Why the Direct Out seems weak into a line input

The Direct Out is designed as a replacement for miking your cabinet, so it's a mic-level signal meant for a mic input. Some powered speakers (like the QSC K-series) have a "mic" setting, which is exactly what we used to set the Direct Out's level and voicing. Send it to a line input instead and it'll sound weak. A few workarounds: - Use the FX Send — it's a 1V peak signal that should drive a powered monitor fine. It'll sound "raw" and unvoiced compared to the Direct Out, but may work for your purposes. - Add a small mixer — run the Direct Out into its mic input, then out to your powered monitor if that monitor has no mic setting. - Keep the speaker connected — unplugging the speaker is safe, but it unloads the amp and changes the Direct Out's sound. It sounds best with the speaker attached. (The FX loop isn't affected by this.) - Use a passive extension speaker as a monitor, positioned so you can hear well. Our BlockDock 10 tilts back for exactly this. - Use the amp itself as your monitor if you're mainly going through the house — set your stage volume, then set the house level. Keep in mind the house level shifts if you change the amp's volume, just as it would if you were miking it.