Difference between line out and DI

[Jigster]

Any info on the difference on DI and line out please?

And is line out still subject to the same principles of being of being fed pre or post eq?

Thanks

[Tengu]

Line out is a far hotter signal, .5 to 2 Volts compared to millivolts for Mic level. It is usually provided to drive another amplifier rather than sending to a mixer.

Most sound men will want a Mic level, balanced signal that matches everything else arriving at their desk and if you are connecting via a snake then it will be down balanced XLR connections.

If I don't mic a guitar amp I will run a short lead from the line out of the amp to a DI box and from there to the desk.

A line out is normally a feed from the preamp so is more likely to be post EQ. You would have to check the individual unit's documentation to be sure.

[Jigster]

okay ta - does any of that go towards explaining why sound guy at my gig last night did a line out connection for my amp? I understand the DI principle but am struggling to see the diff to line out!!

[Captain Rumble]

[quote name='Tengu' post='655193' date='Nov 15 2009, 02:23 PM']Line out is a far hotter signal, .5 to 2 Volts compared to millivolts for Mic level. It is usually provided to drive another amplifier rather than sending to a mixer.

Most sound men will want a Mic level, balanced signal that matches everything else arriving at their desk and if you are connecting via a snake then it will be down balanced XLR connections.

If I don't mic a guitar amp I will run a short lead from the line out of the amp to a DI box and from there to the desk.

A line out is normally a feed from the preamp so is more likely to be post EQ. You would have to check the individual unit's documentation to be sure.[/quote]
Hey someone else from Portsmouth

[Tengu]

Does your amp have both line and DI out then?

Did the sound man connect your Line Out to a DI box or run it straight to his desk?

Given the choice between a DI and a Line I would take the former every time. Or mic the amp if there is room.

Edited November 15, 2009 by Tengu

[Bill Fitzmaurice]

[quote name='Jigster' post='655219' date='Nov 15 2009, 10:15 AM']okay ta - does any of that go towards explaining why sound guy at my gig last night did a line out connection for my amp? I understand the DI principle but am struggling to see the diff to line out!! [/quote]
Line out is unbalanced, which is fine if used to go to a slave power amp that's plugged in to the same AC outlet or power strip as your amp, but can lead to serious ground loop noise when run to a remote device, like a mixer. DI is a balanced send, which eliminates the potential for ground loop noise.

[fatback]

[quote name='Bill Fitzmaurice' post='655467' date='Nov 15 2009, 09:56 PM']Line out is unbalanced, which is fine if used to go to a slave power amp that's plugged in to the same AC outlet or power strip as your amp, but can lead to serious ground loop noise when run to a remote device, like a mixer. DI is a balanced send, which eliminates the potential for ground loop noise.[/quote]

Do amps with DI usually have it post or pre eq?

fatback

[Bill Fitzmaurice]

[quote name='fatback' post='655917' date='Nov 16 2009, 08:11 AM']Do amps with DI usually have it post or pre eq?

fatback[/quote]
Better amps have a switch to choose either.

[fatback]

Mmm. Must check LM2 specs (currently gassing for).

fatback

[Jigster]

[quote name='Tengu' post='655454' date='Nov 15 2009, 09:38 PM']Does your amp have both line and DI out then?

Did the sound man connect your Line Out to a DI box or run it straight to his desk?

Given the choice between a DI and a Line I would take the former every time. Or mic the amp if there is room.[/quote]

Hi yeah amp has both options, and he used the line out - I often think I'd prefer to be mic'd but there generally seem to be some differing opinions out there on whether bass rigs shud be mic'd or di'd