Radial ProDI problems

Nyarlathotep · #1 01-10-2009, 07:42 PM

Sux ass cus I just got this thing today.

I get no signal from it. I've got it in the FX loop of my amp. I get sound from the amp, so no prob with the in/thru jacks. I've tried with every combo of cord from the XLR I have:

XLR->1/4" mono cable (came with a cheap mic): Verified to work with the mic (which is the only other XLR thing I have

)

XLR->1/4" stereo adaptor: I've tried this with various cables and adaptors. Nothing

DocBop · #2 01-10-2009, 08:12 PM

So your running a line level signal into the DI, I hope your turning the pad on.

Nyarlathotep · #3 01-10-2009, 08:18 PM

Ok, some updates. I looked inside the DI and it looks like pins 2 and 3 are connected while 1 is not

I would take pics, but my goddamn camera won't bloody focus

If the pin 1 is connected to the tip on the XLR->1/4" mono cable, that could explain why that doesn't work.

Also, I picked up the XLR adaptor and the friggin cord just falls the **** out

. Its almost like theres no connections in the 1/4" side of it.

Ive used the damn thing before no problem..... I tested the XLR adaptor with my mic and it don't work no matter what. I forgot to do that before.

As for the pad, I sorta flipped the ground and pad switches on and off to see if that did anything. Is there anyway to tell if I've ****ed it up?

I hope I don't have to return this **** cus I ordered it online. ****.

Nyarlathotep · #4 01-10-2009, 08:21 PM

Oh, and I opened up the adaptor, and all the wires are connected, but I can't open up where the leaf connections would be that brush against the plug itself.

projectMalamute · #5 01-10-2009, 08:43 PM

pin 1 is ground. that should be the sleeve of the 1/4" plug.

pin 2 is hot. that should be the tip.

pin 3 is cold. that should be the ring.

I have no idea how your XLR -> 1/4" mono cable is wired. Probably just leaves pin 3 open.

I'm not clear on what you are trying to do. Are you going effects send -> DI -> adapter -> effects return?

Nyarlathotep · #6 01-10-2009, 08:55 PM

This is REALLY starting to get on my nerves

Looking at the insides again, yes, pins 2 and 3 are from the tranny, and pin 1 is from the ground lift switch.

So, I check my input prefs in Audacity and notice they're for stereo input. Set it to "mono". No dice.

And this whole pin 2/3 thing means that the mono cable should work. ****.

Next step: how can I tell if somethings ****ed without useing a multimeter. cus I don't have one.

projectMalamute · #7 01-10-2009, 08:57 PM

Do the inputs to whatever it is you are running Audacity on work with anything else? Like just plugging in the bass, or straight from the line out on an amp?

Nyarlathotep · #8 01-10-2009, 09:01 PM

Straight from the amp's send works.

I got this thing so that I would have a ground lift so that I could record (with no noise) while having my laptop run on AC power, cus its battery sux bad

projectMalamute · #9 01-10-2009, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DanielTulip

Straight from the amp's send works.

I got this thing so that I would have a ground lift so that I could record (with no noise) while having my laptop run on AC power, cus its battery sux bad

What is the device you are trying to connect to?

Nyarlathotep · #10 01-10-2009, 09:06 PM

The mic or line input on the front of my laptop. Im literally getting NOTHING in terms of signal. Note that both inputs work with everything but the DI

I was under the impression that radial stuff was mil-spec, or close to it. Is is possible to damage the tranny if the pad was not in place, even for just a little while?

projectMalamute · #11 01-10-2009, 09:12 PM

You aren't trying to lift the ground are you? You can't do that with an unbalanced connection, you'll get nothing.

Nyarlathotep · #12 01-10-2009, 09:14 PM

I get nothing with or without the ground lift IIRC. I could test it again, but im guessing I'd still get zippo.

Anyways, if I can't lift the ground, there's no point. [Jack Bauer]DAMNIT!!!!![/Jack]

Nyarlathotep · #13 01-10-2009, 09:20 PM

Ground lift = nothing. In either position.

Nyarlathotep · #14 01-10-2009, 09:28 PM

Should I bother getting an XLR->Stereo 1/4" cable or no? Or should I just try to get my money back?

projectMalamute · #15 01-10-2009, 09:36 PM

I dunno.

You got a mic you can plug in to those cables? If the cables work the box is broken. If the cables don't work the box is probably fine. There really isn't a hell of a lot that can go wrong in a passive direct box.

Plug a mic into your amp with those cables, it should work.

Nyarlathotep · #16 01-10-2009, 09:40 PM

I plugged the mic in and it works with the cable that came with.

It doesn't work with the adaptor tho. Of course the plug falls out of it (it XLR male / 1/4" female) so thats not surprising.

I've put in a msg to return it (the ProDI). So close, yet so far.... Any idea what could've gone wrong with the adapter tho? Thats whats really bugging me. I bought it back when I had a Tech 21 PDDI (I might just get one again...

) and it worked. No plug fallouts or anything like that...

projectMalamute · #17 01-10-2009, 09:45 PM

I do not understand what this adapter you speak of is.

If you are able to get mic -> 1/4" input on a guitar amp to work why aren't you using that same cable to go from direct box -> 1/4" input on soundcard? Or have you already tried this?

Nyarlathotep · #18 01-10-2009, 09:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by projectMalamute

I do not understand what this adapter you speak of is.

If you are able to get mic -> 1/4" input on a guitar amp to work why aren't you using that same cable to go from direct box -> 1/4" input on soundcard? Or have you already tried this?

Let me lay this bag of snakes out straight

I have 2 things that will allow me to go from XLR to 1/4". One is an adapter that goes to 1/4" female stereo. The other is a cord that goes to 1/4" male mono.

The cord is verified to work with the mic it came with. I get sound, can record everything from my amp (its a cheap dynamic mic so it sux) to my annoying voice. I plug it into the DI tho, and I get nothing.

projectMalamute · #19 01-10-2009, 09:54 PM

gotcha

Really sounds like the DI is the culprit.

If every other part of the chain has been found to operate properly what else can one conclude?

Nyarlathotep · #20 01-10-2009, 09:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by projectMalamute

gotcha

Really sounds like the DI is the culprit.

If every other part of the chain has been found to operate properly what else can one conclude?

ya. Hopfully I can get a refund. I took a quick look, and it seems I can get a PDDI for about 260 locally. Everywhere online is 210, but none of them ship to canada