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Recording Setup

Patrick Spence-Lewis

Patrick Spence-Lewis

Guest
Oct 1, 2014
47
5
London
#1
Hello, so I have been recording bass for a while now and have developed some questions.

I'm currently recording into a Focusrite 18i8 audio interface and into fl studio.

Would I use a DI box instead of an audio interface? Or would I record bass > DI box > audio interface > computer?
 
#5
Patrick Spence-Lewis said:
What would be the reasoning for using the DI box?
Click to expand...
IME, there's less noise than using the instrument input. YMMV.
I know they convert unbalanced to balanced signals but do modern audio interfaces do that themselves?
Click to expand...
Audio interfaces convert inputs to digital; balanced (differential) vs unbalanced is not part of the equation.
 
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#6
Patrick Spence-Lewis said:
What would be the reasoning for using the DI box? I know they convert unbalanced to balanced signals but do modern audio interfaces do that themselves?
Click to expand...

The only reason you might try it is to see if the DI imparts any additional tone to the signal. Some are transparent in their operation and some alter the tone.
 
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#10
Patrick Spence-Lewis said:
So last question... does a balanced signal mean a better quality signal?
Click to expand...
Not necessarily.
Balanced signals are more immune to transmission-line (cable) interference.
(Go have a look at the definition of common-mode noise.)

It all comes down to specifics. A differential connection is less susceptible to noise. If you're in an electrically quiet environment and have good quality instrument cables with good grounding and shielding, you may not experience a difference. If your DI is of inferior quality, it may introduce distortion or coloration you find objectionable, which would be a poorer quality signal.

When I'm looking for best quality (e.g. actual recording), I'll invariably plug in a known-good high-quality DI.
If I'm just practicing through headphones, I've been known just to plug into the instrument input.

To further confuse the issues (research left as an exercise to the reader) there are active and passive instruments, and active and passive DI's, and they may or may not combine in musically interesting ways.

There's a lot already written on these topics in this forum...
 
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#11
ArtechnikA said:
Not necessarily.
Balanced signals are more immune to transmission-line (cable) interference.
(Go have a look at the definition of common-mode noise.)

It all comes down to specifics. A differential connection is less susceptible to noise. If you're in an electrically quiet environment and have good quality instrument cables with good grounding and shielding, you may not experience a difference. If your DI is of inferior quality, it may introduce distortion or coloration you find objectionable, which would be a poorer quality signal.

When I'm looking for best quality (e.g. actual recording), I'll invariably plug in a known-good high-quality DI.
If I'm just practicing through headphones, I've been known just to plug into the instrument input.

To further confuse the issues (research left as an exercise to the reader) there are active and passive instruments, and active and passive DI's, and they may or may not combine in musically interesting ways.

There's a lot already written on these topics in this forum...
Click to expand...

Thank you and everyone else for the help!
 
#12
ddnidd1 said:
You can plug directly into one of the Focusrite preamp inputs or you could plug into your DI and then into the Focusrite.

See if there's a perceptible difference. Either method is fine.
Click to expand...

I'd try this too. The Focusrite has great accurate clean pre's. I use a Focusrite Scarlett 18i6. I plug my bass directly into the instrument input and if necessary tweak anything after recording within the DAW. The only reason I see for using something in front of the Focusrite input is to provide a tonal coloration not available thru the effects plug-ins found in your DAW. There are some amazing plug-in bass amp simulators available that are reasonably priced.
 
#14
I have the 18i8 as well. I run my Avalon U5 into it because I like the tone is gives. I have not tried to record the bass direct into the instrument input. I do use the built in pres for some of my mics and they do sound quite good.

Balanced (XLR) cables are more important on long cable runs and electrically noisy environments. For most home recording setups that (hopefully) isn't an issue. That said, the only non-balanced cable in my setup is the one connected to my bass guitar :).

Later
Rob
 
#16
The DI box converts unbalanced to balanced, yes. But this is not why you would consider using it or not. The more important conversion that the DI box is doing is on the impedance. The signal coming out of the guitar / bass is a high impedance signal. The interface may be looking for a low impedance signal. If this is the case, the DI box is going to greatly improve the quality of the sound. Looks like the first two inputs on the 18i8 are configured for instrument level signals so you shouldn't need a DI. However, @ddnidd1's suggestion is still the best: try it both ways and do what sounds better.
 

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