Unofficial Taylor Guitar Forum - UTGF

Lessons, Recordings, How Tos, Repair, Accessories => Lessons, Recordings, How Tos, Repair, Accessories => Topic started by: joelvan77 on January 11, 2013, 04:22:55 PM

Title: The "best" acoustic DI
Post by: joelvan77 on January 11, 2013, 04:22:55 PM
What is your favorite way to plug your guitar in live?
Title: Re: The "best" acoustic DI
Post by: ericjungemann on January 11, 2013, 07:57:29 PM
Direct to a Loudbox Mini (656ce).

Eric
Title: Re: The "best" acoustic DI
Post by: texasdw on January 11, 2013, 10:17:10 PM
Depends on the guitar.  But for a Taylor steel string I like the Taylor K4.  It is however darn expensive.
Title: Re: The "best" acoustic DI
Post by: leeasam on January 12, 2013, 12:48:02 PM
with the ES system I use a 1/4 TRS to XLR straight to snake and then to board. No need IMO for anything else.
Title: Re: The "best" acoustic DI
Post by: Herb Hunter on January 12, 2013, 06:57:23 PM
Because a Taylor has a balanced, low-impedance output, a DI is superfluous. For other guitars, I would want a Radial JDI.


Some people when using the term, DI, don't mean a direct input box (a device that converts an unbalanced, high-impedance signal to a balanced low-impedance not) but rather a preamplifier with an output that is compatible with balanced, low-impedance equipment.
Title: Re: The "best" acoustic DI
Post by: Steely Glen on January 12, 2013, 11:55:33 PM
While more than a DI (which the ES doesn't need), the Taylor K4 is an impressive piece of kit.  I have one that I use with my ES-equipped Taylors and it sparkles.
Title: Re: The "best" acoustic DI
Post by: roadbiker on January 13, 2013, 11:16:57 PM
I use an 1/4 TRS to XLR to an Audix T50k Impedance Transformer into my amp (either a VOX AGA 70 or Fishman Loudbox Mini).

Jim
Title: Re: The "best" acoustic DI
Post by: briguysm on January 16, 2013, 06:02:31 PM
L. R. Baggs Venue.

And I'll totally agree with others who say it depends on the guitar. I love the Venue and how my guitar sounds through it.
Title: Re: The "best" acoustic DI
Post by: MrTing on May 25, 2013, 07:24:12 PM
I use a Baggs Para DI and love it.   However, the Radial active DI is amazing.   I played through a couple and it was noticeable how much headroom they have.    Adam Rafferty went through everything and tours the world with a J48.
Title: Re: The "best" acoustic DI
Post by: jivauk on May 25, 2013, 08:20:14 PM
We plug our Taylor guitars and Kala tenor ukes and Val's Kala U-Bass ino a pair of Bose T1 Tonematch preamp/mixers.

From there, out to either our Bose L1 model 2 or AER Alpha Plus or the venue house system.
Title: Re: The "best" acoustic DI
Post by: soma89 on May 29, 2013, 11:04:06 PM
I really like the tube Di boxes....the one i have in mind is a long red box...and its gone from my mind.
Title: Re: The "best" acoustic DI
Post by: soma89 on May 30, 2013, 08:32:21 AM
ok...it`s called the A-Designs Audio REDDI.

And for much cheaper..the Radial JDI Mk3
Title: Re: The "best" acoustic DI
Post by: uberschall on July 03, 2013, 07:26:19 PM
I liked all the features of the Baggs Venue, but found the tuner very disappointing. I also wish they'd sell it with the foam pads separate, so it was easier to velcro it. The Para DI was also great, especially the notch filters. I like DI boxes which have extra functions like loops and boosts.
Title: Re: The "best" acoustic DI
Post by: MikeB on August 15, 2013, 04:26:29 PM
I just came across this thread.  I didn't realize that the Taylor has a balanced output.  I've been plugging in using a standard TS -TS cable.  Will I get a better sound using a TRS-XLR cable when plugging into a PA mixer/head?  I haven't had any noise issues doing it the way I have been, including plugging into my Tascam US-800 audio interface
Title: Re: The "best" acoustic DI
Post by: Herb Hunter on August 16, 2013, 08:21:42 AM
...Will I get a better sound using a TRS-XLR cable when plugging into a PA mixer/head? ...


Maybe, maybe not. You will be sending a stronger signal to the PA (3 dB louder) which means less noise because the gain doesn’t need to be turned up as much to achieve the same volume level and because the added shielding better resists induction noise.
Title: Re: The "best" acoustic DI
Post by: MikeB on August 16, 2013, 08:52:26 AM
Looks like I will be investing in a TRS-XLR cable, at least for recording purposes.  Can't see that the slight-reduction in noise/increase in signal would make much difference with the usual PA system hook-up.
Title: Re: The "best" acoustic DI
Post by: Edward on August 16, 2013, 09:52:24 PM
FWIW, I have never ever experience "better sound" with going balanced on the ES.  More gain on the input side, to be sure.  Nor did I realize any benefits (e.g. less noise) since I never do long cable runs.  All told, I ended up going back to unbalanced, albeit with good-quality guitar cables, and got the same excellent sound without the extra "work" of going balanced.  This with live use (zero experience with recording) in my experience  over the last several years ...and now still, so far so good :)

Edward
Title: Re: The "best" acoustic DI
Post by: PMcC on August 22, 2013, 03:30:24 PM
I enjoy the baggs venue as well
Title: Re: The "best" acoustic DI
Post by: MikeB on August 23, 2013, 08:29:24 AM
What's a little annoying is that Taylor doesn't offer a 2-jack system like Ibanez do, with an XLR and a 1/4" jack.  XLR-XLR cables are everywhere, 1/4" TRS to XLR are not.