Quick questions regarding my first DI

[FunkyYeti]

I've owned a number of pre-amplifier pedals with DIs, but I bought my first dedicated DI yesterday, a RDNI ([Invalid or Expired Link Removed]), and had a few quick questions.

1) Do I need to have a amplifier connected via the "thru" port or can I just do instrument > DI > Interface/PA?

2) Will the DI colour the sound coming out of my amplifier when connecting an amplifier via the "thru" port or does it bypass the DI?

3) Where do I connect the "In" and "Thru" to my amplifier when in "Speaker Feed Configuration"?

a) My bass amplifier is a GK Legacy with "Direct Out", "Return", "Send" and "Speaker."

b) On guitar, I use a Fender Princeton Reverb with a "Parallel Speaker Outputs - External Speaker."​

4) What's the difference between "Lift" and "Ground"? Which position should it "normally" be in?

5) Is there any way I can damage equipment using the DI?

a) What if I use the 48V phantom power from my interface to power the DI, and I forget to turn it off and connect a XLR from my GK to the interface? Will it damage my GK?
​

6) Are phantom power supplies recommended as back up for live use? If so, is there a difference in quality or is something like the Behringer PS400 Ultra-Compact fine?

7) Anything else I should know?

Thanks!

 

[Roland GR 88]

#1 'Thru' is optional depending on the set-up required. No amp, no 'thru'.
#2 If any color is present it will show up here too.
#3 The 'in' comes from the speaker output of the amp and the 'thru' connects to the speaker of the cab.
#4 Ground is the standard position, if there's noise switch to 'lift'.
#5 Only if you wire it up completely wrong or forget to set it to 'speaker mode' when tapping the amplified output of your amp. In this mode, catastrophic damage is guaranteed if you don't follow the instructions.
#6 Phantom supplies are simple and cheap. Read some reviews to weed out the poorly made ones.
#7 Yes, read your manual. All the info I've given you came straight from the link you posted.

 

[MarkusAurelius]

I've owned a number of pre-amplifier pedals with DIs, but I bought my first dedicated DI yesterday, a RDNI ([Invalid or Expired Link Removed]), and had a few quick questions.

1) Do I need to have a amplifier connected via the "thru" port or can I just do instrument > DI > Interface/PA?

2) Will the DI colour the sound coming out of my amplifier when connecting an amplifier via the "thru" port or does it bypass the DI?

3) Where do I connect the "In" and "Thru" to my amplifier when in "Speaker Feed Configuration"?

a) My bass amplifier is a GK Legacy with "Direct Out", "Return", "Send" and "Speaker."

b) On guitar, I use a Fender Princeton Reverb with a "Parallel Speaker Outputs - External Speaker."​

4) What's the difference between "Lift" and "Ground"? Which position should it "normally" be in?

5) Is there any way I can damage equipment using the DI?

a) What if I use the 48V phantom power from my interface to power the DI, and I forget to turn it off and connect a XLR from my GK to the interface? Will it damage my GK?
​

6) Are phantom power supplies recommended as back up for live use? If so, is there a difference in quality or is something like the Behringer PS400 Ultra-Compact fine?

7) Anything else I should know?

Thanks!

1. The "thru" will allow you to extend the bass signal to your amp. You do not require "thru" connected if you are not using an amp. Think of it as a signal split.
2. Ideally the "thru" is split off at the input of the DI and should not affect the signal to the amp input. However if the "thru" is not a buffered split, it will affect the signal level to the amp. I cannot say re RDNI as I don't own one.
3. You connect your guitar/bass to the IN. You then extend the "thru" to the amp input and the balanced out to your interface.
4. This is the grounding switch. When in "ground" it will shun the ring connection of your cable to earth. Sometimes it will create ground loops and will make noise even worst. In that case move the switch to "lift" which will take the earth connection out and should reduce the noise. It should be safe enough if the equipment you are using is of good quality (as is your DI)
5. The DI should be perfectly safe . If your your DI can be powered from 48V supply it should be safe. Refer to the manual re powering requirements. From what i can see it can be. From ( sad) experience it is always preferable to connect equipment first before activating 48V supply as it can get shortened. However you can keep the supply on once connected, it has no effect on your amp.
7. Try running your DI into a (preferably tube) compressor for a funky or country tone.

 

[Jack]

1) Do I need to have a amplifier connected via the "thru" port or can I just do instrument > DI > Interface/PA?
No need for anything from the thru jack. Your proposed setup would work just fine.

2) Will the DI colour the sound coming out of my amplifier when connecting an amplifier via the "thru" port or does it bypass the DI?
Not with the RNDI. It's an exact copy of the input jack.

3) Where do I connect the "In" and "Thru" to my amplifier when in "Speaker Feed Configuration"?
Not such a good idea with your setup. Bridged class D amps like that can have issues. Besides, your power amp won't be imparting much of its own colour. Just use the effects send into the input of your DI. this brings up another good point, which is that you amp already has a brilliant DI built in.

4) What's the difference between "Lift" and "Ground"? Which position should it "normally" be in?#
Well, ground is electrically grounded, and lift isn't. In 99% of situations you won't hear or notice any difference in each position. Sometimes you can have pretty horrible AC hum, if you get a horrible sound then try 'lift' otherwise, you probably want 'ground'.

5) Is there any way I can damage equipment using the DI?
Throw it really hard.

a) What if I use the 48V phantom power from my interface to power the DI, and I forget to turn it off and connect a XLR from my GK to the interface? Will it damage my GK?
That's up to GK. You'd hope not, not if it's been designed properly. @rag ?

6) Are phantom power supplies recommended as back up for live use? If so, is there a difference in quality or is something like the Behringer PS400 Ultra-Compact fine?
I've used the Thomann one. Mine works just fine. Sorry I've not tried the Behringer.

7) Anything else I should know?
Numbers stations are pretty terrifying.