

No, since there'd be an XLR male on each DI box, you'd still need a turnaround, or an XLR cable w/2 female ends (not that there's anything WRONG with that....)

But what does this have to do with what the OP wants to do anyways? I understand you're saying you've used it to transform the signal for long runs, and that the conversion works both ways, but the OP is looking to take a Mic with an XLR out (Male) and go into a 1/4" input. The simplest way is to use an XLR to 1/4" (TS) Imp Transformer.

[walterw]

Originally Posted by ric stave

But what does this have to do with what the OP wants to do anyways? I understand you're saying you've used it to transform the signal for long runs, and that the conversion works both ways, but the OP is looking to take a Mic with an XLR out (Male) and go into a 1/4" input. The simplest way is to use an XLR to 1/4" (TS) Imp Transformer.

+1, but it raises the question, "why?"

why does the OP want to put a mic into an instrument amp? the results may be "interesting", but they're never good.

[GregShadoan]

Originally Posted by ric stave

What DI has an XLR input?

There are a few, hell, even that cheap behringer active one has xlr in's and out's.
Bss has one... Goggle it

[tobie]

Originally Posted by ric stave

The simplest way is to use an XLR to 1/4" (TS) Imp Transformer.

Probably not only the simplest, but the 'correct' way.

The issue that's being forgotten here is that the DI sends a low impedance (mic level) balanced signal down its XLR output and a high impedance (guitar level) unbalanced signal down its 1/4" output. To get back to the original question - this implies that dancrocker might be sending a low impedance balanced signal into the amp via its 1/4" input jack (which assumes and expects a high impedance unbalanced signal). The end result is very unpredictable, to say the least.

[ric stave]

Originally Posted by GregShadoan

There are a few, hell, even that cheap behringer active one has xlr in's and out's.
Bss has one... Goggle it

Thanks, I did not know this...