2 Pix of the last mentioned DIY DI. For the purposes here you could do
without the second 1/4" jack (a bypass that usually goes to the players
amplifier) and probably the (red) groundlift. Without those the enclosure
could be smaller, or you could fit a second transformer and jacks for
stereo.
The first mark of something cheap to stay away from would be the lack of
the mumetal shielding you can see on this transfomer.
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/xa7ousbv49j2rqz/AADv7LpyZnXytpdpdeJUuy3ma?dl=3D0
On Wed, Feb 18, 2015 at 10:46 AM, Keith Smith <> wrote:
> I used the ART Dual DI for that video, probably the same transformers as
> Emanuel and I'm very happy, except for the weight and cables.
>
> Scott, thanks for the more fulsome DI coverage. I think we could safely
> add Radial to the top quality passive list. I've never used active DI's, =
so
> I have nothing to add there.
>
> I can safely assert from early experience that the $20 variety of passive=
s
> are absolute, criminally vile junk. A total waste of labor and material
> that could have been used in something useful. I suspect the ART's are as
> cheap as one can go with any confidence in the direction of a 'road worth=
y'
> DI.
>
> That doesn't preclude buying a Jensen or Sowter transformer and putting i=
t
> in suitable, lighter enclosure. I have one here that's in a little Hammon=
d
> 1550a <http://www.hammondmfg.com/1550.htm> and it's been great.
> k
>
>
>
> On Wed, Feb 18, 2015 at 8:59 AM, Scott Fraser
> [naturerecordists] <> wrote:
>
>>
>>
>> < I just use what's known in the music business as a DI (for converting
>> high
>> impedance guitar outputs to match with mic preamps). They're just a
>> transformer in a steel box with 2 1/4" TR (I/O)and one XLR output. The
>> downside of DI's is that they're usually built for rough stage/road use,
>> are bulletproof and probably heavier than you want. I use a dual one tha=
t
>> weighs over a Kg. Not nice, but I don't hike far and it works very well.
>> That does make that preamp I linked to look rather attractive if you wan=
t
>> something light. >
>>
>> Direct Inject boxes, or DIs, come in two flavors: as described above,
>> with an impedance converting transformer, or alternatively, containing a=
n
>> active opamp circuit to convert an unbalanced high impedance source to l=
ow
>> impedance balanced. The active DIs have the advantage of lower cost, low=
er
>> weight, & lower insertion loss, but require phantom or battery power.
>> Transformers have the advantage of superior RF rejection, require no pow=
er,
>> but are heavy, expensive & there is some loss of gain. DIs are all over =
the
>> map quality-wise, & you definitely get what you pay for. The low cost
>> models will definitely degrade audio. Count on $150 & up for a pristine
>> quality unit. In the studio world the Countryman type85 active DI is
>> pretty much the gold standard. I use Countrymans with home made piezo
>> contact pickups & they provide a very good rendition of the very bad
>> frequency response of piezo elements.
>>
>> SF
>>
>>
>>
>
>
>
> --
> Keith Smith - KeithSmith.ca_Freelance Guitarist & Location Recording
> Service <http://www.keithsmith.ca>
>
>
--
Keith Smith - KeithSmith.ca_Freelance Guitarist & Location Recording Servic=
e
<http://www.keithsmith.ca>
|