DI Box 101: Active vs Passive - Which is Best for Your Setup?

How do you know if you should use a passive DI box or an active DI box? In this video, you'll learn the main differences and a general rule for choosing the right one for your situation.
Instrument Frequency Guide (Free Download): audiouniversit...
What Is A DI Box? (KZbin Video): • What Is A DI Box (Dire...
Choosing A DI Box (KZbin Video): • Which DI Box Is Right ...
My Favorite DI Box (KZbin Video): • The Best DI Box For El...
Passive DI Boxes -
Whirlwind IMP2
Sweetwater: imp.i114863.ne...
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Amazon: amzn.to/3ss0nXB
Guitar Center: guitar-center....
Musician's Friend: musicians-frie...
B&H: bhpho.to/3umOPar
Radial ProDI
Sweetwater: imp.i114863.ne...
zZounds: geni.us/Dd89
Amazon: amzn.to/32Qq6jr
Guitar Center: guitar-center....
Musician's Friend: musicians-frie...
B&H: bhpho.to/3od9euI
Radial ProD2
Sweetwater: imp.i114863.ne...
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Amazon: amzn.to/33GPXuI
Guitar Center: guitar-center....
Musician's Friend: musicians-frie...
B&H: bhpho.to/35ihBi9
Radial ProAV2
Sweetwater: imp.i114863.ne...
Amazon: amzn.to/3JGTNDo
Guitar Center: guitar-center....
Musician's Friend: musicians-frie...
B&H: bhpho.to/33En1Ub
Active DI Boxes -
Countryman Type 85
Sweetwater: imp.i114863.ne...
Amazon: amzn.to/3uj2BuE
B&H: bhpho.to/3AO3SeC
Radial J48
Sweetwater: imp.i114863.ne...
zZounds: geni.us/5r9d
Amazon: amzn.to/3p55WtZ
Guitar Center: guitar-center....
Musician's Friend: musicians-frie...
B&H: bhpho.to/3H5WH2P
Rupert Neve RNDI
Sweetwater: imp.i114863.ne...
zZounds: geni.us/VERSQgA
Amazon: amzn.to/3I8AYbL
Guitar Center: guitar-center....
Musician's Friend: musicians-frie...
B&H: bhpho.to/3vaRoNc
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[@audioglenngineer]

It’s funny how long I’ve been doing audio and I still learn something new with each of your videos - I always assumed DI stood for Direct Input… lol. Nice work as always.

[@beornthebear.8220]

Not that it's terribly important, but I think DI stands for Digital Interface.

[@audioglenngineer]

@@beornthebear.8220 it certainly could stand for that, but how it gets used most often in my line of work is for these direct boxes that he’s talking about in the video. And these boxes are not digital interfaces.

[@pirojfmifhghek566]

Our boy's Direct Injecting knowledge right into our skulls.

[@frankfarago2825]

R U perhaps confusing "DI" with a "DI Box"?

[@liamcoggan7373]

Pretty sure DI does stand for direct input. Direct Injection is a term used to describe fuel injection on an internal combustion engine. I think the creator of this video must’ve just picked the first google search result that came up, which is disappointing.

[@djsmokey42]

It's been so long since I've played in a band - I'm about to DJ a wedding and have to sound mix 2 vox + 1 guitar + 1 keyboard. This video was quick and extra helpful, thank you so much!!

[@ceejayfarley7]

Thank you for this useful information, I have currently a behringer ultra DI20 (active DI box) and been using this for active pickup bass guitar and electric guitars with effects pedals. My thought that it might have an issue later on, but as I heard that an active DI box is more versatile, I got relieved.

[@shermsquarepants204]

Thanks for your vids! This is the seventh one on the channel I've seen so far and they clear up a lot of things for me! Thanks again for such clear and to the point explanations.

[@hoosierdaddy2308]

Great video's.. I've been wondering about the difference. I subscribed.. So, if your using active pickups in your guitar you'd always use a passive DI? I'm wanting to use an effects board with distortion pedal(s), delays, modulation, etc, and go direct and I'm thinking that I'd need a DI. I have both active pickups in some guitars and passive pickups in others. Would I need two different DI's? I'm confused.. Thanks in advance.. Great channel.. Regards from the heartland.. South Central Indiana. USA Tim

[@johnjoysabale9255]

youre so cool! Thanks for educating me with dis video!

[@KepoArtStudio]

Thanks for the information, this is what actually I need to know. Your channel is gold for me. Love you..!

[@AudioUniversity]

Glad to help!

[@brendanmcewen7190]

Small detail - at 1:33 when you give the example of a bass guitar as a passive signal to pair with an active DI, you actually show a Fender Precision Deluxe which is an active instrument (onboard EQ; check the number of knobs!)

[@JeremiahHartmanPhotography]

you can also use passive DI's for reamping or using guitar pedals for vocal effects while recording.... both have their place like you said. If funds permit I highly recommend having both... why pay over $100 for a "reamping" box when you can pay $40 for a passive DI? LOL It's also awesome if the guitar player or you....want a particular amp's sound but it doesnt have a DI built in...so you can't record both the mic'd amp and a clean instrument track at the same time...enter the DI box! They have tons of uses..If you're just starting get whatever you can afford that will actually work. Later on you'll find things like the Neve DI and my fav the REDDI have a sound of their own that's amazing.

[@elianjaku9523]

I reccomend using a passive DI box with a guitar that has active pickups

[@korkenknopfus]

That nice RN DI of yours allows passing the speaker cable at the output of your amp, too, so as my Countryman Type 10. By the way, I didn’t know that was possible until I purchased mine.

[@AudioUniversity]

I love that feature! Thanks for watching!

[@seattlevegas66]

Another very helpful video. Thank you! Here's a related question... do cable connections degrade performance? I need a right angle coming off my guitar so I use a pigtail. That creates a junction. Then, when I have needed longer cables at a gig, I have used a 1/4" coupler - another connection point (actually two). I have not heard any significant issues, but am interested in your comments about this. Thanks again - your material is extremely valuable to me.

[@AudioUniversity]

If you don’t hear an issue, it’s not an issue. The only concern for me would be the length with a coupler, but only an issue if you hear noise.

[@engpds]

I have a GT-1 Boss multi effects pedal connecting straight to a mixer, then PA, giving me more noise than desired. Would you recommend a passive DI between the pedal and the mixer?

[@TLguitar]

Your content is great and to the point. You probably haven't gotten through all of the comments on your last video, so I want to rephrase some question I left there: Do you think somehow connecting a DI box directly to a guitar's jack using 0 cable length (let's say by just "hanging it" on a pedal coupler) and then sending the signal to the interface practically only over balanced XLR, will noticeably reduce the level of noise in the signal? Or should the interference picked up by a cable no more than 2m/6ft long be negligible compared to that getting into the guitar pickups?

[@AudioUniversity]

Thanks! The interference with a short cable should be negligible at such a short distance.

[@TLguitar]

@@AudioUniversity Thank you, I suppose that makes sense, although it could still be interesting to compare if someone gets to it. Do you have any suggestions regarding interference that goes into the pickups in a very directional manner? If I direct my guitar just a few degrees off a specific position in my room it becomes substantially more noisy.

[@korkenknopfus]

@@TLguitar that what you have with your pickups is normal. The best is that you try to turn off the source of this interference, if you identify it. It can be a PC, lights, and so on. If not possible, you must simply find the right angle and/or position in your room. In my room, if I go too near the lights, I get interference. But there is still a source in my home I am still not able to identify, so I search for the right angle.

[@TLguitar]

@@korkenknopfus Part of it is probably from the PC, but not all. I wonder if they use better techniques and/or construction in recording studios to avoid this better than holding the guitar very specifically.

[@G0ogs]

So would it be correct to say I would use a passive di if i was grabbing the signal after effects pedals for guitars?

[@samisaac3908]

Please could you explain the best way to connect a mixer, an equaliser, a crossover to amplifier to achieve the best sound.

[@YiPSKiPP]

BTW Radial says the only exception to this rule is for an acoustic guitar with an onboard preamp, in which case you should still use an active DI

[@AudioUniversity]

Thanks for the tip, Bobby!

[@TheKiyona]

Hello i need help over here, Active source and passive sources what do u mean. You are talking about mixer?

[@AudioUniversity]

An active source has either a battery or power supply (keyboard, acoustic guitar with active pickup, bass with active pickup). Passive sources include single coil passive pickups, passive humbucker pickups, and other non-powered sources.

[@TheKiyona]

@@AudioUniversity thank u , But one more thing i want to ask that, if i am using passive mixer with active speakers what sort of DI BOX I NEED TO use my electric guitar? Do i need active or passive di box

[@AudioUniversity]

It depends on the source - the guitar in this case. If it has passive pickups, active DI. If it has active pickups, passive DI. Although, it’s just a recommendation. You can use active or passive DI for any source.

[@fullshotmediaug]

thanks bro this is Wisdom

[@AudioUniversity]

Thanks for watching!

[@Hellfish_actual]

Noob question. I have an assortment of guitars and basses. Some with passive pickups some with active pickups. Which would you recommend for me overall, an active or passive DI?

[@Jose_Alberto_Velasquez]

spectacular bro✌🏻😁 🙋🏻‍♂️ 🇻🇪

[@AudioUniversity]

Thanks, Jose!

[@josdurkstraful]

Should I use a DI running the headphone output of a laptop into a mixer?

[@AudioUniversity]

Yes. I recommend doing so if possible! The Radial ProAV2 is a great option for that.

[@josdurkstraful]

@@AudioUniversity Thanx.

[@gudnet]

Hi, for semi acoustic with active under saddle pickup, which type of DI box do u recommend?

[@elray7777]

Thanks for the info! I just want ask about keyboard instrument that have (L & R) output?..how do i connect it to mixer & Di? It need to use 2 channel on mixer & Di? 🙏🙏

[@fredericsicsic9391]

Is there a passive direct box that has RCA line input and XLR output with line-level signal, not microphone-level signal?

[@isaakzuniga4764]

this is the best channel to learn about audio, thanks 🫶🏻

[@AudioUniversity]

Glad you think so! Thanks!

[@ebormajaw8064]

I'm new to DI box

[@AudioUniversity]

Hope this helps! Thanks!

[@Lanahalandoni]

If you have amp modeller and you wish to play live using p.a speaker,connecting your e guitar to audio mixer is it is recommendable to have di box?

[@anthonywhite6530]

Is noise cut when using a di box when recording in protools

[@HappyChillmore]

Sometimes my bass or guitar signal into the interface seems weak then I barely turn it up and it starts distorting, even despite having small waveforms. I’m wondering if an active DI box would help. I’m running guitars and bass into an Apollo solo and focusrite sometimes

[@bumblebee8891]

Hello friend, do all active DI support 48v phantom power from console mixer? Thank u.

[@nathantadena4923]

Some amplifiers have DI's using op amps, after the preamp just before the power amp, but how do they differ? Are they considered active DI's? How bout its impedance and signal level?

[@genrebahista8507]

Is passive instrument like bass are not compatible with passive di box?

[@AudioUniversity]

You can use passive or active DIs with passive instruments.

[@walterpascual8068]

What if we use guitar multi effects and passive D.I it's ok?

[@AudioUniversity]

A passive DI is always ok. In this case it would also be recommended because the source (the pedal) is active.

[@walterpascual8068]

@@AudioUniversity thanks for information

[@sanjayrhythm]

Tq short video

[@AudioUniversity]

Thanks for watching!

[@MikeUIibarri]

Cool.

[@VjornOlegSarmatius-kb5ol]

now I know. 😅

[@frankfarago2825]

Huh?