Do Direct Boxes Matter? What's a DI do?

What does a direct box do for your guitar, bass or keyboard? Does it just change the connector to go to our sound board? And does one type vs another change the sound a lot?
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Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
00:32 Impedance
01:38 Balanced vs. Unbalanced
02:55 Features on a DI
05:02 What makes DIs different from one another?
06:45 Listening examples disclaimer
07:26 Acoustic Guitar
08:28 Passive Bass
08:44 Active Bass
09:07 Output Differences
09:33 Final Thoughts
10:55 Special Thanks

[@Thewanderer_378]

Been in the industry for a while now but it's always good to review!!. There's definitely a different in boxes!!. Thanks 👍

[@minibuns5397]

Great message on direct boxes brother. Have a Blessed Day 🌟

[@philmckenna5709]

Really helpful info, mate! Thanks for posting 👍🏼

[@codyi7119]

Wow, was just wondering about this yesterday. Thanks!!

[@squirelova1815]

This is the BEST explanation 'for Dummies' on Balanced vs. Unbalanced signal I've seen so far. Very clear, very simple, very understandable.

[@chothemusical]

I've used both of these particular DIs (among others, of course) in various house of worship and studio situations. Any time I had acoustics on stage that was going to be more than just texture, the Teegarden Magic DI would always get the gig and I saved the other ones for less prominent instruments. I only used it here and there on bass. Teegarden has a great bass DI as well but I really got to where I liked the Telefunken TDA boxes for that. Side note, the guys at TA are fantastic and great to work with.

[@cleyc]

Amazing Video thank you, by the. Way you are great explaining

[@gavinvonmeyer3746]

I saw many many videos on this topic... I have to say, this is the best of all those videos.

[@AttawayAudio]

I'm glad to hear that! Thank you so much!

[@davidhaolai]

Thanks for this

[@parasiteunit]

Also on the subject of gain (which is something that's becoming a "thing" in mixes) even if the gain is on the cooler side, the moment distortion is introduced either by accident or design, it makes the sound louder. Even if there's a limiter cutting it all down to -3dB.... It still sounds a bit louder than clean signals. I've noticed that any track in a mix with distortion on it - I always have knock back the volume on the track in the mix to get it to 'settle' a bit better there also seems a relationship between the amount of distortion and the perceived volume

[@stephenchow5161]

nice and concise

[@garryyoung6]

Thank you James!!! I now know more about DI boxes... I had always wondered about the "Ground Lift" switch. Would it take me to another dimension if activated or would the whole system shut down.!! :) We went to all instruments, except drums and percussion, using DI's when we got into our new building 5 years ago. Eliminating the need for individual amps and we started using IEM's. We have very good success with them..

[@NateReelz]

what DIs are u using for keys? we’re about to make that transition as well

[@chetdunham3434]

Damn. I remember this! Like from years ago! Thanks, man, for the reminder! Actually makes me want to get that new bass my wife says I can't have.

[@markwinslow1423]

when an instrument is tied into a different circuit then the board often the difference in the distance from the two respective components to the panel you will get a ground loop because the ground has a longer distance to travel on the instruments circuit which increases the resistance down the line causing an imbalance that can be heard in the hum.

[@toddleach1108]

A really good solution to consistency in these tests is to have the player use and play into a looper pedal. Then use that loop to A-B the DIs. For an even more objective comparison, use analyzer or SMART software to visualize the difference heard.

[@jaysonlim1618]

love it

[@nicolmicah]

Impedance video! Please

[@007edwaxiux]

i think, if you have ReAmp box, then you could send same identical signal from daw and record then, of course preamp is still in line of making sound ;)

[@superdrummer3578]

My digital instrument outputs a relatively hot (high impedance) signal (needs about 10 dB of preamp gain) and the cable run is about 6 metres, is it a problem that I don't have a DI? The signal is unbalanced, but shouldn't the signal/noise ratio be high enough? I haven't noticed any noise in the sound both live and when listening to the multi-track recording. Thank you for the awesome video!

[@ShannonLandsberger]

The only time I have ever needed a ground lift is when I use a laptop as an input to my soundboard. I add a DI box and lift the ground to get rid of the hum.

[@TheLastEmail]

5:22, I saw some shop selling digital DI boxes, which means can transfer digitally like wifi or bluetooth, not what is it but that what they said.........

[@ruthnumsolutions]

Ive just recently hooked up keyboard, bass and guitar via DI. Really cleaned up the mix but i need your advice James!? 🙏

[@srenjepsen2290]

Thanks for a great channel James :-) Do you have any experience/oppinion on the Behringer DI20?

[@stephenevans2518]

I have one and it's the worst DI I have used, it's noisy and rolls off some low end. The DI100 is much better

[@RandyHanley]

Killer video as always. If I'm doing a SmarPhone Headphone out / Splitter cable (L panned for Click / R for Backing Tracks) into my StudioLive Mixer, should I first go through a DI box, or could I just go into the Line in 1/4" TRS ?

[@thoubias]

Sometimes analog audio output from computers and such will have noise from having the charger of the device connected. In those cases, having a DI-box might help. There are special DI-boxes made for this purpose, having inputs in RCA and/or in 3,5 mm jack, or even bluetooth connection. But I've successfully inputed sound from smartphone into mixers directly via 3,5mm-to-RCA cable, both to RCA inputs on mixer and via RCA-to-6,3mm jack adapters to line inputs on mixer.

[@kapetayobrew]

My guitar amp is Vox PF15 and has lineout output at the back, (quite similar to some marshall MG's "emulated lineout" ), do i still need DI box? The port is a PL type, though im not sure if the port needs a TRS PL, because i'm currently using a (mono PL) TS to XLR cable going into our church's Mixer.

[@EyeOneFifty]

Unrelated, I have a 24R and currently am recording in studio one. After we’re done recording I set every input to usb send so the tracks from s1 get the fat channel applied. The issue is I can’t seem to get it to the main buss in studio one, there’s no meter movement. How can I apply the fat channel via usb send and also send it to the main buss after that in s1, I tried setting the main buss out to the aux mix but still no meter movement on the main buss and consequently the mixdown is completely silent. How to fix?

[@randomschittz9461]

“That’s why they call it a circuit” 🤯🤯🤯

[@heythere6983]

Is there a delay when recording a live guitar and also using a DI to overlap the live guitar recording? I can’t get an answer to this . For some reason I feel like I heard a mixer once say everytime he gets a bass di and a bass recording it’s never in phase but idk if I remember this correctly . I really like the idea of using a DI to use the same performance on different gear and combine it

[@AttawayAudio]

There's always a slight delay between the pickup and the mic. But it may or may not have a noticeable difference on a guitar. For a bass, the lower frequencies will cancel first, so it can make a more pronounced difference.

[@dooshmasta]

Might be helpful to mention that impedance is a synonym for resistance.

[@permanenceinchange2326]

Not exactly. Resistance is constant, while impedance may vary with the frequency or strength of a signal... that makes it harder to understand (and to get it right).

[@dooshmasta]

@@permanenceinchange2326 In other words, impedance is resistance in flux with the frequency and amplitude. So therefore, impedance is resistance.

[@permanenceinchange2326]

@@dooshmasta If you put it like that, I agree :)

[@jdbwhitby2458]

New Bass Player, Question I have a Orange Crush 50 amp. I am using a Compressor plugged into the Amp. Do I need a DI?

[@AttawayAudio]

If you're going direct into the sound system, you'll need a DI. If you're just using the amp and/or putting a mic on the amp, then you don't.

[@TheFirstCustodian]

Do I need a DI box when I have a stage box that isn't far away from the digital console? Thank you

[@AttawayAudio]

Best practice is to change the impedance from high to low, even if you don't have a long run.

[@Rugerman205]

Horizon DI sounds the best to me in THIS example

[@AttawayAudio]

That's why it's important to listen to your tools rather than rank them by price :)

[@ConcertCultureSound]

Following for algorithm

[@wilkopiano]

Isn’t it best to have active di’s with acoustic guitars and passive di’s with electric guitars

[@AttawayAudio]

No hard & fast rule for that.

[@peterldelong]

Nobody gets fired for buying Radial DI’s

[@danielfmyers]

That noise gets eliminated!!! 😂😂😂😂

[@aalexxperezz]

Hi-hat with chords 😂

[@PrinceCobra1]

Less coffee

[@jamieskok514]

քʀօʍօֆʍ

[@mosesngatiah3314]

Horizon DI sounds better

[@godwinraj2576]

Do a keyboard need di?

[@reemtbekaan7668]

It depends. If you have to travel way more than 5 meters it would be better. If the keys are near a stage box which is accepting ts you're probably fine.