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XLR Direct Out?

W

Wamba

Guest
Dec 22, 2015
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#1
Ok, I must be really dumb or incredibly unlucky.

Here's the deal. I bought a new GK MB112. Awesome amp! Sounds great and is very light. However, when I try to use the XLR Direct out I don't get any signal.

I also purchased a new MXR Bass Preamp with a 1/4" line out and a XLR Direct out. Guess what, the line out works and sounds great but the XLR Direct out... no signal.

I've tried each into different mixers and various XLR cables.

I must be missing something...

A little help?
 
#2
Wamba said:
Ok, I must be really dumb or incredibly unlucky.

Here's the deal. I bought a new GK MB112. Awesome amp! Sounds great and is very light. However, when I try to use the XLR Direct out I don't get any signal.

I also purchased a new MXR Bass Preamp with a 1/4" line out and a XLR Direct out. Guess what, the line out works and sounds great but the XLR Direct out... no signal.

I've tried each into different mixers and various XLR cables.

I must be missing something...

A little help?
Click to expand...
Ether there is a defect with your new amp, which is not unlikely, or the GK and mixers have (or are operating at) incompatible levels.
For instance, if the DI level out of the GK is mic level, which is very very low, and the mixer expects line level, which typically can be 50 db or more higher than mic level, the mixer won't work with that.
However, most mixers can accept either mic or line inputs. This can be done by inserting only to certain inputs, or by a line/mic switch. Try mic level input on the mixer and see what happens.
Are you using cables from the DI to the mixer that have XLR (3 pin) connectors on both ends?
If you are trying to use an adapter that changes from XLR to 1/4 inch or Phono (RCA) you might be going from balanced to unbalanced audio. The adapter could be wrong or the cable might not be wired properly for you specific use.
The GK manual for your rig did not specify DI output levels.
Everyone on TB agrees that GK has great customer support, so check in with them if these simple ideas, or any ideas that others will contribute, don't help. Good luck.

-edit- Correctly interfacing audio can often be more complicated than most folks first realize.
You are definitely not dumb. Evidence to support that is:
1. You purchased a product from a reputable company that has a track record for product quality and great customer support.
2. You asked for help with what could be a complicated problem.
 
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#5
It's not likely that it's the amp AND the MXR preamp. I'd suspect level settings on the mixer and cables. Use a cable that you KNOW to be good. As S-BigBottom says, test the cable with a mic and once you find a cable that works, try it on the two bass units- just unplug the mic without making any changes on the mixer (power it off though so you don't send any phantom power spikes either way). Then make sure you've got the levels on the amp and/or preamp set high enough to send a usable signal to the mixer, and that any switches that route the signal to the XLR outs are set correctly.
 
#7
On the mixer, be sure the channel is not muted, or set for line input (or an unrelated plug inserted the 1/4" line in jack that disconnects the mic pre).

You are using an XLR-XLR cable without any adapters right?
 
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#17
I doubt both the MXR and the GK have a defected output. Make sure the XLR cable work fine through the same channel on the mixer first. Do you have a microphone or another DI to test that?
 
#18
Where are you sending the signal to, a mixer? If so then the problem is either the cable or the micer itself, as other mentioned:

- Make aure the mixer channel is set to mic and not to line input.
- Use a different channel.
- Use a different cable.
 
#19
DI output signal level means appro micriophone signal level.
Every "standard" DI output level is -20dB below it's original level (input signal at DI device).

Lots of mixing consoles provide switchable input sensitivety to the XLR (balanced) input. If input sensitivety is selected for "high level" input then it may happen that the signal running out of DI (-20dB) is way to weak to be gained to practical level.

It also may be that the "mixer" input used isn't designed for microphone levels.
IIRC sometimes "smallish" mixers provide different sensitiveties at different XLR-inputs.

Line level <> DI level
The difference is -20dB with DI level
 

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