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

[agedhorse]

That chicken had to do it!

In the parlor, with the lead pipe.

 

[OogieWaWa]

Thanks-I get it now

^^^ Reply from the OP on the first page. And now SIX PAGES LATER... <sigh> People must be bored.


Edit: I replied, so yeah, me too.

Edit2: At least we're getting together for a working breakfast tomorrow and finalizing our setlist for our first gig May 1st!!! Finally! Woohoo!!!

 

[Samatza]

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?

Putting the amp in the signal chain can give you all the preamp EQ, compressor etc. that is available on the preamp. That is if the DI is switchable pre/post.

So yes the preamp in the amp can colour the signal as opposed to going straight to the interface.

 

[Jeff Hughes]

I used to have a friend that always wanted to get a “wireless cord” for his guitar.

 

[DTRN]

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

First you have to...Break on Through.

 

[Ken Martin]

Yes, Direct Box, or d-box or db for short. That should eliminate any confusion!

direct input or DI refers to the signal destination, an input on the mixing board.

 

[Feral Feline]

We're well beyond that, now, Ken.






"DO, or DI ... there is no 'TRI'."

 

[Stewie]

db is something altogether different, and a pain in the butt to transport, but worth it

 

[GreyBeard]

DIRECT IN meaning direct into the FOH. Last time I checked I have at least 5 packed away in different places. Not counting the DI's on my amps.

 

[Samatza]

except, a DI box IS an input. it has an input and an output.

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.

same with people who say "can you download that to me" or similar things. Download copies data from somewhere to your system. You can download something from somewhere to your own system. Upload means you are sending data (a file or whatever) to somewhere else. Like uploading your photos to the cloud, or downloading them from the cloud onto a new device.

I can't stand those errors - I'm very picky about true meaning in logic-based systems, because if we don't know if something is an input or an output, the circuit can break.

Agreed, it's logical to follow the signal flow but there are many people that don't understand that concept simply because it's not a part of their knowledge base.

I know some great players that just don't have any technical knowledge at all and they're not interested in acquiring it, they're just plug and play kind of folks.

 

[swarfrat]

I wasn't supposed to let the cat out of the bag, but it's an industry convention simply to mess with OCD/pedantic folks.

 

[Aric Keith]

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...

Not to quibble too much but I believe people often call it the 'input jack' because you literally plug a cable INTO it. The simple connection in the mind is you plug IN to the INPUT. Anyway, it's just an odd quirk I guess.

 

[Samatza]

Not to quibble too much but I believe people often call it the 'input jack' because you literally plug a cable INTO it. The simple connection in the mind is you plug IN to the INPUT. Anyway, it's just an odd quirk I guess.

Yeah, that makes sense. It really doesn't bother me because I understand what they mean when they say it. With other stuff I do try to educate people, especially with amp outputs because you can cause some serious damage if you get that wrong.

A couple of years ago we had a gig and there were two bands. The first band arrived and set up the house PA, a small vocal PA with two 12" + horn monitors. I put my amp in the corner as we were up second and went to the bar to get a drink. During this time and from a distance I noticed that the powered monitors were plugged into the last two input channels on the desk with a 1/4" jack on that end and the 3 pin on the speaker end. I went over to investigate and was told in a very hostile tone "don't touch anything, the monitors are working fine". Of course the monitors were not working at all but I didn't want to ruffle anyones feathers so I left it at that, there was no danger of damage or injury.

They got to the soundcheck stage and were still adamant that the monitors were fine. When changeover came up I just daisy chained the monitors to each other, plugged one end to the AUX out on the mixer and brought up the level, of course the monitors worked, our set was fine, the vocalist could hear just fine.

Another time many, many years ago a 3 way system was hired by the venue and was duly wired up by staff but it didn't sound at all good when they turned it on. I quickly asked them to turn everything off and went to investigate. They had plugged the systems active crossover into the wrong amps so the horns were getting the mid feed and the mids were getting the sub feed, subs were getting the mid feed. I corrected the connections and with amps turned down way low I tested the system, it still worked! I explained what the problem was and what I did to correct it, they were extremely grateful.

So sometimes if there is no risk of damage to property or life you just need to keep your mouth shut and at other times you need to act quickly to avert catastrophic disaster.

 

[EatS1stBassist]

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

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. The egg! Great!

 

[Samatza]

^^^ Reply from the OP on the first page. And now SIX PAGES LATER... <sigh> People must be bored.


Edit: I replied, so yeah, me too.

Edit2: At least we're getting together for a working breakfast tomorrow and finalizing our setlist for our first gig May 1st!!! Finally! Woohoo!!!

Calm down man!

Just kidding, it's good to hear the different view points on this and why people call it one or the other.

Congrats on the first gig, that's great news! Our illustrious State Premier announced today that restrictions would be lifted next Monday. I let the band members know and got a flurry of excited responses at the prospect of returning to our regular gigs. It's been over a year, I can't wait...

 

[dkelley]

Agreed, it's logical to follow the signal flow but there are many people that don't understand that concept simply because it's not a part of their knowledge base.

I know some great players that just don't have any technical knowledge at all and they're not interested in acquiring it, they're just plug and play kind of folks.

Yes, but. Is sound coming OUT of the guitar or going INTO it?

It's not hard. If you ever meet someone like that, just use that example. That's all there is to it, to the layman, and it's plenty enough to correct what can potentially be a serious communication problem when they start using pedals.

I think some of the confusion comes from the fact that pedals have "input" and "output" jacks, often. So the input connects to the guitar, right? That must mean the guitar jack is the "input" jack. I can totally see where the misinformation comes from. A single cable doesn't seem like it could magically change an input into an output.

But the above concept again is easy to teach them. Is sound coming out of the guitar? then it's an output jack. for the pedal, you want to put your sound into the pedal, so your sound output goes to the pedal's sound input. Then the sound comes out of the pedal... into amp.. and so forth.

It's such a simple thing to teach and is MIND BLOWING to those who haven't had anyone take 30 seconds to correct them.

from my experience anyway - people are completely shocked with the revelation if they've been confused by it before.

Maybe I just have nice friends who pretend to appreciate it when I do stuff like that, though... LoL

 

[Samatza]

Yes, but. Is sound coming OUT of the guitar or going INTO it?

It's not hard. If you ever meet someone like that, just use that example. That's all there is to it, to the layman, and it's plenty enough to correct what can potentially be a serious communication problem when they start using pedals.

I think some of the confusion comes from the fact that pedals have "input" and "output" jacks, often. So the input connects to the guitar, right? That must mean the guitar jack is the "input" jack. I can totally see where the misinformation comes from. A single cable doesn't seem like it could magically change an input into an output.

But the above concept again is easy to teach them. Is sound coming out of the guitar? then it's an output jack. for the pedal, you want to put your sound into the pedal, so your sound output goes to the pedal's sound input. Then the sound comes out of the pedal... into amp.. and so forth.

It's such a simple thing to teach and is MIND BLOWING to those who haven't had anyone take 30 seconds to correct them.

from my experience anyway - people are completely shocked with the revelation if they've been confused by it before.

Maybe I just have nice friends who pretend to appreciate it when I do stuff like that, though... LoL

We’re in violent agreement on this subject.

You can lead the horse to water...

In 47 years I’ve always tried to explain these sorts of things, some get it and some just get annoyed with me.

 

[Zbysek]

Imho, the most important thing to remember is not to start this philosophical discussion with the sound guy during a quick line-check at a busy festival....