Why do people call it a "DI" if it's an output?

[BtaylorTheRogue]

There’s already enough riffraff on whether that 1/4” jack on the bottom (or side or end, whatever) of the bass is an input jack or an output jack.

Why is that confusing?

You input your cable so you can output your signal. Seems like the correct name is obvious, so everyone say it at the same time!

I agree though, I just sit back and let other folks argue semantics, while I play with my bottom string. No, not that bottom string, the one on the top, on bottom, yeah that one

 

[MTN.bass72]

Am I mistaken in thinking DI=direct input? Is this just a case of faulty language that's repeated in zombie fashion (like the use of "same difference" to actually mean "same"), or have I had a brain cramp (again)?

Because it's an DIRECT INJECTION (Di) of your source to the board

 

[beans-on-toast]

Interesting to note, what’s called a mixing console in North America was was called a mixing desk in England. A console is usually a big unit. In the early days, a mixer was placed on a desk so the position was the mixing desk.

These portable type of tube based mixers were common in radio stations and studios.

Eventually they got bigger like this UA610 based desk. The 610 amplifier modules were bought and assembled into a frame on a desk. [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]. Inputs were mic level. Eventually direct inputs for instrument levels were developed. This allowed injecting the signal directly into the signal pathway in the console. You can see why this is confusing.

The studio engineer had to understand electronics. The guys in studios like EMI’s Abbey Road were design engineers. They called it direct injection because that is what they were doing at a technical level. At Motown, they designed a passive transformer box with an instrument input that converted the signal to a balanced mic level. Others did the same in England. VOX has a circuit that took an amp’s phase inverter signals and generated a transformer balanced output. It was down to a studio engineer being tasked with solving a problem, they came up with different solutions. They didn’t care what it was called, often it was simply called the box.

By the way, a pre-amp was originally called a preliminary amplifier. Everyone calls it a pre-amp today.

 

[swarfrat]

the correct term for that could be: “direct input output”.

Just like a rainbow in the dark

 

[Phaidrus]

Direct Injection refers to the fact that it can be plugged straight into the board. The signal is balanced and at the right impedance so you get the full range of frequencies and lower noise.

Nomenclature is a funny thing, it's the same as when people say "the input jack on the bass", really they are describing the output jack but because it goes into the input of the amp many call it an input jack.

Thank heavens speaker outputs are called exactly that...

So, say, from the DI male XLR line out of the amp head into the female XLR line in of the USB audio interface (MOTU, Focusrite etc.) and then via USB into the computer and the DAW. But one can skip the amp and plug the instrument directly into the USB audio interface and then into the computer. What is the difference? The coloration, or not, of the amp?

 

[Indiana Mike]

Like when we do software upgrades to devices.

Sending to the device is downloading.
Pulling from the device is uploading.

The DI is sending an output signal to the input of another device.

If I said that wrong forgive me , long day.

 

[Feral Feline]

Six of one, half-dozen of the other...

Still debating input versus injection?

I was there, I was living this very thing back in the pro audio world in the 1970's, and almost universally "injection" was used across the Atlantic" and "input" was used in the US. Absolutely colloquial usage.

But...
If I go across the Atlantic, though, I wind up in North America.
Hell, if I go across the Pacific, I still wind up in North America.
Maybe Central America, or even South America, too.

OK, that's settled. Now, how about why Les Pauls have a Rhythm and a Lead label on their pickup selector switch?

What I want to know is, why does the switch go up and down when the pickups are placed back and forth?

This is not up for debate. A bass does not have an input jack.

...
the output jack on a bass is, only, an output. There is no input going on, and calling it an input jack is simply wrong...

also the jack on a guitar or bass gets called the input jack sometimes

...It's the output jack, since the cable carries the bass' signal "out" from the bass and "in" to the amp.

Nearly a half-century of using instruments, leads, effects, and amps ...

NOT ONCE have I ever plugged a lead OUT of a bass or guitar.


It's physically impossible.

​

 

[ThePez]

pretty sure this horse died a few hours ago, but it’s still getting beat.

 

[DrMole]

QUOTE="Jefus, post: 25100718, member: 111446"]View attachment 4213374

One company tried to alleviate the confusion.

Now if you'll pardon me, I've got to go unthaw some chicken.[/QUOTE]
Nicely played.

When I met my children's mom- she was 33 and thought I was making up the entire story of thaw/unthaw.

 

[FugaziBomb]

One notes that 'direct injection' is/was a Brit term, like 'foldback'.

I thought it sounded ridiculous, so that makes sense.

Now excuse me, I have to have a butchers hook out the ole Tommy Trinder; it's brass monkeys out there and I've a house to let there's buck and doe on the ground.

 

[lomo]

If I had known how far down the rabbit hole this would lead........I'd have popped a lot more corn and poured a much taller glass

 

[abarson]

So, say, from the DI male XLR line out of the amp head into the female XLR line in of the USB audio interface (MOTU, Focusrite etc.) and then via USB into the computer and the DAW. But one can skip the amp and plug the instrument directly into the USB audio interface and then into the computer. What is the difference? The coloration, or not, of the amp?

Yes, going through your bass amp first should impress some of the tone inherent to the amp, or at least give you the option to have it added.

 

[Peteyboy]

If I had known how far down the rabbit hole this would lead........I'd have popped a lot more corn and poured a much taller glass

Look: most of us are performers. And, thanks to Covid-19, FRUSTRATED performers. The chance to respond to your question is more about self-expression & showboating than it is about providing you with helpful info. Nothing personal.

In short, thank you again for this opportunity.

 

[EatS1stBassist]

......to get to the other side

That chicken had to do it!

 

[Kipp Harrington]

Six of one, half-dozen of the other...

View attachment 4213951




But...
If I go across the Atlantic, though, I wind up in North America.
Hell, if I go across the Pacific, I still wind up in North America.
Maybe Central America, or even South America, too.





What I want to know is, why does the switch go up and down when the pickups are placed back and forth?









Nearly a half-century of using instruments, leads, effects, and amps ...

NOT ONCE have I ever plugged a lead OUT of a bass or guitar.


It's physically impossible.

​

Lol... yeah, I guess that's one way of looking at it.

 

[KJMO]

Should a car be called an exhaust output device, or a gas input device?

 

[Feral Feline]

Yes.

 

[Phaidrus]

Should a car be called an exhaust output device, or a gas input device?

It depends on whether you're sitting in the car or in your garden.

 

[KJMO]

It depends on whether you're sitting in the car or in your garden.

Yeah, but I have an electric car.

 

[Phaidrus]

Yeah, but I have an electric car.

It's like playing acoustic.