9th January 2008
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#1 | | Gear interested
Joined: Sep 2006 Location: Columbus, Ohio
Posts: 21
Thread Starter  | DI for Recording Synths?
Wondering if I should be using a DI to record synths/keys/misc. I have just been plugging my synths into a Mackie 1202vlz mixer (using 1/4" instrument cable) which then goes to my interface and then to Cubase. I have heard a lot of talk about running them into a DI first and converting them to balanced XLR, then to the mixer. Is there any benefit to this in a home studio? I dont want to buy any equipment that isnt neccessary. If I do need one, I was going to get the Radial Pro D2 DI. With that I can run 2 synths mono to the mixer or 1 stereo. Any advice is appreciated.
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Jon  | 
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9th January 2008
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#2 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Apr 2004 Location: Miami, FL
Posts: 3,827
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Good question, as I would like to know to.. I'm getting a pacifica.. how good are the DI's ?
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9th January 2008
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#3 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 4,075
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What is your interface? Many of them have line level inputs that a synth can drive directly. It's worth a try. You may find the Mackie is adding nothing desirable. Although it's also possible that you might like the Mackie as a distortion/noise box - try both ways and use whatever you prefer.
Most DI boxes, and all passive DI boxes, reduce the instrument level down to mic level. That forces you to use a mic preamp (or mixer with mic preamps), and it's only worth it if the mic preamps are very good/quiet and has a color that you like.
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9th January 2008
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#4 | | Gear maniac
Joined: Apr 2006 Location: Out there!
Posts: 284
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Like Kiwi said, if you like the Mackie pres there is no issue going unbalanced into it if your cable runs are not long. I will typically use the radial to get it back to mic level if I want to get the transformer goodness out of a high end pre.
~Lerxst
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10th January 2008
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#5 | | Gear maniac
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 289
| DI box for unbalanced digital piano?
i have just bought a kawai MP5 and often use the onboard piano (they are quite good without the weird harmonics of a lot of soft painos i.e. N.I. Akoustik)
however the MP5 only has unbalanced outputs that i run straight into my RME firerface 400 and then into Cubase.
Is there any benefit to adding a DI to convert the Kawai signal to balanced before going into the RME?
i do not have a DI so i cannot test to listen for improvments in recording.
thanks
Spek
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10th January 2008
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#6 | | Gear maniac
Joined: Apr 2006 Location: Out there!
Posts: 284
| Quote:
Originally Posted by Spec 
Is there any benefit to adding a DI to convert the Kawai signal to balanced before going into the RME?
i do not have a DI so i cannot test to listen for improvments in recording?
thanks
Spek | I believe the RME has two balanced pre's on it to run mic or line level, so you shouldn't need to run a DI for it - if you're happy with the pre's on the RME and you're getting enough signal. Like I said before, I only use the DI's when I'm running outboard pre's that I want to use the mic input due to transformers. My converters have built in pre's, but I do not care for them so I run DI's into some outboard pre's with the radial.
Not sure if you can bypass the pre's on the RME, but unless you're going outboard and you don't have long unbalanced cable runs, you should be fine with what you have.
~Lerxst
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10th January 2008
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#7 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 563
| Quote:
Originally Posted by Jose Mrochek Good question, as I would like to know to.. I'm getting a pacifica.. how good are the DI's ? | They are good, I use them all the time.
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10th January 2008
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#8 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Nov 2005 Location: NYC
Posts: 1,335
| Quote:
Originally Posted by Jose Mrochek Good question, as I would like to know to.. I'm getting a pacifica.. how good are the DI's ? | +1 really good on synth's too!!
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10th January 2008
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#9 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Jan 2006 Location: Florida
Posts: 1,773
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I love using my GT Bricks to add some tube mojo to my synths. If I want a dirty, 'vintage' (old and marginally lo-fi) sound, I use my Shure M67s..you just cant get that sound with a plugin!!
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10th January 2008
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#10 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 831
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I run my Korg Karma into my 2-610 and it sounds great to me. One thing I really like is being able to take off some low end. A lot of those sounds are hyped for deaf djs =)
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10th January 2008
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#11 | | Gear maniac
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 164
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I use a Pacifica on all synth tracks, which is a lot. It's adds nice depth.
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10th January 2008
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#12 | | Gear interested
Joined: Sep 2006 Location: Columbus, Ohio
Posts: 21
Thread Starter |
My interface is just a E-Mu 1212m, which is 2 analog in/2 out. So I use the Mackie mixer for the Pre's and just so I can have everthing plugged in. A lot of high end Pre's seem to have DI/instrument inputs as well, so I wouldnt need a DI in that case would I?
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10th January 2008
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#13 | | Gear interested
Joined: Sep 2006 Location: Columbus, Ohio
Posts: 21
Thread Starter |
...one more question, how short or rather how long can the cable runs be before I would run into any issues with unbalanced cables?
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10th January 2008
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#14 | | Gear maniac
Joined: Apr 2006 Location: Out there!
Posts: 284
| Quote:
Originally Posted by D.W. Nightshade My interface is just a E-Mu 1212m, which is 2 analog in/2 out. So I use the Mackie mixer for the Pre's and just so I can have everthing plugged in. A lot of high end Pre's seem to have DI/instrument inputs as well, so I wouldnt need a DI in that case would I? | On high end pre's that have a DI built it's not always a question of need as it is preference. If it has a DI built in it will work fine, but not all pre's with built in DI's use the input transformer - so if you desire to get that transformer in the signal path then a DI would be required. Quote:
Originally Posted by D.W. Nightshade ...one more question, how short or rather how long can the cable runs be before I would run into any issues with unbalanced cables? | Typically 25' on high impedance cables is max.
~Lerst
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10th January 2008
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#15 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Dec 2007 Location: Brooklyn, NY
Posts: 1,304
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If you don't want to buy any gear i wouldn't use a DI either. I almost always DI synths with a REDDI because it adds great tone, but an inexpensive DI isn't going to really help you there.
Are you having any problems with your tone as it is? Just trying to experiment??
Jeremy
Last edited by jeremycox; 10th January 2008 at 05:48 PM..
Reason: original post not relevant
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10th January 2008
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#16 | | Gear interested
Joined: Sep 2006 Location: Columbus, Ohio
Posts: 21
Thread Starter |
no problems, just experimenting/curious. Im thinking (just to get a better sound maybe) of just getting that GT Brick as a next step before throwing down some serious $$$ for a good pre. Actually this brings me to another question. If I add a pre to my existing setup, would I have to get an external AD/DA converter or can I still use the interface I have? Any pre is going to have an XLR out which I would then have to go to a 1/4 on the interface.
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10th January 2008
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#17 | | Lives for gear
Joined: May 2007 Location: Netherlands
Posts: 745
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does recording synths running trough a signal chain like this benefit from the DI soundwise (is the sound better?)
synth -> DI(active, passive, does it matter?) -> input soundcard
In other words, can I improve the sound with using a DI? And if so, does it need to be passive or active? I can imagine that active DI's add some colouration.
That said, for a small budget (student budget that is), wat is highly recommended?
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10th January 2008
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#18 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Dec 2007 Location: Brooklyn, NY
Posts: 1,304
| Quote:
Originally Posted by rainy-taxi does recording synths running trough a signal chain like this benefit from the DI soundwise (is the sound better?)
synth -> DI(active, passive, does it matter?) -> input soundcard
In other words, can I improve the sound with using a DI? And if so, does it need to be passive or active? I can imagine that active DI's add some colouration.
That said, for a small budget (student budget that is), wat is highly recommended? | No. After a DI you generally need to run into a Preamp. Running line level in to a high quality interface is in my opinion the best option on a budget.
Nightshade--You should be able to use the interface you have. Just run the preamp with an XLR to TRS cable right into the line level input on your interface.
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10th January 2008
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#19 | | Lives for gear
Joined: May 2007 Location: Netherlands
Posts: 745
| Quote:
Originally Posted by jeremycox No. After a DI you generally need to run into a Preamp. Running line level in to a high quality interface is in my opinion the best option on a budget.
Nightshade--You should be able to use the interface you have. Just run the preamp with an XLR to TRS cable right into the line level input on your interface. | Thanks. Then Ill just stick to my presonus firestudio, though I may get one of those sansamp di's/modellers if I get a guitar this year.
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