How To Use This Direct Box?

Posted: Thu Apr 17, 2008 11:24 pm

i just picked up a Pro Co DB-1 Direct Box at a discount price at a local store, but it did not come with the directions (hence the price drop). but i only paid $30 for it.

anyway, could someone fill me in on the features/options so that i can use this correctly? thanks in advance

Posted: Fri Apr 18, 2008 6:17 am

i dont know that di box , per se..

generally - plug an instrument into the instrument end, plug an xlr from the xlr end to the mixer.

if there's an attenuator, make sure to set it appropriately (make sure you get a good level in your mixer).

if theres a ground lift, hit it if there is a hum or buzz. it might help.

Posted: Fri Apr 18, 2008 4:08 pm

theres a ground lift switch, hi cut flat switch, and speakers instrument switch.

what is stupid about it is that the switch goes up and down but the direction it tells you for your on/off or whatever goes left and right. confusing.

Posted: Fri Apr 18, 2008 9:45 pm

Well if its pad...whatever way makes it quieter is on Very Happy

Posted: Fri Apr 18, 2008 10:23 pm

true. just not sure on the speaker/instrument switch

Posted: Fri Apr 18, 2008 10:40 pm

Speaker: Used if you're running signal into the DI from the output of an amplifier - so you can get the amp'ed signal to the mixer (it does a 'Y' split on the amplified signal).

Instrument: Used if you're plugging a low level instrument into the DI (keys, bass, guitar, etc)...

Here's the Countryman version.

Posted: Fri Apr 18, 2008 10:44 pm

Quote:

what is stupid about it is that the switch goes up and down but the direction it tells you for your on/off or whatever goes left and right. confusing.

Bought it used?

That usually happens when the screw loosens and the switch itself turns sideways. Turn it with some pliers and tighten the screw down.

Posted: Fri Apr 18, 2008 10:51 pm

no, i bought it new. the way i described the "stupid thing" might not have been clear....if you look at the direct box in a way you can read the writing/options, for instance, it says speaker (arrow up) instrument (arrow down). but now that im out of my retarded state of mind, it all makes sense to me. haha sorry.

but thanks bent!

so, the ground lift, is obviously the ground. so ill leave that "on"

but what about the high cut/flat? is that the attenuator or pad or something?

Posted: Fri Apr 18, 2008 11:07 pm

From the DB-1 manual:

HI CUT/FLAT:
Switch is only functional when SPKR/
INST switch is set to SPKR. HI CUT
position inserts a low-pass filter (-3 dB @
4 kHz, 6 dB. Octave) to simulate frequency
response of a typical loudspeaker.
Used when source is guitar or
bass amplifier speaker output. FLAT
position bypasses filter. (HI CUT/FLAT
affect only LO-Z OUTPUT response.)

Posted: Fri Apr 18, 2008 11:15 pm

great. thanks bent!

Posted: Fri Apr 18, 2008 11:23 pm

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