Use the direct box

Use the direct box

A direct box (also known as a D.I. box) is a device used in recording studios to connect the output of an electric instrument directly to a mixing console, without using an amplifier. The direct box in Bass Amp Designer is modeled on a well-regarded American device.

Figure. Bass Amp Designer showing Direct box controls.

Show the direct box

  • Click the Direct Box button at the bottom of the plug-in window.

    To show the amp again, click the Amp button.

Adjust the direct box controls

  • Boost knob: Rotate to set the input gain of the direct box.

  • HF Cut button: Click to turn the highpass filter on or off. The filter helps to reduce noise.

  • Tone knob: Rotate to set the tonal color of the direct box to one of the preset EQ curves:

    • 1: A curve with a –6 dB scoop from 100 Hz to 10 kHz, most pronounced around 800 Hz. Suitable for acoustic and string instruments, electric bass, and keyboards.

    • 2: A curve with a very pronounced –24 dB v-shaped notch from 100 Hz to 10 kHz, centered around 800 Hz. Suitable for electric bass guitar.

    • 3: A curve with a –3 dB scoop from 100 Hz to 10 kHz, most pronounced around 800 to 1200 Hz. Suitable for acoustics, strings, electric and bass guitar, and keyboards.

    • 4: A curve with a –3 dB scoop from 1 kHz to 10 kHz, most pronounced around 8 kHz. Frequencies between 60 Hz and 1 kHz have a slight boost of 1 or 2 dB above unity. Frequencies above 10 kHz have a +3 dB boost. Suitable for acoustics, strings, electric and bass guitars, and keyboards.

    • 5: A sloped curve that ramps up from –24 dB at 10 Hz to + 3 dB at around 900 Hz. Suitable for acoustic and electric guitar.

    • 6: A sloped curve that ramps up from –24 dB at 10 Hz to +3 dB at around 900 Hz. The signal rolls off by approximately 6 dB between 10 and 20 kHz. Suitable for electric and bass guitar.

  • Tone on/off button: Click to turn the tone control on or off.

Use the direct box only (no amp)

  • Drag the Blend slider all the way to the right.

Use the amp only (no direct box)

  • Drag the Blend slider all the way to the left.

Use the direct box and the amp in parallel

  • Drag the Blend slider to any central position between the left and right edges.