1/4" Direct out?

[shaolinwhat]

so my 400RB has a 1/4" direct out instead of XLR. 2 questions:

1) what is the difference in the signal sent from a 1/4" as opposed to XLR?

2) is there any reason it would be bad for me to just throw an adaptor on there so i can go direct from my amp since most venues use XLR for this?

 

[B-string]

1) The 1/4" out is an unbalanced output (1 hot, 1 ground) XLR is a balanced output (1 hot, 1 negative and a seperate ground) XLR is a lower impedance line and less subject to noise and signal losses.

2) The manual actually has a recommendation to use a direct box (from that output) or use the High Z (impedance) input on the mixer.

Manual avalible for download here: [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[Rick Auricchio]

And you would generally not run a high-impedance unbalanced line any distance, because it can pick up hum. (If it doesn't, that's fine. But it usually will.)

Go with the standard DI. Most sound guys would vapor-lock if you wanted to hand them a long 1/4" unbalanced line.

 

[shaolinwhat]

1) The 1/4" out is an unbalanced output (1 hot, 1 ground) XLR is a balanced output (1 hot, 1 negative and a seperate ground) XLR is a lower impedance line and less subject to noise and signal losses.

2) The manual actually has a recommendation to use a direct box (from that output) or use the High Z (impedance) input on the mixer.

Manual avalible for download here: [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

the manual looks like it has the direct box in the effects loop. or am i misunderstanding the image?

i use an mxr m-80 for a DI but it would be nice to have my DI signal be the mix of the m-80 with my amp

 

[B-string]

"vapor-lock" I like it may have to borrow that
I can hear it now "Whatcha wount me to do wit that? I don't play geetar, I runs the PAs." Cable russle from a long unbalanced 1/4" line is fun to track down as well.

 

[B-string]

the manual looks like it has the direct box in the effects loop. or am i misunderstanding the image?

i use an mxr m-80 for a DI but it would be nice to have my DI signal be the mix of the m-80 with my amp

No direct box per say but you can use the effects send to a seperate DI box and that will push the sound from your MXR plus the G-K preamp to the sound board.

 

[shaolinwhat]

No direct box per say but you can use the effects send to a seperate DI box and that will push the sound from your MXR plus the G-K preamp to the sound board.

would i need to run the separate di box into the effects return like in the image?

 

[B-string]

No the signal chain only gets interupted by the effects return. That way if you ever wanted to, you could run from effects send on a "master" amp to effects return on a "slave" amp and control both from the first or "master" amp. The effects send is just a extra output like the DI.

The only warning I have for you is the effects out is a "hotter" signal than your bass so if the house's mixer is a cheapy they may have to use a "pad" on the XLR to drop the signal down to a level their mixer can handle.

 

[shaolinwhat]

got it. kind of a pain i guess...the di from the m-80 is really nice so its ok in most cases, but its good to know i have options.

 

[B-string]

Worth it though if you want to make sure "your" tone goes out front without having to rely on the sound person's ear or idea of what you should sound like?

 

[shaolinwhat]

well yea, thats why i have the m-80, it has its own eq section that is very critical to my sound, so i am comfortable sending that to the board. plus, i run it after my effects so those go to the board too. and its not as if my stage volume isnt being heard in the mix as well, considering im not playing stadiums most nights