recording with DI problems

matito · #1 06-05-2006, 07:14 AM

My band has a decent yamaha digital recorder unit.

Now i own a ashdown abm500 evoII head, and first tried to use the DI hooked up to the recorder, and there is hardly any volumne at all, its very low, and if we turn the gain up on the recorder input, it starts to fuzz.

also tried this with the DI in my peterson strobostomp.

I looked and played with all the settings in the digital recorder, i can't find anything.

anyone know the problem i'm having or how to fix? or even get a DI box where u can control the signal, by turning it up without distortion.

thanks

Denyle Guitars · #2 06-05-2006, 09:57 AM

DI boxes traditionally don't add any gain. They simply give the mic preamp a signal that it can handle. Is the DI connected to a mic input or line input?

niftydog · #3 06-05-2006, 04:33 PM

You must maintain the balanced signal (ie; use a 3 pin XLR to XLR cable from DI to recorder) and be aware that the signal level is akin to a microphones, quite low level, so it must be plugged into a mic level input.

matito · #4 06-05-2006, 08:22 PM

well on this recorder the line input and mic input is supposely the same thing

I don't think my band members know how to use the recorder properly.

I am using a XLR cable

the problem must be something in the recorder, I'm just going to have to find it somehow

niftydog · #5 06-05-2006, 11:00 PM

Quote:

well on this recorder the line input and mic input is supposely the same thing

In terms of physical connections that's quite possible, however it's rare to find a shared connection such as this that does not at least have a switch to select between line or mic levels. Perhaps this is a soft switch (ie; software) on this recorder instead of an actual switch?

If you can get the model no. of the recorder perhaps we can find an online manual and work it out.

Ronan · #6 06-06-2006, 01:37 AM

Yeah, the current advice is right. A DI converts the impedance of an instrument level to a ballanced signal with an impedance that is usually closer to a mic signal. With most DI you need to use a mic pre amp to get a decent recording level. (there are a few exceptions: Little Labs, A Designs, Avalon..)