Vintage Synth Explorer Forums

What's the best way to record synths DI? Any tips?

People have recommended I use a Radial DI box, but what's the difference between that and a preamp with a DI input?

What are you patching your synth into, a mixer, a sound card, etc.????

DI boxes are normally used for guitars for impedance matching and reduction to microphone signal levels.

Synths have line-level outputs and have no need to use a DI box.

Why not search the forum? We only have about 2 dozen threads on DIs and Pres for synths...

I'm going direct into a Fireface 400, which is quite a good converter for the money. I've heard that DI boxes greatly improve the sound, superfluous as they may be in such a situation.

Best way to improve sound is to learn what you are doing, not buying magical gear that does it for you.

Erotic Cabaret wrote:I've heard that DI boxes greatly improve the sound

Yes, you get some coloration from the transformer (in passive DIs) and from the preamp circuit (in active DIs). I agree with tallow, though...only really matters if every link in your signal chain is pristine.

Well, I need to buy DIs for use in the studio when I'm recording to tape. I'm just wondering what the difference between a passive Radial DI and an expensive preamp-DI is...

The difference in the Radial is the quality of the transformer. They use Jensen transformers, which are renown for their very transparent, hi-fi sound. The transformer they use is normally about $80 if you were to buy it from Jensen yourself, so you can see where a lot of Radial's costs come from.

You can make your own DI. There's a few choices for high quality DI transformers out there, including Jensen, Cinemag, Sowter, and Lundhal. I actually prefer Cinemags most of the time to Jensen (Dean Jensen and Ed Reichenbach are both related to Electrodyne and Quad Eight, irrc); they are a bit more... I hate to say it, but warm sounding to me. A little less fizzy in the high end, but Jensens are certainly great sounding transformers. It's all about taste. Lundahls are very clinical and flat. What you put in is what you get out.

For ease, just go with the Radials. They are worth every penny, imo.

Erotic Cabaret wrote:Well, I need to buy DIs for use in the studio when I'm recording to tape.

You don't need to, unless you want to slightly change the sound coming from the synth.

madtheory wrote:

Erotic Cabaret wrote:Well, I need to buy DIs for use in the studio when I'm recording to tape.

You don't need to, unless you want to slightly change the sound coming from the synth.

Well, obviously my synth tracks will sound better going from a passive DI into a boutique preamp or, conversely, into a boutique direct box with gain. The question is: which is better?

madtheory wrote:

Erotic Cabaret wrote:Well, I need to buy DIs for use in the studio when I'm recording to tape.

You don't need to, unless you want to slightly change the sound coming from the synth.

Actually if you're in a live room at a studio and you only have mic inputs then you do need a DI to get to the pres.

I have a JDI and a couple of D2s, they're great sounding, nice and clear and open when you're running to a good pre.

Keep in mind that a DI needs to go to a mic pre, so if you have nothing and you're tossing up between buying a pre and a DI, you can't do anything with just the DI and no pre.

Erotic Cabaret wrote:

madtheory wrote:

Erotic Cabaret wrote:Well, I need to buy DIs for use in the studio when I'm recording to tape.

You don't need to, unless you want to slightly change the sound coming from the synth.

Well, obviously my synth tracks will sound better going from a passive DI into a boutique preamp or, conversely, into a boutique direct box with gain. The question is: which is better?

Define 'better'.

They're both good, in my opinion you're better off with a good DI into a good mic pre ,it's more versatile than something like an Avalon U5.

Definition of better: generally most people prefer more harmonic distortion, when given a choice between "with" and "without". However using a DI box will create slightly more noise, given that the line level from the synth has to be attenuated going into the DI, and that loss is made up in the mic pre. Sssssssss. You could just use a transformer balanced line input to get similar distortion without the noise. Several "line level" transformers in a row is a useful thing to have around, see last issue of Tap Op magazine.

Stab Frenzy wrote: Actually if you're in a live room at a studio and you only have mic inputs then you do need a DI to get to the pres.

IME it's not usually difficult to repatch the wallbox to feed a balanced line input, if you ask nicely . If it's one of those desks that has a pad on the pre to make it line, well then you're probably not in a studio.

tallowwaters wrote:Why not search the forum? We only have about 2 dozen threads on DIs and Pres for synths...

Take your pick... These are the ones I've bookmarked as helpful...

http://www.vintagesynth.com/forum/viewt ... 12&t=56558
http://www.vintagesynth.com/forum/viewt ... 12&t=55902
http://www.vintagesynth.com/forum/viewt ... th#p576637

tallowwaters wrote:Not buying magical gear that does it for you.

What is this magical gear you speak of?!

sequentialsoftshock wrote:

tallowwaters wrote:Why not search the forum? We only have about 2 dozen threads on DIs and Pres for synths...

Take your pick... These are the ones I've bookmarked as helpful...

http://www.vintagesynth.com/forum/viewt ... 12&t=56558
http://www.vintagesynth.com/forum/viewt ... 12&t=55902
http://www.vintagesynth.com/forum/viewt ... th#p576637

tallowwaters wrote:Not buying magical gear that does it for you.

What is this magical gear you speak of?!

The magical gear that draws ex-VSE users that left in a huff back under different usernames. Gold MIDI cables, DIs, A/D converters, etc. Likely the same people using 200 dollar interfaces, s**t mixers, s**t monitors, and s**t mics in a s**t sounding room.

madtheory wrote:Definition of better: generally most people prefer more harmonic distortion, when given a choice between "with" and "without".

That doesn't answer the question regarding DI -> pre vs boutique DI with gain.

madtheory wrote:

Stab Frenzy wrote:Actually if you're in a live room at a studio and you only have mic inputs then you do need a DI to get to the pres.

IME it's not usually difficult to repatch the wallbox to feed a balanced line input, if you ask nicely . If it's one of those desks that has a pad on the pre to make it line, well then you're probably not in a studio.

IME plugging a DI into a mic lead is much easier, doesn't cause ground loops, is preferred by engineers that know what they're doing etc.