Questions about DI boxes, speakerload, preamps... HELP!

[Guest]

Could I put a cable from the extension speaker jack on my eg. bluesbreaker combo directly to a tube preamp (for example: http://www.studioprojects.com/vtb1.html) and the into the line in on my soundcard? Or would that fry something?

in other words, which is right/best of the following.

1. Amp (2nd speaker out) -> Tube preamp -> Soundcard (line-in)

2. Amp (2nd speaker out) -> DI-Box (H&K Red Box) -> Tube preamp -> Soundcard (line-in)

3. Amp (1st speaker out) -> DI-Box (H&K Red Box) -> Amps speakers and to Tube preamp -> Soundcard (line-in)

Thanks!

 

[marvar]

Re: Questions about DI boxes, speakerload, preamps... HELP!

If you put a speaker out into any line level input, you will most likely cause damage to both units.

 

[Gr8Scott]

Re: Questions about DI boxes, speakerload, preamps... HELP!

Speaker outs can only go to speakers or attenuators. Buy yourself a Weber VST or a Hotplate and use the line out on them.

 

[marvar]

Re: Questions about DI boxes, speakerload, preamps... HELP!

The H & K Red Box is made for speaker level out- but why do you want to use an amp out, into a dist and in to a sound card. Seems like alot of needless stuff to me. Do you really need that much gain/distortion?

 

[Guest]

Re: Questions about DI boxes, speakerload, preamps... HELP!

I think you misunderstood me a little.

I want record my amp, through a DI Box... not by micing the speaker. The tube preamp that I'm talking about wouldn't be there for distortion... It would be used as a studio mic preamp for recording vocals through a diaphragm mic as well. More for warmth not for gain.

But I guess, this is the way to go then or?

Amp (speaker out) -> DI-Box (H&K Red Box) -> Tube preamp -> Soundcard (line-in)

The same way as when recording by micing amp speakers:

Mic -> Tube preamp -> Soundcard (line-in)

 

[muttonchopsrule]

Re: Questions about DI boxes, speakerload, preamps... HELP!

just out of curiousity...why do you not want to just use a mic?

 

[J Moose]

Re: Questions about DI boxes, speakerload, preamps... HELP!

Yes.

You'll blow up your guitar amp.

And that little "toob" micamp thingy too.

Be a conformist like everyone else in the world.

Get a microphone and stick it somewhere near the amp.

Press big red button & play a little!

Record music! Be happy!

Don't blow up your amp.

 

[marvar]

Re: Questions about DI boxes, speakerload, preamps... HELP!

Sorry, I'm not following what you are wanting to do-

 

[muttonchopsrule]

Re: Questions about DI boxes, speakerload, preamps... HELP!

after reading up on what the red box does (never heard of it before), it appears that you can feed your speaker level signal through the red box, and take the mic level signal from the red box and into a preamp. but setting this up wrong could still wreck all your gear.

but i still don't understand why you wouldn't want to just put a mic in front of your amp.

 

[Guest]

Re: Questions about DI boxes, speakerload, preamps... HELP!

Seems like the H&K Red Boxes aren't that common as I thought. To all that say that I'll blow my amp up. You CAN feed a speaker signal to a H&K Red Box and then from the "Balanced Out" to a Line in/Mic in on a soundcard, mixer or similar. That's what they are made for.

But the first question is. Can I feed a speaker signal directly to the Studio Projects VTB-1 without frying stuff? Their homepage says that it works as a DI Box as well. But I don't think it's possible to feed a speaker signal directly to it. Since they aren't designed for that.

The other question is. Since my amp has a extension speaker jack, could I use that for the Red Box through that. Not having to connect it in between the amp and the speakers on the first speaker input?

Why not a mic? I wan't to record through a Red Box because I can't record my amp a high levels at all since I live in an apartment. And micing a speaker and playing at low levels just don't work (alot of background noise comes through, we all know that). So using a redbox would solve those problems.

(And if I decide to upgrade my recording gear I'll be getting a good mic as well for vocals mainly, but I need this option for my amp now that I live in an apartment.)

 

[ericmeyer4]

Re: Questions about DI boxes, speakerload, preamps... HELP!

even if you use the extension speaker jack you will still need to have it hooked to a speaker.