Variax Owner, I've got the cheapest best DI for you

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Dwetmaster
Posts: 3491
Joined: Tue Aug 15, 2006 9:59 am
Primary DAW OS: MacOS
Location: Montreal Canada

Variax Owner, I've got the cheapest best DI for you

Post by Dwetmaster »

Having decided to choose Amplitube instead of the pod for my variax, I was looking for a good DI to get the variax's signal to the computer. I almost bought a radial for a few 100$ when I read somewhere that the variax ethernet connector was sending spdif directly. So after a few research on the net I got the variax Pinout. From there, you're a few dollars away of having the cleanest signal chain from the variax to the computer. All you need is a spdif in on your interface. My 896HD doesn't but I had an audiofire that was sitting there.

So All you need is an ethernet cable, a 7V 2Amp power transformer, everything to get the guitar connected to RCA and to power, and you'Re good to go for about 20$

I spent a bit more as I wanted to make my connecting device clean. For about 50$ I got this:

- I teared apart and old Behringer EQ that wasn't working anymore (duh... :shock: ) to get a rackmount enclosure.
- a blank Rackmount plate
- A female Neutrik Ethernet connector
- An AC illumintated switch, AC Socket with fuse
- I got a regulated power transformer at en electronic supplier. I got one that's made for video cameras and it look fairly protected.
- Two neutrik socket for my ethernet cable to properly connect my guitar to my "Digital DI"
- A few other minor parts to get everything assembled properly.


Here's the pinout for the interested:
2: PWR (7v)
1: GND

4: Spdif-
5: Spdif+

8: RX-
7: RX+
6: TX-
3: TX+

The RX & TX are used for Line 6 workbench so I didn't connect them.
MacPro 8Core 2.8GHZ 16GB RAM OSX10.8.3
MacBook Pro 17" Unibody 2011 OSX10.8.3
896mk3, BLA Modded 896HD, BLA Microclock, MTP-AV, Yamaha KX-8, CME VX-7 Mackie Ctrl, megadrum, Presonus C-S,
DP8.04, Bidule, M5 3, Ethno 2, BPM 1.5 Kontakt4, BFD2, SD2, Omnisphere, Wave Arts P-S5, Altiverb7, PSP VW & OldTimer, VB3, Ivory 2 Grand, True Pianos, Ozone 5, Reason 4, AmpliTube3, Bla bla bla...
A few El & Ac basses & Guitars, Hammond A-100.
User avatar
Dwetmaster
Posts: 3491
Joined: Tue Aug 15, 2006 9:59 am
Primary DAW OS: MacOS
Location: Montreal Canada

Re: Variax Owner, I've got the cheapest best DI for you

Post by Dwetmaster »

I'll bump this as it is relevant to DP7's guitar amp emulation.
MacPro 8Core 2.8GHZ 16GB RAM OSX10.8.3
MacBook Pro 17" Unibody 2011 OSX10.8.3
896mk3, BLA Modded 896HD, BLA Microclock, MTP-AV, Yamaha KX-8, CME VX-7 Mackie Ctrl, megadrum, Presonus C-S,
DP8.04, Bidule, M5 3, Ethno 2, BPM 1.5 Kontakt4, BFD2, SD2, Omnisphere, Wave Arts P-S5, Altiverb7, PSP VW & OldTimer, VB3, Ivory 2 Grand, True Pianos, Ozone 5, Reason 4, AmpliTube3, Bla bla bla...
A few El & Ac basses & Guitars, Hammond A-100.
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