Need help understanding "D.I out", XLR out, etc.

[Rhubarbcrumble]

I have seen amps and cabs fail on stage, but more frequently I've seen cables crap out. If you're bringing a PA, I'd look at this a little differently. I'd recommend bringing a few spare XLR cables to have on hand for general use... and then you can use one with your DI if it's ever needed (which will probably be just slightly more frequently than never).

You would think, wouldn’t you? In that regard, recent experience has been statistically improbable!

 

[TomB]

You would think, wouldn’t you? In that regard, recent experience has been statistically improbable!

If we're talking about bass amp failure on the job, it does indeed happen, and as long as there's a PA system on hand, a DI will give you a way to finish the gig. I can think just offhand of 3 times it's saved me over the years. Granted, that's a bunch a years...

 

[Kro]

If we're talking about bass amp failure on the job, it does indeed happen, and as long as there's a PA system on hand, a DI will give you a way to finish the gig. I can think just offhand of 3 times it's saved me over the years. Granted, that's a bunch a years...

Personally, I've needed to go the DI-only route due to amp/cab failure once in about... 12 years. I've also watched a bass amp die exactly one time from the audience, where the DI saved the day until a working amp could be swapped in.

There are a handful of times that I've had amps go into protect mode sporadically due to poor power, sketchy backline cabs, or asking too much of them, but that's really all I have as far as war stories go on that front.

 

[TomB]

Personally, I've needed to go the DI-only route due to amp/cab failure once in about... 12 years. I've also watched a bass amp die exactly one time from the audience, where the DI saved the day until a working amp could be swapped in.

There are a handful of times that I've had amps go into protect mode sporadically due to poor power, sketchy backline cabs, or asking too much of them, but that's really all I have as far as war stories go on that front.

Well there you go! ...and that's a handful of times a DI can keep the show going without major interruption. Swapping in a DI can be done in 30 seconds if it and an XLR are close at hand. That's less time between songs than it takes my guitarist to take a sip and find his capo !

 

[Rhubarbcrumble]

If we're talking about bass amp failure on the job, it does indeed happen, and as long as there's a PA system on hand, a DI will give you a way to finish the gig. I can think just offhand of 3 times it's saved me over the years. Granted, that's a bunch a years...

Twice in the spaces of 3 months for me! Peace of mind tucked away in my gig bag, no bigger than the size of a portion of lasagne, will do just nicely. Like you said... a way to finish the gig.