help with DI Boxes

[katalyzt13]

I am new to bass and trying to understand how DI boxes work. I've been told that you can use them as a stompbox as a kind of pre-amp/EQ pedal, I've been told you can run them directly to a PA system or record directly with them. Okay, I've got the idea about using it as a stompbox, but say I'm wanting to record with one and I use a Line 6 Toneport UX2 and a Vox JamVox as an interface - how would I hook it up for recording? And if I was going to hook it up to a PA system, say I was using a portable PA system - what would I need to hook it up to the PA? Thanks for any help you can give me, I've been really confused about these.

 

[testing1two]

In the strict sense, a DI box is simply meant to convert the signal from your bass from high impedance & unbalanced to low impedance & balanced. Why? Because a high impedance signal will degrade over long cable runs and unbalanced signals are more susceptible to noise. Using a DI box allows longer cable runs without degradation and rejects noise. A DI box will have two 1/4" jacks on one side (usually labeled "in" and "thru" or something to that effect) and an XLR jack on the other. The two 1/4" jacks are wired in parallel so you plug your instrument into the "in" jack and run a cable from the "thru" jack to your amp if desired. Then a mic cable is used from the XLR output to the PA system.

Today there are many devices such as preamps & effects for bass which have a DI built into them. These are the stompboxes you're hearing about. Many of these boxes have a pre/post switch next to the XLR jack which allows you to choose whether the post eq/effect signal is sent to the PA or a pre eq/effect signal which is basically the sound of your instrument without any processing.

In the case of your Toneport, the outputs are balanced but instead of an XLR jack they use a balanced 1/4" jack to save space. So you may need an adapter cable to plug into a PA system (balanced 1/4" to male XLR).

 

[katalyzt13]

In the case of your Toneport, the outputs are balanced but instead of an XLR jack they use a balanced 1/4" jack to save space. So you may need an adapter cable to plug into a PA system (balanced 1/4" to male XLR).

Actually, my Toneport UX2 has 2 XLR inputs...

But theoretically, say an Eden WTDI I could get and use as an EQ pedal, but if I had to play a small gig I could run it to my amp to use as a monitor and then to a PA for the actual sound at the show, is that correct?

 

[testing1two]

Actually, my Toneport UX2 has 2 XLR inputs...

Yes, it has two inputs for microphones or other balanced sources. However the main analog outputs are balanced 1/4"

But theoretically, say an Eden WTDI I could get and use as an EQ pedal, but if I had to play a small gig I could run it to my amp to use as a monitor and then to a PA for the actual sound at the show, is that correct?

Yep, you got it.