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How to make any pedal into a DI?

Started by smasters, July 04, 2014, 11:18:07 PM

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smasters

How would a person take any guitar fx pedal and use an XLR out connector to make it a DI? It would be great to be able to switch between 1/4" out and XLR out. Would a transformer be needed?

stecykmi

you can do it with a transformer or an opamp (or other ways, those two are probably the easiest). opamps perform very well and are typically cheaper. there is info on the web about this but you'll have to google around and experiment. you might have luck searching "balanced line driver". basically it involves making a unity gain buffer followed by an inverting unity gain buffer. this might help you get started: http://sound.westhost.com/project51.htm

note that if you use an opamp, you won't be able to lift the ground (not often important for most).

texas instrument, analog devices and THAT corp all make 1-chip line drivers for around $6 - 8 each, as well.

in most cases, you should just be able to tap the line driver off the regular 1/4" output.

oldhousescott

Weber sell a little balun transformer you can use to convert an output to a DI signal.

Willybomb

You don't actually have to look too far:

http://www.madbeanpedals.com/forum/index.php?topic=14276.0

I used this board in my Random Stranger Bass Station, and it makes having a DI as easy as you could want.

jimilee

Pedal building is like the opposite of sex.  All the fun stuff happens before you get in the box.