running synths through pedals (1 Viewer)

[theoootini]

i have an old boss distortion pedal that sounds really poor when i run synths through it. should i buy a DI box? would this one be ok?

http://www.thomann.de/ie/behringer_di100_ultra_di.htm

 

[GO]

That would be perfect.Is it for recording?

 

[RED(tape)MENACE]

You've got an impedance mismatch between what the synth is putting out and what the guitar pedal is expecting to work with.
To do it super-properly, you'd need to do jiggerypokery with reversed passive DIs or a reamp box as far as I know.
In practice, you can get away with experimenting with an output level from the synth that the pedal is happy to work with - ie reducing the output volume from the synth until it sounds good.

 

[theoootini]

yeah i've done that but i have to turn the synth down completely to keep the clean synth at similar volume to the "stomped" distortion.

otherwise when i engage the distortion it dips dramatically in volume...

 

[theoootini]

or this?

http://www.thomann.de/ie/millenium_dip_passive_di_box.htm

 

[theoootini]

diy reamp box:

http://www.ultimatemetal.com/forum/equipment/459195-50-d-i-y-reamp-box.html

 

[lemonbravo]

can't you just go backwards through a normal DI?

 

[lemonbravo]

i have an old boss distortion pedal that sounds really poor when i run synths through it. should i buy a DI box? would this one be ok?

http://www.thomann.de/ie/behringer_di100_ultra_di.htm

I'm pretty sure you could just use this in reverse and it'd be fine. i.e. Plug your synth output into the DI output.

 

[RED(tape)MENACE]

If it's a passive DI box, yes.

 

[lemonbravo]

you'd also probably need to then put another DI after the pedal to go back in to your recording chain? ya?

 

[RED(tape)MENACE]

Yeah, unless you're going into an amp then, obviously.

 

[theoootini]

erm, if i build that reamp, i don't need something on the other end of the pedal do i?

 

[RED(tape)MENACE]

Where are you going after the pedal?

 

[theoootini]

into my soundcard. so i presume that's fine then yeah?

 

[lemonbravo]

into my soundcard. so i presume that's fine then yeah?

depends, does your sound card have a Hi-z input?

 

[theoootini]

yep. it's got two combo input jacks for hi-z.

 

[lemonbravo]

cool, you're good to go so. No need for another DI after your re-amp dohickey.

 

[theoootini]

bladdy hell. complicated innit.