using DI boxes backwards to REAMP?

third world · 15th November 2007

just got a radial jdi, i've read a few posts about people using them backwards as a reamp box, but haven't read whether it is safe to do this. will running the di backwards damage the hardware in any way?

thanks

vernier · 15th November 2007

I think it shouldn't work. Wish it would though.

feyshay · 15th November 2007

The JDI manual talks about using that box as a reverse DI (for the purpose of reamping). If the manual doesn't say it, then it is on the Radial website in their discussion about DI's.
I have one. It does not work as well as the X-Amp. It will not damage the JDI, but some of the tone seems to be lost and it is noisier.

Ironklad Audio · 15th November 2007

possible? yes

ideal? no

Kiwiburger · 15th November 2007

This subject gets answered about 3 times a week lately - plenty of threads to search through.

Think about what a passive DI is and does, and think about what you need a reamp box to do:

A DI presents a hi-z load to an instrument pickup, so it doesn't strangle the sound by pulling excessive current. It matches this to the low-z input of a microphone preamp. It does this with a transformer that has more turns on the primary compared to less turns on the secondary.

So the DI does two things - it matches the impedance, and it lowers/attenuates the strong instrument signal down to a weak microphone level.

With a reamp box, what you are trying to do is to take a very strong line level output, and drop it down to a lower instrument level. Impedance can be hi-z to hi-z.

So a DI box lowers the signal when used the normal way, therefor it boosts the signal when used backwards. This is exactly the opposite of what you need in a reamp. Instead of the signal getting lowered, it gets boosted.

This forces you to lower your DAW fader, or set the output of your D/A converter lower - which causes the poor signal to noise performance.

A properly designed reamp box is a much better bet than a reversed DI.

Barish · 15th November 2007

Search my previous posts on this topic. I'd explained it in detail why it wouldn't work sometime ago.

B.

Edit: I just did the search myself, there you go: idiots guide to re-amping?

15th November 2007	#1
third world Gear nut Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 115 Thread Starter	using DI boxes backwards to REAMP? just got a radial jdi, i've read a few posts about people using them backwards as a reamp box, but haven't read whether it is safe to do this. will running the di backwards damage the hardware in any way? thanks

15th November 2007	#5
Kiwiburger Lives for gear Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 4,075	This subject gets answered about 3 times a week lately - plenty of threads to search through. Think about what a passive DI is and does, and think about what you need a reamp box to do: A DI presents a hi-z load to an instrument pickup, so it doesn't strangle the sound by pulling excessive current. It matches this to the low-z input of a microphone preamp. It does this with a transformer that has more turns on the primary compared to less turns on the secondary. So the DI does two things - it matches the impedance, and it lowers/attenuates the strong instrument signal down to a weak microphone level. With a reamp box, what you are trying to do is to take a very strong line level output, and drop it down to a lower instrument level. Impedance can be hi-z to hi-z. So a DI box lowers the signal when used the normal way, therefor it boosts the signal when used backwards. This is exactly the opposite of what you need in a reamp. Instead of the signal getting lowered, it gets boosted. This forces you to lower your DAW fader, or set the output of your D/A converter lower - which causes the poor signal to noise performance. A properly designed reamp box is a much better bet than a reversed DI. __________________ My carbon footprint is bigger than yours.

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15th November 2007	#2
vernier Lives for gear Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 6,071	I think it shouldn't work. Wish it would though.

15th November 2007	#3
feyshay Lives for gear Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 1,359	The JDI manual talks about using that box as a reverse DI (for the purpose of reamping). If the manual doesn't say it, then it is on the Radial website in their discussion about DI's. I have one. It does not work as well as the X-Amp. It will not damage the JDI, but some of the tone seems to be lost and it is noisier.

15th November 2007	#4
Ironklad Audio Lives for gear Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 548	possible? yes ideal? no

15th November 2007	#6
Barish Lives for gear Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Istanbul, Turkey Posts: 1,703	Search my previous posts on this topic. I'd explained it in detail why it wouldn't work sometime ago. B. Edit: I just did the search myself, there you go: idiots guide to re-amping?