I was told to buy a direct box. I know alittle about them of what they do. What is the sole purpose of a direct box. I just bring my ampeg and use the line to the P.A. My guitarist in my band says a direct box would be alot easier for our samll gigs insted of bringing my amp. I want to undertsabd more about direct bixes before I go buy one. So any info appreciated. thanks!
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Direct Box????
- Thread starter FenderBinder
- Start date
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and check out the buying guide for direct boxes.
like your guitarist says, it'll make small gigs easier, that's pretty much it.
and check out the buying guide for direct boxes.
like your guitarist says, it'll make small gigs easier, that's pretty much it.
The definition of a direct box is somewhat subjective. At its core, a direct box does nothing more than accept your instrument's 1/4" banana plug input, which is unbalanced (signal - and ground are combined, meaning ground and hot do not always have the same voltage/current) and output a balanced XLR output (balanced signal + and signal -, with seperate ground).
Most boxes advertised as "DI boxes", however, do more than that simple conversion. Most have a preamp (treble-mid-bass-gain controls) That allow you to mold your bass sound like you would on your amp, and output the result directly to the mixing board. There are also preamps and even combo amps with XLR outputs that can be used to run directly to the mixing board. Both of these however are capable of much more than allowing you to run direct; a preamp will have advanced tone-modelling and the ability to plug into your own power amp and cabs in addition to the XLR, while the combo *provides* the power amp and speakers, and can function as a stage monitor or backline amp while the PA gives you most of your sound.
Most boxes advertised as "DI boxes", however, do more than that simple conversion. Most have a preamp (treble-mid-bass-gain controls) That allow you to mold your bass sound like you would on your amp, and output the result directly to the mixing board. There are also preamps and even combo amps with XLR outputs that can be used to run directly to the mixing board. Both of these however are capable of much more than allowing you to run direct; a preamp will have advanced tone-modelling and the ability to plug into your own power amp and cabs in addition to the XLR, while the combo *provides* the power amp and speakers, and can function as a stage monitor or backline amp while the PA gives you most of your sound.
I'd also like to add that you need PA support if you're only going to be using a DI. Normally when I think of smaller shows (like you mentioned) there is no PA...so I need an amp. When my band plays small shows, the PA is usually terrible and barely able to handle vocals...let alone my bass too.
Sorry if you already knew this...
Sorry if you already knew this...
you can go old-school, and get the really crude Transformers that fit in your pocket
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bongomania
Commercial User
No, most do not. Some of the popular ones like Sansamp, MXR, and Sadowsky have EQ, but they are the minority by far.
Mike Money
In Memoriam
you can go old-school, and get the really crude Transformers that fit in your pocket
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Try new school and visit www.naiant.com (no affiliation) to look at Jon's MDI direct "box" connector...EXCELLENT circuit powered by phantom power that's no bigger than two XLR connectors....fits in your pocket (actually you could fit 5 or more in your pocket).
Super value and great sound (even for piezo instruments - input impedance is 1.2 Mohm) in a very easily transportable solution.
These are not usually suitable for high Z applications like passive basses, and ptentially some active ones too.you can go old-school, and get the really crude Transformers that fit in your pocket
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My direct box saved my a$$ today. We were playing a corporate tent lunch show today (50 degrees and a strong, cold north wind). My amp died halfway into the second set (we were running only vocals in the PA). I pulled out my trusty DI, wired her up and in 3 minutes I was back in business. I always bring one, you never know...they are cheap insurance.
A DI in it's most basic form allows you to plug your bass directly into a console. I am one of those infernal "sound guys" and I am very much a fan of a bass player who carries his own DI box. The main reason I am a fan is that if the bass players head fails, I have a backup that we can finish out the show with.
Best of the best for a simple DI is the Radial JDI. I like it because it sounds great as long as your bass sounds good, and it doesn't require power. MXR bass DI and the Sans amp offer some very nice tone shaping and distortion options. Aphex offers a compressor with a DI out put as well as an aural enhancer with a DI out, both are some very cool units. Then you get into spending some money and you have the preamps which have recording outputs. I've seen that the Sansamp has gotten good reviews on here, I most commonly see the Avalon DI on shows. Demeter makes a very nice unit, the Sansamp preamp has gotten good reviews on this website, and I also really like the UA Solo 610 unit.
My 2cents.
I hope that that helps!
Take it easy,
Tony
Best of the best for a simple DI is the Radial JDI. I like it because it sounds great as long as your bass sounds good, and it doesn't require power. MXR bass DI and the Sans amp offer some very nice tone shaping and distortion options. Aphex offers a compressor with a DI out put as well as an aural enhancer with a DI out, both are some very cool units. Then you get into spending some money and you have the preamps which have recording outputs. I've seen that the Sansamp has gotten good reviews on here, I most commonly see the Avalon DI on shows. Demeter makes a very nice unit, the Sansamp preamp has gotten good reviews on this website, and I also really like the UA Solo 610 unit.
My 2cents.
I hope that that helps!
Take it easy,
Tony
It was 99 degrees here
Go to basstasters.com and check out the A-Designs REDDI (Red D.I.). There are a number of sounds samples using different basses combined with the REDDI. It really brings a bass to life! I bought one and I love it. Our sound guy loves it too. It was designed to emulate the sound of an Ampeg rig, so it might be close to sounding like what you're used to.
I don't see why you need a DI at all. As I see it, all a basic DI does is convert a high impedance source into one suitable for a mic level XLR input. When one of my bands decided to go PA only and use in ear monitors, I used to cary a pre-amp and use the pre-amp DI to feed the PA. I no longer do this and I now plug directly into a line input and bring the channel gain up to give me the level I need.
Paul
Paul
I just got a Sadowsky DI/Outboard preamp and it smokes. The highs can sometimes be a bit harsh if you crank them, but it does a marvelous job of adding/tightening up the bottom end and giving it a little extra active warmth. Volume, treble and bass are the only real controls on the unit, gotta love that!
