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Clue Me In - What's A Direct Box?


Deacon

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There you go, I admit it. I don't know what they are or what they're for. What do YOU use them for? Stage? Studio? Practice?

 

I don't have any need for one. But then again, it's something I don't have, so maybe I want it ;)

 

It's kind of like the quote from my wife which I may turn into my signature; "You bought another guitar pedal? Don't you already have ONE?"

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A DI is a box that takes a signal, like from a guitar, and converts it to a level that another device, say a PA board or recording console, can understand and use.

 

There are many designs that convert all sorts of levels to all sorts of levels. But the most common ones in rock and roll are the ones that will take a guitar or bass signal and convert to to mic level for use in recording or PA.

 

While doing this, the DI also usually balances the output signal.

 

Most have a parallel jack next to the input, so that you can loop the original signal back out to an amp or whatever.

 

Most also have a ground lift switch, so that there will only be one path to ground.

 

Bill

"I believe that entertainment can aspire to be art, and can become art, but if you set out to make art you're an idiot."

 

Steve Martin

 

Show business: we're all here because we're not all there.

 

 

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Specifically, a DI box converts high impedance inputs to low impedance, balanced out puts for transmission over long lines with less noise and (as bpark previously mentioned) to properly interface with the inputs of a mixer or recorder.

 

Low impedance inputs, no matter what connector you use, do not like to see a high impedance output from an instrument and will not respond well to such a signal.

It's easiest to find me on Facebook. Neil Bergman

 

Soundclick

fntstcsnd

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