A Practical Guide to DI Boxes with Guitar Amp Modelers (with Comparisons).

All about DI Boxes (Direct Injection) and LI Boxes (Line Isolation) for your Guitar Amp Modeler or any gear that has an Instrument or Line Level Output.
The test subjects are:
Strymon Iridium
Focusrite ISA Preamp
Radial DI Boxes (various models)
Walrus Audio Canvas Stereo
Pinstripe Pedals DISO+
Chapters:
0:00 The Boxes
0:52 The Preamp
1:23 Bal v UnBal?
1:38 Signals
3:21 At the Gig
4:40 Iridium
5:35 JDI
9:33 ProD2
10:33 J48
12:52 JPC
14:31 Canvas DI
15:41 Canvas LI
17:24 DISO+
18:58 A/B & NULL Tests
22:57 Rapid A/B
Walrus Audio and Pinstripe Pedals graciously loaned me demo units so that I could make this video a more comprehensive dive into DI and LI boxes, but neither company has paid for, or had input into, the content of the video. Everything else in the video I use and own.

[@Poparad]

Thank you for the very scientific comparison of these! My takeaway is that all of these products sound great and, when set up properly, are so close to each other (at least over KZbin audio) that there is no practical difference. The biggest deciding factor in which one to use/purchase is more about features and uses than the audio quality.

[@jmkmusicpedals]

Yup, pretty much. There are very minor differences, as shown in the NULL tests at the end of this video, but as long as you have the gain staging and input correct on the mixer input, the differences in most cases are so miniscule that they are irrelevant (the JPC is the only one in this batch that I can notice a slight difference, and even then it's still fine). Unfortunately, when people don't take the time to understand gain staging and input best practices for a given box, they can experience greater differences and form suspect opinions, clouding what should be a very simple topic.

[@DeathMetalGuitar]

AUDIO Test timestamps baseline: 5:10 / JDI: 9:09 / ProD2: 10:09 / J48: 12:25 / JPC: 14:04 / CanvasDI: 15:18 / CanvasLI: 16:59 / DISO+: 18:32 null test: vs ProD2: 20:41 / vs J48 21:07 / vs CanvasDI: 21:32 / vs DISO+: 21:58 / vs CanvasLI: 22:23 / vs JPC: 22:49 thank you Joe, the impacts - though subtle - helped me to decide which DI box to purchase :)

[@Lorenzo_Strozzi]

terrific video and commitment to make such a convenient to listen comparison. Good Job!

[@shahrinsyazwan6952]

YES THANK YOU FOR DOING THIS. I've been wanting compare the Walrus Canvas and the PInstripe DISO+. Very helpful! Thank you very much

[@tendingtropic7778]

and how did it help you? which is better?

[@thigarciaable]

Perfect, Mate! That was exactly what I was searching for! Thanks... Cheers from Brazil!

[@4headgaming448]

This was very informative! Thank you for taking the time to make this.

[@cosmicdancer6382]

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[@kostis6]

This was a very informative top quality video thank you so much! Glad that I can still use my Radial J48 with the UAFX Woodrow 55 I’m waiting the following week. The J48 was a bit brighter than the passive ones but it was pleasant as well. I can edit the eq afterwards anyway and it also has a 15db pad in case the signal is too hot. Thank you ;)

[@brysounds6629]

Killer comparison! Thank you so much!

[@user-dk9gl1vn7z]

Clear and concise presentation. Thanks!

[@michaelfloyd4917]

Thank you! Exactly what I needed.

[@danielard5574]

Also Joe, thanks for doing videos like this where you explain the engineering behind why different products exist. As a professional FOH engineer, I know a lot of the best practices from experience, but not necessarily all of the science behind why. As a mixer in general, I always "trust my ears" but that doesn't account for environmental or conditions changing.

[@alexgordonepic]

what a great scientific comp. THANK YOU!

[@Mr_A_Mia]

What a well thought out video. Thank you so much for taking the time to do this. I just bought a Canvas right now after watching this. I will use it with both the Iridium and HX Stomp and leave my JDI for my keyboard. SUBSCRIBED.

[@jmkmusicpedals]

Nice. Though I stop short of endorsing any single product from this video, I can't imagine you'll be disappointed with that choice. The only one I would hesitate to recommend for a Guitar Amp Modeler would be the JPC.

[@ChrisSamuel1729]

How did you conclude on getting the Canvas? The A/B tests?

[@Mr_A_Mia]

@@ChrisSamuel1729 idk if you were addressing me or not, so i apologize if you werent. I have not A/Bed the two as i use my Original D.I for my keyboard and now use the canvas exclusively for my amp modeler pedals. It doesnt sound better or have any sort of magic dust on the tone to my ears. What i can tell you is that i sound louder and i can just adjust my volume from my pedal like joe states in the video. I also prefer a “dedicated out box” i can keep on my pedalboard. Cheers!✌️

[@pomegranatesour]

One that I never see mentioned is the ADA GCS-6. Stereo DI/analog cab sim, with XLR and 1/4” out as well as signal pass through. Features include ground lift and line/mic selector plus -15db pad. Keep sleeping on it people! I love mine.

[@Gage11213]

Fantastic explanation

[@nobesmusic]

This is great!! 🔥

[@mohitrahaman]

Very thorough. Thanks.

[@austinskinner]

You really notice when you use these kinds of things a lot. Switching from the longtime ProD2 to the J48 was kind of like night vs day. The sun came out. The sound was more forward. It felt better, which makes it more fun to play. Certain “upgrades” really make a difference when you’re accustomed to hearing them sound one way for a long time. 😊

[@jmkmusicpedals]

Yes, you may find that's the case if you go from a passive solution like the ProD2 to an active one like the J48.

[@musiccreation1198]

Excellent! Ty

[@deluxet5864]

My guitar chain starts by going through a Goodwood Audio Interfacer, goes through all my dry pedals, hits the Iridium, and turns stereo. From the Iridium, my signal goes stereo through all my wet effects and then back into the Interfacer. Theoretically I can go stereo 1/4” out of Interfacer to two amps (with Iridium disengaged), or sum to mono on Interfacer to one amp, or stereo 1/4” into one of these DI boxes and go straight to house with Iridium acting as the amp. My question: I love the Iridium before my wet effects, but I hate not being able to utilize the headphones monitor on it since it’s before all my wet. Unfortunately the Interfacer pedal does not have a headphone jack. Is there a DI box that would support me plugging in headphones at the end of my chain? Is it possible to plug in a 1/4” adapter for headphones without a headphone amp?

[@schenkerrothmoore]

Thank You for the Video! liked and subscribed. Curious why you set the -15 dB pad on the J48 to on?

[@countstoneula]

I’m struggling with how to ask this question so I’ll do my best… I was hoping to hear some of your thoughts on the null test at the end. I know you’re not necessarily trying to recommend one product over the other, but I am having a hard time understanding the value of the null test. It shows the differences in frequency, but not actually which one is the brighter/darker one? Just where they are different? Am I getting that right? I’m just trying to find the value in it. The rest of this video was incredibly informative. I’ve been using an HX Stomp with line level outputs, but I’m making the jump to try out the new UA Ruby so I really want to get a great injection for when playing directly into a mixer live.

[@jmkmusicpedals]

The only value in it is, if you were thinking that one was brighter than the other, etc. when hearing the comparison, the null can be confirmation of that to you. The null test was more to show whether or not each option was very different from the other, and they aren't really that different at all (except the JPC). Even though the null tests might appear to show a significant difference when put this way under a microscope and highlighted visually, the difference is actually extremely small (except the JPC). Sound-wise, I'd use or recommend anyone of these options without a second thought, except maybe the JPC, though I'd even use that if forced to without any worry (and I have). If you are researching to buy, I'd say just go with the features you like the best, that fit your plan of using Mic Level or Line Level (available ins and outs, etc.), and is within the budget you have set. Just stay away from uses that an engineer would say is a bad practice, such as trying a Mic Level signal into a Line Level input, or setting up a comparison between DI and LI based on a false equivalence. For instance, there's one comparison that tries to show the level difference between DI and LI by using a Mic Preamp on both signals and then pushing the DI signal on the Mic Preamp way past the clean threshold just so the levels will match for the comparison. The sound difference observed in that comparison is really the Mic Preamp gained up needlessly to the extreme for the DI signal, not the character of the DI itself. People who are new to this stuff and don't have the full details yet can't be blamed for hearing that flawed comparison and thinking the LI solution will give them a drastically better sound. Thanks for the question.

[@jmartinianovlogging1482]

thank you for making tim 0n this!🍻

[@danielmiller2886]

Great presentation! It seems like there is a good possibility that at my church, my tone sounds terrible through the system because we have cheap DI boxes, and I woild have to shell out a few hundred bucks to get my own. Sigh.

[@snagglemonster]

This is a great video!!!!!!

[@snagglemonster]

I recently picked up a used iridium and I already own a JDI. I had been debating getting some sort of dedicated line isolator but I think the JDI will do just fine. Seems more foolproof for dealing with different sound techs/mixing boards.

[@chipwortel1924]

This was very informative. Still not exactly sure which one would be for my setup. I have a walrus Acs1 at the end of my pedal board. Recently bought a Friedman asc12 for gigs. Didn’t realize it doesn’t have 1/4 input from pedalboard. So I thought an isolator to connect acs1 to Friedman, then output of Friedman to front FOH. Which box would best suit my setup? Thanks.

[@jmkmusicpedals]

What you describe is what I'd do. Line Isolator from Acs1 to Friedman.

[@shaneokeeffe5145]

Hi Joe , I have a Boss GT 1000 Core. I’m going to send to FOH but was unsure what I might need. Lots of people on other forums saying the DISO. I wonder do I need stereo ? I think the main output just gives a mono signal but I’m not good at this stuff ! I was going to use another output from the gt1000 core straight to my headrush 112 frfr as a monitor. This DI box or line isolator is my last piece of the puzzle to get and I’m just so unsure and would love your opinion on it. Thanks

[@jmkmusicpedals]

The GT 1000 Core is a stereo unit, but you may be using it in only in mono. That just depends on you. If you are using just 1 of the outputs, you are mono. None of these are going to ruin your sound or anything like that. Don't worry too much about whether you get DI or LI, that's the sound engineers job to perform the correct gain staging for your levels. Most are not going to blink an eye as to whether it's DI or LI. Unless they are just crazy bad at their job. If you can't decide for certain, something solid and affordable like the Radial ProD2 (Stereo) or Radial ProDI covers nearly every typical use case for a DI box with a guitar modeller. If you don't know or even want to understand the actual difference between DI or LI, then go with the Walrus Audio Canvas Stereo or Mono and you'll have both options in one box. Just tell the sound engineer that you have the option of sending either Mic Level (DI) or Line Level (LI). You'll also find that nearly every sound engineer at a gig will provide a DI if you don't. It's exactly like synth players with Line Level 1/4" outs on their gear .. they show up to gigs all the time without their own DI boxes. To a sound engineer at a gig, this is just par for the course. They know what to do. But they'll also be fine if you provide the DI box.

[@hansaspa]

Considering (in any order), j48, diso+, canvas st

[@jmkmusicpedals]

If you like videos about guitar sound engineering, I made a playlist about just that and added this video to it. As of today, there are 6 videos in this kind of format and I have outlines for 6 more. kzbin.info/www/bejne/nWTOhaGdhseEpc0

[@quiksilver78]

If I get this right, If have the UA Dream ‘65 right next to my audio interface using TS or TRS 0.5m cables, I really don’t need something like the Walrus Canvas, correct? Thanks for the answer and video, very useful!

[@jmkmusicpedals]

That seems right to me. You can always add a DI if you find there are issues.

[@shankrl1]

Excellent video, thanks heaps. I notice with my Iridium there is a light (yet noticeable) hiss in recordings. I noticed that a bit with yours too, do you know what that is and will a DI solve that issue? I'm only using short cables

[@jmkmusicpedals]

Not sure. If there is a hiss that is bothering you, then you might try a low pass filter at the end of the signal chain or at the mixing board.

[@christianboddum8783]

Just to add my experience; all amp-cab sims I've tried has some hiss because where clarity and definition lives hiss also lives. Can you hear it in a full band setting is the question to me. If you had a mic'ed amp there would still be hiss but most would be filtered out in the space between the speaker and the mic. Also most speakers don't go higher than 7,5 Khz so that helps too. FWIW

[@mannyaco]

Just a silly question: Do I need a DI box for connect the Iridium in to a mixer that goes to a PA for live performance? Last week I bought the Iridium and I was very disappointed, I connect it directly to the mixer and it sounds very distorted. Thanks a lot.

[@jmkmusicpedals]

I can only speculate, but the mixer you were plugging into probably had your signal going through a Mic Preamp, which is better used for adding gain to Mic Level signals. The Iridium puts out a hotter Line Level signal. So either the Mic Preamp needed to have its gain reduced a lot, or maybe it had a PAD switch that you could engage, or it's even possible it was reduced completely but that the Line Level signal coming from the Iridium was still too hot. There's more than 1 way to approach this, but the simple answer to the question is Yes. A DI Box is the preferred way by mixing engineers that you would run your signal to the FOH mixer for a live performance.

[@mannyaco]

@@jmkmusicpedals Thanks Joe for your reply. I will buy a DI box.

[@boshi9]

Thanks for the comparison. I'm curious, why did you decide to use a lower 1.4 kOhm input impedance selection on the preamp for J48? According to the documentation on Radial's site, it has a higher output impedance than their passive DIs at 600 Ohm, so it seems like to maintain the recommended 10x ratio you'd have to select a higher impedance option on the preamp than the one you've used for JDI and ProD2, not lower. Let me know if I got something wrong.

[@jmkmusicpedals]

I had that basic question myself when diving in. Since I didn't build them, I'll probably screw the pooch answering this. Basically, each of my Radial DI's say 600 ohms output on the Silk Screen. But that would be high using the 10x guideline with a Mic Preamp. So I read further and inside the JDI User Manual, it said 150 Ohms output. So now I have 600 printed on the outside and 150 stated in the manual, so I did some more searching. All I had to go on is other people speculation that say things like their DI's are designed to terminate with a device that loads it with 600 ohms or more, but that the output impedance is 150 ohms. IDK the precise answer to this, so in the end I used both the 10x rule assuming 150 ohms and my ears. That also fit with my understanding that "Lo Z Microphones" are just that: Low impedance, commonly around 150 - 250 ohms, and these DI boxes are made to take another signal and present it as a Lo Z microphone signal to the microphone preamp.

[@77advanced]

600 ohms means minimum impedance on the receiving device after di box. Usually it is considered that the impedance difference should be 10 times, but in reality the receiving impedance should be at least 4-6 times higher and to infinity. The actual output impedance in radials is 150 ohms, but such labeling confuses a large number of people.

[@boshi9]

@@77advanced Thanks for the insight. I was confused why Radial's specs are inconsistent and this appears to be a reasonable explanation. Strangely, Walrus Audio doesn't specify their output impedance at all.

[@jenniplease]

Tremendously helpful video. Can’t thank you enough. As a working bassist I’m encountering more scenarios lately in which need to go ampless. I’ve finally caved and bought an HX Stomp so I can go ampless + fly without my pedalboard. I know it’s not ideal (tour isn’t always ideal) but in a pinch could I use my J48 with the stomp’s balanced line level out? Would there be any benefit/difference to faking a normal DI usage i.e. using a short TS and setting the output to instrument rather than line level?

[@jmkmusicpedals]

There's definitely a benefit to how robust the cable connector is, and you can daisy chain the XLR cable if needed, and that you have control over ground and phase on the DI. This is the way I did it when I gigged my HX Stomp. It's not always going to be a necessity, but its the most adaptable to any situation.

[@cgcarreno]

Thanks for sharing. I have a Boss gx-100 multieffects unit and bought 2 Samson active DiBoxes due to a suggestion from my sound guy at church. Would you go another route?

[@jmkmusicpedals]

No experience with Samson DI Boxes. It doesn't sound like a bad suggestion, though my suggestion would have been getting 1 passive DI Box that functions in stereo, like the ProD2. 1 fewer box, no power considerations, passive transformer isolation.

[@cgcarreno]

@@jmkmusicpedals thank you for responding and for your suggestion as well. I'm new to sending signal to FOH so I greatly appreciate any guidance.

[@robertbrown2728]

I'm not a technical expert but here are my experiences. At festivals where I have taken an amp simulator along there is always a DI box provided. Playing at open mics and that kind of situation I have found that running through a Jack to Jack cable straight into the desk from my amp simulator causes no problem with noise - probably because of the short cable run - the same applies to home recording.

[@maxwellclark2345]

Best comment. Thank you for bringing me back to reality. I do not need a DI box on my pedal board!

[@ThomasBrunkard]

I take my JPC to every gig as I find it faster to get set up with just the lines as there are lot of DI boxes on stage at our shows. I've been at gigs where DI boxes have been even rationed. You've been very lucky!

[@johnnysimes5082]

It's also nice when recording to use an active DI to split a dry guitar signal direct to the interface in case you want to reamp later.

[@stephenchow5161]

sb6 would be a good one to include too. also there is one from a sister of pinstripe. i cant remember the name now .doh!

[@ashleyyoung3231]

Hi Thanks for the video! I want a DI after my stomp mainly for ground lift purposes as I move venue regularly. If I use say the Canvas, does that mean I would ignor the balanced outs on the helix and go unbalanced TR out into the walrus? On either LI or DI setting? And choose setting based on what engineer wants? Thanks I’m advance

[@jmkmusicpedals]

As I understand it, the Helix has an option for outputting either Mic Level or Line Level through a configuration choice of the software. Setting it for Mic Level makes it a DI. Setting it for Line Level makes it an LI. However, a passive DI normally uses an isolation transformer, which does have an advantage, and like you said, it also provides a ground lift. If you still want to use the Canvas, then you'd set the Output in Helix to Line and use the unbalanced outs. And then, yes, ask how the engineer wants the signal, either Mic Level or Line Level.

[@ashleyyoung3231]

@@jmkmusicpedals thank you!! That’s exactly the help I needed. Much appreciated.

[@NicleT]

Why instruments like electric guitar don’t have a built in XLR connector; why do they still use TS jack cable?

[@gary.vondran]

Is the Morley/ebtech hum eliminator the same as an isolation box? It’s spec’ed as based on 1-1 isolation transformers.

[@jmkmusicpedals]

I have that ebtech Hum Eliminator as well. It is an isolation box and I've used it as such successfully. You can even get an A/B switch box for guitar that has an isolation transformer inside (I have a couple of those). As long as you don't confuse isolation with what a passive DI box does, which is more about converting signals. The isolation is just 1 part of it.

[@gary.vondran]

@@jmkmusicpedals Thanks. I’d be interested in the null test between the hum eliminator and one of the line isolators you showed. There’s a big price difference and am curious how they differ in sound quality. BTW, Highly informative and well made video !

[@jonatanjuanicosanmartin8201]

Thanks for the information, in summary if I use my Iridium straight to the mixer or my interface apparently it sound the same?

[@jmkmusicpedals]

There are still variables within that statement that need consideration, mainly dealing with level/impedance matching and whether you have to contend with a lot of external interference, but generally, yes.

[@jonatanjuanicosanmartin8201]

@@jmkmusicpedals you are the best 🙏 thanks boss

[@marcoguitarjournal]

Might be a stupid question here but: Are DI boxes replaceable with a 1/4" male - XLR female cable? Do those typically convert the signal from unbalanced to balanced?

[@jmkmusicpedals]

Not a stupid question at all. Short answer is no, and here's why: Being Balanced or Unbalanced is determined by more than the physical connector type. The gear on both ends of the connection must also support a Balanced signal because it's the gear that utilizes the extra wire for this purpose. If you have a TRS 1/4" connection on one piece of gear that is Balanced and an XLR connection on the other piece of gear that is Balanced, then it's perfectly fine to use an adapter to go from 1/4" TRS to XLR. You'll get all the benefits of a balanced connection in that case. Otherwise, all an adapter will achieve is making it physically possible to connect two different ends; the properties of the connection itself will have no added benefit. This is not the same thing that a DI box is there for however. A DI Box is specifically about taking an Unbalanced signal, either Instrument Level or Line Level (typically 1/4" TS), and converting it to a balanced Mic Level signal (typically XLR). There's no way to achieve that by simply adapting the connector. That's not even to mention the benefit of Transformer Isolation that most DI's are capable of performing.

[@marcoguitarjournal]

@@jmkmusicpedals thank you Joe! This has been really helpful!!

[@jeeeeev]

I know it is not needed for the HX Stomp but if you were to have one DI Box to use on the go, what would you recommend? I am leaning towards the ProDI2

[@jmkmusicpedals]

I think that's a good choice. In fact, I think I have used that combo before live.

[@jeeeeev]

@@jmkmusicpedals the ProD2 is almost the same price as with the Canvas stereo. Between the two, what would you choose?

[@galantreentrant]

if i run my guitar straight into a ehx hum debugger and then into the j48 going into my interface will i run into any issues since i should technically be using a passive di?

[@jmkmusicpedals]

You can do it that way, there's nothing wrong with it. A passive DI is usually preferred after active electronics, but it's not a strict rule.

[@haioiii]

I was curious about this myself. Today, I run my pedal board with a HX Stomp for my electric guitar into a J48 for both live performances and into my focus rite. I noticed that front of house and my focusrite gain needs to be lowered so it’s not so hot but it sounds amazing. I wasn’t sure if I was using the correct DI box.

[@errolpereira8292]

Should I be concerned with a DI box for 20’-25’ run? I too am running out of an amp modeller pedal (dream 65). Thanks in advance

[@jmkmusicpedals]

Not at all. In the video around 8:00 I show that I"m using 100' of XLR cable to make this more real-world. Go 100' before you should even have to give it a thought, and depending on gear involved, even longer than that.

[@errolpereira8292]

@@jmkmusicpedals thanks!

[@tendingtropic7778]

Thank you for this video: I only play at home, from my amp box (UAFX dream) to my audio interface (UAD Apollo Solo) using relatively short cables (2m) Do I understand correctly that I don't really benefit from a DI box? or is there still benefit to be expected?

[@jmkmusicpedals]

Probably not much benefit. If you run a short cable to a line input it should be fine. DI can still come in handy if you are running into Mic inputs, need to fix a ground loop, etc

[@tendingtropic7778]

@@jmkmusicpedalsthank you! will try without then first.

[@wisconimike7590]

Thank you for this comparison! It was fascinating to go through and really appreciate the clear explanations. I am working on a wet/dry/wet rig with a UA Ruby (stereo wet) and UA Lion (dry). I haven't purchased direct boxes or line isolators for the rig yet. I know the differences were very minor (as you have mentioned on in other comments), but sometimes being in the room and doing the comparison yields some subtleties that are difficult to perceive on KZbin. Which option would you recommend for me? Radial JDI, Canvas DI, or Canvas LI?

[@jmkmusicpedals]

You can go with any of those choices, honestly. Maybe get a mono JDI for your dry sound and a stereo Canvas for your wet sound. It's definitely not going to make or break anything either way. The Radial ProD1 or D2 is also just fine. I tend to spend a little more for studio work than I do for live work, but honestly I couldn't be forced into telling the difference.

[@wisconimike7590]

@@jmkmusicpedalsthank you so much for your help! That's pretty interesting. In that case, I may just let price determine it between the JDI and Canvas ($630 for mono + stereo JDI's. $400 for stereo + mono Canvas). Thanks again!

[@m3w1thouty0u]

Hi Joe. I'm running my setup into a radial stage bug SB-2 passive DI at church. I should mention that our audio guy was trained on how to use the board but has no sound engineering experience. I recently started playing guitar again and built a pedalboard from scratch. I have an HX Stomp XL at the end of my chain and using it partially as an amp modeler. The Issue I have is that FOH usually has to crank me up and still asks me to turn myself up. I'm not sure if PAD is activated or not as I'm just learning about this stuff, but would an LI serve me better with my use case? I was looking at the DISO or the Canvas to figure out which is a better option when I went down the research rabbit hold and found your video. If there's something I can do with the current DI they have to improve my sound (getting really distorted right now) such as a different cable, I'll go that route first. Otherwise, and advice on if LI would be better, and which one you prefer in your opinion is appreciated. Thanks!

[@jmkmusicpedals]

It kind of sounds like the engineer is taking the output of the DI and running it into a Line or Instrument Input. DI should go to a Mic Preamp Input, just like receiving signal from a Mic, and the Input Gain of the Mic Preamp increased to a suitable level. Share that with him first. Could just be a misunderstanding of DI. An LI does preserve your output level (so, louder) and should be run into a Line Input. So you really want to check first how the DI is making it into the mixer currently and then decide what match up you guys want to make. And you would never use an Instrument Input at the mixer in these 2 cases, so avoid that entirely. If you are not confident in the answer, the Canvas will give you both options.

[@m3w1thouty0u]

@@jmkmusicpedals thanks Joe. Ill look into this. I don't know if it's a giveaway, but we plug the DIs into a port on stage. we use a 1/4" out of the DI to an XLR plugged on stage, controlled by a mixer upstairs. We unfortunately can't change anything on the setup as it belongs to the church that hosts us. I'll try and connect with their sound engineer to see what connections they use. Would an LI be better with an amp modeling pedal either way?

[@jmkmusicpedals]

@@m3w1thouty0u No, the choice of LI or DI is not related to it being an amp modeller. It's ALL about how the signal is getting into the board. If you've been reading anything that sounds like there is a sprinkling of fairy dust inside an LI that makes it better for an amp modeler, don't believe it. It's a louder signal, and some people fall for the "louder is better" thing when doing comparisons. In the end, the choice is simply based on how the signal needs to enter the mixer.

[@jmkmusicpedals]

@@m3w1thouty0u BTW, did you already catch the video I made after this one about signals being too loud? The opposite of the problem you are experiencing can be true using an LI. I think that video helps explain these concepts as well.

[@m3w1thouty0u]

@@jmkmusicpedals just watched it. Thanks Joe! Will do some investigating before deciding how to move forward

[@skylarmobis4681]

what if i have a buffer??do i still need these DI boxes?

[@jmkmusicpedals]

Yeah, a buffer and a DI box do different things. A DI is really about matching one signal level to another, balancing an unbalanced signal, and mechanically isolating the current and the ground between both ends. This can be done a lot of the time with a completely passive DI box. While a buffer is an active circuit meant to maintain a signal that may dip in strength (for a variety of reasons). A buffer doesn't fundamentally change anything about the original signal, but it keeps it going strong.

[@xfrailhandsx9899]

Getting my tonex this week, just wondering which one might be best for it, any advice?

[@jmkmusicpedals]

The take away from the video is that it it shouldn't be a super critical concern which one you choose as long as you use any of them in the correct sort of way, so base it on the features you actually want in the DI. That said, a passive DI would be the most common for a modeller. The only box I'd say not to get is the JPC, since it's not really made for this purpose and actually does have a slightly noticeable difference in sound.

[@unicorndestroyer1853]

i do not understand sir. what do u rocemmend for iridium or any amp/cab pedal?

[@jmkmusicpedals]

Video is more about sharing knowledge than making a recommendation. I think it shows that if you want to use the Iridium with Mic Preamps, then any quality DI will work fine. If you want to use your Iridium with Line Inputs, any quality LI will work fine (or nothing at all for a short cable run). I'd pick mainly on whether it has the specific features I think I'll need.

[@BrunoKrnetic]

Can the DISO+ be used as DI the same way as CANVAS can or it is only an LI?

[@jmkmusicpedals]

It's only LI.

[@BrunoKrnetic]

@@jmkmusicpedals thanks! Your video really helped me understand the whole topic.

[@Miss_Pixie]

Can we use it to a interface? A lot of noise in there

[@adrianjaramilloman]

Would a cheap DI (w ground lift)perform just as good since the principle of delivering a balanced signal is not complicated to achieve w different DI boxes ?

[@jmkmusicpedals]

It's a fair question, I wish I had a really cheap DI to use for the vid, but I don't. I'm sure there is probably a good value out there. I don't like to risk it myself, because I'm firmly aware that what works well in one venue may go belly up at the next depending on conditions present in each location. Passive DI boxes with quality audio transformers are a pretty sure bet no matter what. One nice thing about guitar though is that it doesn't fill up the full frequency spectrum, so a DI Box that doesn't have all the High Freq and Low Freq specs might be perfectly adequate.

[@rafito1280]

To my ears the Canvas is the quietest in Line iso mode.

[@unhookedunhooked3219]

Hi, what's classed as a long cable run?

[@jmkmusicpedals]

For me, I'd say 50 feet definitely, but it's really about what works and what doesn't in a given environment. It could be less. If you run everything on a stage with "long" unbalanced cables, the noise might seem small in each instance, but it adds up.

[@unhookedunhooked3219]

@@jmkmusicpedals thanks so much for the reply Joe.

[@cram7]

Today i Was trying the walrus canvas with the new UAFX Dream65 and i was really disappointed how bad and cheap it sounded, even the thru channel, funny enough. The UA is better off without the walrus. Very disappoinring. I much rather go with the AER Colourizer even thoug i use to use it with my Acoustic git setup.

[@jmkmusicpedals]

Even the THRU didn't sound good? That seems weird.

[@cram7]

@@jmkmusicpedals yes that is really weird to me, too. I only used high quality cables and compared it back and forth to the only di Box i own currently: the AER Box. That was a huge difference.

[@jmkmusicpedals]

@@cram7 Looking at the AER, I see that it's a active (24V powered) preamp with EQ and tone shaping controls. That's a very different thing from a passive DI box, so in a comparison I can understand that there would be a huge difference and that AER could be what someone prefers depending on how they intend to make connections. The weird thing is actually the conclusion that the UA on its own is very different than with the Walrus, and even the THRU was a problem. It's hard to imagine how that could have been the case unless something was wrong with the device or there was a misunderstanding what it was suppose to accomplish. (In other words, unless the Walrus device is actually faulty, I suspect the results you had would have been the same with just about any other passive DI)

[@alexgordonepic]

i m guessing null test is both out of phase

[@jmkmusicpedals]

Phase is inverted. One stays at Zero, the other is set at 180.

[@truthfactreality6814]

Why they didn’t include it with the iridium I do not know. It was a huge oversight. I sold mine and bought the quad cortex.

[@jmkmusicpedals]

IDK, I suppose it just wasn't what the form factor allowed. It's not a horrible thing to separate the concern of Amp Modeler from DI. Especially if you can't also include an fx loop in that small of a package, which would be necessary to put in post preamp effects. Right now, you just put those effects after the Iridium, then DI, and everything is fine. Anyway, not really about the Iridium specifically itself, just used as an example to discuss DI uses.

[@truthfactreality6814]

@@jmkmusicpedals Nux managed to do it with their version.

[@alexzaytsevguitar]

Because Iridium may not be the last unit in the signal chain. Modulation, delay and reverb units often used after Iridium and connected with TS cable

[@danielard5574]

@@alexzaytsevguitar Yep, I know several pro players that use it in the middle of their pedal chain for a more 80's studio style guitar sound. It simulates running fuzz/drive pedals into an amp, out the speakers into the mic, then into rack mod/delay/verb effects, into the mixing board - which used to be a very common practice in the era of hi-fi 80's recordings.

[@habsi70]

Great comparison! But would an A/B Test between original Signal and DI be more valuable?