Country hick*** Di Box

[BYacey]

For all who have expressed interest in DIY DI boxes, here is the preliminary on the particular "rural rooted" DI box many are familiar with. This may be found at the brand spanking new site: diyfactory.com
http://www.diyfactory.com/projects/countryhick/countryhick.htm

I have built a few of these and can provide some additional information to those who wish to have a go at this project. This information will over time be added to the page as it progresses. Happy DI DIY!
Bill

 

[fum]

Thanke for posting the info Bill, I've linked it off and added it to my "to do" list. I'll be sure to follow up once I've given it a whirl

Regards

ju

 

[b3groover]

Very cool!

 

[tubejay]

How does it sound?

 

[BYacey]

It was with help from other Lab members that this was made possible; sort of a group effort. This is what we are all about, right?

Anyways, I think the DI sounds great. It's very transparent and quiet - just what recording demands. I think this is a fine addition to any studio.

You might note that it is somewhat similar to the Hamptone Fet Pre schematic, although this does not require a 3 ampere supply to run it, heh heh. different transformers can be tried, I have used 4 different types all with good results.

 

[CJ]

Thank
you
very
much
Bill!
:razz:

 

[BYacey]

Hi Chris, perhaps you can relate some of your findings with this circuit. Any comments you might want to add?

 

[CJ]

The Hick DI dosen't sound like anything. Which is exactly what you want, stuff in equals stuff out!
If you want a ton of color in a DI box, this is not the one for you.
At least with the transformer I used.
I just tried a guitar thru it, so a hotter signal, ie keyboard output, might give you color, depending on the iron you use.
BTW, Bill knows how to build the phantom switcher too, and he says it is quiet. Since he plays mainly acoustical music, I believe him!
cj
BTW, I used a UTC A-39. 600/150:2k, wired backwards.
Good for 10 db.

 

[Kev]

[quote author="cjenrick"]BTW, Bill knows how to build the phantom switcher too, .....[/quote]
:shock:
.... you just can't keep things quiet can you cj .... :roll:

I worded the opening line very carefully , the omission of sections, a possible change in voltage and the learning experience and even so I do expect the emails to come.

Nothing like waving the big RED flag.

Chris ... you are so incorrigible. :green:

 

[AMZ-FX]

Good job! The Fairchild J201 jfet transistor would be a good sub for this circuit... I like it better than the 2N5457 and usually keep a bunch of them on hand. Mouser sells the J201 at a cheap price.

Use 2 batteries for 18v and more clean headroom... might make a difference if you have an instrument with high output and you are looking for a really clean sound :grin:

regards, Jack

 

[Bauman]

Thanks a lot dude! Very cool project!

cheers!
Fabio

 

[BYacey]

What's a phantom power switcher?

 

[Flatpicker]

What output transformer did you use? I assume it's 1:1.

 

[BYacey]

Actually a 2:1 or 3:1 is better. This introduces a little bit of loss, about 10dB or so, otherwise it is possible to overlaod the mic preamp stage the DI is feeding. Magnetic guitar pickups can develop as much as 1 to 2 volt peaks when driving a high impedance input such as this, so unity gain isn't a good idea. Peizo transducers can generate even more voltage.

I have found because of the relatively low output impedance of the buffer stage and the signal levels involved, the transformer is "forced to behave", and the iron doesn't impart much of a flavor to the sound; to my ears anyways. This is wide open to experimentation. The OEM transformer doesn't really appear to be anything extraordinary.

 

[CJ]

Err,sorry!
I meant phantom stitcher, which is a battery operated backwoods sewing kit with optional solar power.
OK?

 

[BYacey]

Many people still use phantom stitchers in the backwoods. In the countrymany were used where regular power was unavailable.

 

[tommytones]

How much voltage can I supply to this thing before I see smoke? Should I stay with 9 volts or can I increase this?

 

[BYacey]

This should work happily with about 18 to 25V. The maximum ratings for the semiconductors are posted on the pages datasheets.

 

[tommytones]

Cool. I'm gonna give this one a go and see what comes of it.

 

[CJ]

Yeah the more volts the more headroom.