Tech Talk - May 2008

 
Bill Leigh, Jonathan Herrera & Greg Olwell ,May 01, 2008
 
 

A DI is a device designed to interface a bass (we’ll stick to bass applications here, although DIs are used all over the band) with a mixer or mic preamp. It converts a bass’s high-impedance, instrument-level signal to a balanced (for noise rejection), mic-level, low-impedance signal appropriate for a mixer. A passive DI uses a transformer to achieve this conversion, but the transformer type results in the DI having a low input impedance—making passive DIs less than ideal for passive basses, which like to “see” a high input impedance for maximum fidelity. A powered or “active” component (either a tube or transistor) buffers the DI’s input, raising its impedance and consequentially improving a passive bass’s tone. The active component can also color the sound considerably, particularly when it adds gain. A tube DI is simply a DI circuit that uses a tube to buffer the input (and in some cases, add gain) while also incorporating its pleasing audio characteristics.

Click here to read about the SWR Redhead.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Leave a Comment
Name:
Location:
Average Rating :
 

The Sony ACID Pro 5 Giveaway

The Audio-Technica Get Heard Giveaway.

The Camel Audio Complete Camel Giveaway

The sE Electronics Microphone Contest

The Image Line Software Make Me Famous Giveaway

 






Favorite part of Bass Player LIVE?
 
Subscribe Live Bookmarks Advertise Contact Us Privacy Policy Terms & Conditions
 
       

 
Bass Player is a trademark of New Bay Media, LLC. All material published on www.bassplayer.com is copyrighted @2009 by New Bay Media, LLC. All rights reserved