What Is A DI Box (Direct Box)? | When & How To Use One
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- Опубліковано 2 лют 2022
- Do you need a DI box? A DI box (or direct box) is one of the most essential tools in audio production. In this video you'll learn what a DI box does and when you need one. I've included some audio demonstrations so you can compare the sound quality when recording with and without a DI box.
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The rare UA-cam video where the guy gets right to the point. No intro before, no sponsor before, not telling me to like and subscribe .0004 nanoseconds into the vid, no snark just CONTENT. Bravo, good sir, Bravo!!!!!
I know I actually had to back the video up to the beginning at only 6 seconds in ‘cause I wasn’t expecting him to dive right in
I also like the fact that he wasn't trying to be comedic or clever in order to win us viewers over. Jumped right into the subject, no time wasted. Besides this, he should also give a UA-camr 101 class.
So refreshing 😊😊
Agreed. No flashy annoying intro, no bad annoying jokes and no off topic meanderings. Also no creepy computer generated voice.
No “without further ado”
This video is actually secretly an instructional video for how to make instructional videos. Straight to the point, well explained, no fluff. Bravo sir, well done.
Extremely Agree
I fully agree👍🏻🏁
Yes it is!!
As a student of audio engineering, your channel is a true blessing. You've helped me improve in both knowledge and practical skill. Thank you so much for what you do!
Glad to help, Vasst!
@@AudioUniversityIf I connect a bss guitar to my mixer via DI box (with no bass amplifier) can the DI box protect the speakers from being damaged?
Professor! 🇬🇧 @@AudioUniversity
Why can’t more instructional videos be like this….brilliant mate. Thank you.
Glad to help! Thanks AJ.
Dude your videos are GOLD. I've been watching this channel on and off since it was very young, and I am not surprised at all but so thankful and glad for you that you're now over 100k subs.
Thanks, JD! I really appreciate your support. Thanks for sticking with me all this time.
Dude, I couldn’t agree more. I’m always excited to know what your next episode is going talk about. Really engaging content and real easy fundamentals for audio engineering. You’re awesome 👍🏻
Thanks, Def Acres!
So 101% agree with You. Probably in no time there will be 200k subs. He's amazing 💥
I'm a guitar player who got a job at a music store that mostly sells live and studio equipment. While i knew some stuff, there was a shit ton to learn still to be a better salesman. Your videos help immensely
Just watched this video and really like the way you explain the use of the DI box. I have been considering using a DI box in my audio circuit to a very expensive Amature radio, you have convinced me it could be a help with audio quality.
Thanks
Excelent video. Next level basics. So well explained, with proof. Thanks a lot! 💜
Glad you liked it! Thanks for watching, Joris!
Man these videos are such a blessing, thank you. Would love to hear you get into ground loops. I'm just a guitarist who is trying to make his own awesome music, but I realize I need to understand deeper electrical things.
I never knew such a thing existed. As usual, we have here excellent teaching and selection of subject matter.
for a guitarist who understands buffers, it's like adding an incredible buffer to your signal to retain all your sonic, frequency detail over long runs of cable, and using hum resistant balanced/shielded xlr cables. one thing to remeber, is if your producing noise pre the di box with your gear, a di won't fix it. you ned to fix your the week link in your signal chain first. same goes with a mic'd cab.
Connecting phones/computers: Radial Pro AV2 (stereo DI box) I keep in my bag as a rarely used problem solver but when I need it, it delivers! Usually you can connect monitor/line outs directly into camera line/mic combo inputs and you’ll get excellent or at least usable sound. Some equipment you get really noisy audio even over short cables, you put that DI box in between, and you’ll mount your XLR input box, and suddenly the audio is pristine. So really great thing to have in the bag if you don’t know equipment at the venue or if any weird / unexpected connection request may emerge.
This is an excellent video because it explains the "why" as well as the "how". Superb.
While is a subtle difference by using a DI box the real reason for them to exist is to eliminate the noise catchup effect in high impedance cable runs, so if your purpose is to clarify or enhance the quality of the sound DI is not the tool but equalizers, compressors and filters.
Would a DI help if I am going via a multi fx pedal (Boss GX100) into my interface’s instrument input. And where would you place it.
@@accentontheoffif you're going to use it with a loudspeaker system, then BOSS GX100 Left or Right Output > D.I BOX > Audio Mixer > Speakers.
@@accentontheoffin this case, since you're plugging into an instrument socket in your interface, chances are you're not that far from it. i usually use multi fx'es and D.I boxex to avoid micing up amps and if I want to go long cable runs
@@zrellll Got it thanks. So there is going to be no automatic improvement in sound quality using a DI box? It’s just useful to cope with long cable runs.
Great job of explaining things in a way that's understandable and clear. Very informative channel!
Thanks, Mike!
Solid explanation! I had never understood exactly why the DI box is used the way it is. This is really going to help me moving forward. Thank you!
I’m glad to hear that, John! Thanks for watching!
I wish People would stop talking about high and low impedance signals, I think that is confusing to non-professionals. “Signals” do not have Impedance, which is a property of the hardware. Impedance is “resistance to alternating current” (our signal is a very weak alternating current). it is much more correct to talk about signal level and high & low impedance sources or outputs and inputs. The presenter correctly says that the DI box is a [unity] transformer which isolates two circuits with different impedance levels. Remember we know that an alternating current (ie. Our signal ) will pass through a transformer.
Overall I like the video, just my “signal” impedance rant.
That’s helpful feedback. I’ll keep this in mind for future videos. Thanks.
Nice video. Direct and to the point. That's all you need!
I watched like 3 videos on the subject before yours and the diagrams you had on screen gave me the "Aha!" moment that I needed. Thanks for your hard work and content!
Awesome stuff brother. Keep up your great breakdowns. Thank you.
wow wow among the most professional explanation with examples I’ve longed for. Thanks so much.
Glad to help, Ronald!
Something new that I didn't expect to see on your channel. Excellent information and explanation! Thanks for sharing and keep up the good work..
Thank you for making my life easier here. Endless blogs were confusing the hell out of me. This made it simple.
Have a couple DI boxes but never really understood the total science behind them until i watched your video - Thanks for expanding my understanding
This was such a good and helpful video! Thank you so much!
When they introduced the piezoelectric pickup for record players, they used the effect that is caused by high impedance sources on low impedance inputs, that it almost reverse the RIAA curve.
High impedance is also the reason, that condenser microphones needs an active impedance converter close to the transducer. Therefore the early condenser microphones had a big housing.
I use them though for recording anything that isn't a mic to protect my mixer. Especially the 20db boost and 20db attenuate are very useful when connecting loud devices and instruments or low level stuff.
It allows me to connect line level and keyboard phones connection for example to my mixer side by side.
Great stuff.
And hot into the mixer but below Max mic level gives a great noise to signal ratio as you don't need any/much gain
thanks for putting this together............short, sharp and pitched at the right level............very useful!
You've explained the cause of why I've always taken issue with how a guitar plugged directed into an interface sounds. Apparently it had to do with impedance. Didn't even know that was a thing
Gotta say, I live AU vids, their smart, succient, and packed with info that is broken down. I come back from time to time just to brush up on my knowlagdge and definitely learn something new along the way
So many things i didn't understand about audio but your vids helped me a lot. Congrats for the 100ksubs!
Thanks, Jay!
Clear and helpful, with nice tests, thank you.
Your videos are next level information on audio engineering thank you!
you’re the man! all these videos are super helpful🤘
So, the point of this video I believe is that it never hurts to own one or two DI boxes. And so is the point taken. Thank you for this awesome clarification!
Thank you so much, this video is the best that I have ever seen about this topic, good job!
Glad it was helpful! Thanks, John!
Thank you!👍🏻 Now i understand more about DI Box and its proper usage. 👍🏻
The Best Explanation about D.I..
I had a problem with the Output of my Effect Pedal and i had a feeling that it's the frequencies.. I decided to buy a D.I box but I'm a Bit hesitant because maybe it's just the way it sounds.. good thing i saw this video and it helped me a lot.. Thank you❤😊
Man, thank you so much! First time ever - easy and clear explanation why this di box is needed.
Glad it helped! Thanks for watching, Anatoly!
I always wanted to know this. Thank you so much!
A very thankful noob appreciates you and your vids my man !
Really helpful information. Thanks!
Useful video. Thanks to you, I learn a lot of things and improve myself
Glad to help, Rymar Serge!
Your vids are very helpful! Keep it going mah man! :)
Glad to hear that! Thanks for watching.
Thank you! Very clear and easy to understand 🙂
This is finally clear to me. Thanks!
thank you Kyle , this instruction is great .
A few things...
1) I love seeing that Mackie CR1604 over your shoulder. That was the first big analog mixer I cut my teeth on, and they are great for what they were.
2) My bandmates have been salty about me forcing everyone to DIs and IEMs instead of big amps and floor wedges on stage. Don't care. :D
You did a great job ! Thank You.
Thanks for the tutorial, great input! FR
Liked and subscribed! Very helpful overview, thanks. 🎸
I use a radial DI on my keyboards when playing live. What’s great is as well is taking out noise or potential problems from ground loops the sound from digital keyboards which can sound harsh takes on a smoother quality especially in the high end and the dynamics are less extreme similar to using a compressor. The signal being knocked down also allows you to also utilise the character of the preamps by running to a mic input rather than line so overall an acoustic instrument sound like a piano sample will sound less electronic and more like the real thing. I don’t play without a DI anymore
I just discovered you channel. Your presentations and materials in the presentations are excellent. Also the presenter is very good.
I learned a lot and received the knowledge I was looking for.
I’ll keep watching.
Thank You !!!
Ricky from IBM, Ret
Thanks, Ricky!
@@AudioUniversity Your very welcome !!!!
Thank you sir for sharing your knowledge. It was helpful.
Great instructional....right to it!
One of the best videos on you tube
Long time user and big fan of DI Boxes, particularly Radial, such as yourself.
MANY people don't realise just how a) useful they are, as you just demonstrated, but b) how they can help beef up and colour a signal in conjunction with the mic pre they're feeding. Just hit that mic pre a bit harder and you're into saturation, harder still and it's distortion.
Some of the more exotic mic pres have an inherent 'colour' to them, which is why we buy them, i LOVE my Neve 88R pres along with my 610b and others and regularly use them to track synths, drum machines etc... i do use a Sansamp VT for bass though.
Many people miss out on how useful they are as, superficially, they just seem like a rather prosaic/not sexy bit of kit, but they're way off!
Tracking synths etc just via a line input is seriously disappointing in comparison.
Nice video mate!
I use my DI in between my amp and speaker to tap the post amp out for recording and blend it with the pre-amp out and 2 mics....sounds killer!
Thanks so much for your advice!
Thanks for this video! You just saved me money. I was about to buy a bass amp. Granted, I just bought a guitar amp, so I wish I'd found this sooner... I'm surprised that devices like DI boxes didn't exist long ago (unless they did). Now I'm interesting in looking into these and the amp simulators. Very cool.
I connect my guitar & bass directly from the amp to the input on my 4 track recorder with no issues. Only problem I really have is getting vocal tracks to sound decent. I mean I have a cheap $10 dynamic mic but I've used it it the past with decent results.
These were very confusing back in the day . A few of them were fried by people thinking you can go from your amps power output.
Load boxes with speaker simulation( something that could have been used more ) were a bit of a secret/mystery back in the 80s and early 90s .
The sans amp di preamp did miracles though ...played many a show with just that box, and reverb from the house .
So helpful , I now know where and when I need to use a DI box, thanks
Glad to help!
This was useful. Thank you.
Thanks for your service 🙏🏻
Thanks for watching and supporting the channel, Angoam!
Thanks for the simple explanation.
Reach out a couple of hundred feet of cable distance in a venue and unbalanced signals are probably unusable. Considering cable distance not linear distance, it doesn't take a very large venue to have a couple of hundred feet of cable (because you don't want every idiot in the room tripping, stomping, or spilling beer on your snake). I prefer active DI's, they just tend to be a little brighter over long distances. Yes, there can be some extra noise from having another amplifier in the chain but I generally find it tips the scale by having a stronger signal. And if the source is passive, active DI is the only way to fly. A basic passive DI is just a transformer inside, an active DI has a small (pre)amplifier in there.
Great video!
Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts on this!
Thank you for the good tutorial Sir,. .very useful to me.
Thank you; love this video
I heard someone said the name is Direct Inject box, way back in 2003.
Never knew the purpose of this DI until 2022. Thanks.
That's right. Another name I've heard is "direct injection box". Thanks for mentioning that.
fantastic video! i know understand why my guitar sounds so muffled through my focusrite.
subbed now! 🎉
Excellent knoelegeable video for profession studios with all physical specs. After Bandrew I will also watch your channel.
had no idea the inputs on my Focusrite DAW could handle XLR cables😂😂😂😂😂😂thanks for sharing! definitely learned something there!
Great epispde. Thanks 😁👍👍
Greetings from 🇸🇪
Thanks for watching!
Your each videos are simply great easy to understand you are Guru,(guide, teacher...) for me..
Thanks, Shivkumar!
Great video once again
Thanks, Armando! I'm glad you're enjoying the videos!
Like and Subscribed. Thank you for the blessing. Truly appreciate the info. God bless 🙏
I want to hug you for this video. thank you
Glad to help, Andrew! Thanks for watching.
Nice info dude !
Bro, thanks heaps, I'm just starting out and have bern starting to think about how to clean up a signal/sound, so on the money, cheers
Thank you so much sir for your packaged information
I love the Rush riff he used.
It is a great presentation!
Thanks, Praneeth! I'm glad you enjoyed this one!
Your my best teacher I'm always prefer and recommend to other see this channel
Thank you! I'm glad you like the videos!
Great video! (bonus points for using Reaper!) 😁👍
Great channel mate👍👍👍
Thanks for watching, G. F!
Great information, thank you
Thank you, greetings from Peru.
*SUBSCRIBED* Incredible infotainment.
thanks i need to review this some!
well explained!!
Thank you sir, thank you! ❤️❤️
the signal from a cable is neither high impedence or low impedence if you truly want to become a master and I can tell you are super smart at a young age so this is why I am dropping some knowledge on you. the signal is nothing more than a voltage. a Guitar signal for example (passive pickups) is going to be a very weak signal. the impedence is in the mixer channel or guitar amp input itself. The cable guage and length have an impedence ( factory will have ohms per foot or ohms per meter ) but for the most part we don't care because it is such a small number for short lenghts... particularly for guitar cables because they are unbalanced and you already did a great job of explaining the noise. ANY cable is also an "antenna" and there are signals in the air which can induce currents/voltages onto anttenae. Its more complicated though than how sound techs usually explain because every cable has resistance, capacitance, and inductance associated with it and so it really gets ugly quick if you truly want to analyze what is happening. You will need to know differential equations and laplace or fourier transforms to be able to do basic calculations. I honestly personally don't know the material well enough to explain it OR TO EVEN HAVE CONFIDENCE that what I am calculating is "right" or "wrong" (and I need good notes or the textbook). but anyways the shortcut most sound engineers take is to only consider the impedence of the inputs. With XLR inputs, think of the input as a small speaker and you need to "drive" the speaker with a voltage. IF using a mixer, the XLR may have a "pre-amp" or "head amp" so that you can amp up a microphone level signal... (not even getting into phantom power here) but the xlr input might be on the back of a powered speaker - many of those do not really have a "pre amp" for a microphone and so you need to properly "drive" the input if you want the speaker to make the power spec and SPL spec listed in the manual as well as THD spec (this is when long xlr cable runs come into effect - when your mixer way out front behind the crowd and you are driving the inputs on power-amps on the stage or powered speakers - its also why you have a main fader which can go positive because for a 200 foot run, you may need to go a little positive to get everything out of that amp - but like your video on "noise", you did a pretty good job of explaining what factors long runs bring to the table). I am not telling you this to criticize your video, you have well thought videos. I can tell you that in the 30+ years I have worked in the music biz as a sound engineer, I definitely never stopped learning. I thought I knew everything I was going to know when I was 25 and I have plenty of footage of shows from back then. and I can tell you straight up that I am too embarrassed to share those videos because I made a ton of false assumptions and believed many things that simply are not true. There is no way I could have known what I know becuase the companies that make the gear don't really explain it. so many are afraid others are missing that one last secret bit of knowledge which will take them to the next level. it really is an overly competitive world. I have come to believe that there are plenty of ways where personal taste and style differences alone on a level and fair playing field leave plenty of room for competition and so I usually share the secrets - within reason. you don't want to give a nuke to a crackhead you know. you wouldn't give a 14 year old a 1000cc super-bike to practice wheelies on would you? well there are topics with specialized knowledge that you just don't go around sharing because most people won't even know what the heck you are talking about. You probably already have experienced feeling like an "island"
Wow.... thanks mate! Lots of pertinent info. Cheers from Toronto...
Thank you! Sanity saved
Very good info. Cheers from Toronto
Thanks for watching!
Thanks. Yer my favorite geek.
If you recorded the 2 audio clips over 2 takes, then of course it'll sound slightly different. You can even see on the waveform that they're not exactly the same.
But I got my answer from this vid :) I don't need a DI box if my interface can switch to instrument inpedance.
All current audio-interfaces have a Hi-Z Instrumental input. Di-Box only for mixers, concersts (without any pedals). Any effect pedal replaces the di-box
I agree … Great video … thank you so much … SUBSCRIBED!!
I always preferred to run a line out post as opposed to pre as I wanted the amps tone. I used good amps like Mesa Boogie, Ampeg, and Genz Benz. This also allowed me to mute the sound when changing basses so I didn't have to get the sound man's attention prior to unplugging to avoid the "pop".
Best di I used for studio recording was an Avalon.
Great points, R! Avalons are amazing.
Yes! It does depend on the amp. I run post on an Epifani. Never had a complaint from an engineer and the playback always sound great