best cheap DI box for live?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Rocket Boy
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Rocket Boy

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I'm looking for something cheap and functional that wont color my sound and will solve any problems i have regarding getting acoustic guitar/bass/keyboards from the source to the mixer without any problems...

thanks.
 
The AxMax... they're about $75- and are a whole lot clearer sounding than any of the cheap transformer boxes and a bit richer sounding to me than something like the "Countryman".

Best of luck with your search.
 
ive been using the 25$ rolls direct box for years. although its a cheapo i cant hear any color in it. i use it for keys, samplers, and electronic drums. i didnt want to be bothered with a phantom powered box so this fit the bill. it also has a built in pad switch. its been beer soaked just keeps on working. a bass player friend of mine uses his to go to the p.a. without using an amp and it works for him.
 
Here is link to a DI box comparison article:

DIs Compared

I have the Countryman and it does the job... as long as it has +48v phantom. It sounds much less when running from batteries. This unit does NOT like less than +48v phantom. My Rane preamps produce +15v and it sounds awful.

Note the Countryman is wired in reverse, with a different hot pin, than are the rest of the standard DI boxes.

Mine is reliable and does the job well for passive basses. It is less well suited for active basses.
 
In general, use active boxes for instruments with passive pickups, and passive boxes for instruments with line-level outputs like keyboards and acoustic guitars with battery-powered preamps. Passive basses tend to sound good through either one.

Like gavin said, many phantom-powered DIs sound bad when starved for voltage.

Fletcher, I'm interested- the Axmax says it is DC powered. Does it have a power supply or does DC refer to phantom-power? Where can I find specs? I couldn't find any additional info online. A wall-powered DI that can handle line inputs for $75 would be a great deal.

For inexpensive passives, I've alway had good luck with Whirlwind Directors.
 
cheap DI

have a look at the Behringer ones. i carry a couple in my kit all the time and they've never let me down yet.

in the UK they go for about £30 so i guess about $45?????? (apologies if my conversion rate crap!)

Behringer also do a nifty stereo box, which also allows mono splitting as well as stereo, and that's even cheaper. i don't think it's as robust as their dedicated mono one, but it's a handy lil box to kep in the kit.
 
I would think the LR Baggs Para DI. Slightly more expensive than the previously mentioned ones but great eq'ing available and the sound is top notch.
 
I really like my Behringer Active DI... (DI-100??) about $30... one of the only good pieces they make in my opinion... I did a lot of research before getting it. Seems alot of people like it...
 
I'll bite... why is the stereo model $10 less than the mono??? (It shows MSRP at $29 vs. $39)
 
turnitdown said:
I'll bite... why is the stereo model $10 less than the mono??? (It shows MSRP at $29 vs. $39)
Click to expand...

Because its a much simpler device without the transformer that is in the 100 model. IMHO get the DI100
 
mmmm

yeah - i would agree, if you can - splash out and get 2x DI100 - that's the system i run and i do get a generally cleaner signal into the desk - where it's then ruined by a half-cut house sound engineer!

at least i do my bit!

i have both units in the armoury, but the DI100 is the better unit
 
Yeah, I hate to say it, but the sound company I work for has a BUNCH of the Behringer Ultra DI boxes, and they have been champs! I have live multi track recordings of some national artists where there DI's were used on stuff like acoustic guitars, bass, keyboards, and the stuff is CLEAN as hell.

They have held up to abuse pretty well too.

They are a bargain.
 
Has anyone used the cheap Samson ones that are the same price as the Behringers? My music shop only has Samsons but I'm even more suspicious of them than I am of Behringer!
 
noisedude said:
Has anyone used the cheap Samson ones that are the same price as the Behringers? My music shop only has Samsons but I'm even more suspicious of them than I am of Behringer!
Click to expand...

Oh thee of little faith.

Get the berrys from digi village they work just fine. I have no doubt that there are better sounding units out there but I reckon no one could tell the diff. thru a typical P.A setup.
They just do what it says on the Tin.

Tony
 
Yes indeedy, I'm happy enough with the Behris, just wondered if I could duck a P+P charge by buying locally.
 
Also use the Behris, I put it in between the bass head and the cab for recording. At thier least they ARE reliable and they can accept a 9 volt battery or phantom and they are the cheapest box out there. The cab simulator also has its place occassionally.
 
I've been plugging bass directly into the line input of a mixer for home recording into a PC, with pretty good results. Should I be using a DI box? What will it do for me?
 
KevinDrummer said:
I've been plugging bass directly into the line input of a mixer for home recording into a PC, with pretty good results. Should I be using a DI box? What will it do for me?
Click to expand...

Generally speaking yes. Some mixers come with a dedicated instrument input which has a high input impedence that is nescessary for correct matching.

If you have an active Bass then I believe you may get away with the normal line input.
 
I just thought - for recording, I should be plugging a DI straight into my Delta 44, shouldn't I? Rather than a line on my mixer? Minimum signal path and all that?

What should my Delta inputs be set to for a DI box - +4, 0 or -10?
 
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