Recording DI via USB interface to DAW from GK amp

[Andy Diamond]

Hey all,

I have a little GK MB110 amp which is awesome and it has a XLR direct out jack.
I've used the direct out live and it works but I want to use it in my home recording set up so I can get the amp sound into my DAW.
I thought this would be simple - I bought a female -> male XLR cable and plugged it in to one of the inputs on my Foucsrite Forte USB audio interface (via the Forte's XLR input on the breakout cable). No matter what I just can't seem to get any recordable signal coming through to the interface - I've tried mic/line inputs but nothing.

Am I doing something dumb here or is it not possible to use the direct out to record into a DAW via an interface?

Cheers.

 

[Bassbeater]

Should be possible and simple.
I suspect there is an issue with routing from within the DAW.
Are you able to record other sources? If so, it could be that you have a bad xlr cable.
Be more specific.
Recordable signal... is it too quiet? distorted? not present at all?
Which DAW are you using? Do you arm the tracks and set the input monitoring?
Is the Direct out tied to the volume of your amp? Perhaps you need to turn up the amp.

 

[Andy Diamond]

Should be possible and simple.
I suspect there is an issue with routing from within the DAW.
Are you able to record other sources? If so, it could be that you have a bad xlr cable.
Be more specific.
Recordable signal... is it too quiet? distorted? not present at all?
Which DAW are you using? Do you arm the tracks and set the input monitoring?
Is the Direct out tied to the volume of your amp? Perhaps you need to turn up the amp.

OK thanks - I'll check all that.
The cable is brand new.

 

[garp]

I'm not familiar with the Focusrite Forte, however, I did find this on page 11 of the online PDF manual:

The XLR inputs are intended only for use with microphones.

I'm unsure of why that would be the case. With the external power supply, the Forte can apparently supply phantom power to condenser mics connected to the breakout cable's XLR connections, so it would seem that the Forte's inputs are already properly calibrated to handle the GK's line-level XLR signal, or something close to it.

However, if @Bassbeater's suggestions don't work, you may want to consider trying an XLR-to-TRS 1/4" cable to connect the GK to the breakout cable. Good luck.

 

[Mrmatt1972]

If the DI works live it is sending a line level signal (I would expect, check your manual) which is a "microphone" level signal. No worries there.

Does your interface have VU meters? Is the channel getting signal?

 

[Andy Diamond]

Hey thanks for al the replies!
I will let you know the results!

 

[dlb1001]

Another possibility is that you may need to set up the input section of the DAW so that it knows that you are using the Focusrite as an input device. I know I had to follow procedure with Reaper.

 

[amphlett7]

If the DI works live it is sending a line level signal (I would expect, check your manual) which is a "microphone" level signal. No worries there.

Just to clarify and avoid confusion, this isn't accurate.

Line level and microphone level aren't the same.

What's the difference between Mic, Instrument, Line, and Speaker level...

Microphone level is a low-level, low-impedance signal which is brought to "line level" using a microphone preamp.

Instrument level is a low-level, high-impedance signal which in this case is being brought to line level using the GK preamp.
However, the "DI" output brings the output level down to "microphone level" in order to make it the appropriate level for a microphone preamp input.


It can be really confusing