How to connect an acoustic guitar amplifier to the PA system

A short video showing two ways of connecting an acoustic guitar/acoustic guitar amplifier combination to the PA system using a DI box.

Chapter marks:
00:00 Intro
00:31 DI box placed between guitar and amplifier
01:46 Amplifier line out connected to DI box

This procedure is also applicable to any instrument/amplifier combination, eg bass guitar and amp, keyboard and amp etc.

Part of the St George's Church PA training series of videos.

Feel free to get in touch with questions or comments:

[skybyteme]

Upon searching YouTube I finally found exactly what I'm looking for. Thanks!

[nfn]

Helpful, people always just say, use your amps line out to run thru pa, but the devil is in the details. Thank you for a basic explanation specifically the part about how to use the amp adjustments (or not) to the pa. This is an older video but still more helpful than any other out there. Thank you Bruno.

[jorgerodriguez]

I've been looking all over YT for a video that finally explained this in a clear manner, thanks so much!!! Now I know what I was missing, a DI box :)

[bobstranzenbach]

Thanks. It’s hard to find the simple basics on line. Appreciate it. 👍

[GLBProductions]

Good question - with that sort of stereo line out, you can choose to use just one of them for a mono signal or both them for a stereo signal. If you use both of them you will need two DI boxes and two channels on the mixer. Do not try to combine them into a single connector unless you have a DI box with a 'merge to mono' function or something similar.

[МашаОколотович]

Mesej yang jelas, struktur yang jelas, mudah difahami, terima kasih

[GLBProductions]

- Thanks for the question. If you get all of your tone and effects from the multi-effects pedal you can place the DI between that and the amp. On the other hand if you use the effects in the amp you will need to place the DI after the amp's line out (if it has one) or mic the amplifier. You could also try a combination of a DI and a mic, just for fun.

[GLBProductions]

Yes - in the 2nd method the guitar is plugged directly into the acoustic amp so the player is still able to hear himself via the amp.

[GLBProductions]

- No problem - in this case you would connect your vocal mic to the acoustasonic 30 and then connect the line out of the amp to the input of one of your powered speakers. This will allow your vocals to come out of both the amp as well as the PA, and you will still have your effects. You should not need to use a DI box. What make and model are your powered speakers?

[dennisrocker]

Hello Friend, first off, thank you for making your skills and wiring knowledges, available for me to go by. Ive used several of your videos to hook up my different devices. I love good acoustic sound and i noticed that you were using a Fender Acc, amp for this lesson. I couldnt help but to brag a little on an amp that i bought from a bargan store new. Open box I guess. For $208.00, including tax I got a Fender Pro 100 acoustic amp. It has two matching channels with about 8 adjustable effects. One can sing and play guitar thru its two channels
My favorite feature is the l&r out xlr plugs on the back. From a pa, i only plug into one of side and the sound comes beautifully from the PA. All of the effect that i use on the amp comes through the Pa. Accoustic guitars sound great however iI can switch to using my Strat and it sounds great also. I get compliments very often on the sound and the folks who try it out, love it. Its so simple. Just wanting to share this with you. Thanks again, dennis.fayette ga. usa

[GLBProductions]

- Thanks for the positive feedback :)

[homerdilldoc]

Great video! Straight to the point. Clear info.

[petersonscay]

On the back of amp, there is a left/right D.I. outputs which the manual describes as "fully balanced for connection to an external PA mixing desk". Sounds like with 2 xlr mike chords I would plug into pa mixer, assuming mixer can accept? Amp is Marshall AS100D

[GLBProductions]

- Hi there, nice to hear from you again. Do you want to use your amp as a monitor for just your guitar or for your guitar and voice as well?

[GLBProductions]

- Definitely, just connect the line outputs or the DI outputs of the amplifier to the inputs of your active speakers. Make sure that the active speaker input is set to 'line' as opposed to 'mic' level and you should be fine.

[GLBProductions]

- Check your signal chain - the DI channel should be set up exactly the same as the mic channel, although the gain may need to be a bit lower depending on the signal from the amp. There may be some switch or routing knob that you haven't turned up.

[petersonscay]

Excellent, really helpful video for a greenhorn as myself, 2 thumbs up. Thanks a million. Can't wait to try!

[GLBProductions]

- Thanks for the question. The method you describe is the first one described in the video, so the answer is yes. Does your loop station have a balanced/XLR output? If so you can use that instead of a DI, or alternatively run the output of the loop station into a separate DI box.

[GLBProductions]

You're welcome, glad the video was helpful to you.

[jixxxxer]

great info, straight forward and to the point, but can you send the amp's signal to the pa without using a DI box or does this reduce the quality of the signal going to the Pa ? Thank YOu