DI Box?

[dmb66]

Call me what you will but I have no idea what a D.I. box will do or not do for me. I've played through them at gigs where sound equipment was provided, but I couldn't tell you the difference in sound since they were relatively loud places. So.... what is the purpose of a DI Box, what difference will it make, is it worth picking one up, and any suggestions on certain models if it would be smart to get one?

I should mention I'm currently playing my Larrivee D-03E with a B-Band single souce pickup straight into a Carvin PA system.

Thanks.

-Nick

[brian_ok]

they're called direct boxes...If you're only playing through a personal PA system, you don't need one. You only need a direct (or DI) box when your 'room sound'--what the audience can hear--is controlled by a board. For example, if you're playing on stage with an amp, you would go into the amp, and feed into the board using the Line out port from your amp through the direct box, which would then go into the board. (the DI box is necessary, because most instruments/mics are 1/4" standard, while most boards are XLR, therefore the need for an intermediary) Hope that helps...I am not much of a 'sound guy', but I play on stage every week, so I've picked up on stuff like that.

[dmb66]

they're called direct boxes...If you're only playing through a personal PA system, you don't need one. You only need a direct (or DI) box when your 'room sound'--what the audience can hear--is controlled by a board. For example, if you're playing on stage with an amp, you would go into the amp, and feed into the board using the Line out port from your amp through the direct box, which would then go into the board. (the DI box is necessary, because most instruments/mics are 1/4" standard, while most boards are XLR, therefore the need for an intermediary) Hope that helps...I am not much of a 'sound guy', but I play on stage every week, so I've picked up on stuff like that.

Ok well I guess if that is correct then I don't understand the need for an intermediary with a board. I could easily purchase a 1/4" male to XLR cable and achieve the same conversion of jacks correct? That's why I always thought the direct box had to do something more to the signal than change what kind of jack you are using.

[brian_ok]

they're called direct boxes...If you're only playing through a personal PA system, you don't need one. You only need a direct (or DI) box when your 'room sound'--what the audience can hear--is controlled by a board. For example, if you're playing on stage with an amp, you would go into the amp, and feed into the board using the Line out port from your amp through the direct box, which would then go into the board. (the DI box is necessary, because most instruments/mics are 1/4" standard, while most boards are XLR, therefore the need for an intermediary) Hope that helps...I am not much of a 'sound guy', but I play on stage every week, so I've picked up on stuff like that.

Ok well I guess if that is correct then I don't understand the need for an intermediary with a board. I could easily purchase a 1/4" male to XLR cable and achieve the same conversion of jacks correct? That's why I always thought the direct box had to do something more to the signal than change what kind of jack you are using.

Yeah, I think that direct boxes also maintain 'signal purity' over the sometimes long distance between board and stage. I'm really not 100% sure though.

[Pickles]

The 1/4" instrument cable is unbalanced, and the XLR cable is balanced. Hence why a direct box (or Direct Input Box is fine as well) is used instead of getting an adapter.

[c_tietze]

You're plugged directly into a mixing console now instead of miking it up to an amp.

High impedence to a low impedance which makes it a better fit for going into the board.

[dmb66]

You're plugged directly into a mixing console now instead of miking it up to an amp.

High impedence to a low impedance which makes it a better fit for going into the board.

What about into our portable PA system? Still needed or don't bother?