![]() In addition to this, using a high-quality preamp will not just provide you with a stable- higher-level signal, but it will also reduce unwanted noises, ending up in a much cleaner end product.Ī mic preamp not only provides gain for the microphone’s signal, but it can also feed 48v phantom power to condenser microphones. Some microphones, like the famous Shure SM7B, have such a low output that in order to get the signal to a respectable level you will need quite a powerful preamp. Now, let’s move on to the preamp! What is a Preamp?Ī preamplifier is either the circuit within a device, such as a Microphone or Audio Interface, or it can also be a dedicated external device that has the same circuit in it, and it’s designed to raise the low signal level coming from a microphone to be able to be recorded properly, otherwise known as “line level”. The active BSS AR133 will only set you back $195, but it does anything but cheapen your signal.Īnd of course, lest we forget, the dons of the DI world Radial Engineering offer their passive RADIAL JDI for $200. Prices vary from low to high with DI boxes, but you will find the reasonably priced industry standards are more than adequate for home studios and live performances.īehringer’s Ultra-DI DI400 P-1 is craftily built but as cheap as chips at $20. For example, a keyboard like the classic Roland Juno-106 would be better suited for a passive DI. Conversely, what you want to remember is active instruments require a passive DI. Passives on the other hand are simply an audio transformer and require no power to operate. For example, if you wanted to use a DI with a Fender Stratocaster, you would reach for your active DI. The general rule of thumb you want to remember is passive instruments require an active DI. An internal battery, external power supply, or 48-volts phantom power are all options which may be available depending on the box. Active DI BoxĪn active DI box contains a preamplifier, and you will be able to tell it’s an active because it needs a power supply. They do the same job, however, the difference between them lies within their circuitry. There are two different types of DI boxes. In audio when there are too many ground paths available for a signal it creates an annoying buzzing noise, so with the use of its internal isolation transformer a DI box solves this problem for you. The third common use of the box involves the use of the ground lift feature. If you released your grip the water would flow more freely, this would be a low impedance signal. ![]() If you squeezed tightly on the hose the water would struggle to flow, this would be a high impedance signal. A simplified way of describing impedance would be using an analogy of water flowing through a hose. ![]() Impedance is resistance to the flow of alternating current. The second purpose of the box is to convert a high impedance signal to a low impedance signal. ![]() This might all sound a bit boring to you, so just try to remember that unbalanced signals are more susceptible to noise interference and weakening. A balanced signal contains a positive, a negative, and a ground path.Īn unbalanced only contains a positive and a ground path. The first is to convert an unbalanced signal to a balanced one. It is also common for them to feature a ground lift switch which is used to eliminate ground hum.īesides the connector matching, there are three main reasons for using a DI box. The box contains a ¼” jack input for your instruments, an XLR output for connecting to your preamp, and another jack which allows you to pass the input signal to an amplifier. So, let’s get into the specifics now! What is a DI Box?Ī direct input box (input, injection, insertion, take your pick) is a piece of hardware which allows you to plug instruments into the preamplifiers on your interface or mixer. Mic Preamps are designed to take a mic level signal and bring it up to line level, and the preamps that have DI inputs generally do not have the parallel feed for your amp.Įssentially, DI boxes are useless for microphones and are generally used with electric guitars and basses, and they generally have the ground lift feature which will disconnect the ground between the input and the output, getting rid of ground loops. So, without any further ado, let’s get started! The differences between a DI box and a preamp are Ī DI box converts a high impedance signal to a low impedance signal that a mic pre can deal with, and it also features parallel inputs to plug the guitar into it and have the signal go to the amp as well as the preamp. Well, in this post I will do my best to give you a good answer to the question as well as give you some detailed information about both, which ones to get, where to get them, and more. Have you ever wondered what the difference between a DI box and a preamp is? ![]()
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