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Topic: direct boxes |
Jackie Anderson
From:
Scarborough, ME
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Posted 30 Sep 2004 7:12 pm |
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| Does anyone have experience with the quality of the Samson S-Direct d.i. box? Are active boxes like this really any better than a passive transformer, if the purpose is simply to go from an unbalanced high-impedance source to a balanced, low-impedance line (e.g. going direct from volume pedal to board, possibly through a snake)? If not, what's a good transformer, or passive d.i. box? |
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James Quackenbush
From:
Pomona, New York, USA
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Brad Sarno
From:
St. Louis, MO USA
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Posted 1 Oct 2004 6:41 am
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Ditto what James says. The Radial is a very nice passive box using the Jensen transformer. The Jensen is THE best transformer for that application. Another approach would be to purchase a cheap passive DI for like $30, rip out the crappy transformer and install a raw Jensen. That could save you about $75. But that Radial stuff seems to be right on the money.
Brad Sarno |
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John Macy
From:
Rockport TX/Denver CO
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Posted 1 Oct 2004 7:58 am
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I like the transformers best myself, including mic pres. The Radials are great with the Jensens. I have some custom Jeson boxes I like a lot, along with some custom active transformerless that are nice also. I love the Avalon U5--the best on bass that there is out there by far... Cheap DI boxes sound like, well, cheap DI boxes  . |
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Earnest Bovine
From:
Los Angeles CA USA
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Posted 1 Oct 2004 9:43 am
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John M
Did you try your steel guitar thru the Avalon U5? |
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John Macy
From:
Rockport TX/Denver CO
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Posted 1 Oct 2004 10:06 am
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| Yea, it sounds good. But if I'm going to have to go direct, I usually come out of the Mesa Pre into a Neve. |
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Earnest Bovine
From:
Los Angeles CA USA
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Posted 1 Oct 2004 10:11 am
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John
Do you like any preamp between the pickup and the volume pedal? |
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John Macy
From:
Rockport TX/Denver CO
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Posted 1 Oct 2004 11:51 am
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| No, though Brad's Black Box is on my list of acquisitions (but microphones keep getting in the way... ). |
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Kevin Chriss
From:
Carmel, IN, USA
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Posted 2 Oct 2004 6:58 am
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I just bought a direct box that I am super impressed with. A little pricey at $125, but this is what you get:
Preamp and DI box combined
Input gain control
Balanced XLR output
1/4" out for sending signal to stage amp
Both stage and PA outputs have their own level controls
Parallel input jack for a tuner
Effects loop
Powered by 48V phantom power or 9v battery
Active bass and treble EQ
Mid-dip shape control permits removal of mids
Notch filter permits dialing out feedback
I haven't tried it with steel yet, but I use it with my keyboard sound module that only has a -10db output. It sounds great and the shape filter really works good. Oh, the name of this unit is UltraSound PDI. |
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ajm
From:
Los Angeles
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Posted 2 Oct 2004 8:28 am
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From my experience the term "direct box" is used to describe several types of devices made for different applications.
From my experience hooking one up between guitar and amp like you're describing here won't hurt anything no matter what you use. But be sure you know exactly what you're doing if you plan on hooking one up between amp and speaker.
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Artie McEwan
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Steve Hinson
From:
Hendersonville Tn USA
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Posted 2 Oct 2004 12:33 pm
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| I just got an Ampeg SVT direct box...it has a tube in it and sounds great...a bass player I work with in the studio quite a bit claims it is the best direct box he has ever used... |
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Jackie Anderson
From:
Scarborough, ME
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Posted 2 Oct 2004 5:35 pm
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Well, cast your bread upon the waters! A few different perspectives are popping up here. Avalon and Neve are names to conjur by, as for recording pres, but my own immediate purpose is to go from an acoustic instrument pickup with no, or a hi-z output preamp, or from the volume pedal for my PSG, into a Mackie 1604-VLZ for live performance purposes. The Jensen transformer sounds like the essential ingredient I am looking for, whether as a retrofit or in those nice-looking Radial boxes. Being a cheap Yankee, I might buy still buy something cheaper and swap out the transformer. However, I don't want a crummy op amp in the path, if that's a consequence of taking the low road.
Of course, although I didn't mention it, there is a Black Box between my pickup and my pedal -- John, microphones are a constant temptation, but get your BB. There's not much point in putting a crappy signal into that Mesa, or Avalon or Neve![This message was edited by Jack Anderson on 02 October 2004 at 06:39 PM.] [This message was edited by Jack Anderson on 02 October 2004 at 06:40 PM.] [This message was edited by Jack Anderson on 03 October 2004 at 04:37 AM.] [This message was edited by Jack Anderson on 03 October 2004 at 04:37 AM.] |
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John Macy
From:
Rockport TX/Denver CO
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Posted 2 Oct 2004 5:54 pm
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Hey Steve--what's the model number on that? It sounds real interesting. (hope you're doing well by the way .
Jack--you couldn't get a crappy sound out of a Fessenden on a real bad day... |
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Mike Simpson
From:
Gilbert, Arizona, USA
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Jackie Anderson
From:
Scarborough, ME
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Posted 3 Oct 2004 3:39 am
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John, you can't get a crappy sound out of a lot of good axes (my Williams being another such), but it's easy to mess up after that.... 
[This message was edited by Jack Anderson on 03 October 2004 at 04:41 AM.] |
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James Quackenbush
From:
Pomona, New York, USA
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Posted 3 Oct 2004 8:50 am
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Mike,
Here's something taken from the Whirlwind sit e
"An advantage of using an active circuit is that it can be fine-tuned to produce a wider frequency response than can be achieved with an entirely passive DI. However, active DIs require a power source - phantom power from the mixer or internal batteries."
As far as long cable run's go, the XLR balanced output is what allows you to run cables a long distance....The passive DI with the Jensen built in, not only gives you phase protection, but has a balanced output that will allow you to run a cable to the mixer 1000 ft with no audible distortion ( if the cable is in good shape )
The Jensen transformers have been used for YEAR's with great result's ...
NEVE PRE'S ....Now we're talkin some BIG recording tone , at a BIG recording price !!!... As nice as it comes !!....Jim[This message was edited by James Quackenbush on 03 October 2004 at 09:51 AM.] |
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Mike Simpson
From:
Gilbert, Arizona, USA
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Posted 3 Oct 2004 12:02 pm
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Thanks James,
I have the Ultra DI but have had problems with house sound men when using it. I don't have any problem when using my own sound system with a mackie 20ch board. On some gigs I use the direct box between my guitar and the amp using the pass through to the amp so the FOH sound can draw from the XLR output, this works well on acoustic guitar in large venues. I have been considering buying a good passive DI, the Radials are on ebay for $179 BIN with free shipping.
Thanks again
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Big Mike
http://www.blueswizards.net
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Jackie Anderson
From:
Scarborough, ME
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Posted 3 Oct 2004 12:48 pm
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| John, I just checked out your website -- how do you find your way around that (those) board(s): using a GPS? |
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John Macy
From:
Rockport TX/Denver CO
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Posted 3 Oct 2004 2:28 pm
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| That is an 80 input SSL 9000J console--gotta be around 16' (or more) wide. A motorized chair would be nice... |
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Steve Hinson
From:
Hendersonville Tn USA
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Posted 4 Oct 2004 1:06 pm
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| John...that Ampeg DI is the SVTDI...hope you are well and busy...take care...Steve |
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James Quackenbush
From:
Pomona, New York, USA
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Posted 5 Oct 2004 10:37 am
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John,
I see you're still using Paris Pro ...Great sound !!....If you want a similar sound, and feel like upgradeing , check out Radar ...Very analogish !!.....Jim |
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John Macy
From:
Rockport TX/Denver CO
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Posted 5 Oct 2004 12:15 pm
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| I've done several projects on Radar and it does sound great. However, I am doing more and more in the box mixing, and Paris is the only system that does that well. It's summing in the stereo buss absolutely smokes ProTools and anything else out there. I have two systems and use them all the time... |
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Brad Sarno
From:
St. Louis, MO USA
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Posted 5 Oct 2004 12:53 pm
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John, I have basically no experience working in Paris, but I have a mastering client who recently brought me some mixes from his Paris rig. The first ones came in too loud and squashed and I asked him what he used to get that loud. He said Paris will let you push it like that. I had him back it down to better levels for me to work with. I couldn't believe how analog and natural the mixes sounded. The overs were handled in a way that sounded more like tape saturation or tube compression than overs. I don't know what Paris does on their master bus, but it sounded great to my ear. Plus his mix was only 16bit. I was very impressed with Paris. I agree it sounded much better than the PT mixes I generally hear.
Brad Sarno
Blue Jade Audio Mastering
St. Louis, MO |
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John Macy
From:
Rockport TX/Denver CO
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Posted 5 Oct 2004 1:51 pm
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Brad,
My mastering guy in Nashville (Randy LeRoy) has been saying that too. He thinks the depth and imaging are amazing in the system, and there is nothing else close when mixing in the box. My ProTools clients are stunned when they transfer their wavs into the system to mix. I don't know what they did either, but it works big time for me... |
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Michael Brebes
From:
Northridge CA
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Posted 7 Oct 2004 11:21 am
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| Another option for direct box is to use a Peterson Strobo Stomp as your tuner. It has a direct out XLR on it as well. |
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