"Best" DI Box for recording metal?

[maddnotez]

Under $200 is a must. As always with me being a cheap bastard, I prefer to buy used to get a little better quality.

I watched a couple videos that showed me recording with a DI is an absolute must (considering I have a cheap interface) but I do not know much about them.

Active? Passive?

Which is best for recording modern metal with heavy rhythms? Are there any "standard" go to's or anything significantly better than the competitors?

 

[Vrad]

Country Man Type 85 seems to be a standard. I've been a/bing it to the Radial JDI. Both are good. The Type 85 has more spank it seems.

 

[maddnotez]

Country Man Type 85 seems to be a standard. I've been a/bing it to the Radial JDI. Both are good. The Type 85 has more spank it seems.

Thanks. That's good to know as Radial was what I've been looking at.

 

[Vrad]

Country Man Type 85 seems to be a standard. I've been a/bing it to the Radial JDI. Both are good. The Type 85 has more spank it seems.

Thanks. That's good to know as Radial was what I've been looking at.

I kind of like the Type 85 better. I got it cheap too. Like under $100

 

[VH4_BigRig]

What are you using to get your distortion tone from? Are you just trying to get a clean direct signal to work with in a computer program (BIAS, etc)? Or are you using pedals in front of the DI for the gain? This influences things because one of the main things you have to compensate for when going direct is the cab missing in the signal chain. Either what you use before the DI should include a cab simulator of some sort, or you should be including an impulse response in your recording software. A bunch of guys on here could give you way better info about IRs than me, I've never used them myself; my Kemper has cab sims in the chain so I don't need 'em.

I have a Radial JDI and I'm happy with it, but that's because it's mainly for clean stuff and the distortion pedals I've used have a cab sim on them. I've gone direct with a distortion pedal without a cab sim and not liked the results; too thin sounding. If I was going to go that route, I'd get a JDX direct drive instead. Cheers!

 

[Monkey Man]

Maddnotez, if you've got a Mackie Onyx desk of any flavour, I can highly recommend the built-in DI channels all in the range possess.

Typically in my experience, "direct-guitar" inputs on interfaces and whatnot sound thin and characterless. I've banged on about the Onyx's implementation of the "direct-guitar input" many times on various forums, and can honestly say that the full-spectrum-and-yet-sweet sound of these things blows me away every time I hear 'em.

I don't think it matters which genre/s you might be playing; IMHO you want the most-accurate-possible and definitely-not-harsh signal from your guitar or bass you can get.

 

[slyym]

I've been looking at getting a little labs red eye 3d. Its a Di and reamp box in one. Cause if your recording a di then you also need a way to reamp.

 

[moltenmetalburn]

Passive or active pickuo?

I use my tube buffers, electrode glass a and valvulator for this. Works wonderfully with passives. They are NOT balanced outputs but Ive never had any issues of any kind.

Please link video you mentioned.

 

[maddnotez]

Ill try to hit everything in one reply.

This will be for dual purposes. I will be using it for bedroom recording. I personally have passive pickups and use amp sims and cab ir's mostly. Down the road I may get a load box or just mic my amp and cab but for now it is direct to my TC Impact Twin interface and all gain comes from amp sims and cab ir's.

However my band is also preparing to record a demo and the other guitarist uses actives so to answer that question, both active and passive.

We very well may go the same route with using amp sims on this recording because of cost and also the producer is familiar with using sims and makes good sounds. We can record all strings ourselves and then just send him the files VS. spending hours in studio dialing an amp sound and tracking flawlessly.

With that said I do not know the difference between "reamping" and just recording a clean signal and adding amp sims. I thought it was the same thing?

Here is the video and there is a noticeable difference. Keep in mind he is using a V1 Scarlette and then the difference between him using the POD and the DI does not seem as severe.

Either way, we have a TC Impact twin and also a Tascam US-1641 or whatever model it is and we will need a DI box at minimum. I am interested to hear more about the difference between reamping and using amp sims. I know reamping is using a real amp but isn't the signal you are sending the same either way?

 

[maddnotez]

Also wanted to ask because a friend mentioned this to me.....

I need an Ebtech Line level shifter anyway for my FX loop and he said it might have the same effect as a DI box?

Any truth behind that? Could kill two birds with the same dollar.

 

[moltenmetalburn]

Ill try to hit everything in one reply.

This will be for dual purposes. I will be using it for bedroom recording. I personally have passive pickups and use amp sims and cab ir's mostly. Down the road I may get a load box or just mic my amp and cab but for now it is direct to my TC Impact Twin interface and all gain comes from amp sims and cab ir's.

However my band is also preparing to record a demo and the other guitarist uses actives so to answer that question, both active and passive.

We very well may go the same route with using amp sims on this recording because of cost and also the producer is familiar with using sims and makes good sounds. We can record all strings ourselves and then just send him the files VS. spending hours in studio dialing an amp sound and tracking flawlessly.

With that said I do not know the difference between "reamping" and just recording a clean signal and adding amp sims. I thought it was the same thing?

Here is the video and there is a noticeable difference. Keep in mind he is using a V1 Scarlette and then the difference between him using the POD and the DI does not seem as severe.

Either way, we have a TC Impact twin and also a Tascam US-1641 or whatever model it is and we will need a DI box at minimum. I am interested to hear more about the difference between reamping and using amp sims. I know reamping is using a real amp but isn't the signal you are sending the same either way?

He may not need an ACTIVE DI box but you do. Both will sound good through ACTIVE though, youndont need both but a switchable one would be cool.

The passive pickups would benefit from a tube buffer if you plug directly into your amps typically. If using actives it wont add much.

Reamping is when the tone source is outside of the computer, you play the clean signal from the DAW back into amp or modeler and then re record that into the DAW again.

 

[moltenmetalburn]

Video is good. Passive pickups, active DI. I like the radial pro, used them many times. $99. The scarlet is my fave from the video however.

 

[maddnotez]

Passive pickups, active DI.

What about Active pickups? Passive DI? I guess I might need both....

Also I have buffers in some of my pedals, aren't those the same thing as tube buffer?

Edit:

Also, the scarlette?

 

[moltenmetalburn]

Passive pickups, active DI.

What about Active pickups? Passive DI? I guess I might need both....

Also I have buffers in some of my pedals, aren't those the same thing as tube buffer?

That was in reference to what was used in his video.

Ative guitar AND active DI are both low impedance output. The passive guitar is not. Actife guitar doesnt need active DI but active Di wont hurt active guitar tone. A DI that the buffer can be turned off gives both options. Decide which sounds better.

 

[moltenmetalburn]

Stumbled across this thing fyi

https://www.premierguitar.com/articles/ ... ion-preamp

 

[maddnotez]

Stumbled across this thing fyi

https://www.premierguitar.com/articles/ ... ion-preamp

Thanks for posting. This seems interesting. Could use to replace DI since it does the same thing but also could add to the pedalboard for more options.

That is how I read it anyway from the description. There was one used listed on Reverb and I got to use the 15% off too so I jumped on it.

Was really leaning towards the Countryman but this one seems like it would be better if I can also use it in my live rig.

Does this actually convert the signal the same way as a DI Box?




Interesting discussion I am having on GAB trying to figure all of this out if anyone is curious.

http://www.guitarampboard.com/forum/vie ... 38#p735338

 

[moltenmetalburn]

Stumbled across this thing fyi

https://www.premierguitar.com/articles/ ... ion-preamp

Thanks for posting. This seems interesting. Could use to replace DI since it does the same thing but also could add to the pedalboard for more options.

That is how I read it anyway from the description. There was one used listed on Reverb and I got to use the 15% off too so I jumped on it.

Was really leaning towards the Countryman but this one seems like it would be better if I can also use it in my live rig.

Does this actually convert the signal the same way as a DI Box?




Interesting discussion I am having on GAB trying to figure all of this out if anyone is curious.

http://www.guitarampboard.com/forum/vie ... 38#p735338

Truth is I have no idea just saw it today and thought of this thread. I also just bought something on reverb to save $40 with the sale.

 

[maddnotez]

Stumbled across this thing fyi

https://www.premierguitar.com/articles/ ... ion-preamp

Thanks for posting. This seems interesting. Could use to replace DI since it does the same thing but also could add to the pedalboard for more options.

That is how I read it anyway from the description. There was one used listed on Reverb and I got to use the 15% off too so I jumped on it.

Was really leaning towards the Countryman but this one seems like it would be better if I can also use it in my live rig.

Does this actually convert the signal the same way as a DI Box?




Interesting discussion I am having on GAB trying to figure all of this out if anyone is curious.

http://www.guitarampboard.com/forum/vie ... 38#p735338

Truth is I have no idea just saw it today and thought of this thread. I also just bought something on reverb to save $40 with the sale.

Cool man what did you get?

After reading and talking a lot I don't think this ADA is a DI since it doesn't convert balance/unbalanced but it still sounds cool and I'm looking fwd to hearing what it does.

I got a Factory B stock so it was already discounted plus the Reverb sale so if it's not something I like I can just resell and will still aim for the Type 85 DI.

Still have another month before we record so have a little time.

 

[moltenmetalburn]

Stumbled across this thing fyi

https://www.premierguitar.com/articles/ ... ion-preamp

Thanks for posting. This seems interesting. Could use to replace DI since it does the same thing but also could add to the pedalboard for more options.

That is how I read it anyway from the description. There was one used listed on Reverb and I got to use the 15% off too so I jumped on it.

Was really leaning towards the Countryman but this one seems like it would be better if I can also use it in my live rig.

Does this actually convert the signal the same way as a DI Box?




Interesting discussion I am having on GAB trying to figure all of this out if anyone is curious.

http://www.guitarampboard.com/forum/vie ... 38#p735338

Truth is I have no idea just saw it today and thought of this thread. I also just bought something on reverb to save $40 with the sale.

Cool man what did you get?

After reading and talking a lot I don't think this ADA is a DI since it doesn't convert balance/unbalanced but it still sounds cool and I'm looking fwd to hearing what it does.

I got a Factory B stock so it was already discounted plus the Reverb sale so if it's not something I like I can just resell and will still aim for the Type 85 DI.

Still have another month before we record so have a little time.

I grabbed a delay pedal, alexander history lesson 2. Im in love with his pedals. Swapped all mine out.

 

[Deleted member 10619]

MW1 from Creation Audio Labs.

You are welcome.