If I understand correctly, a direct injection box is really just a simple transformer that changes a signal from unbalanced to balanced. Its basic purpose is to decrease the noise you may get from long cables or other interference. But my acoustic guitar doesn't particulary make any unwanted noise when I plug straight into my mixer, so I'm not really sure that I need a DI box.
Here are my specific questions:
1. Will a simple radio shack transformer like this--
work just as effectively as a cheap D.I. like this?--
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Live/Sound/Signal/Processors?sku=180635
2. Will a simple radio shack transformer work as effectively as an expensive box like this?--
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Live/Sound/Signal/Processors?sku=180916
And finally,
3. If my acoustic guitar has an active pickup (fishman) and my cable is under 25 feet, can't I just plug straight into the board with no problem?
If you have an active pickup, the chances are that you already have a low impedance signal (the DI box takes the high impedance signal from the passive pickups and converts it to low impedance).
I started with nothing - and I've still got most of it left.
Did you know that the word "gullible" is not in any dictionary?
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I agree with greybeard.
I connect my acoustic/electric guitar (with piezo "under the bridge" mic and preamp) either to mic input (1/4 jack) or line input (1/4 jack). When using line input I need to set full gain in guitar pre-amp and mixer line in. But both connections works fine.
Tanglewood TW28STE (Shadow P7 EQ) acoustic
Yamaha RGX 320FZ electric guitar/Egnater Tweaker 15 amp.
Yamaha RBX 270 bass/Laney DB 150 amp.
http://www.soundclick.com/kalleinsweden
