Amp line out into D.I. box, is it possible ? Some help please

[Thin white duke]

Hi guys, just a little help please, i was wondering if it's possible or better to go from an amp line out to D.I. in and then into P.A.

In my case i would use the Vox Pathfinder line out.

Will i fry anything ?

Will it be any better in sound ?

Doing this i could use the Vox as a personal monitor and with the line out going into mixer board without using a mic.

I already do this but i don't use the D.I.,i go straight from line out to P.A. sometimes, but i thought that with a direct box could be better.

Cheers.

 

[nosuch]

It should work. Expect it to have a very bright and clean tone though – think Nile Rogers if you are using a strat. I've been doing it with my mesa boogie caliber 50 for a clean jazz tone with good results, too.
If you are using any driven tones (overdrive, distortion) or want to have the coloration of the speaker in the line you may like to use a DI-Box with some kind of "speaker emulation". There are a bunch out there using traditional analog filtering up to digital IR-processing.

This may be one of the cheapest: https://www.musicstore.de/it_IT/EUR...i-th-Guitar-Cab-Simulator-/art-GIT0004169-000

 

[Thin white duke]

It should work. Expect it to have a very bright and clean tone though – think Nile Rogers if you are using a strat. I've been doing it with my mesa boogie caliber 50 for a clean jazz tone with good results, too.
If you are using any driven tones (overdrive, distortion) or want to have the coloration of the speaker in the line you may like to use a DI-Box with some kind of "speaker emulation". There are a bunch out there using traditional analog filtering up to digital IR-processing.

This may be one of the cheapest: https://www.musicstore.de/it_IT/EUR...i-th-Guitar-Cab-Simulator-/art-GIT0004169-000

Thanks a lot, yes, i was thinking about the Mooer micro D.i. where you can switch the speaker emulation on and off, so nothing is going to be burned.... i was worried about this, so instead of the d.i. can also use a pedal preamp like the joyo american sound or tech 21 blonde ? do you think it is better ?

 

[nosuch]

If you want to use the amp, the DI is great. With preamp like the tech21 you won't need the amp. That's what I do sometimes with my fly rig: guitar > fly rig > DI > mixer. Good monitoring is crucial in that situation. But using the amp as a personal monitor works great. You just have to try how the pedal preamp and the preamp in the amp work together. You may like it or not. Personally I use either the preamp gadget OR an amp.
You could also just use a microphone in front of the speaker – totally old school.

 

[Thin white duke]

If you want to use the amp, the DI is great. With preamp like the tech21 you won't need the amp. That's what I do sometimes with my fly rig: guitar > fly rig > DI > mixer. Good monitoring is crucial in that situation. But using the amp as a personal monitor works great. You just have to try how the pedal preamp and the preamp in the amp work together. You may like it or not. Personally I use either the preamp gadget OR an amp.
You could also just use a microphone in front of the speaker – totally old school.

Yes, i go straight with the amp often but sometimes i need a personal speaker so using the line out of the amp is not bad, i was just wondering if using a d.i. or a preamp between the line out and the p.a. it would be better in sound, yes the mic in front is the best solution for the quality probably....

 

[Frodebro]

The line out is already a line-level signal, so the only real ‘need’ for a DI would be if you wanted to convert that signal to a low impedance one.

 

[kafka]

There are direct boxes that can handle a full speaker output. You still need to have a speaker connected, and all they do is divide the output down to line levels. I have a Rupert Neve that does that just fine. It's active, but there are probably passive ones that require no phantom power or power supply to do the same thing.

Also, there are attenuators that do the same thing. Those should be a pretty good solution for most any stage situation. Control your own monitor level with the attenuator, and give FOH the power amp out.

 

[VintageSG]

A D.I with cab simulation like the Behringer listed will sound a lot better than just the line out coming through the P.A speakers. Then there's the issue of cable length to the mixer/P.A
A D.I unit is a good tool to have. One that can cope with instrument/line and speaker levels and offers a rudimentary cab simulation is a Swiss Army knife. Once you have one, you'd be surprised how often it gets used.
I have the Behringer. It's been used in place of a mic ( in the speaker line ) and just at the end of the effects for 'NO on stage amps' shows. Straight to the stage snake and away.
For what a D.I like the Behringer or its competitors cost, try it. They're cheaper than yet another ruddy Tubescreamer that sounds like every other ruddy Tubescreamer, and far more use.

 

[Thin white duke]

The line out is already a line-level signal, so the only real ‘need’ for a DI would be if you wanted to convert that signal to a low impedance one.

This is a helpful tip, but i could have a speaker simulation if i use a d.i.after the line out, wouldn't it be better ?
Thanks.

 

[Thin white duke]

A D.I with cab simulation like the Behringer listed will sound a lot better than just the line out coming through the P.A speakers. Then there's the issue of cable length to the mixer/P.A
A D.I unit is a good tool to have. One that can cope with instrument/line and speaker levels and offers a rudimentary cab simulation is a Swiss Army knife. Once you have one, you'd be surprised how often it gets used.
I have the Behringer. It's been used in place of a mic ( in the speaker line ) and just at the end of the effects for 'NO on stage amps' shows. Straight to the stage snake and away.
For what a D.I like the Behringer or its competitors cost, try it. They're cheaper than yet another ruddy Tubescreamer that sounds like every other ruddy Tubescreamer, and far more use.

Yes but if i use the line out i can use the amp as a personal monitor, it was just an idea....

 

[Frodebro]

This is a helpful tip, but i could have a speaker simulation if i use a d.i.after the line out, wouldn't it be better ?
Thanks.

The easiest solution here would be a Radial JDX, which runs inline between the amp and speaker, and has a speaker-compensated low impedance XLR out. There are other options out there, but most of them that I’m aware of will cost more than your amp did.

 

[Thin white duke]

The easiest solution here would be a Radial JDX, which runs inline between the amp and speaker, and has a speaker-compensated low impedance XLR out. There are other options out there, but most of them that I’m aware of will cost more than your amp did.

I see, a bit complicated.
---I’m aware of will cost more than your amp did----
really true

 

[VintageSG]

Yes but if i use the line out i can use the amp as a personal monitor, it was just an idea....

That'll work.

 

[haggardfan1]

I researched this very thing a few months ago. The least expensive DI I found that could be switched to convert speaker level signal to XLR was a Whirlwind Director. (About $70.)

My old Peaveys don't have an easily accessible 1/4 connection going to their speakers, so I haven't used it for that application yet . It is a dead quiet and solidly built regular DI, so I can always use it for something.

Those of you who are using a speaker signal DI, are you splicing a plug or jack into the exposed speaker wires?

 

[nic'o'caster]

from the Pathfinder manual :
LINE OUTPUT Jack
This output carries a specially filtered signal for direct connection to a soundboard or recording console. This gives you a good sounding signal for recording or live work without having to mic up the amp.

Using a DI would not help a lot about the sound, it would just help fixing a ground loop causing hiss or hum !
Using a DI with speaker emulator like the amp1 Blubox would give good results but it's almost the price of the amp...

 

[1300 E Valencia]

I quote from the apparently impossible to access Vox website:

"HEADPHONE/LINE OUT Jack
This dual output carries a specially filtered signal for use with either headphones or for direct connection to a soundboard or recording console. The LINE OUT gives you a good sounding signal for recording or live work without having to mic up the amp.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Connecting the headphones here mutes the internal speaker...making this facility perfect for late night, “silent” practice!"

Now, the next issue would be: How far away from the mixing console is the amp? The Line Out on the Pathfinder is some kind of semi-normal, quarter-inch cable, and probably un-balanced. You may need an XLR balanced cable to go further than 25-30 feet to the mixer, in order to keep things quiet. In which case, you may want a D.I. box with an afore-mentioned XLR balanced output.

 

[Thin white duke]

from the Pathfinder manual :
LINE OUTPUT Jack
This output carries a specially filtered signal for direct connection to a soundboard or recording console. This gives you a good sounding signal for recording or live work without having to mic up the amp.

Using a DI would not help a lot about the sound, it would just help fixing a ground loop causing hiss or hum !
Using a DI with speaker emulator like the amp1 Blubox would give good results but it's almost the price of the amp...

Thanks a lot, very helpful....

 

[Thin white duke]

I quote from the apparently impossible to access Vox website:

"HEADPHONE/LINE OUT Jack
This dual output carries a specially filtered signal for use with either headphones or for direct connection to a soundboard or recording console. The LINE OUT gives you a good sounding signal for recording or live work without having to mic up the amp.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Connecting the headphones here mutes the internal speaker...making this facility perfect for late night, “silent” practice!"

Now, the next issue would be: How far away from the mixing console is the amp? The Line Out on the Pathfinder is some kind of semi-normal, quarter-inch cable, and probably un-balanced. You may need an XLR balanced cable to go further than 25-30 feet to the mixer, in order to keep things quiet. In which case, you may want a D.I. box with an afore-mentioned XLR balanced output.

Thanks a lot, it depends, sometimes is closer and sometimes not, maybe it's not worthy.....

 

[FMA]

The easiest solution here would be a Radial JDX, which runs inline between the amp and speaker, and has a speaker-compensated low impedance XLR out. There are other options out there, but most of them that I’m aware of will cost more than your amp did.

Came here to recommend that, or an H&K Red Box, which is a similar kind of deal.

 

[DaveKS]

Being as line/headphone out of that amp sounds like it has a bandpass filter which sort of simulates a speaker sim I’d find a used Tech21 Bass Driver DI.

Drive, extra EQ options to fine tune tone and xlr out to send a clean signal to board. I’ve used them with direct guitar stuff before, that drive and extra EQ option can really bring a direct signal to life. Don’t let bass moniker fool you, with a direct to board sound those EQ voicings on it fit perfectly for guitar use. Doing drop tune or baritone guitar set that bass control for 40hz. Mid shift at 500 or 1k is very obviously different in what it does.