Favourite DI box for recording?

[Ryan]

Hi guys!

I was wondering what you recording gurus like to use for doing direct recording? Something to plug a guitar into and then feed that into a soundcard... I hope I'm talking about the right thing. I fully intend to mic a cabinet and do things properly but I'd like to do quick and dirty experiments just going direct... is it best to just go through a mixer or through some kind of DI box?

Thanks for any ideas!

[jrmy]

I can't claim to be a guru, since my approach to digital home recording is one step above my old approach to 4-track tape recording... but I just use my Line 6 Pod. I've had some shockingly good results... as well as some not-so-great results. But it does have a straight D.I. as well as a modeled output, so there you go...

I know plenty of people who like the Apogee.

And when I'm recording for realz with the band, we use a modded MOTU 896 mk1. My bandmate is the gearhead, so don't ask me how it works or anything like that, but damn does it sound good... of course, he also has all the fancy-pants tube preamps and all that shiznit... we had been using a Sebatron 4-channel tube preamp, but he's decided that it's too "mellow," and that we need something more "aggressive," so he just invested in an API lunchbox, which is a 6-slot powered unit that you can drop preamps into.

Again, though, my favorite DI box is whatever works...

[metalmariachi]

I use my 8 track and an interface to link to the computer.
So whether I mic the cabs or run a DI, the set up is exactly the same.
Simplifies things for me, less to remember.

MM

[htsamurai]

basically my recording set up is this yo






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[sev]

Tech 21 SansAmp Bass Driver DI.

[Ryan]

Thanks guys!

I used to be really into recording around the turn of the century but then I went to school and got into making pedals and I haven't even turned on the recording stuff since 2004... now I feel like I've forgotten most of it and I'm not familiar with any of the products out now. It's awesome to see what you guys are using, some really nice stuff! My rig looks like this:









jrmy, I've been researching mic preamps lately too and that API Lunchbox is cool as heck! I've got a rack POD in the studio, never thought of using it as a DI box, that's cool... I totally agree on using what's available and what works!

MM, I'm definitely looking to keep things simple too.. I already think my stuff is too complicated! When you run direct do you just plug right into your recording interface? I'm assuming it's a preamp/sound card kinda thing?

ht, that gear is slick! Do you record guitars with that condenser mic? You can just plug right into that cool M-Audio box for direct or do you go through the mixer?

Sev, that's what I was thinking of too.. a box just like that.. I guess I'm just a little vague on if I even need such a beast if I'm using a mixer or had good preamps? Or is it important to use a DI box as it will simulate a speaker's response?

Thanks again guys, home recording is cool!