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If you’re a guitar player, odds are you can’t imagine a world without DI boxes. They’re the secret weapon of recording engineers, session players, and gigging guitarists the world over, and it would definitely complicate the recording process if we didn’t have them.
The question is: How do you choose the best DI box? There’s a ton of different models on the market, and it would definitely be understandable if you’ve ever felt overwhelmed with trying to figure out the best direct box for your rig and your budget.
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If that sounds like you, you’ve come to the right place. This article will give you all the information that you need to make an informed purchase, as well as give you five great recommendations to help aid you in your search.
Simply put, a DI box is a tool that helps balance and/or increase input signals and isolate your instrument from electronic interference. Yeah, that’s kind of technical, but it’s really not as complicated as it sounds.
First, a lot instruments (especially instruments with passive piezo pickups) don’t put out enough signal. This means that when you plug into an P.A. or a recording interface your signal will be weak. This is why if you’re recording straight into a laptop you generally use a DI box to help boost the signal of your instrument. A DI box is also commonly used for the same reason with acoustic instruments and bass guitars.
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Second, a DI box generally has a balancing transformer. A balancing transformer can help weed out some annoying electrical interference (this is kind of technical, but essentially it does this by being balanced, which causes your signal to reject outside interference), like a ground loop or potential electrical safety issues that can occur in venues with faulty wiring.
First thing first, a good DI box should be built like a tank. DI boxes will get so much use and will be hauled to and from so many different places that they need to be a bet more durable than most other pieces of equipment.
Also, it’s super important that a DI box is made with high quality electric components. You can get away with cheap stuff on a lot of pedals because they don’t deal with electrical current in the same way that a DI box does. A guitar pedal mildly manipulates a signal, while a DI box will fundamentally change it.
Which Di Box Is Right For You?
Lastly, make sure that you consider your needs when thinking about whether you want a passive or active DI box. Active DI boxes are actually preamps. Therefore, the general rule of thumb is to use active DI boxes on low output instruments while passive outputs are great at handling the hum on higher output instruments. Think about how you want to use your direct box in your setup before focusing on a particular manufacturer or model.
As always, it’s important to remember the purpose of these articles. They’re aimed at informing people, and giving as many of you as possible a viable option for your next purchase. While we recognize that a professional quality piece of equipment is always going to be superior to something that’s aimed at hobbyists, most people can’t justify the expense. It doesn’t matter how good a Reddi Tube direct box is if you literally can’t afford to purchase it. So just keep in mind that the best option for you may not be the best option for your neighbor, and vice versa.
Founded over 35 years ago by Carl Countryman, Countryman has been a long time secret weapon for gigging musicians and audio engineers. The company actually got its start handcrafting custom gear for touring rock bands and performers. They went on to expand into the company we know today, and though they may not be a household name they’ve retained a place on a variety of professional pedalboards and recording rigs for years.
Di Box Usage
Even better, all of the company’s components are designed, manufactured, and tested at their office in Menlo Park, California. While the U.S. doesn’t have a monopoly on producing quality equipment, it’s always a badge of quality for a product to be produced in a developed country with well paid and knowledgeable workers.
Considering the fact that Countryman is widely used by professional musicians, it’s no surprise that it is a quality piece of equipment. However, in order to know whether or not the device is a good fit for you be sure to read up on the specifications below.
DI boxes perform virtually the same function, so the reason to invest in a better device is that they’re made from better from better quality materials and are better able to reduce the amount of distortion and unwanted noise introduced into your tone.
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Apart from that, the most notable feature of this device is that runs on phantom power. The best part about this is that it ensures that you’re never going to have to worry about batteries dying mid-performance, which can be incredibly disruptive.
A cool feature of this DI box is that it allows you to select between a pickup setting and a setting for microphones. This is pretty helpful, as it gives you a lot more control on how the device impacts your signal.
It is a pretty clear clue that this device is a very well made piece of equipment. A key thing to note about this device is that you’re paying a premium for a device you can count on. The company takes an extreme amount of care in designing and testing their products, so while there are devices with similar components and features for cheaper we wouldn’t call this product overpriced because so much care is taken in every step of producing it. This makes it a great option for those of you who make a living from recording music or playing live, because you can rest assured that it’s not going to let you down.
Why You Should Consider Using A Di Box
Countryman does offer a comprehensive warranty on their products for five years following the purchase date. Like any other warranty policy, it should be noted that putting the DI box through unnecessary amounts of strain or modifying it will invalidate your warranty. Thankfully, there’s literally no reports we could find of any Countryman product being defective, so you can rest assured that when you buy this DI box there’s virtually no chance that you’re going to receive a product that’s not going to function as advertised.
The Countryman DT85 Type 85 Direct Box is an industry standard, and if you’re looking for a professional quality piece of equipment this DI box is worth serious consideration. Hobbyists or weekend warrior guitarists may find that their money is better spent elsewhere, which isn’t to say that the product is overpriced; you’re just paying a premium for a device that you know will hold up to regular use.
Established in 1991, Radial Engineering Ltd. Is the brain child of Peter Janis. Janis has been a long time gigging musician and a constant face in the music industry. He actually worked with Fender Canada before Fender consolidated their upper end models into their California factory, though he did leave the company because he didn’t want to leave Canada.
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The aim of the company was to provide musicians with an affordable option for a variety of needs, though the original focus was on technology that increased the utility of cables. It wasn’t until 1996 that the company launched their first DI box, which after receiving critical acclaim went on to be one of their most notable products.
Considering that the company is helmed by a former professional musician, it’s no surprise that the Radial Pro DI Passive Direct Box is a quality piece of equipment. To learn more about the specifications for the product read the sections below. They’ll give you all the information that you need to make an informed purchase, and give you a better idea to how this DI box compares to its competition.
The most notable feature of this DI box is it’s uniquely designed MuMETAL shielding, which is a proprietary design that does an excellent job of protecting against unwanted electrical noise. This feature itself gives the device a comparable level of isolation to that of much more expensive DI boxes, which is impressive considering the fact that it’s relatively affordable for this type of device.
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Another design element that’s worth talking about is the 14-gauge steel I-beam skeleton. While most DI boxes are pretty rugged, some aren’t as resistant to being bent should they take a hard knock, be thrown in a bag or case with a bunch of other equipment, or get dropped onto a hard surface. This steel skeleton helps to alleviate this problem somewhat, giving the device more rigidity than similarly price options. The chassis for the device is also bookended meaning that it’s beefed up a bit on the ends. This helps to
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