DI Box

[gaz7224]

Hi,

Any recommendations for a 2 channel DI Box?

Want one for my Live-Room.  I'm going to DI bass, and I'll also use it for keyboards etc to convert unbalanced to balanced.

I've never used one before and don't know much about them.  But what I want to do, if it's possible, is have a DI box in the live room, and then just feed it into a XLR line-level input on my audio interface in the control room.  Is this possible?   

You can get balanced line-level signals can't you? Or am I being thick?

Thanks

Gaz

[gaz7224]

Would this work:

http://www.avalondesign.com/instrudi.html

I'm presuming I can just place it in the live-room, and then connect a XLR cable from its output, to the +4 balanced input on my audio interface, and it'll work fine.

Or do all DI's need to be connected to a microphone input, not line-level input?

I'm a real novice in some areas.

[stainless]

sometimes it feels like i talk too much.... 

The Avalon is a very nice box.

as an alternate option (and probably a bit less pricey) If you can find them (and there doesn't seem to be many around) Bellari made a really nice single channel tube DI. When they released them they didn't sell all that well, and I suspect it was because "tubes" hadn't quite reached 'vintage' status, and the fact they do not have high plate voltage (though there's now many pieces of gear that also do  not) but despite being quite simple are great for bass or keyboards (IMHO). If you can find one, plan on changing out the tube -and I'd look for a JAN NOS GE, RCA or Mullard,,, since these were military spec they are very quiet and not at all grainy... as more than likely the Bellari will have the original stock tube in it

I have one and it is typically what most bass players seem to prefer over my choices (none of which are as high end as the Avalon)

that's my 2 cents...  the Avalon should work quite well for you.   I've heard few people complain about  anything with their name on it

I'll shut up now

[gaz7224]

Merry Christmas.

Do you have a product number or name for the Bellari?  I did google 'Bellari single channel tube DI', but it was less successful than searching for a needle in a haystack as I had no idea what I was looking for.  I did find a Bellari ADB-3 on eBay.  It looked very cool and vintage, but was US voltage so didn't bother.

Are you getting any new toys for Christmas?   I've been saving up for months and was going to buy myself a present, but I figure I'd better wait until the room is ready.  Figure it best to get the boring but important stuff done first - like acoustics and wiring - rather than buying the fun stuff first.  My wish list grows everyday   .  Asked mum, but she refused to buy me music stuff, but she's willing to buy me a £245 camera, which is painful cuz £245 would pay for two power conditioners.  I guess there is always eBay, haha.  Think she's paying for a year's subscription of 'Mix Magazine', which I have wanted for ages now, so happy about that.

Gaz

[stainless]

I have a ADB3b. The one on e-Bay (I'm watching it, may get it to have a 2nd one...so I'm relieved it's the wrong voltage    for you...)

They no longer make this, and I do not know if they made one for European voltageb

Christmas goodies... depends-  thinking of several possibilities

maybe a Fender fretless Jazz bass...

or maybe UAD 610 with the UAD solo package....

or maybe a Peluso or Royer mic

or who nows.. I still have 'stuff" I need to put on e-Bay or CraigsList

yes, get the essential acoustic and wiring first, as hard as that may be

Mix is a good mag

Tape Op is another

[RawDepth]

...have a DI box in the live room, and then just feed it into a XLR line-level input on my audio interface in the control room.  Is this possible?

XLR and line-level are two different things. XLR is lower impedance for microphones. A DI box will lower the instrument impedance so that your interface or preamp thinks it is actually a microphone signal. It should work good for you.

They come in passive and active, (active requires either batteries or phantom power.) The active models will usually deliver a broader frequency range which will result in more rich low frequencies and smoother highs than the passive ones.

Countryman and Radial brands both make good ones. Countryman has a popular Type 85 that everyone seems to love for bass. It is also available in a stereo version called the Type 85S.

There is a lower cost copy of the Countryman Type 85 DI here at this US website. http://www.audiopile.net/products/DI_Boxes/LDB-202/LDB-202_cutsheet.shtml I hear that few people can tell them apart as far as sound quality goes. I think EWI maybe comes from Europe(?) You may be able to find some sold in your country if you dig a little.

I am not familiar with the Bellari name that Stainless mentioned. But his word is good enough for me.

[gaz7224]

Am I right in thinking that the ADB3b has a 120v to 12v mains adapter on it?  I think that's what the specs are telling me anyway, so presumably I would just need a 240v to 12v adapter, and it would work in the UK? 

Not buying one yet anyway.

Thanks Rawdepth.  I 'll look the ones you mentioned up.

[stainless]

yep... it's a wall wart  12 VAC

[stainless]

What'd you settle on?

I just got an Avalon U5 on e-Bay...

I hope it lives up to the hype

[gaz7224]

I'm undecided, but I'm edging towards the Avalon.  It's got +4 balanced outs, so I'm presuming I can put it in the live room and plug it directly into my pc interface, instead of using up one of my mic pre's. 

I'll see what you think of it first though.

The planning application for the live room is moving forward now.  Exciting!

[stainless]

I'll let you know. it should arrive mid week next. And I'm planning on patching it directly into the Lucid converter (meaning I'll be using it as bothDI/pre.... unless it doesn't have enough)

and I plan on mainly using for bass. It will replace the Bellari tube DI, which I'll use to replace one of the passive DI's elsewhere

I'll let you know what i think of the Avalon after if arrives and I've spent and evening or 2 with it

GREAT NEWS about the live room progress!

[stainless]

The Avalon is very very nice!!!   nice punchy phat bass with lots of headroom

[gaz7224]

The reviews say the same, so I'm gonna go with it.

Thanks mate.