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Direct Out Question

#23
KatKlysmik said:
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?
Click to expand...

first lets discuss the 3 "levels" audio signals generally have.
they are from lowest to highest:
  1. "mic level" what an unamplified microphone produces, very weak, usually needs a pre-amp to be useable
  2. "instrument level" what comes out of passive pickups, still pretty weak, *might* need a pre-amp
  3. "line level" the level at which most audio signals process/recorded/sent to the mix
An instrument level signal is lower than line level, with a poorer signal-to-noise ratio, thus undesirable for recording or mixing live. The universe of pre-amps and DIs is all about getting to "line level" as cleanly as possible, maybe with tone shaping.

the typical (simplified) story of a bass amp signal goes like this
  1. bass cable -> amp input (signal is "instrument level")
  2. input -> buffer , to isolate it from the circuitry. users don't interact with buffers
  3. buffer -> pre amp, boost the signal to "line level", pre-amps often have a robust EQ sections and tone shaping knobs
  4. pre-amp -> power stage, boost line level massively so it can drive the cabinet
  5. power stage -> speaker cable
Most amp DIs use the pre-amp (line level) signal , either before or after any EQing (usually there is a switch.)
 
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#25
KatKlysmik said:
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?
Click to expand...

As mentioned by @DannyW above; exactly right, except for the qualifier "if Not" :)

Whether or not you choose to run an XLR cable out of the DI output, the signal goes through the rest of the circuitry and gets amped more and shaped by eq until it reaches the speaker output jack
 
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#27
KatKlysmik said:
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?!
Click to expand...
Normally the DI out does not affect the signal sent out to the speaker.

There will often be a Pre or post switch for the DI. If it is set in "Pre" that means the straight signal (flat with no EQ adjustments) will be sent without any EQ adjustments. So "pre" means before the preamp's EQ is applied. "Post" is after the preamp's EQ adjustments are applied. Basically the "post" DI signal is the same signal that is sent to your speaker cab.
 
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#31
Rip Van Dan said:
Normally the DI out does not affect the signal sent out to the speaker.

There will often be a Pre or post switch for the DI. If it is set in "Pre" that means the straight signal (flat with no EQ adjustments) will be sent without any EQ adjustments. So "pre" means before the preamp's EQ is applied. "Post" is after the preamp's EQ adjustments are applied. Basically the "post" DI signal is the same signal that is sent to your speaker cab.
Click to expand...
Good to know! Post DI would remove the need to mic the cab! Thanks!
 
#32
mikewalker said:
As mentioned by @DannyW above; exactly right, except for the qualifier "if Not" :)

Whether or not you choose to run an XLR cable out of the DI output, the signal goes through the rest of the circuitry and gets amped more and shaped by eq until it reaches the speaker output jack
Click to expand...
Oh that's what it was about .. I misread it as a threat and shut up for a while. It kinda sounded like Delete your thread or else ... phew and thanks! I get it now.
 
#33
Zooberwerx said:
When I hook-up the amp's DI, totally inept bass playing can be heard thru both the speaker cab and mixer / PA.

Your particular combo provides a mic-level, pre EQ and pre volume, signal to the mixer...the sound guy will love you!

Riis
Click to expand...
The sound guy says the reason he can cope with us inept players and still hang on to his sanity is cos he has a gizmo called the mute button.
 
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#34
mambo4 said:
first lets discuss the 3 "levels" audio signals generally have.
they are from lowest to highest:
  1. "mic level" what an unamplified microphone produces, very weak, usually needs a pre-amp to be useable
  2. "instrument level" what comes out of passive pickups, still pretty weak, *might* need a pre-amp
  3. "line level" the level at which most audio signals process/recorded/sent to the mix
An instrument level signal is lower than line level, with a poorer signal-to-noise ratio, thus undesirable for recording or mixing live. The universe of pre-amps and DIs is all about getting to "line level" as cleanly as possible, maybe with tone shaping.

the typical (simplified) story of a bass amp signal goes like this
  1. bass cable -> amp input (signal is "instrument level")
  2. input -> buffer , to isolate it from the circuitry. users don't interact with buffers
  3. buffer -> pre amp, boost the signal to "line level", pre-amps often have a robust EQ sections and tone shaping knobs
  4. pre-amp -> power stage, boost line level massively so it can drive the cabinet
  5. power stage -> speaker cable
Most amp DIs use the pre-amp (line level) signal , either before or after any EQing (usually there is a switch.)
Click to expand...
Hi Mambo. Thank you so much for the detailed explanation and your patience. The direct out taps a copy of the preamp signal just like the effects loop. Gotcha.
 
#37
KatKlysmik said:
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?!
Click to expand...
No
 
#40
KatKlysmik said:
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.
Click to expand...

They might not have specified because this is so, as far as I know, universal that those are independent outputs.
 

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