Any advice if I wanted to have an electric guitar going into the input of the digitakt and then having the digitakt output’s going into a guitar amp. Would I still need a di box? reamp? Thanks!
Does the guitar amp have stereo inputs or just a standard mono in?
The simple answer is no, the digitakt would be acting like a preamp or an effects processor before the amp so there wouldn’t be much issue using the line level signal coming out of it.
A better answer is that unless you’re trying to sample the guitar’s signal into the DT before it goes into the amp, and if you’re trying to use the digitakt as an effects processor, you’d probably be better off running the amp FX loop through the digitakt and back into the amp from the DT’s audio out.
The exception might be if you are trying to make use of the stereo effects and distribute those left and right on a guitar amp with stereo inputs / stereo spread. The FX loop is unlikely to have stereo inputs although on an amp with stereo channeling, if you read about your model, you might find that the fx loop uses TRS in and out and can process stereo effects but most won’t.
The DI box is unlikely to make much difference in this use-case but if you were really concerned about a clean signal path and if you had any concern about ground loops, you might use a di box with a ground lift switch - it’s just that you wouldn’t really be using it for the di functionality.
The digitakt will likely put out more low end than the guitar amp is looking for if you’re going to be playing stuff off the dt as well as your guitar at the same time, so I’d be cautious about setting levels at a lower volume before you crank anything and blow your speaker. Just being overly cautious, but no one wants to replace a speaker when they don’t have to.
That’s probably more than you were looking for here but hopefully that helps.
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Using a guitar amp as a monitor isn’t great. I know, had to for a year or so till I could upgrade. It works but wow the difference when you do an upgrade.
For the guitar side, I use a Simplifier zero-watt amp, super cool. I have also heard really good things about the Fender Mustang Micro Guitar Headphone Amp.
I would tackle the guitar side first as you can still use headphones for critical listening.
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i have a fender twin tonemaster. I don’t think it has an effects loop. I wasn’t really planning on using the digitakt for anything outside of guitar/bass sounds. I’m hoping to do some sampling and play live too. Thanks for the long response!
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You’re right, that amp won’t have an effects loop. If you’re using it just for the guitar to add delay or eq the sound or use the compressor or whatever, I think you’ll be ok, I’d still set levels and try to eq it for a neutral sound that matches what you get out of the amp running straight in. As best you can A/B the sound, do that because I’m pretty sure the digitakt will color the sound whether you intend for it to or not. I’m not saying it’s impossible just be careful for best results.
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I use the Neve RNDI and it sounds lovely. Rupert Neve Designs RNDI – Thomann UK
