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[jaybyname]

Hi all, just a silly question but confusing myself.

For stage and recording I want both my amp and seperate preamp XLR's to be taken to the desk. I have dialled in some really great sounds with a mixture of the two and want to keep the sound as it is to the desk.

Can an xlr from the preamp and an xlr from the amp go in to a di box, but then only 1 xlr come out and go to the desk. that way I can be assured my new sound is taken correctly.

Is there a splitter on the market etc.

Hope you can help.

Jason

 

[EastCoastThump]

Are you saying you want to combine your pre-amp's DI with the signal from a cabinet mic, and that you want to do so upstream of the sound engineer's FOH feed?

If so, you want not a splitter, but a mixer. There are a number of technical and practical hurdles to clear with this approach, and it might not be the easiest way to get to the tone that you want to send FOH. Still, it's possible.

One key is that if you're working with different house engineers every night, they'll typically want a clean signal as an option at the board, and they'll be concerned about every additional potential failure point upstream of the board. The more janky and complicated your rig looks, the more they'll want their own DI feed right off your bass.

If I were looking to do this, I'd probably add either a 1-u mic/line mixer or a 1-u recording interface to a rack rig. If the unit you pick only has 1/4" outputs, you might also want a dedicated DI in line.

 

[jaybyname]

Right makes sense I guess.

So you can't actually have 1 xlr from preamp/effects and 1 xlr from amp going into a Y lead with a single xlr to desk. This is what im trying to achieve so the only 1 line goes to the FOH.

 

[tkonbass]

You need this -> http://whirlwindusa.com/catalog/black-boxes-effects-and-dis/combiners/imp-combiner

It accomplishes exactly what you are asking for. Most sound techs should have no issue taking their signal from this unit.

 

[jaybyname]

So technically, just a Y lead? or 2 seperate xlr cables into this box would work.

Was thinking a Y lead then use the engineers DI box etc.

 

[lowfreq33]

Don't use a Y cable. Can cause all kinds of ground loop and impedance problems.

 

[bongomania]

No, not just a Y lead. Using that sort of thing for mixing can cause problems with feedback and signal loss. A dedicated mixer/combiner box will either have a buffer (active) or a transformer (passive) between the two inputs to isolate them from each other electronically.

 

[jaybyname]

Felt like I was just shouted at then!!

At least I was on the right level ish! Thought I made it up when I requested to be put through the desk like this. Ill enquire about the box

 

[EastCoastThump]

Yes, if the leg from the amp is the amp's DI rather than a cab mic, a simple combiner should suit you.

You won't need the preamp function, although you might need a way to balance levels independent of the stage rig controls (since a predictable balance of the two signals is the heart of what you're after, you don't want any eq or gain adjustments you make for particular stages to affect your FOH send). You'll also want a way to deal with potential ground loops (a ground lift, at minimum).

 

[tkonbass]

There is no Y involved. ONLY use a Y to split signals NEVER to combine them. Which is why I said get the IMP or something similar. But yes you are on the right track now.

 

[jaybyname]

Thats great thanks. Its making sense now.

On another note - if the effects/preamp unit is going into the 'input' then surely jus a single DI out of the amp head is sufficient.

I have.....

V amp pro on an great speaker/amp model setting and it then feeds into the input' of my Line 6 HD750 amp head which is on another amp/cab model. Both units are replicating the Ampeg SVT 2 Pro and 8x10 cab sim and together sound unreal. So, its this sound I want to capture at the desk. Hense the XLR questions.

Cheers.