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DI vs. Line Out

C

capncal

Apr 14, 2009
389
5
#1
i ran line out of my fender bassman 25 into the board at the last gig and it sounded pretty decent from where i was standing.

i like to roll light and most places we play these day have decent PA's so i just run DI and use my bassman 25 for my monitor, more or less. but my DI box crapped out on me and this bar didn't have one. their PA was really nice considering the dive joint it was. but no DI box. so we took the line out into the board and i couldn't tell the difference.

so i'm wondering what's the difference in say if my amp had a DI, what's the difference between the DI and the Line Out?

do i need to bother with purchasing a new DI box or is Line Out sufficient til i upgrade my rig?
 
#2
capncal said:
do i need to bother with purchasing a new DI box or is Line Out sufficient til i upgrade my rig?
Click to expand...
Everything MIGHT be all right ... until you work the place that can't deal with the signal level your line out provides, or there's a ground hum, or the run is too long for unbalanced lines ... a decent DI isn't expensive, and a good piece of kit to keep in your gear bag.
 
#3
Running the line out:

You could have severe group loop (hum) problems at some venues.

You could have hum and/or buzz because the line output is not a balanced output.

If the tech connects your line out to a mic in, and turns on phantom power, it could damage your line out.

Get an EWI (audiopile.net) or Radial DI.
 
#5
capncal said:
it sounded pretty decent from where i was standing.
Click to expand...

Where were you standing ?

On stage , behind the speakers ?


I ask because if you were onstage behind the spekers , then you didn't hear the full picture.
You usually hear only the low end onstage , you don't get the highs /top end.

Not a good reference.
 
#6
if you don't EQ your amp all crazy, the DI out from it is usually fine.

this a looonng-raging debate here on TB, the "soundguy must have a bland, dry signal because your stage sound is crap" crowd vs. the "my sound is my sound, so you gotta mike this here gorilla guitar amp for my bass" crowd.
 
#7
walterw said:
if you don't EQ your amp all crazy, the DI out from it is usually fine.

this a looonng-raging debate here on TB, the "soundguy must have a bland, dry signal because your stage sound is crap" crowd vs. the "my sound is my sound, so you gotta mike this here gorilla guitar amp for my bass" crowd.
Click to expand...

i'm the all i got is this fender bassman 25 and this di box crowd.
 
#8
For travelling light...

A Rolls DB25 has an "Attenuator" (dial knob) to "trim your signal"

It can also be panel mounted directly to your amp.

You then go line out... rolls in (1/4 in) and then XLR out...

This little gizmo is about $25 (new)

-----
For the "my di died" many sound guys will have you plug directly into the board...

====

You may be a good prospect for running only through monitors OR IEM
 
#9
MNAirHead said:
For travelling light...

A Rolls DB25 has an "Attenuator" (dial knob) to "trim your signal"

It can also be panel mounted directly to your amp.

You then go line out... rolls in (1/4 in) and then XLR out...

This little gizmo is about $25 (new)

-----
For the "my di died" many sound guys will have you plug directly into the board...

====

You may be a good prospect for running only through monitors OR IEM
Click to expand...

thanks. had not heard of that little gizmo before. looks like a simple DI box with an attenuator knob. and it's cheaper than most simple DI boxes. guitar center here i come.
 
#11
Hope this info isn't too late.

The Rolls db25 doesn't have a dial attenuator. It has an attenuator switch that has a 0db/-20db/-40db settings and a ground lift switch. They work just fine. I think the product you are talking about is the db25b which is never in stock at GC. Its usually a special order.

Also keep in mind that most unbalanced line outs are effected by the volume knob on the amp. So if you turn your amp up on stage it will send a hotter signal to the board. A D.I. out will be balanced and will either have a set output level or it will have its own seperate output level control.
 

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