Favorite DI Boxes

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daniel.sneed
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Re: Favorite DI Boxes

Post by daniel.sneed »

nick danger wrote:can someone explain what the main tradeoffs are between active and passive?
AFAIK, It's mainly about input load.
Active ones are between 500k ohms and 10M ohms. Passive around 30k ohms.
Plug a passive guitar, or bass, in a passive DI and all the highs will get tossed.
A keyboard or an active guitar will work on both.
Of course, there are many other things to consider, such as sound *character*, but this one is first IMHO.
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Re: Favorite DI Boxes

Post by Pappy725 »

+1 for the Radial DIs. I love my BassBone, major tone! $270 from Sweetwater(plug for Brad or your current Sweetwater salesperson) :P
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Re: Favorite DI Boxes

Post by conleycd »

Typically an active DI employs a buffer. This takes a high impedance output (ie electric guitar) and converts it to low impedance output. That hits a transformer typically which balances the output (if not balanced or pseudo balanced by the buffer). The transformer also always for ground isolation and sometimes is wired to reduce the signal closer to mic level.

The advantage to an active DI is that usually the buffer input looks to the guitar as an amplifier and loads the pickups in a way that the guitar believes it is an amp (ie 1meg impedance). Although not really necessary with a keyboard it also doesn't hurt. A passive DI (just a transformer essentially) will load passive pickups unlike a guitar amplifier.

When looking at an active DI you should check to make sure the input is at least 1meg impedance.

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Re: Favorite DI Boxes

Post by therealbigd »

the ridge farm "gas cooker" is awesome, but I don't know what availability is like in the USA.

KT make a wonderfully accurate DI box.

and Ampeg's SVT-DI is a nice valve driven DI.
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Re: Favorite DI Boxes

Post by BradLyons »

The GAS COOKER?? What is that....
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mhschmieder
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Re: Favorite DI Boxes

Post by mhschmieder »

Has anyone tried Universal Audio 710? Interesting device, and very flexible. Just wondering how it stacks up quality-wise. It could make for an interesting addition to an existing setup, or even a wise "first purchase" for someone either just starting out or on the upgrade path.
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Re: Favorite DI Boxes

Post by BradLyons »

I have them in-stock, but haven't taken one out yet to try it.....hmmmmmmm give me a few weeks, maybe I can find time to do so.
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Re: Favorite DI Boxes

Post by therealbigd »

BradLyons wrote:The GAS COOKER?? What is that....
Image

it's a dual-channel, valve mic pre-amp-cross-DI box made by a wonderful English recording studio.

http://www.ridgefarmstudio.com/rfinew/cprod.htm
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