DI Boxes: What Do they Do and Why Might I Need One

All DI boxes have an input (usually a 1/4”), a small transformer, and an XLR output. They also typically have a ground lift toggle switch, a PAD to attenuate your signal and a thru output to send unaffected signal elsewhere.

The primary purpose of a DI box is to convert an unbalanced signal to a balanced signal and eliminate ground hum. A DI box also gives its user the proper impedance to then plug their guitar, bass or keyboard into a mixer for a cleaner, low noise signal.