DI Into Interface or Direct Into Interface?

[thebrig]

I'm a bit of a novice when it comes to home recording and I'm wondering whether I should plug straight into the audio interface, or should I Di into the audio interface?

 

Up until now, I normally plug straight into the interface with pretty good results, but I'm wondering what you more experienced guys out there normally do.

[lurksalot]

I plug straight into the interface , I have enough stuff confusing my head already , I don’t want any more stuff in the chain 😁

[WinterMute]

Some interfaces have DI inputs, but in absence of that, a good DI into the mic amp will ensure the right impedance for your bass signal into the pre-amp.

 

Plugging a bass directly into a line input will yield a signal, but it won't be the best signal you can have, most bass outputs are instrument level, very few have balanced line level outputs.

[Rumple]

I plug directly into the interface's instrument input, I think most of them have this option, I'm not sure a DI into a mic input would make any difference, unless you bought an expensive DI box I guess.

[justgone1]

Yep... I echo these comments. Most interfaces will change the input impedance. 

Ie: mic or line input. 

I've always plugged straight into the interface and tweaked the gain as necessary. 

Apart from a presonus (can't remember which model) which I ended up throwing in the recycling.  Lol

I could not adjust the gain to suit with that, everything was LOUD! LOUD?!! /!? ::

I have a steinberg ur44 now. It rocks! 

[Sibob]

Most (decent) interfaces will have Mic/Line/Instrument inputs (with the instrument input essentially being a DI).

Mic input will almost certainly be an XLR connection. Line/Inst inputs will almost always be 1/4" connections and have a switch to go between Line/Inst, as they are different levels.

 

The only real reason you'd go through a 3rd party DI is if it imparted a particular tone that you wanted to capture.

 

Si // Focusrite