Topic: Does the G Natural work as a Direct Box?
I'm hoping with the mic line ins/outs you can use the G natural as a DI. Any word on this?
Re: Does the G Natural work as a Direct Box?
A6 wrote:
I'm hoping with the mic line ins/outs you can use the G natural as a DI. Any word on this?
The low-impedance, balanced outputs of the G-Natural are quite suitable for direct connection to a PA. You should not need a DI.
It is preferable to use TRS-TRS cables, and jack into the balanced line inputs of the PA channels (or recorder, or whatever).
If you are CAREFUL, and you KNOW that phantom power is not being applied to the PA channels you are using, you can use TRS-XLR cables to jack into the mic inputs on the PA instead. be aware, however, that applying phantom power to the G-Natural may have inintended, permanent, undesirable consequences (you may ruin it).
Be aware that in either case, you will be feeding a line-level signal and not a mic-level signal to the PA. You should keep the gains on the corresponding PA channels low, and you may (or may not) need to use a pad on these channels as well. This is a good thing. Your s/n ratio will be better if you don't use the mic preamps in the mixer/PA/whatever.
Gtrs: PRS Cust. 24 20-Anny Artist, Yamaha PAC1511 Mike Stern Signature
Pedalboard: Barber Tone Press, TC NovaDrive, TC G-System, Eventide ModFactor
Rack: Egnater M4 Modular Tube Preamp, Randall RT2/50 Power Amp, Palmer ADIG-LB load box/cab sim
Acoustic: Stehr Coco/Adi Custom-build OO, Stehr Koa/Adi Custom Build GA, Stehr Braz/Adi Custom Build GA, Taylor 814ce-L10, G-Natural
Pedalboard: Barber Tone Press, TC NovaDrive, TC G-System, Eventide ModFactor
Rack: Egnater M4 Modular Tube Preamp, Randall RT2/50 Power Amp, Palmer ADIG-LB load box/cab sim
Acoustic: Stehr Coco/Adi Custom-build OO, Stehr Koa/Adi Custom Build GA, Stehr Braz/Adi Custom Build GA, Taylor 814ce-L10, G-Natural
Re: Does the G Natural work as a Direct Box?
Hello,
I got a question about this, too (please excuse my bad english) :
We got a Allen&Heath Mix Wizard 16:2 DX Mixer. There you can't give phantompower for a single Channel. On all channels there's phantompower (or on none).
So on stage: I'm going output (mono left) in an DI-Box (aktiv, with phantompower), then with XLR cable to the multicore (only XLR), then to the mixer-FOH.
I can't use a TRS-XLR cable, because of the Mixer, I got phantompower on the channel.
So I must use a DI-Box to safe the G natural.
Is this right?
Or are there any other ways to connect a G natural to a XLR-Mixersystem with pahntompower?
Thank you for help.
Markus
Re: Does the G Natural work as a Direct Box?
You can use TRS-TRS cables from the G-Nat to the "Line" jacks rather than using the XLR jacks on the mixer. Generally, phantom power is not applied to TRS line jacks - only to XLR jacks.
In the case of this particular mixer, since the line jacks are "normalled" to the XLR jacks, you should double-check with Allen-Heath to make sure that no power goes out the line jack. It SHOULD not and does not on anybody else's mixers - but I would double check just to be sure.
You can also use TRS-TRS cables from the G-Nat directly to the balanaced stereo input (ST5?).
Last edited by Laird_Williams (2010-03-04 14:46:40)
Gtrs: PRS Cust. 24 20-Anny Artist, Yamaha PAC1511 Mike Stern Signature
Pedalboard: Barber Tone Press, TC NovaDrive, TC G-System, Eventide ModFactor
Rack: Egnater M4 Modular Tube Preamp, Randall RT2/50 Power Amp, Palmer ADIG-LB load box/cab sim
Acoustic: Stehr Coco/Adi Custom-build OO, Stehr Koa/Adi Custom Build GA, Stehr Braz/Adi Custom Build GA, Taylor 814ce-L10, G-Natural
Pedalboard: Barber Tone Press, TC NovaDrive, TC G-System, Eventide ModFactor
Rack: Egnater M4 Modular Tube Preamp, Randall RT2/50 Power Amp, Palmer ADIG-LB load box/cab sim
Acoustic: Stehr Coco/Adi Custom-build OO, Stehr Koa/Adi Custom Build GA, Stehr Braz/Adi Custom Build GA, Taylor 814ce-L10, G-Natural
Re: Does the G Natural work as a Direct Box?
Thank you very much for your answer.
Re: Does the G Natural work as a Direct Box?
Hello,
I´m planning on purchasing a G Natural unit (Gibson SJ 200). Have followed your discussion and would like to ask you the following - I will be using my G Natural conected directly to my PA (Mackie CFX MK II - no dedicated Phantom Power per chanel, ON/OFF applies on the whole unit). I understand that you might be able to "escape" the switched on Phantom Power on the PA (and the following damages to the G Natural) with a DI box (between the G Natural and the PA).
What for configuration would you recommend if want to connect the G Natural to the PA via XLR-XLR cable (in order to be able to have my Mic signal also through the G Natural) while the Phantom Power on the PA is ON (used by another condens Mic)?
Thanks a lot in advance for your advice!
Konstantin
Re: Does the G Natural work as a Direct Box?
Hi,
I have a G-System and was wondering also about connecting to a di box to avoid the phantom power problems you metioned in you posts. I usually run my acoustic through a di box using an xlr conection from the DI to the snake, then it connects to the board with a xlr coming from the snake. Is there an adapter I can use at the xlr connection on the snake to avoid this phantom power problem?
Chuck.
Re: Does the G Natural work as a Direct Box?
chuck wrote:
Hi,
I have a G-System and was wondering also about connecting to a di box to avoid the phantom power problems you metioned in you posts. I usually run my acoustic through a di box using an xlr conection from the DI to the snake, then it connects to the board with a xlr coming from the snake. Is there an adapter I can use at the xlr connection on the snake to avoid this phantom power problem?Chuck.
Phantom power will not pass through the transformer in a passive DI, so yes - you can use a DI to protect the Nova from phantom power on the board.
I actually use an ISO box (Ebtech HE-2 XLR) for this purpose. I use a pair of short TRS-TRS cables into the ISO box 1/4" inputs, and then a pair of mic cables from the ISO box XLR outputs to the board. This gives me
1) Ground loop isolation for both channels
2) Phantom Power protection for both channels
(the ISO also passes the signal across a transformer, so the DC phantom power can't cross to the Nova)
3) 1 & 2 in one little black box.
Gtrs: PRS Cust. 24 20-Anny Artist, Yamaha PAC1511 Mike Stern Signature
Pedalboard: Barber Tone Press, TC NovaDrive, TC G-System, Eventide ModFactor
Rack: Egnater M4 Modular Tube Preamp, Randall RT2/50 Power Amp, Palmer ADIG-LB load box/cab sim
Acoustic: Stehr Coco/Adi Custom-build OO, Stehr Koa/Adi Custom Build GA, Stehr Braz/Adi Custom Build GA, Taylor 814ce-L10, G-Natural
Pedalboard: Barber Tone Press, TC NovaDrive, TC G-System, Eventide ModFactor
Rack: Egnater M4 Modular Tube Preamp, Randall RT2/50 Power Amp, Palmer ADIG-LB load box/cab sim
Acoustic: Stehr Coco/Adi Custom-build OO, Stehr Koa/Adi Custom Build GA, Stehr Braz/Adi Custom Build GA, Taylor 814ce-L10, G-Natural
Re: Does the G Natural work as a Direct Box?
Thanks Laird for the reply. I'm not going to be using the mic channel so I would only need a single xlr passive DI box correct? But I will look into the Ebtech HE-2xlr DI box just in case I may want to use it in the fiture.
Chuck.
Re: Does the G Natural work as a Direct Box?
I was just checking out the ebitech he-2 and it's listed as a hum canceler ,is this the correct di box that you have?
Chuck.
Re: Does the G Natural work as a Direct Box?
chuck wrote:
I was just checking out the ebitech he-2 and it's listed as a hum canceler ,is this the correct di box that you have?
Chuck.
The he-2 is not a hum "canceler" nor is it a DI. It is a 2-channel audio signal isolation box. It is EXACTLY what you need to safely connect the G-nat to a recording or mixing console. A good passive DI will work, but you will need 2 for stereo, and it will cost more.
What do you need to safely and quietly connect the G-nat to a console?
1) a transformer in each signal path to prevent the DC phantom power from getting from the console to the G-nat outputs and frying part of the unit.
2) isolation on each channel to prevent ground loops, which can add noise to your signal.
3) conversion from TRS to XLR connectors.
What do you NOT need?
4) impedance conversion from high to low impedance (the G-nat outputs are already VERY low impedance.
5) signal level attenuation from line level to mic level
A typical, high quality, passive DI does 1, 4, and 5...and 2 if it has a ground lift. It will not accept the higher-quality balanced singnal from the G-nat since such a signal requires the use of a TRS plug on the G. You will have to compensate for the attenuation by raising the gain at the console, which will raise your noise floor. And 2 channels of high-quality DI is MORE expensive than an HE-2.
Meanwhile, the HE-2 does exactly 1, 2, and 3 and nothing else, making it a functionally- perfect match for what you need (missing no features and supplying no unneeded features). And it already has support for 2 audio channels, so you only need ONE of them for stereo operation.
'nuff said.
Last edited by Laird_Williams (2011-07-02 03:03:40)
Gtrs: PRS Cust. 24 20-Anny Artist, Yamaha PAC1511 Mike Stern Signature
Pedalboard: Barber Tone Press, TC NovaDrive, TC G-System, Eventide ModFactor
Rack: Egnater M4 Modular Tube Preamp, Randall RT2/50 Power Amp, Palmer ADIG-LB load box/cab sim
Acoustic: Stehr Coco/Adi Custom-build OO, Stehr Koa/Adi Custom Build GA, Stehr Braz/Adi Custom Build GA, Taylor 814ce-L10, G-Natural
Pedalboard: Barber Tone Press, TC NovaDrive, TC G-System, Eventide ModFactor
Rack: Egnater M4 Modular Tube Preamp, Randall RT2/50 Power Amp, Palmer ADIG-LB load box/cab sim
Acoustic: Stehr Coco/Adi Custom-build OO, Stehr Koa/Adi Custom Build GA, Stehr Braz/Adi Custom Build GA, Taylor 814ce-L10, G-Natural
Re: Does the G Natural work as a Direct Box?
Hey Laird, HE-2 it is then. Thanks ,I really appreciate the info.
Chuck.
Re: Does the G Natural work as a Direct Box?
chuck wrote:
Hey Laird, HE-2 it is then. Thanks ,I really appreciate the info.
Chuck.
NP Chuck - stop back when you get it all up and let us know how things go.
In this case, I WOULD spend the extra $$$ on the XLR version - by they way.
Last edited by Laird_Williams (2011-07-02 03:04:24)
Gtrs: PRS Cust. 24 20-Anny Artist, Yamaha PAC1511 Mike Stern Signature
Pedalboard: Barber Tone Press, TC NovaDrive, TC G-System, Eventide ModFactor
Rack: Egnater M4 Modular Tube Preamp, Randall RT2/50 Power Amp, Palmer ADIG-LB load box/cab sim
Acoustic: Stehr Coco/Adi Custom-build OO, Stehr Koa/Adi Custom Build GA, Stehr Braz/Adi Custom Build GA, Taylor 814ce-L10, G-Natural
Pedalboard: Barber Tone Press, TC NovaDrive, TC G-System, Eventide ModFactor
Rack: Egnater M4 Modular Tube Preamp, Randall RT2/50 Power Amp, Palmer ADIG-LB load box/cab sim
Acoustic: Stehr Coco/Adi Custom-build OO, Stehr Koa/Adi Custom Build GA, Stehr Braz/Adi Custom Build GA, Taylor 814ce-L10, G-Natural
Re: Does the G Natural work as a Direct Box?
Hey Laird, I'll let you know as soon as it comes in and also to check with you to make sure I'm hooking eeverything up correctly. The Ebtech HE-2 xlr is called " Ebetech HUM ELIMINATOR XLR with 4x 1/4 and 4 XLR ins and outs,correct? It,s the only one I can find online when I type in Ebtech HE-2 xlr?
Chuck.