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Presonus Audiobox with active bads

David Duncan

David Duncan

Dec 19, 2018
3
0
#1
Hi Guys
Old clueless looking for a bit of help. I fancied for a while in investing in a Presonus Audiobox bundle to attempt some first time home recording. Just before taking the plunge I just happen to read that you can’t plug an active instrument into the 2 inputs on the box. As I play a fender active jazz bass that seems to kind of snooker me. Any advice? I tried other sites but all the jargon ruined me lol. I really am a novice but with time to learn. Appreciate any school kid advice
 
#2
You definitely shouldn't plug an active instrument, or any line level source, directly into the inputs on the Audiobox. It could damage it. In order to record your Fender with the Audiobox you would need to use a DI.

If you've got your heart set on the Presonus, you can find a decent DI for not too much money. If it were me and I wanted to record an active instrument regularly, I would go for the Focusrite Scarlett instead. It can handle a line level source without using a DI.
 
#3
guts said:
You definitely shouldn't plug an active instrument, or any line level source, directly into the inputs on the Audiobox. It could damage it. In order to record your Fender with the Audiobox you would need to use a DI.

If you've got your heart set on the Presonus, you can find a decent DI for not too much money. If it were me and I wanted to record an active instrument regularly, I would go for the Focusrite Scarlett instead. It can handle a line level source without using a DI.
Click to expand...
 
#7
guts said:
You definitely shouldn't plug an active instrument, or any line level source, directly into the inputs on the Audiobox. It could damage it. In order to record your Fender with the Audiobox you would need to use a DI.

If you've got your heart set on the Presonus, you can find a decent DI for not too much money. If it were me and I wanted to record an active instrument regularly, I would go for the Focusrite Scarlett instead. It can handle a line level source without using a DI.
Click to expand...
I've plugged in (and recorded) my active Fender Jazz 24 into my Presonus Audiobox without issues. You shouldn't have a problem.
 
#8
silky smoove said:
Where are you getting that you can't plug an active bass into a Presonus Audiobox?
Click to expand...

From the manual, where it specifically says not to or you might damage the interface.

"Power User Tip: Active instruments are those that have an internal preamp or a line-level output. Active instruments should be plugged into a D.I. box, which should then be connected to the mic input rather than directly to an instrument input. Plugging a line-level source into the instrument inputs on the front of the AudioBox USB96 not only risks damage to these inputs but can also result in a very loud and often distorted audio signal."

https://pae-web.presonusmusic.com/downloads/products/pdf/AudioBoxUSB96_OwnersManual_EN_26062018.pdf
 
#10
guts said:
From the manual, where it specifically says not to or you might damage the interface.

"Power User Tip: Active instruments are those that have an internal preamp or a line-level output. Active instruments should be plugged into a D.I. box, which should then be connected to the mic input rather than directly to an instrument input. Plugging a line-level source into the instrument inputs on the front of the AudioBox USB96 not only risks damage to these inputs but can also result in a very loud and often distorted audio signal."

https://pae-web.presonusmusic.com/downloads/products/pdf/AudioBoxUSB96_OwnersManual_EN_26062018.pdf
Click to expand...
Line level is the key piece of text. An active bass is nowhere near line level. Line level is frequently in the range 1-2 volts, depending on the manufacturer and the physical settings on the gear itself. Instrument level, even active ones, is commonly in the range of 500-800 mV.

MonetBass said:
My bass has a 9V preamp, if that matters. I'd be hesitant to plug in a bass with an 18V one.
Click to expand...
Voltage indicates headroom, not output.
 
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#11
Here's two more ways to assess that this is either a misprint from the manufacturer, or simply bad wording by their instruction manuals department:

1. Since this unit has variable input gain, if the output of an instrument (passive or active) is too hot, just turn down the input gain. If the gain is bottomed out and the instrument still clips the front end of the unit (unlikely) then you can just turn down the volume on the instrument. This would be true with a passive instrument as well, but since we're discussing active instruments it should be mentioned that the active buffer in an onboard preamp will negate tonal changes from rolling off the volume knob and can therefore be done without any ancillary effects arising. You have variable input and output gain, therefore the only risk is from the user ignoring a clip light and/or their ears.

2. Any time you use pedals as part of your signal chain you're running through a buffer. This is the same as an active circuit that happens to be onboard some instruments. So by Presonus' logic you shouldn't be able to use pedals with this unit at all when plugging in directly. They make no mention of this, and if it were truly an issue they most certainly would.

If this is the interface you want, and you want to use an active instrument with it, go for it. Alternatively there are scores of other interfaces (built to almost identical specs with identical features) that don't have poorly written manuals. I happen to like my Audiobox iTwo as a two channel mobile option when I only want to bring that, a couple mic stands, two mics, two XLRs and my iPad.
 
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#13
guts said:
What do you make of this page? It seems to contradict the idea that it's a misprint. Then again, it is also very poorly worded.

Invalid Link Removed
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This contradicts nothing. You absolutely cannot connect a line level source to the front end of a Presonus Audiobox and expect it to perform well or have a long life.

The disconnect is in stating that an active instrument puts out a line level signal. It does not, and thusly will not be a problem for the Audiovox provided the interface's input gain and the instrument's output gain (i.e. volume) are set accordingly, which would be the case for any instrument regardless if it were active or passive.
 
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#14
I'm not saying it contradicts the fact that you can use an active instrument.

Just that it seems as though they clearly intended to put that into the manual, i.e. not a misprint.

Meaning that if you do somehow damage your interface with an active instrument, perhaps by accidentally having both the input gain and instrument gain turned all the way up and strumming real hard, no warranty.
 
#15
guts said:
Meaning that if you do somehow damage your interface with an active instrument, perhaps by accidentally having both the input gain and instrument gain turned all the way up and strumming real hard, no warranty.
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How would that be different than doing the same thing with a passive instrument? Or a passive instrument running through some pedals? How would they prove that the instrument used was active in retrospect?

If it's not a misprint it's an ill-conceived section of the manual that is erroneous and serves no functional benefit to the user or to protect the manufacturer.
 
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#16
I'm not disagreeing with you.

I'm just saying. If you want to keep your warranty, you just do whatever the manufacturer tells you, even if they're incorrect, or else it's not intended use and you're screwed if damage does occur.

Although I guess you could just lie and say you were using a passive instrument when the damage occurred.
 
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#17
guts said:
Although I guess you could just lie and say you were using a passive instrument when the damage occurred.
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This addresses my point about not being helpful to either the user or the manufacturer. Presonus won’t care if you used an active or a passive instrument. You sent too much electricity into the unit, used the unit’s amplification stage to boost the signal too much, or some combination of the two. Either way, Presonus isn’t going to honor your warranty claim since it was user error indistinguishable from passive or active instruments. So the user is confused by the manual, and Presonus doesn’t care either way since it wasn’t their fault. Had they written a manual that wasn’t either a misprint or full of erroneous data (i.e. that active instruments put out line level signals) then everyone would win. As it stands, no one does as is evidenced by the OP being concerned about buying this particular interface when it would work just as well as any similarly spec’d interface like the Focusrite unit you mentioned earlier.

Clarification: When I say “you” I mean the royal “you.”
 
#20
When I read that section about the Audiobox I picked up a Hosa passive DI - but my concern was for a drum machine with line level output. All the same I ended up trading in the Audiobox unit. At a later date I'll probably replace it with a Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 3G unit. It doesn't seem to have the line level issue.

Analog Inputs:2 x XLR-1/4" combo (mic/line/Hi-Z)
​
The Hosa unit I picked up was only $26 and I can use for other things, so it's a keeper. I would think that an active bass would still be a Hi Z instrument output. Always cool to learn...
 

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