Behringer DI800 User's Manual

User Manual

ULTRA-DI PRO DI800 Professional Mains/Phantom Powered 8-Channel DI-Box

2 ULTRA-DI PRO DI800 User Manual

Thank you Thank you for shovwing confidence in BEHRINGER products by purchasing the DI800.

Table of Contents Thank you ....................................................................... 2

Important Safety Instructions ...................................... 3

1. Introduction ............................................................... 4

1.1 Before you get started ...................................................... 4

1.1.1 Shipment .......................................................................... 4

1.1.2 Initial operation ............................................................. 4

1.1.3 Warranty ........................................................................... 4

1.1.4 Online registration ........................................................ 4

2. Control Elements ....................................................... 5

3. Applications ............................................................... 6

3.1 Connecting a guitar/bass signal .................................... 6

3.2 Converting output signals of a keyboard, DJ mixer, etc. ................................................................................. 6

3.3 Converting a microphone signal .................................. 6

3.4 Taking a signal from a speaker output ........................ 6

4. Audio Connections .................................................... 7

5. Specifications ............................................................. 7

3 ULTRA-DI PRO DI800 User Manual

Terminals marked with this symbol carry electrical current of suffi cient magnitude to constitute risk of electric shock.

Use only high-quality professional speaker cables with " TS or twist-locking plugs pre-installed. All other installation or modifi cation should be performed only by qualifi ed personnel.

This symbol, wherever it appears, alerts you to the presence of uninsulated dangerous voltage inside the

enclosure - voltage that may be suffi cient to constitute a risk of shock.

This symbol, wherever it appears, alerts you to important operating and maintenance instructions in the

accompanying literature. Please read the manual.

Caution To reduce the risk of electric shock, do not remove the top cover (or the rear section).

No user serviceable parts inside. Refer servicing to qualifi ed personnel.

Caution To reduce the risk of fi re or electric shock, do not expose this appliance to rain and

moisture. The apparatus shall not be exposed to dripping or splashing liquids and no objects fi lled with liquids, such as vases, shall be placed on the apparatus.

Caution These service instructions are for use by qualifi ed service personnel only.

To reduce the risk of electric shock do not perform any servicing other than that contained in the operation instructions. Repairs have to be performed by qualifi ed service personnel.

1. Read these instructions.

2. Keep these instructions.

3. Heed all warnings.

4. Follow all instructions.

5. Do not use this apparatus near water.

6. Clean only with dry cloth.

7. Do not block any ventilation openings. Install in accordance with the manufacturers instructions.

8. Do not install near any heat sources such as radiators, heat registers, stoves, or other apparatus (including amplifi ers) that produce heat.

9. Do not defeat the safety purpose of the polarized or grounding-type plug. A polarized plug has two blades with one wider than the other. A grounding-type plug has two blades and a third grounding prong. The wide blade or the third prong are provided for your safety. If the provided plug does not fi t into your outlet, consult an electrician for replacement of the obsolete outlet.

10. Protect the power cord from being walked on or pinched particularly at plugs, convenience receptacles, and the point where they exit from the apparatus.

11. Use only attachments/accessories specifi ed by the manufacturer.

12. Use only with the cart, stand, tripod, bracket, or table specifi ed by the manufacturer, or sold with the apparatus. When a cart is used, use caution when moving the cart/apparatus combination to avoid

injury from tip-over.

13. Unplug this apparatus during lightning storms or when unused for long periods of time.

14. Refer all servicing to qualifi ed service personnel. Servicing is required when the apparatus has been damaged in any way, such as power supply cord or plug is damaged, liquid has been spilled or objects have fallen into the apparatus, the apparatus has been exposed to rain or moisture, does not operate normally, or has been dropped.

15. The apparatus shall be connected to a MAINS socket outlet with a protective earthing connection.

16. Where the MAINS plug or an appliance coupler is used as the disconnect device, the disconnect device shall remain readily operable.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS AND APPEARANCES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE AND ACCURACY IS NOT GUARANTEED. BEHRINGER, KLARK TEKNIK, MIDAS, BUGERA, AND TURBOSOUND ARE PART OF THE MUSIC GROUP (MUSIC-GROUP.COM). ALL TRADEMARKS ARE THE PROPERTY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE OWNERS. MUSIC GROUP ACCEPTS NO LIABILITY FOR ANY LOSS WHICH MAY BE SUFFERED BY ANY PERSON WHO RELIES EITHER WHOLLY OR IN PART UPON ANY DESCRIPTION, PHOTOGRAPH OR STATEMENT CONTAINED HEREIN. COLORS AND SPECIFICATIONS MAY VARY FROM ACTUAL PRODUCT. MUSIC GROUP PRODUCTS ARE SOLD THROUGH AUTHORIZED FULLFILLERS AND RESELLERS ONLY. FULLFILLERS AND RESELLERS ARE NOT AGENTS OF MUSIC GROUP AND HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO AUTHORITY

TO BIND MUSIC GROUP BY ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED UNDERTAKING OR REPRESENTATION. THIS MANUAL IS COPYRIGHTED. NO PART OF THIS MANUAL MAY BE REPRODUCED OR TRANSMITTED IN ANY FORM OR BY ANY MEANS, ELECTRONIC OR MECHANICAL, INCLUDING PHOTOCOPYING AND RECORDING OF ANY KIND, FOR ANY PURPOSE, WITHOUT THE EXPRESS WRITTEN PERMISSION OF MUSIC GROUP IP LTD.

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 2013 MUSIC Group IP Ltd. Trident Chambers, Wickhams Cay, P.O. Box 146, Road Town, Tortola, British Virgin Islands

For the applicable warranty terms and conditions and additional information regarding MUSIC Groups Limited Warranty, please see complete details online at www.music-group.com/warranty.

Important Safety Instructions

LEGAL DISCLAIMER

LIMITED WARRANTY

4 ULTRA-DI PRO DI800 User Manual

1. Introduction Be it on-stage or in the studio, musicians often look for ways to connect certain signal sources directly to the mixing console. Even though this approach has obvious advantages, there are still some technical hurdles obstructing its implementation. For example, keyboards seldom feature balanced outputs, and guitars can not be directly connected to mixing consoles because of the high impedance of guitar signals.

A DI-box lets you directly tap into a high-impedance, unbalanced signal for example, the signal between a guitar and a guitar amp. From there on, you can feed the signal directly to a mixing console.

There are active and passive DI-boxes. A passive DI-box is more affordable, but its performance is highly dependent on the impedance of the equipment to which it is connected. When the impedance on the mixing consoles end changes, so does the impedance at the DI-boxs input. A passive DI-box only functions correctly when the impedance of the connected equipment is exactly specified (high at the input, low at the output).

On the other hand, active DI-boxes, such as the DI800, are not bound by these limitations, since the signal located at the input is buffered by an amplifier. The input impedance of the DI800 is extremely high. It does not influence the sound source and has absolutely no effect on the signal flow though the DI-box. The output impedance is balanced and is very low, and the signal is far less susceptible to picking up noise. The ULTRA-DI PRO always transmits signals optimally, independent of the impedance of the connected equipment.

In addition to being powered by a mains connection, the ULTRA-DI PRO DI800 can also run on phantom power provided by your mixing console.

To avoid damaging your loudspeakers, always first connect the DI-box and only then open up the respective channel strip.

1.1 Before you get started

1.1.1 Shipment

Your ULTRA-DI PRO was carefully packed at the assembly plant to assure secure transport. Should the condition of the cardboard box suggest that damage may have taken place, please inspect the unit immediately and look for physical indications of damage.

Damaged units should NEVER be sent directly to us. Please inform the dealer from whom you acquired the unit immediately as well as the transportation company from which you took delivery of the unit. Otherwise, all claims for replacement/repair may be rendered invalid.

To assure optimal protection of your ULTRA-DI PRO during use or transport, we recommend utilizing a carrying case.

Please always use the original packaging to avoid damage due to storage or shipping.

Never let unsupervised children play with the ULTRA-DI PRO or with its packaging.

Please dispose of all packaging materials in an environmentally- friendly fashion.

1.1.2 Initial operation

Please make sure the unit is provided with sufficient ventilation, and never place the ULTRA-DI PRO on top of an amplifier or in the vicinity of a heater to avoid the risk of overheating.

Before plugging the unit into a power socket, please make sure you have selected the correct voltage:

The fuse compartment near the power plug socket contains three triangular markings. Two of these triangles are opposite one another. The voltage indicated adjacent to these markings is the voltage to which your unit has been set up, and can be altered by rotating the fuse compartment by 180. ATTENTION: This does not apply to export models that were for example manufactured only for use with 120 V!

If you alter the units voltage, you must change the fuse accordingly. The correct value of the fuse needed can be found in the chapter Specifications.

Faulty fuses must be replaced with fuses of appropriate rating without exception! The correct value of the fuses needed can be found in the chapter Specifications.

Power is delivered via the cable enclosed with the unit. All required safety precautions have been adhered to.

Please make sure that the unit is grounded at all times. For your own protection, you should never tamper with the grounding of the cable or the unit itself. The unit shall always be connected to a mains socket outlet with a protective earthing connection.

1.1.3 Warranty

Please take a few minutes and send us the completely filled out warranty card within 14 days of the date of purchase. You may also register online at behringer.com. The serial number needed for the registration is located at the top of the unit. Failure to register your product may void future warranty claims.

1.1.4 Online registration

Please register your new BEHRINGER equipment right after your purchase by visiting http://behringer.com and read the terms and conditions of our warranty carefully.

Should your BEHRINGER product malfunction, it is our intention to have it repaired as quickly as possible. To arrange for warranty service, please contact the BEHRINGER retailer from whom the equipment was purchased. Should your BEHRINGER dealer not be located in your vicinity, you may directly contact one of our subsidiaries. Corresponding contact information is included in the original equipment packaging (Global Contact Information/European Contact Information). Should your country not be listed, please contact the distributor nearest you. A list of distributors can be found in the support area of our website (http://behringer.com).

Registering your purchase and equipment with us helps us process your repair claims more quickly and efficiently.

Thank you for your cooperation!

5 ULTRA-DI PRO DI800 User Manual

2. Control Elements The BEHRINGER ULTRA-DI PRO features eight identically built channels. The control elements described here refer therefore to all channels.

(1) The INPUT connector is used for connecting unbalanced as well as balanced signal sources.

(2) Because both INPUT and LINK connectors are wired in parallel, the LINK TRS connector can be used both as an input and as a direct unbalanced output of the INPUT signal. For the latter, you can for example connect LINK with the input of a monitor amplifier.

(3) The unbalanced input signal can be tapped into at the UNBAL OUT TRS connector after passing through the amplification circuitry (see (4) and (6) ). Essentially, the signal is identical to the signal located at the XLR output in the back; the only difference is that it is unbalanced and has therefore no Ground Lift functionality (see (5) ).

(2) (4) (6)

(7)(5)(3)(1)

Fig. 2.1: Front panel control elements

(4) The -30 dB attenuation switch increases the operating range of the DI800 considerably, from low signal levels of a high-impedance mic or a guitar, all the way to speaker connectors of a guitar amplifier.

Use the -30 dB switch only when the DI800 starts distorting (and not the mic preamp). When this is not the case, avoid using this function, since the lowest amount of attenuation is desirable in order to obtain the lowest signal-to-noise ratio possible.

(5) Using the GND LIFT switch, you can fully separate input and output grounding. Depending on how the equipment to which your DI800 is connected is grounded, using the GND LIFT switch lets you lower hum noise or ground loops. When the GND LIFT switch is depressed, the ground connection is interrupted (the LED is lit red). When the switch is in the PHANTOM OR MAINS POWER ON setting, the LED is lit green (when the GND LIFT switch is not pressed).

(6) The +20 dB switch increases the input signal level by 20 dB.

(7) Use the POWER switch to power up your DI800. The POWER switch should always be in the Off position when you are about to connect your unit to the mains.

To disconnect the unit from the mains, pull out the mains cord plug. When installing the product, ensure that the plug is easily accessible. If mounting in a rack, ensure that the mains can be easily disconnected by a plug or by an all-pole disconnect switch on or near the rack.

(11) (10)

(9) (8)

Fig. 2.2: Rear panel connectors

(8) The BAL OUT connectors (1 - 8) are the balanced mic-level outputs of the channels 1 to 8. Use a high-quality balanced microphone cable to establish connection.

(9) The mains connection is achieved via the standard IEC connector. A matching power cord is included.

(10) Serial NUMBER. The serial number is located on the top of the unit. Please take a few minutes and send to us a completely filled out warranty card within 14 days of the original date of purchase. Otherwise, warranty claims may be rendered invalid. Or fill out the warranty information online at behringer.com.

(11) FUSE COMPARTMENT/VOLTAGE SELECTION: Before plugging the unit into a power socket, please make sure you have selected the correct voltage. Faulty fuses must be replaced with fuses of appropriate rating without exception. Some units feature a fuse compartment that can be operated in two different positions, allowing alternating between 230 V and 120 V. Attention: when using the unit outside of Europe (running on 120 V), you have to use a fuse with a higher rating (see chapter 5 Specifications).

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3. Applications 3.1 Connecting a guitar/bass signal

Microphone Input

Link OutIn

OutDI600

Fig. 3.1: Guitar DI-box guitar amp/mixer

This illustration shows the standard application of a DI-box. The signal feeding the amplifier remains unchanged; it is simply taken and routed into the amp. The low- impedance balanced signal is forwarded to the mic input of the mixing console. This application has its advantages particularly with bass guitars, because very few microphones can linearly transmit bass frequencies with high signal levels. If you are using effects, insert the DI800 after the effects device, so that you can monitor the effects via the PA system or the recording as well.

3.2 Converting output signals of a keyboard, DJ mixer, etc.

Turn pan pots fully (counter) clockwise on microphone channels

In In

Out Out

L

R

Fig. 3.2: DJ mixer DI-box mixer

This configuration lends itself to use with a keyboard, DJ mixer or other mono/ stereo signal sources with line level, particularly when using long cables (e.g. connecting to a FOH mixer). The signal can be looped through to another amplifier via the link output. Thus, you get a monitor signal that is independent from the actual FOH signal (useful for keyboarders, DJs etc.).

3.3 Converting a microphone signal Average-quality microphones often feature unbalanced, high-impedance outputs. The DI800 lets you wire such mics to the mixing console using long cables without running the danger of inducing hum or interference noise. To this end, the microphone has to be connected to the input of the DI-box, and the DI-boxs output needs to be connected to the mic input on the mixing console.

In Out

Fig. 3.3: Microphone connection

3.4 Taking a signal from a speaker output Sometimes, you want to take a signal directly from a speaker output, even though just one speaker output is available. By using the -30 dB switch on the DI800, you can connect your mixing console to an amp output (up to 3,000 Watts into 4 Ohms), without worrying that the DI800 will be damaged due to overload! If you are using a tube amp, you should connect a speaker or a similar load resistance to the LINK output.

Out

In

-30 dB!

+ (red / positive)

- (black / negative)

Fig. 3.4: Connection to a power amp output

Before connecting to a loudspeaker connector, please make sure that the GROUND LIFT switch is in the ON position (no ground connection). This prevents accidental shorting of the amp output. Besides, the tip of the input connector should be connected to the speaker connector marked with red. The metal casing of the DI800 should in no case have physical contact to other equipment.

7 ULTRA-DI PRO DI800 User Manual

4. Audio Connections Please make sure that your DI800 is installed and handled only by

people with enough technical expertise. Assure that those operating the unit during and after the installation are sufficiently grounded. Otherwise, electrostatic charge may alter the performance of your equipment or damage it permanently.

output

For unbalanced use, pin 1 and pin 3 have to be bridged

1 = ground/shield 2 = hot (+ve) 3 = cold (-ve)

input

12 3

1 2

3

Balanced use with XLR connectors

Fig. 4.1: XLR connections

strain relief clamp

sleeve

tip

sleeve (ground/shield)

Unbalanced " TS connector

tip (signal)

Fig. 4.2: " TS connector

strain relief clamp

sleeve ring tip

sleeve ground/shield

For connection of balanced and unbalanced plugs, ring and sleeve have to be bridged at the stereo plug.

Balanced " TRS connector

ring cold (-ve) tip hot (+ve)

Fig. 4.3: " TRS connector

5. Specifications

Audio Inputs

Connections " TS connector, unbalanced

Type DC-decoupled

Input impedance 1 M

Max. input level +18 dBu/+48 dBu (-30 dBu pad depressed)

Audio Outputs

Connections XLR, balanced " TS connector, unbalanced

Type electrically balanced output stage

Impedance 680 , balanced

Max. output level +23 dBu, balanced +16 dBu, unbalanced

System Specifications

Frequency range 20 Hz to 120 kHz ( 3 dB)

Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) -104 dBu

Power Supply

Voltage

USA/Canada 120 V~, 60 Hz

Europe/U.K./Australia 230 V~, 50 Hz

Japan 100 V~, 50 - 60 Hz

General export model 120/230 V~, 50 - 60 Hz

Power consumption 10 W

Fuse 100 - 120 V~: T 200 mA H 250 V 200 - 240 V~: T 125 mA H 250 V

Mains connection Standard IEC connector

Dimensions/Weight

Dimensions (H x W x D) approx. 8 x 1 3/4 x 19" approx. 215 x 44.5 x 48