What's the difference between a DI and an Audio Interface?

[Tupac]

If I understand right, the goal of both is to translate analog to digital as best as possible. What purpose does each have in terms of bass recording?

[Got2SadowskyNYC]

A DI lowers the impedence and balances the bass signal to match a microphone. This allows you to plug into a snake or directly into a sound board with no tone lose.

An Audio interface is an outboard box that is used to connect analog instruments and/or mics to a computer so you can record digitally. These usually contain both XLR and "instrument" 1/4 jacks and have the A to D converters.

So you would actually use both to record bass.

[mambo4]

Analog to digital is the goal of an Audio interface only.

A DI used to connect a high-impedance, line level, unbalanced output signal ( what comes out of your bass)
to a low-impedance microphone level balanced input, usually via XLR connector(what goes into a recording or mixing console).

[Got2SadowskyNYC]

Didn't I say that?

[Tupac]

Ohhhh, okay. Can I record without a DI? Very likely a silly question, can't you just turn down the input knob on your interface to do the same thing?

[Got2SadowskyNYC]

If there is a high imp. "Instrument" input, then yes.

If there is only XLR inputs the no.

It's not the same thing.

(It's possible to plug a 1/4 into an XLR using an adapter, but it will not sound as good as if you use a proper DI. Even a cheap DI will sound better than this option.)

[mdjuszyn]

Originally Posted by Got2SadowskyNYC

If there is a high imp. "Instrument" input, then yes.

My interface has a button that says "HI-Z" on the instrument 1/4" input. That's what you could use in lieu of a DI.