let's talk about DI boxes

sleep over jack · Post by **sleep over jack** » Mon Nov 21, 2005 7:40 am

passive, active, cheap, expensive. what are you using? what sucks? what's a good all-around box? what is best on certain stuff?

shoot...

segaface · Post by **segaface** » Mon Nov 21, 2005 7:48 am

Radial JDI + 2108 = YUM.

For now, at least.

mighty rime · Post by **mighty rime** » Mon Nov 21, 2005 7:50 am

I do alot of live sound, the 3 best are:

passive: Radial

Tube: Groove Tube Brick

Active: Avalon U5

I really like the GT.. sounds good to run a vocal mic through since it has a mic pre as well.

For studio stuff i usually use the DI built into whatever highend mic pre that is in the rack...
my faves.

telefunken V72
Unibersal Audio 2108

Mix413 · Post by **Mix413** » Mon Nov 21, 2005 7:58 am

It depends on what you're doing. Are you a commercial facility? Home studio?

It wouldn't hurt to have one really good passive DI like the Radial if you have some good preamps. Other nice choices are the Little Labs stuff, Countryman. Just one of those would be cool for a home studio.

We use all of these, an Evil Twin for bass plus an api 512 and Amek 9098. You really can't go wrong with high any of these high end units. If you have a commercial studio you'll need more than one.

Girl Toes · Post by **Girl Toes** » Mon Nov 21, 2005 8:02 am

I'm going to 2nd the brick. I use it a lot for my bass. We use random $30 passive boxes at work, and they are fine.

I tried the new UA boxes at AES. They are REALLY GORGEOUS on guitar, but didn't sound very good on bass. They are also really expensive.

Coco · Post by **Coco** » Mon Nov 21, 2005 9:27 am

segaface wrote:Radial JDI + 2108 = YUM.

For now, at least.

The 2108's have a great DI in them and are just a great pre period. Use them for stereo synth all the time. I use my Tab-Funkenwerk V71 religiously for bass duty.

Echos Myron · Post by **Echos Myron** » Mon Nov 21, 2005 10:11 am

I have the Radial ProDI, in which they built a transformer that supposedly sounds close to a Jensen, but for $80. I like it a lot, but I've never compared it to their JDI.

cgarges · Post by **cgarges** » Mon Nov 21, 2005 10:12 am

Avalon U5
ADL 800
BSS AR-133
Fat Box
API 512C
Drawmer 1960

I also can't wait for Brad Avenson to finally getting around to building production models of his little DIs.

Chris Garges
Charlotte, NC

ulriggribbons · Post by **ulriggribbons** » Mon Nov 21, 2005 10:17 am

And if you're into DIY at all, I built up a simple JFET DI roughly based on his article in TapeOp, and really dig it!

I'm comparing it to the DI on my API312's, the DI on the Vintech 1272, and a countryman.

Regards

ju

sleep over jack · Post by **sleep over jack** » Mon Nov 21, 2005 10:46 am

what about the cheap shit / dual-use stuff that can be used on stage as well? like the Whirlwind Hotbox or the new ART X-Direct active box?

Doublehelix · Post by **Doublehelix** » Mon Nov 21, 2005 11:39 am

Radial JDI...awesome!

r0ck1r0ck2 · Post by **r0ck1r0ck2** » Mon Nov 21, 2005 11:42 am

yess what about those cheapos

and furthermore what about this H&K RedBox thingamagig...
anyone?

drumsound · Post by **drumsound** » Mon Nov 21, 2005 11:44 am

sleep over jack wrote:what about the cheap shit / dual-use stuff that can be used on stage as well? like the Whirlwind Hotbox or the new ART X-Direct active box?

I've got a few Rapco passive guys and one active. I once borrowed some super-duper fancy DI and after it was returned we had fix something on a bass part. We didn't have the fancy DI and just used the rapco and there was little to no difference. Unless you're gettinga a DI with fancy features like tubes or the tone stuff on the Avalon, or reamping etc I'd just get a couple passivve boxes and get tracking.

sleep over jack · Post by **sleep over jack** » Mon Nov 21, 2005 12:04 pm

the passive boxes just deliver a weaker signal and have less features, correct?

KennyLusk · Post by **KennyLusk** » Mon Nov 21, 2005 12:04 pm

sleep over jack wrote:what about the cheap shit / dual-use stuff that can be used on stage as well? like the Whirlwind Hotbox or the new ART X-Direct active box?

On the cheap end of the spectrum the Groove Tubes Passive DI seems to have the most gain I've found. Even over the Whirlwind stuff which can be very weak.

GT PDI-1 is like $35 and includes a ground lift switch. Tough little box too.

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