Does the brand of audio interface matter for DI?

[Benjamin Martin]

I am trying to troubleshoot some issues with DI recording and live monitoring. My normal signal chain is Derby Pedal Steel -> Mister Bassman tube PreAmp (designed for steel guitar) -> Goodrich Volume Pedal -> minifuse audio interface -> DAW (audio input, with a bit of reverb).

What I have noticed is that if play a chord (eg. open stings 3-5) with this setup, it sounds quite harsh. This sound persists if I just go straight from my steel to the audio interface. I don't get this harsh sound if I play through an Amp (Boss Katana).

It seems like many on the forum get good results with the Steel - preamp - VP - audio interface - DAW setup with minimal modifications in the DAW. So I am wondering, am I doing something wrong? Or do I perhaps need a better audio interface.

Thanks in advance!

[Dave Grafe]

Sounds like a improper gain structure or impedance mismatch or both Try putting your VP between the guitar and preamp, the 500k resistance of the VP is a far cry from what your preamp output and/or AD converter input expect to see. The Goodrich VP, like most passive devices, is primarily designed to connect between the guitar's pickup and the preamp input, unless an impedance matching device/buffer (Li'l Izzy, Matchbox, Steel Guitar Black Box, etc.) are inserted. It is NOT optimized for use with line-level signals.