DI Unit in a live setting
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Posted on Jan 10, 2007 10:41 am
Icarus73
Member Since: Nov 27, 2006
my band is playing a show later this month at a venue that insists upon using a DI to put my bass into the mix rather than a microphone.
I have a rack setup for a head on my bass amp and I use a tuner. I have a mute function on my amp and I like to tune in silence on stage, but with the DI box taking my instrument straight to the PA, it's impossible.
any suggestions?
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Jan 10, 2007 10:46 am Doesn't your head have a direct out on it? Many do, make sure...
is your tuner daisy chained before your head or in an aux loop on the head?
In your situation I have a tuner before the amp and used the mute on the tuner, not the amp, then used the direct output on the amp...so when the tuner was muted single never got to the amp or direct output.
TallChapAnswer:On a good day, lipstick.Member
Since: Jun 24, 2004
Jan 10, 2007 11:55 am Are they saying that you have to not have backline and just DI? Or that they don't mic the amp, but run you into the desk via the DI and you still have onstage sound (which is usual). It's pretty standard procedure (in the UK anyway).
One way to ensure that the DI signal is nice sounding is to use the SansAmp Bass Driver DI. It has a wet 1/4" signal, a wet XLR out, ground lift, dry out 1/4", and can use phantom power from the desk. Win-win. I use the dry to the tuner, the wet 1/4" to my rig, and the XLR to the house PA.
CptTrippsCzar of Turd PolishMember
Since: Jun 20, 2006
Jan 10, 2007 04:52 pm Yah, a direct out from the amp would enable you to tune silently. But I am a little lost too on the whole amp+DI thing, do they want you to run DI with no backline, that would indeed be odd as I've never run into that request and have been giggin the last 2.5 years with over 100 shows.
Jan 10, 2007 11:14 pm My head is an Ampeg SVT3 Pro.
It has a "Tuner out" that i plug into the tuner input. it's a one cable connection.
My amp has a line out but it's at a line level, obviously, and i'm pretty sure the DI box takes instrument level, since my bass is plugged directly into it.
They have me run my bass guitar into the DI box., which then runs into the PA and my amp. so i have both going, but when i want to tune in silence, it's still coming out of the PA.
are you picking up what i'm putting down?
CptTrippsCzar of Turd PolishMember
Since: Jun 20, 2006
Jan 11, 2007 02:08 am Yes I think so, I'm just trying to figure out why the DI is in the mix at all? I'd just run the guitar to the amp and then the Direct Out (normally XLR) to the PA. You can keep stage volume down a tad so it gives them the control they desire yet still tune in silence as activating the tuner should mute the line out also. I am not 100% but I believe that's how it's normally done. Of course if you have no direct out then that changes everything.
Another option would be to use a pedal tuner in the chain before the DI or on a dry output as tallchap stated. Actually, that DI you mentioned sound really cool TallChap. I'm guessing with that dry to the tuner you just get to leave it on at all times yes?
Jan 11, 2007 01:28 pm I totally see what you are saying now, I had sound guys try that to me too, I told them to put away the DI and use the direct out on my amp, they always did. Yes, though you would need an XLR output on your amp, an SVT certainly should have one, I had a smalled combo Ampeg and it did.
CptTrippsCzar of Turd PolishMember
Since: Jun 20, 2006
Jan 11, 2007 02:04 pm If I was mixing, the only reasons I could see "demanding" a DI would be 1) The bass players tone is horrid and I want a clean signal to sculpt on the PA. 2) There is no direct out on the amp. 3) I'm a control freak and even though it doesn't make sense, I don't want to back out and admit that I'm wrong ;)
Jan 11, 2007 02:08 pm pretty simple really, some small venues like as much DI as possible, less bleeding, many times better sound if they have a limited choice of mics...bass is VERY commonly run direct.
I have always preferred my bass run direct...
CptTrippsCzar of Turd PolishMember
Since: Jun 20, 2006
Jan 11, 2007 02:13 pm I'm sorry, I meant an external DI box that split the signals as this chap is being asked to do.
Shoot, when I gig with my line6 it has Stereo direct outputs that I run and I love it. No mic'ing needed whatsoever and the guys on the mixing board love it as the tone is true to what I configured.
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Jan 11, 2007 04:00 pm That amp does indeed have an XLR line output with a level matching pot as well. There is no reason for them to force you into using a DI box at all when the head has it already built in.
Jan 12, 2007 09:46 am Ahh! I didn't even think about looking at the direct output on my amp. I'll grab the XLR from the DI going into the mix and plug it into my direct output.
I kind of feel stupid now, but thanks so much for pointing that out!
