no input w/ DI electro-acoustic inst

[caius_heh]

Hello !

Not strictly Reaper related but heck, I'm using the DAW so here goes !


I'm not getting any input signal when I plug my electro-acoustic instruments directly into my interface (scarlett 18i8) via jack. I need it to set up a live performance. I do get a signal when I plug the jack in, but not when I play.

I have tried using both INST and LINE input levels. I have tried 4 different instruments (2 ukes and 2 guits) and have checked the batteries for each of them. I tried to use another interface (tascam US-122), with the same result

It does work with my strictly electric guitars and bass though, so i'm a tad bit baffled...

Any idea why this happens ?

[martifingers]

Seems odd right enough. My only thoughts are:

1. Check your cable. Are you using the same for both the electro-acoustics and the electric instruments?
2. Do they all work through a normal amp? If so then try a DI out from the amp into the Line In. Not that that is necessarily the sound you want but it may help eliminate some variables.

[caius_heh]

1. It does work with the same cable.
2. I am not using any kind of amp. It is plain old DI directly from the instrument to the interface.

it IS odd... can't make sense of anything that could explain this

[martifingers]

OK. Weird as you say. So can I just check?

We have four electro-acoustic instruments that are not producing a signal even though they are going through the same cable into the same Instrument input in the interface?
(BTW when you say you get a signal when you plug in but not when you play do you mean you get that characteristic noisy "spike"?)

Well, I was suggesting the amp simply to verify that the electro-acoustic instruments all worked (I know it seems a million to one shot that they all suddenly failed at the same time!)

I don't know what else to suggest but if it were me I would run an electric guitar and an electro-acoustic through a mixer into the interface. That way there should still be sound from the electric and if there is still no sound from the electro-acoustic then there is definitely a fault such a faulty output jack etc.

Or else try another interface?

[caius_heh]

So. It does work now.

I swapped for another cable and BAM ! Should have thought of that long before, but since it worked with electrical instruments, I didn't think about it...

The weirdest thing is I tested that same cable by plugging one of my Electro Acoustics in my amp and it worked ! Weirdest issue I've ever seen, but at least it is solved.

Thanks for the insight !

[martifingers]

No worries. I wish I had a pound for every time a cable suddenly stopped working and then suddenly did work when I got round to checking it again. Usually happens in a live situation too so at least you have ha d time to troubleshoot in advance.
Stay safe!