Direct Out Question

[KatKlysmik]

Hi, just a general question. If I hook up an amps direct out jack to the sound guys mixing board, will I lose the signal to a speaker cab? How can I get Direct out and a speaker cab to work at the same time? I want to be able to hear what I'm playing on stage. I cant find this info on any product page help?!

 

[Bassdirty]

What amp?

the line out should NOT affect the speaker.

There is a difference between "LINE OUT" and SPEAKER OUT.

Tell us which amp, and we shall help you.

T.

 

[KatKlysmik]

Hi . Um like the Hartke KB12? It has a port called Direct out on the front panel that sound engineers ask for. Or a Gallien Krueger 700rb2 that has the same direct out port. I'm not sure if these are speaker or line outs oops. These are the only 2 pieces of used gear I cam find near me.

 

[gtirard]

Normally the "direct out" has a line level, so you won't blow the mixing board, and normally, using the direct out doesn't cut the speaker out. And normally, if you know the amp's model name, you should find the specs sheet in Google to make sure.

 

[Redbrangus]

Nothing you plug into a jack labeled 'Line Out' or 'Direct Out' will interrupt the speaker output, no matter what sort of amp it is. I guess there could be an exception, but no... don't worry about it.

 

[Killing Floor]

The direct output on normal bass amps is not going to affect your speaker out. They are different things.

 

[KatKlysmik]

Normally the "direct out" has a line level, so you won't blow the mixing board, and normally, using the direct out doesn't cut the speaker out. And normally, if you know the amp's model name, you should find the specs sheet in Google to make sure.

Thanks and yea I read the owners manual for the amps and couldnt find the info. Maybe the answer was there but not in way I could understand. Ok I feel better knowing most amps can do that sound board thing and still produce sound from the cab. Otherwise I wouldn''t be able to hear myself playing. Was thinking of getting a small 12 inch cab and mounting that to a tripod, while the PA puts out the actual sound of what I'm playing. That way I dont have to bring a clunky cabinet to a venue.

 

[KatKlysmik]

Nothing you plug into a jack labeled 'Line Out' or 'Direct Out' will interrupt the speaker output, no matter what sort of amp it is. I guess there could be an exception, but no... don't worry about it.

Thank you. Good to know!

 

[KatKlysmik]

The direct output on normal bass amps is not going to affect your speaker out. They are different things.

Thank you!

 

[Redbrangus]

I'm guessing the confusion about it may have come from that being exactly how most bass amps behave if you use the HEADPHONE output. That's a different thing altogether.

BTW, welcome to TB, if no one has said.

 

[KatKlysmik]

I'm guessing the confusion about it may have come from that being exactly how most bass amps behave if you use the HEADPHONE output. That's a different thing altogether.

BTW, welcome to TB, if no one has said.

Thanks! Everyone's so cool in here I wish I had joined sooner! The guy at the local music store is driving me nuts with his shrugs and 'we just sell em not answer questions' attitude ha ha

 

[wintremute]

Welcome to TalkBass.

 

[KatKlysmik]

Welcome to TalkBass.

Thanks!

 

[mikewalker]

As mentioned above, using the direct out ("DI out") of a bass amp doesn't affect the power amp's speaker output.

Hartke KB12 manual is pretty specific:

Direct output - This standard male XLR connector provides a mic level pre-EQ (and pre-Volume control) balanced low-impedance output from the amplifier. This output is usually used to connect the Kickback to a Direct Injection (DI) box or to an XLR mic input when interfacing with external sound reinforcement or recording mixing consoles. The signal from this output adds approximately 6 dB of gain to the input level.

Headphones jack - Connect headphones to this standard ¼” jack. When a plug is inserted into the headphone jack, the speaker output is disconnected.

 

[KatKlysmik]

As mentioned above, using the direct out ("DI out") of a bass amp doesn't affect the power amp's speaker output.

Hartke KB12 manual is pretty specific:

Direct output - This standard male XLR connector provides a mic level pre-EQ (and pre-Volume control) balanced low-impedance output from the amplifier. This output is usually used to connect the Kickback to a Direct Injection (DI) box or to an XLR mic input when interfacing with external sound reinforcement or recording mixing consoles. The signal from this output adds approximately 6 dB of gain to the input level.

Headphones jack - Connect headphones to this standard ¼” jack. When a plug is inserted into the headphone jack, the speaker output is disconnected.

All right I'm down to learn this tech stuff. What I know is pre EQ = "your bass and treble knobs are not going to affect what the sound board receives" or "dry signal". Balanced = "the xlr cable technology that is used to remove noise from the signal going through that cable". The rest is new to me. I'm guessing that since the amp puts out more than 6db, its implied that the rest of the dbs get routed to the cabinet?

 

[mambo4]

I'm guessing that since the amp puts out more than 6db, its implied that the rest of the dbs get routed to the cabinet?

No, A Direct Out will have NO IMPACT on the signal going to your cabinet.
The cab gets the same signal whether or not you use the DI
The systems do not "share" a common pool of decibels

 

[mikewalker]

All right I'm down to learn this tech stuff. What I know is pre EQ = "your bass and treble knobs are not going to affect what the sound board receives" or "dry signal". Balanced = "the xlr cable technology that is used to remove noise from the signal going through that cable". The rest is new to me. I'm guessing that since the amp puts out more than 6db, its implied that the rest of the dbs get routed to the cabinet?

What that "6dB" is saying is that the output signal from the DI output, though "mic-level" (millivolts, suitable to feed a microphone input) is amplified just a little bit, making the DI signal six decibels louder than whatever signal that your bass guitar is supplying to the amplifier's input...

 

[agedhorse]

Thanks! Everyone's so cool in here I wish I had joined sooner! The guy at the local music store is driving me nuts with his shrugs and 'we just sell em not answer questions' attitude ha ha

If they sell it, they should understand it.

 

[KatKlysmik]

What that "6dB" is saying is that the output signal from the DI output, though "mic-level" (millivolts, suitable to feed a microphone input) is amplified just a little bit, making the DI signal six decibels louder than whatever signal that your bass guitar is supplying to the amplifier's input...

Ok thanks for that. So the signal from my guitar goes into the amp, gets 'amped' just a little and at this point if the direct out is used then a copy of that goes out of the DI. If not then it all goes through the rest of the circuitry and gets amped more and shaped by eq until it reaches the speaker output jack? Am I close?

 

[KatKlysmik]

If they sell it, they should understand it.

Exactly! That's why I'm buying used from the classifieds.