Members guitarguy19 Posted June 8, 2012 Members Share Posted June 8, 2012 I'm adding a small synth (Roland Juno DI) to my rig for live use. Having never hooked up keys before, I'm wondering if I need a DI box?? I think I do because I just have an unbalanced "mono" out. I would like to adapt that into an xlr so that it can go into our board or into the snake at venues where the system is supplied. I have NO IDEA what to look for in a DI box...I've never even used one. What should I be looking for, and any recommendations on what to get? Looking for something solid for road use, small enough to mount on my guitar pedal board, and maybe not top of the line (I see them from $30 to $200) but solid quality. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members twostone Posted June 8, 2012 Members Share Posted June 8, 2012 Can't go wrong with this.. http://www.audiopile.net/products/DI_Boxes/FDB-101/FDB-101_cutsheet.shtml Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members MJastrzebski Posted June 8, 2012 Members Share Posted June 8, 2012 Radial Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members stunningbabe Posted June 8, 2012 Members Share Posted June 8, 2012 Can't go wrong with this.. http://www.audiopile.net/products/DI_Boxes/FDB-101/FDB-101_cutsheet.shtml Agree. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Flogger59 Posted June 8, 2012 Members Share Posted June 8, 2012 Countryman. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members guitarguy19 Posted June 8, 2012 Author Members Share Posted June 8, 2012 Can't go wrong with this.. http://www.audiopile.net/products/DI_Boxes/FDB-101/FDB-101_cutsheet.shtml Good enough. I'll pick one up! Nice price too! I'm sure our sound guy will tell me if I need to do anything different hooking it up...but I assume it's just mono out of the board, into the box, and xlr out from there? Should the attenuation switch generally be left at 0 for keyboards or is it usually necessary to lower the signal? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members stunningbabe Posted June 8, 2012 Members Share Posted June 8, 2012 Good enough. I'll pick one up! Nice price too! I'm sure our sound guy will tell me if I need to do anything different hooking it up...but I assume it's just mono out of the board, into the box, and xlr out from there? Should the attenuation switch generally be left at 0 for keyboards or is it usually necessary to lower the signal? My Keyboardist usually leaves it at 0. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members flanc Posted June 8, 2012 Members Share Posted June 8, 2012 You leave it at zero unless you are providing too much gain to the FOH mixer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Tomm Williams Posted June 8, 2012 Members Share Posted June 8, 2012 Countryman type 85 or Radial Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members lonotes Posted June 8, 2012 Members Share Posted June 8, 2012 Countryman type 85 or Radial I have a Countryman Type 85, as well as one of these; http://www.audiopile.net/products/DI_Boxes/LDB-101/LDB-101_cutsheet.shtml And one of these; http://www.audiopile.net/products/DI_Boxes/LDB-202/LDB-202_cutsheet.shtml For live, bar band work, I can't justify the cost of the Countryman. In a studio or on an "A" level tour, maybe, but I'd rather use my Avalon U5 in that case. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members fdew Posted June 8, 2012 Members Share Posted June 8, 2012 Countryman type 85 or Radial A countryman 85 will work fine, but there is no added benefit to using an active DI for a keyboard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Tomm Williams Posted June 8, 2012 Members Share Posted June 8, 2012 I have a Countryman Type 85, as well as one of these;http://www.audiopile.net/products/DI_Boxes/LDB-101/LDB-101_cutsheet.shtmlAnd one of these;http://www.audiopile.net/products/DI_Boxes/LDB-202/LDB-202_cutsheet.shtmlFor live, bar band work, I can't justify the cost of the Countryman. In a studio or on an "A" level tour, maybe, but I'd rather use my Avalon U5 in that case. True, but when you consider how much $$$$$$$ is usually invested in everything else, even a better quality DI is a pretty small investment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members lonotes Posted June 8, 2012 Members Share Posted June 8, 2012 True, but when you consider how much $$$$$$$ is usually invested in everything else, even a better quality DI is a pretty small investment. Even with more than $100 difference, I think you'll find that the EWI DI's are well thought of around these parts. I've used the Countryman and the EWI"s on bass, keys, and electronic drum modules in a live setting and I can't hear a difference. I just think that that $100 is better invested somewhere else, where it will make a difference. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members agedhorse Posted June 10, 2012 Members Share Posted June 10, 2012 Countryman type 85 or Radial WHY? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members agedhorse Posted June 10, 2012 Members Share Posted June 10, 2012 True, but when you consider how much $$$$$$$ is usually invested in everything else, even a better quality DI is a pretty small investment. Hint, for this application, the Countryman is a worse choice because of increased noise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members NUSound Posted June 10, 2012 Members Share Posted June 10, 2012 True, but when you consider how much $$$$$$$ is usually invested in everything else, even a better quality DI is a pretty small investment. A DI is nothing more than a balancing transformer with 1/4" ins and XLR outs in a protective shell... I've never really understood why people are willing to spend so much money on them (assuming you're not looking for something with on-board eq/etc.) That having been said, I do own Countryman and Radial DI's simply because they're more "rider friendly," but I use EWI's unless I'm asked for something different. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members sibyrnes Posted June 10, 2012 Members Share Posted June 10, 2012 A DI is nothing more than a balancing transformer with 1/4" ins and XLR outs in a protective shell... There can be a difference in the quality of the transformers. I like Whirlwind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Tomm Williams Posted June 10, 2012 Members Share Posted June 10, 2012 I SURRENDER Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members fdew Posted June 10, 2012 Members Share Posted June 10, 2012 There can be a difference in the quality of the transformers. I like Whirlwind. Whirlwind uses 3 different transformers for there DIs plus Lundahl and Jensen 5 total depending on the model. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members NUSound Posted June 10, 2012 Members Share Posted June 10, 2012 There can be a difference in the quality of the transformers. I like Whirlwind. In a double-blind test would you be able to pick them apart? I certainly can't. Maybe the extra $100 for a better transformer will mean it lasts longer... it's just a matter of whether that's worth it for you. I've had no reliability issues with EWI DI's (or Countryman or Radial for that matter.) For the average Joe playing weekend gigs at the bar, it's money that doesn't need to be spent IMO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Shaster Posted June 10, 2012 Members Share Posted June 10, 2012 Hint, for this application, the Countryman is a worse choice because of increased noise. The Countryman is active - wrong choice for this application. Passive would be the way to go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members agedhorse Posted June 11, 2012 Members Share Posted June 11, 2012 The problem with active DI's for this application is that there is more limited isolation available when phantom power is used, plus you are duplicating the active electronics already present in the keyboard. It's the worse of both worlds... AND you are paying a premium to boot. Most of the lower cost transformers by Rapco, Horizon, Whirlwind and EWI are really quite good for this application. I doubt that for this application anybody could tell any difference between the above 4 and a Jensen, Radial, Lundahl, Beyer, Triad-UTC, etc. in a double-blind test. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Miko Man Posted June 11, 2012 Members Share Posted June 11, 2012 Am I remembering correctly that the rule of thumb is that with active electronics, use a passive DI; with passive electronics in the instrument, use an active DI? Mark C. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Unalaska Posted June 11, 2012 Members Share Posted June 11, 2012 While I agree that the higher end DI's aren't right for the OP, the very cheapest can also be a problem. Case in point, I needed 4 channels of DI for a friend on a budget. Bought 1 stereo and 2 single OSP DI's. Out of the box 1 channel of the stereo and 1 mono DI didn't work. Opening them up, I was able to resolder the stereo one but not the single. And the transformers were noticably smaller and didn't sound as good as the old rapco DB100's. Nice thing is I don't have to use them, but my friend does. boo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members agedhorse Posted June 11, 2012 Members Share Posted June 11, 2012 Am I remembering correctly that the rule of thumb is that with active electronics, use a passive DI; with passive electronics in the instrument, use an active DI? Mark C. yes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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