[sdiy] Direct Injection box? (balanced v. unbalanced)

[Alex Dickey]

> > A direct box (for bass or guitar) usually converts from single
> > ended to balanced output, and provides attenuation to go into the
> > microphone input of a mix console. Isolation is usually a 
> > feature, as is the 
> > ability to separate the grounds. Very often an audio transformer is 
> > involved.
> 
> i was wondering about this the other day, i.e. balanced inputs vs.
> unbalanced inputs.  is the conversion done exclusively with a 
> transformer?  

i mean, duh, obviously it's not by rereading harry's email, but what other
ways are there to take unbalanced signal and balanced it?  

alex, again