What Direct Boxes are You Folks Using

[Ric Vice]

I played one of those outdoor festivals this weekend and since
the Walter Woods Ultra has a 1/4 Jack on the "Send Mix" output
the engineer used it to connect a DI to for the PA. It sounded pretty good, but I was wondering if I purchased a better quality DI, would the sound would dramatically improve.

As, I've been doing a little reading about these devices, I discovered that those same Piezos (that are notorious for overloading inputs on our amplifiers) can overload the DI as well. So, are there specific DI boxes that can handle piezos.

Ric

[Jazzman]

I have always used the DI output on my Raven Labs PMB-II...but if I had to get a stand alone DI, I would look into the Radial Engineering units.

[Francois Blais]

I use a TubeWorks 4001 tube DI.
I use it as a preamp too.

[Ric Vice]

Originally Posted by Jazzman

I have always used the DI output on my Raven Labs PMB-II...but if I had to get a stand alone DI, I would look into the Radial Engineering units.

Actually,
That's precisley the unit that I was looking at this weekend.
It's built like a tank. Unfortunately, Walter can't fit a DI into the
Electro Acoustic design. I'm just trying to figure out if a Realist will overload the Radial JDI Passive Box.
I don't usually use a my Fishman Pre A II with the Realist
as a piezo buffer. If I take the signal from the Send on the Walter Woods for the DI do I need to buffer the input from the Realist?

Ric Vice

[Ric Vice]

Originally Posted by francois

I use a TubeWorks 4001 tube DI.
I use it as a preamp too.

Francois,
A couple of questions 1. Are you using the TubeWorks with your EUB or a Double Bass? 2. Are running the DI between the instrument and the amp, or using a send out on your amplifier?

Ric Vice

PS: Thanks for the info, always a big help to us novices

[JimmyM]

I use the DI out of my SWR SM-500, but if I don't have that, I use a Whirlwind Imp 2. People goof on it because it's so cheap that they think it can't possibly be any good, but I've used it to record and I've used it for gigs as small as a 100 seater up to 10,000 seat arenas, and it always has a really good sound and always works. I keep one in my cord bag at all times JIC.

[jrduer]

Ordinarily, I use the DI in my Ashdown head, and I like it really well.

Once, I got to a gig with a borrowed SWR. When I plugged it in, nothing came out but a sizzling sound. I pulled my Fishman Pro-EQ Platinum Bass out of my gig bag, plugged it in, and ran through the PA only. Lots of folks (including my bass player son) commented on how good the SWR sounded in the mix, not knowing it was not even turned on. (I left the amp onstage, so I'd have somewhere to set my drink...)

Anyway, I like the Fishman, although it may not be rugged enough for constant gig use, unless you're able to keep it in a padded box like I do (it's plastic).

~John

[Jason Hollar]

Like JimmyM, I usually just use the DI on my SWR amp too. Sounds fine for most gigs where there's a sound system involved.

However, my favorite DI box is the Countryman. I've had this old dog for many years and it still continues to amaze me. It's especially good in the studio. It has some pretty clean specs (I'm not a techie) but from my understanding it's excellent for converting a piezo level signal to soundboard friendly line or mic level.

I think it's important to get an Active DI, not a Passive one, especially when dealing with piezo pickups.

[SteveC]

Originally Posted by francois

I use a TubeWorks 4001 tube DI.
I use it as a preamp too.

I had one of those and sold it. What a mistake. They sound FANTASTIC.

[FidgetStone]

I use an L.R. Baggs Para Acoustic DI. It has a nice array of uncolored tone controls and has proven to be worth its weight in gold.

[seamonkey]

I'll just put on my flame retardent coat.

I recently picked up a Behringer V-tome acoustic ADI21 and it's great! $30 US delivered. It's a DI and a pre-amp. In DI mode it's dead quiet and in pre-amp it's still quiet and the controls really shape the sound if I want. The "blend" adds characteristics to really even out the sound but a little goes a long ways.

I expect some might berate this little box, but don't dismiss it until you try it.

[robgrow]

The Countryman DI has been around for a long time, and is still an industry standard. And for good reason: It provides a buffered, high-impedance input with a transformer balanced output that provides good isolation when it's really needed. The Countryman can be used successfully with almost any source, and always sounds great.

If all I wanted to do was to connect my amplifier with an unbalanced, line-level output to a remote mixer, I might consider using a passive direct box with a Jensen or other very-high-quality transformer.

[T-Bal]

A couple of things.
1. Whatever is first in the chain should have a high impedance input to be ideal for piezos.
2. Walter recommends a passive DI box if you go into his amp first then out through the 1/4 inch.
3. I didn't have much luck with the direct out from my Woods. The direct out from my Focus, OTOH, is very strong and clean.
4. If you've got money to burn, a truly great DI box is the Aguilar 900. I think it's like 20 Meg input impedance.
5. Do a search in the BG forums, there's a long thread on DI boxes over there.
6. OK that was more than a couple.

[Uncletoad]

I have used a really cheap Proco or IMP passive DI on the Woods direct out. Sounds decent and works well. I still use my Raven Labs preamp as Walter doesn't do phase switches. So I use the Raven for a phase reverse, a little bass cut and then use the DI out for a send to the PA. I run the Raven into the front of the Woods. That sounds excellent and always gets thumbs up from the sound-person. Also gives me a line independent from the Woods that will still run if the Woods dies during a set.

I really wish Walter would dump the effects loops and bring back the phase switch. And a nice DI transformer. Those loops are a huge waste of space and energy and I don't know anyone that uses them. I hate carrying around a battery sucking preamp that I really don't need instead of having everything in one box.

[Francois Blais]

Originally Posted by Ric Vice

Francois,
A couple of questions 1. Are you using the TubeWorks with your EUB or a Double Bass? 2. Are running the DI between the instrument and the amp, or using a send out on your amplifier?

Ric Vice

PS: Thanks for the info, always a big help to us novices

Sorry for the late reply, my home computer crashed yesterday.
I'm playing an EUB only.
Yes, between the instrument and amp.
It has a 1/4" unbalanced output for the amp, and a XLR balanced output for the PA or whatever.

[Ric Vice]

Originally Posted by francois

Sorry for the late reply, my home computer crashed yesterday.

No problem really, I just appreciate all the help that
people on TB are providing me with. My concern with using
a DB between the instrument and amp, is that the Realist will
actually "overdrive" the DI, if I don't get the correct type. It has a very hot signal. When I tried using my Fishman Pre A II that's suposed to work with piezos to correct the mismatch between the Realist and my Walter Woods, it actually sounded worse! It sounds
like the way to go is run the DI of the amp and use a Passive DI with a Jensen Trnsformer. The other option would be to find anctive DI that will cope with the high output from the Realist, but that could be pretty pricey.

Ric

[Brad Maestas]

I've used various pieces of crap over the years. Most of them being inexpensive passive DI's. Now I've been relying on my trusty Raven Labs MDB-1 (no phase, oh well) and the venerable Demeter 201s. I've used the Avalon U5 with mixed results. Some of my basses don't really like the 'presets'. I tracked with an old Hofner and it squashed it too much.

I recently tracked through the single-space Aguilar pre and liked the sound. I have yet to try one of the Millenia Media products. I'm familiar with the STT-1 on vocals and horns but I haven't gotten a chance to plug my bass into it.

[Francois Blais]

Originally Posted by Ric Vice

It sounds like the way to go is run the DI of the amp and use a Passive DI with a Jensen Trnsformer. The other option would be to find anctive DI that will cope with the high output from the Realist, but that could be pretty pricey.
Ric

I suppose that tube DIs have a higher input voltage capability.
However the 4001's front end is solid state; only the output uses a tube.
Its input voltage is 3.8VRMS max, in instrument mode.

The Fishman B-II spec says -20dBV max input voltage.
If 0dbV = 1 Volt, -20 dBV = 0.1 Volt, which seems rather small. (and could explain why it's clipping)

[Ric Vice]

Originally Posted by francois

I suppose that tube DIs have a higher input voltage capability.
However the 4001's front end is solid state; only the output uses a tube.
Its input voltage is 3.8VRMS max, in instrument mode.

The Fishman B-II spec says -20dBV max input voltage.
If 0dbV = 1 Volt, -20 dBV = 0.1 Volt, which seems rather small. (and could explain why it's clipping)

Francios,
Thank you so much. You're help in converting that spec was invaluable. I guess the Fishman only works with their BP-100,
but since they don't provide you with specs on the output of their
transducers you can't tell what piezos are compatable with
their buffer/pre amp. Sounds like all piezos aren't uniform in their
output. It's looking more like the way to go would be a DI from the ampilfier.

Ric

PS Thanks to all who have posted their comments so far
very informative and useful stuff. This is complicated!

[Uncletoad]

Originally Posted by Ric Vice

Sounds like all piezos aren't uniform in their
output. It's looking more like the way to go would be a DI from the ampilfier.

Right. In fact piezos are very sensitive to what they are plugged in to. The relationship between the piezo and the preamp is crucial to getting a good tone from them. Piezos sound really different depending on what they are plugged into. The Woods has an excellent relationship with piezo pickups. The Raven Labs does too. Most regular DI boxes don't mate up directly with piezos as well which is why I avoid direct injection from a piezo without a matching preamp. If you have a preamp you like the sound of with your piezo and it has a DI attached to it i'd use that. A passive DI on the output of the Woods sounds great too, although it seems less consistent from room to room even when using the pre EQ signal. I'm not sure why.