JLM Simple DI

[Text_Edifice]

Hi all,

does anyone know if you can still get the JLM simple DI kits?

diyfactory seems to be down....

Cheers

[chris p]

You can make a JLM simple DI using either of JLM's DI boards available from his site - it can run on battery power or, with a JLM 1:4 transformer, off 48V phantom power.

See the schematics at http://www.jlmaudio.com/shop/index.php?_a=viewProd&productId=16. You can also use the JLM Fet DI in the same way, either battery powered or, with a transformer, from 48V phantom.

[Text_Edifice]

Thanks Chris,

was after an all-in-one kit that i could pick up in bulk for an intro project with some young 'uns. Dick smith used to have something like this but when I went looking last week it appears they don't make it anymore.

[Kurt]

Jaycar used to carry all the same kits that Dickies did. Their website is a bit of a disaster but it might be worth calling them.

[The Tasmanian]

I bought 3 x $70 DOD Di's about 10 years ago - opened them up, threw away the transformers and put in a Jensen's.
Still sounds great. - and being a strong metal case means no breaky!
It doesn't get more simple than that

[Text_Edifice]

Reckon that might be the easiest way to go Chris.

[Kurt]

Even better, buy two cheap DIs, mod one and not the other and see if there's a measurable/audible difference

[The Tasmanian]

There is an extreme difference between crap stock trannies and a Jensen - not even worth doing a comparison.

[Kurt]

What is it?
Seriously, I've used mostly cheap shit DIs, I've used more expensive Dis. They all seem to do the same thing to me.

There is an extreme difference between crap stock trannies and a Jensen - not even worth doing a comparison.

[The Tasmanian]

You'll find out that crap ones have less open top end, sound thin, and lack a nice full bottom end. and cannot take lots of level from guitar pedels, your FX will be so much less defined if you track with pedels. The trade off is huge.
Do a proper A/B - the difference is huge I promise you.
Even electric guitar sounds great through a good DI - I have done whole albums like this.
Many great great records have been made this way - all the way back to the 1960's.(EG the Beatles on many killer guitar songs - and bass tracks)
Now your mic pre's will sing as they have a seriously good (proper sweet full range) front end.
But with a average DI the guitars sound is unusable when DI'd - and then there is bass.... and keyboards......
You can even spend up to $500 - $600 on a killer DI.
The way I suggest, gets you a transformer (usually a Jensen - but there are a few others too) that would be used in a top of the line studio situation and you put it in a cheap metal cast case - at a 1/4 (or less) of the price of an expensive DI (that uses these type of hi end trannies)
The XLR and 1/4 plugs are already on the metal box - cut the crap thin wire and redo also. Hot glue - or silicon the new trannie in the box - tighten 4 screws.
Takes 20 mins max

[The Tasmanian]

AND - you can use them for reamping too - without lowering the quality of the signal going back into the amp.
Ive had my 3 that I made for nearly 10 years - they get used nearly every day in the studio - they still sound great, never had an issue, been dropped many a time too.

[Kurt]

Thanks, I must admit I've only used expensive DIs live not in recording where I might actually have time too look for differences.