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How to Connect a Guitar & a Pedal to a Mixer

One way to get a signal from a guitar to an audio mixing board is to connect a microphone to the mixer, then place the microphone in front of your guitar amp. A far more efficient way to get a signal from a guitar to a mixer is use to a DI box, also referred to as a “direct box,” to connect the guitar directly to the mixer. The guitar signal sounds cleaner this way. If you are using a pedal with your guitar, integrating the pedal into the setup just adds one additional step to the connection process.

Things You'll Need

  • 2 guitar cables
  • XLR cable
  • DI box
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Instructions

    • 1

      Connect one end of the first guitar cable to the guitar. Connect the other end of this cable to the stereo input jack on the DI box.

    • 2

      Plug one end of the second guitar cable into the guitar pedal’s output jack. (If the pedal you are using features a stereo output option, with left and right output jacks, select the “Left / Mono” jack so as not to split the signal.) Plug the other end of this cable into the stereo input jack on the DI box.

    • 3

      Insert one end of the XLR cable into the XLR output jack on the DI box. Look on the back of the mixer. Insert the other end of this cable into the XLR mic input jack on any available channel.

    • 4

      Connect the DI box to an electrical power source (if required). Some DI boxes are equipped to utilize phantom power from the mixer. Refer to the DI box’s user’s guide if you are unsure if the brand and model you are using is equipped with phantom power capability.

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Recording Music

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