What is function of a Direct Box?

[rockinangus]

hrough all my stuff I have I was looking through some snakes, splitters and mic cables that I had in my road case with my mics and I found an old whirlwind Direct Box, Now what do the Direct Box's do? I know they are used in to the studio to DI the bass, and I've seen bass players DI their bass live going through the board and out their rig. What is the function of the DI box supposed to do? Does it give it a clean flat signal to the board and mixer?

 

[Rich_S]

Re: What is function of a Direct Box?

Yes, a direct box gives a clean, flat signal to two amplifiers, usually a bass amp and the PA. It also provides two other important functions. It has a transformer (or some active amplifier circuit) to convert the high-impedance bass (or keyboard) signal to low-impedance to drive the long snake run to the PA mixer. The 1/4-inch out to the bass amp remains high-impedance, while most PA's use low-impedance inputs.

The final function is to provide isolation between the stage amp and the PA. This is another function of the transformer, ann it prevents ground loop hum from entering the system.

Where in "upstate" are you?

 

[rockinangus]

Re: What is function of a Direct Box?

I am in Wayne Country, Ontario New York, about half hour from Rochester. You are 3 and a half hours away from me haha. My brother used to attend suny potsdam up there.