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les_maverick
Lokahi
USA
238 Posts |
 Posted - 07/09/2011 : 12:21:06 PM
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Aloha
I bought a Live Wire Solutions ADI Active DI Direct Box
Can someone explain what this means:
The Live Wire ADI Active DI Direct Box offers you 1/4" high impedance input and throughput, balanced XLR output.
I wanted a 1/4" output so that I could go to a line level jack on the
mixer.
I wanted to use this for my acoustic elect guitar and passive ukulele.
Thanks,
Les
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Fran Guidry
Ha`aha`a
USA
1579 Posts |
Posted - 07/10/2011 : 05:02:27 AM
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High impedance input and throughput - sounds like there is no gain applied to the 1/4" output, it's a pass through of the signal on the input.
The purpose of a DI is to convert an unbalanced high impedance signal (like the one coming out of your guitar or uke) into a balanced low impedance signal suitable for the XLR input on the mixer.
Many mixers have a "line input" that in fact have enough gain to work as an instrument input. If your mixer doesn't have this feature, you need a preamp rather than a DI. A preamp will raise the level of your signal so it can be used in a true Line Input.
Some devices, like the Baggs PADI, offer both preamp and DI functions. Many DIs however do not.
Fran |
E ho`okani pila kakou ma Kaleponi
Slack Key Guitar in California - www.kaleponi.com
Slack Key on YouTube
Homebrewed Music Blog |
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noeau
Ha`aha`a
USA
1105 Posts |
Posted - 07/10/2011 : 9:28:24 PM
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| E Fran. Good to hear from you. |
No'eau, eia au he mea pa'ani wale nō. |
Edited by - noeau on 07/10/2011 9:28:40 PM |
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les_maverick
Lokahi
USA
238 Posts |
Posted - 07/11/2011 : 7:50:57 PM
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Hi Fran
Thanks for the info.
I was told to just get a xlr to 1/4 adapter, then I can
use and instrument cable to the jack on the mixer.
Les |
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Lawrence
Ha`aha`a
USA
1597 Posts |
Posted - 07/12/2011 : 06:50:20 AM
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If your line input on the mixer is balanced, then you should get a XLR to TRS (balanced) cable. (You need a bunch of these in your cable drawer anyway) :-)
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Mahope Kākou...
...El Lorenzo de Ondas Sonoras |
Edited by - Lawrence on 07/12/2011 06:51:54 AM |
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les_maverick
Lokahi
USA
238 Posts |
Posted - 07/12/2011 : 3:30:39 PM
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Lawrence
We have an Alesis MultiMix 8 USB FX
It has 1/4-inch line-level inputs for instruments and high-impedance
guitar input for direct-connecting guitars.
It doesn't say anything about balanced.
Thanks,
Les |
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Lawrence
Ha`aha`a
USA
1597 Posts |
Posted - 07/13/2011 : 09:42:48 AM
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Page 9 of the Alesis Multimix 8 manual states the following...
Line Inputs (Channels 1 – 4)
The line inputs, marked LINE IN, are balanced 1/4” jacks that
offer the same 50dB of preamp gain and the high-pass filter
provided by the mic inputs (however, phantom power does not
apply to line inputs). These inputs accept line-level instruments
such as keyboards and drum machines. If you find that your
instrument has a weak line signal, just plug it into channels 1 – 4
and crank it up with the Gain knob.
A useful rule to follow is always RTFM! 
Another Rule is to buy (or bring) more than you think you will need (as in more channels, mics, etc), as it usually works out that you really will need more than you think.
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Mahope Kākou...
...El Lorenzo de Ondas Sonoras |
Edited by - Lawrence on 07/13/2011 11:30:31 AM |
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rendesvous1840
Ha`aha`a
USA
1055 Posts |
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les_maverick
Lokahi
USA
238 Posts |
Posted - 07/14/2011 : 11:05:01 AM
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Lawrence
I am using channels 1-4 for mics and wanted to use channels 5/6 and 7/8 for a guitar and ukulele ?
Unko Paul
Thanks for the info. I do not know what this all means !!
Les |
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Lawrence
Ha`aha`a
USA
1597 Posts |
Posted - 07/15/2011 : 07:08:06 AM
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Sounds OK Les...
The Alesis manual also says to use MONO TRS cables on all 1/4 inch inputs. TRS means balanced (three wires, Tip, Ring and Sleeve). 1/4 unbalanced is properly referred to as a TS cable (just Tip and Sleeve). The schematic in the manual shows TRS (balanced) jacks even on the stereo inputs 5&6 and 7&8, so Alesis did the right thing for these channels, and you still should use XLR to TRS balanced cables from your DI boxes to the 5 (Left) and 7 (left) inputs (for two instruments) as you are planning.
Good luck with your show!
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Mahope Kākou...
...El Lorenzo de Ondas Sonoras |
Edited by - Lawrence on 07/15/2011 07:08:51 AM |
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les_maverick
Lokahi
USA
238 Posts |
Posted - 07/15/2011 : 10:51:51 AM
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Lawrence
Hmmm, now I have to make sure my instrument cables are balanced.
I hope they are marked or I guess I can unscrew the cap and check inside.
Thanks,
Les |
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Lawrence
Ha`aha`a
USA
1597 Posts |
Posted - 07/15/2011 : 1:12:23 PM
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Les,
In my lexicon, an instrument cable is specifically an unbalanced cable with 1/4 inch TS plugs at either end. This cable goes from the Guitar, Uke, or whatnot into the INST input on the DI box, and is typically made to have very low capacitance because of the very high impedance of some instrument pickups. The XLR to TRS (balanced) cable mentioned above goes from the DI box to the mixer and typically handles a medium or low impedance balanced signal. This second cable is not normally called an instrument cable, but is sometimes called a XLR to TRS Microphone cable, or an XLR to TRS line cable.
Even if you use an XLR to TS (unbalanced) cable, it should still work, but you will get a little less signal into the mixer from the DI box AND you will be more likely to have Hum and Noise problems.
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Mahope Kākou...
...El Lorenzo de Ondas Sonoras |
Edited by - Lawrence on 07/15/2011 2:15:27 PM |
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rendesvous1840
Ha`aha`a
USA
1055 Posts |
Posted - 07/16/2011 : 08:13:56 AM
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If you looked at the pix I posted yesterday, it's no wonder you're confused. I managed to put the same picture for the balanced and unbalanced 1/4" plugs. Sorry for the confusion. I corrected it today, so you don't have to open your plugs. Recheck the pix in my other post.
UnkoPaul |
"A master banjo player isn't the person who can pick the most notes.It's the person who can touch the most hearts." Patrick Costello |
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les_maverick
Lokahi
USA
238 Posts |
Posted - 07/17/2011 : 5:54:55 PM
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Unko Paul
I see the balanced plug has two rings ?
Does it mean stereo ?
I think Guitar Center sold me junk speaker cables too.
I got 1/4 to 1/4 but I need XLR to TRS ?
Les |
Edited by - les_maverick on 07/17/2011 6:23:17 PM |
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Lawrence
Ha`aha`a
USA
1597 Posts |
Posted - 07/18/2011 : 05:48:05 AM
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Les,
The balanced TRS plug has a metal "Tip" with a bump on it, then an insulated spacer (usually plastic), then a metal "Ring" (the second conductor connection, then another spacer, then the whole back end of the shaft is called the "sleeve" and is the third conductor which is usually the shield (outer conductor).
There are two kinds of signals that are sent over such a connection:
1) A BALANCED MONO signal which uses the two conductors inside the shield to carry OPPOSITE polarity versions of the same signal (a.k.a. - balanced - like a see-saw). The reason for this is that interfering signals (such as hum and motor hash and RF, etc) which are coupled into the cable from outside (magnetically), can be cancelled out at the receiving end because they will not be opposite polarity like the desired signal.
2) The same cable can also carry an unbalanced STEREO signal where the two inside conductors carry the LEFT and RIGHT channel signals. However, stereo signals as almost never connected thru a single XLR connector (the microphone style connector). These XLR connectors are almost always reserved for BALANCED signals. But you could easily have a TRS to TRS cable that connects between two stereo devices, or connects two balanced mono devices.
For more detailed information you should consult one of the many Recording Websites that also have introductions to Recording Engineering, such as HomeRecording.com.
Maybe Salman Khan should post some videos on this subject, yah?!
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Mahope Kākou...
...El Lorenzo de Ondas Sonoras |
Edited by - Lawrence on 07/18/2011 05:50:03 AM |
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rendesvous1840
Ha`aha`a
USA
1055 Posts |
Posted - 07/18/2011 : 06:07:03 AM
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The TRS cable is often used as an extension cord for headphones. Usually in the smaller 1/8" size now, but in the "olden days" headphones used 1/4" plugs.
Unko Paul |
"A master banjo player isn't the person who can pick the most notes.It's the person who can touch the most hearts." Patrick Costello |
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Topic |
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DI Box help
