DI box necessary for using amp sims and impulses?

[WeBowInItsAura]

I've been using impulses with PODfarm for some time now, and now I've been hearing people talking about how you need a DI box to do stuff like this. I've just been going directly into my Mbox and have been getting okay results? Should I get a DI box as well? I guess i'm just not sure what a DI box really does. Helps amplify your guitar signal? Someone please help me put and explain!

-Thanks!

 

[guitarguru777]

I personally am not convinced you NEED one. I have never used a DI box and I just run right into my Focusrite interface without problems. Now remember every interface is different, and I have never done it with a MBOX, but if it sounds good to your ears then go with it.

 

[AaronDylan]

The Pro´s here record with expensive high quality DI-Boxes.

A DI-Box turns your unsymetrical Guitar Signal into a symetric Signal!

You go out of the DI Box with an XLR Mikrofone cable and have more power in the signal i guess!
Expensive DI Boxes record less noise then going directly into the interface!

I compared both signals one with a DI Box and one directly into the Interface and the DI sounded better somehow! It wasn´t as dull and more brilliant.

 

[John_C]

A DI-Box turns your unsymetrical Guitar Signal into a symetric Signal!

The words you're looking for here are unbalanced and balanced. This isn't the main purpose of the DI box for recording guitars, the higher impedance offered by a DI input is much more important.

 

[LeSedna]

I'd love someone to record a DI through the interface and one through a DI box, I wanna know how much I could benefit of buying a DI box myself.

 

[OneDaySky]

The words you're looking for here are unbalanced and balanced. This isn't the main purpose of the DI box for recording guitars, the higher impedance offered by a DI input is much more important.

^^^^

You go out of the DI Box with an XLR Mikrofone cable and have more power in the signal i guess!

Is going out the DI box via XLR the right thing to be going? I normally go into the DI Box and out again via the jack into my interface. Am i making the DI Box void of its purpose?

 

[Maybelater]

The words you're looking for here are unbalanced and balanced. This isn't the main purpose of the DI box for recording guitars, the higher impedance offered by a DI input is much more important.

+1

 

[botus99]

In my experience using a DI box brings much more clarity in the picking and just sounds more 3D overall. You can definitely get away without one and get a "decent" or "good" sounding tone, but a DI box will help out with a lower noise floor and better representation of the guitar

 

[XxSicRokerxX]

you dont need one. Ive thought about this one myself too a few times. But i have heard several but i mean several tracks on here w people using interfaces (UX1, UX2, studio ux) and have they sounded great. And from what ive heard as long as you have a HI-Z impedance input of 1 Mohm thats all you need. My interface (toneport UX2) is 1Mohm so i know im fine. If your interface isnt 1Mohm then i would suggest lookin into another interface or buying a DI box. But i truly believe you don't need one.

 

[DanLights]

I'd love someone to record a DI through the interface and one through a DI box, I wanna know how much I could benefit of buying a DI box myself.

http://www.ultimatemetal.com/forum/...on-focusrite-ins-vs-countryman-type-85-a.html

You're welcome

 

[Damage, Inc.]

A DI-Box turns your unsymetrical Guitar Signal into a symetric Signal!

You go out of the DI Box with an XLR Mikrofone cable and have more power in the signal i guess!
Expensive DI Boxes record less noise then going directly into the interface!

Wrong. An unbalanced signal doesn't have more power than a balanced one. A balanced signal is less noisy for long cable runs; if you don't run your cables more than 20' a balanced signal is unnecessary.

However, one issue to watch for is that plugging a guitar straight into a mic preamp may not load the pickups properly. You really want a 1 Megohm input impedance for your guitar to sound the way it should. Any interface designed for guitar will take this into account.

EDIT--Sorry, someone already mentioned most of this. Gotta read all the replies before I post!

 

[musickey]

heres a question along the same lines, what do you guys think would be best in my situation, i have a Presonus ADL 600, should i use the instrument inputs to capture di's or should i run the guitar into a di box then into the mic input on the ADL?

 

[rfahey86]

I was using the instrument port on my lexicon and then on my mbox for a while, and it didn't sound too bad. I bought a used ARTcessories Phantom I DI for 20 bucks. I figured at most I'd lose 20 bucks if I didn't like it. I have been using it ever since. It seems to make the tone much more clear. Just my 2 cents.