A16 Ultra, guitar, and DI box

[asktoby]

Normal DI boxes, like the Behringer DI100, convert electric guitar signals to allow them to be connected to microphone inputs.
Therefore, if I want to connect an electric guitar to an A16 Ultra, I'm assuming I'll need a DI box and a mic pre-amp?

[garyb]

of course!..or at least a mic pre with a high impedance input. the DI box merely converts the high impedance guitar signal into a low impedance signal. the mic pre's purpose is to raise the very low level mic signal or guitar pickup's signal up to line level. a guitar pre would also do this.

the A16 is a Analog To Digital and a Digital To Analog converter. it changes the signal's form, from electrical signal to a stream of numbers. it requires a line level signal to do a good job. if the signal's level is too low, the sound will lack bit depth and it will be grainy. if it's too hot, the result will be unlistenable distortion.

each tool has a purpose, and while there ARE ad/da converters with mic pres, the best converters are just converters. this makes sense because an engineer may want and have several different mic pres that he might use on any given track.

[astroman]

forget about that Behringer....
here's an example from an Art Tube small pre/DI
there are some boxes to compare (on the left side of the page), just try to pick the same instrument with same strings and PUs and you get a fair impression about the difference to expect for your investment.
Bass is even better to show the flaws, as it's more demanding to process than a guitar

cheers, Tom

[Janni]

right astro!
I'm really happy with this one:
http://www.tech21nyc.com/products/sansamp/rbi.html
I use it for my p-bass and for my strat. Can't live without it anymore!
For bass and 'rough' clean gits I really use the drive and EQ but for distorted
or anything else I use the direct out which has it's own (neutral) amp stage.
brilliant concept!

[CarvinGuitarFreak]

Hi,

If you are only looking for a single DI/preamp for tracking, the Daking One or Focusrite One are excellent. I favour the sound of the Daking but Focusrite is no slouch. Both are amazing and good value: fantastic for guitar, bass and vocals.

Both are fantastic with Dynatube and Scope. The focusrite has a digital converter which uses the same chip as the Lynx 2 and sounds crystal clear. The Daking is more portable.

Don't forget with preamps and equipment in general, 'buy cheap, buy twice'.

Laters,
CGF