Muff's Modules & More

[sunnyb]

Considering picking up a nice stereo DI to record my synths. I've always just used the line ins on my zed r16. was wondering what DIs to consider, and whether the price of a high end DI is even worth it. does it make enough of a difference to justify the cost?

[abstraktor]

you shouldnt really have to use a DI box to boost line level signals because they should be hot enough anyway. You're right in that there's also no point in using anything other than an expensive DI box anyway because you dont want to compromise the signal quality. The only advantage in using a DI box is if youre running a long lead from the modular - the balanced line coming out of the DI box should cancel out any interference and clean up the signal.

[C_C]

I recommend the Radial JDI, does exactly what it's supposed to do and doesn't mess with the sound going in.

[philter]

[sunnyb]

abstraktor, see this is what i figured. im not boosting an instrument level signal so why even use one??

yet a lot of people seem to be saying that it "tightens up the bass end" or "sweetens the sound." i guess sticking a transformer in the signal path will change it a bit, but im still quite confused. im gonna try to borrow a decent DI from someone and see if its worth it.

[drwiener]

It gets confusing, because you can get a DI, or a preamp with a DI input (this is what the U5 is)

A DI does not boost the signal of your instrument/synth.
most good DIs have a pad, so you can cut the signal of your input from being too hot.

If you are going into a mic level preamp, I also reccomend the Radial JDI. It has a pad & an output transformer the signal passes through.

The Normal Radial DI sounds great too, and it has less color from the lack of transformer.

[abstraktor]

[stk]

You don't need one. Not for synths.

You might want one, and it may well change the sound (for better or worse) but then you should consider it an effect.

[Just me]

I have a crate of DI's for various uses. What I use them for is padding high level signals. Plug the speaker out of a guitar amp into one and then into the console. Or tie one into a Leslie amp and into a console. It is better for me than trying to mic in my noisy environment.

[philter]

Just to be clear, the purpose of a DI is to convert a line or instrument level signal to a mic level. In live settings this is handy for long cable runs due to the tendency of high-level signals to induce capacitance in the cable. In the studio it's traditionally been done as a means of recording an instrument through the board directly rather than miking an amp. Most manufacturers strive to make their DIs transparent, so the notion that you would use a DI to intentionally color or alter the sound works against the intended purpose in some ways. That said, some DIs are known for adding a bit of warmth or pleasing distortion (the Avalon for example). Also if you have a mic preamp that you like the sound of a neutral DI would be a means of getting the desired preamp into your signal chain.

[abstraktor]

this link should explain all!:
http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/jun02/articles/diboxes.asp

[abstraktor]

[revtor]

your synth should sound "sweet" before it hits your mixer. Your job as a synthesist, wear the badge with pride. If it doesn't sound "sweet" then you don't have enough modules!!!


~Steve

[Just me]

The active DI's I use can handle it. From the specs..."direct connection to speaker outputs with up to 3,000 Watts". None of my amps are up in that range.

[pulse_divider]

There's no such thing as a cheap magic box that automatically makes everything sound loads better, if that's what you're asking. Particularly with a DI, which in most cases is designed to be as close to sonically invisible as possible as several people have already mentioned.
The whole recent internet phenomenon of "dude, you haven't heard a synth until you've heard it through a $700 DI" is pretty overblown.
I run a studio and I'm just as likely to run synth directly my AD converter as I am to run it through my cheap ART Pro MPA II and/or my expensive nice preamp DI inputs... usually my choice is based primarily on whether it needs additional gain and secondarily on the proximity of the input to the synth.

If you're looking for ways to change the tonal color of your synth your money would be better spent on a nice EQ.

[sunnyb]

thanks for the advice and for clearing some things up, gonna try out a friends JDI and see how i like it.

[Babaluma]

i use an avalon u5 into a chandler tg2 preamp. this chain gives me nice passive EQ from the avalon, gain if i need it (for example for saturating the input tranny on the chandler), two trannies in the chandler (input and output), with the ability to have things clean and warm, or boosted and hairy. a lot of timbral variations are possible, and they all sound nice.

the avalon is BY NO MEANS a "colour" DI. it's one of the most transparent i've ever heard (the avenson audio small DI is slightly more transparent, and, spam alert, i have one for sale for $50 right now).

if you want a DI that warms the sound then go for something like the a-designs reddi, which is tube based, and meant to colour the sound (it's about the same price as the U5).

you really need to ask yourself the question, "why?" what is it about your current sound that you are not happy with, and will using a DI improve it?

i had never really heard my korg wavestation or 606 properly, until i heard them through the avenson's into a good mic pre, so there IS something to that internet myth. the thing is, the avenson's are only $80 a piece new, although you will need nice pre's to feed them into...

[jeannot]

DIs are super handy for attenuating modular level signals.

I always need to pad my modular rig, before I send it to the Machinedrum for sampling, or to a multi-track recorder, etc.

I bought this dirt cheap passive stereo DI, and it cost me $18! For attenuation of a signal, I cannot see any problem with the cheapness of it, it works exactly as it should. You also get a parallel output for each channel, which I use to tune my oscillators.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00356J8KE/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_r d_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B0013CDZDI& pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=130B2NSFB8ASQQ0F1WGE

[avinopsv]

just me, what kind of di's are you using?

[Just me]