Samson S-Direct Plus
(stereo phantom/battery powered with instrument OR guitar amp level inputs)

... because it's the only one I have available for use.

For simple DI box, Countryman. Because it was one of the first pro DI boxes made back in the day when I was shopping for DI box and it has become THE stage and studio standard DI box.

For deluxe DI, Evil Twin. Because it sounds kick ass, is boutique, tube and goes down to like 4Hz. And I since I have the mic-pre option for it, it is great for bass amp mic-pre as well.

For rack mount, API 512C or UA 610/6176 leaning a little more toward API for simple DI or the UA for added flavor. Because like the Evil Twin they sound kick ass.

While I would never buy or own one, on the cheap side I have been forced a few times to use the Behringer DI and it really surprised me as being a decent box each time I used it. They must of copied it from one of the greats....

[[url=http://[/URL]="http://www.adesigns…"]REDDI[/]="http://www.adesigns…"]REDDI[/]

Thanks for the opinions. I am going to use this DI for guitar recording with the intent of reamping later. I liked how the Radial JDI with Jensen transformer got great reviews from users, but I've heard from a reliable source that the Countryman Type 85 DI is "THE" DI for guitar. AG, I am guessing from your post that you would agree with that statement. It's also $20 cheaper, so that works for me. What do you think about that, and would you prefer a passive or active DI for use in my situation. I will be recording thrash/death metal as well as classic rock/punk guitar tracks.

IMHO Audio Technica made one of the best direct boxes around. They no longer make them but you can find them on the WWW or Ebay once in a while.

This one is also really good link removed if you have the money to afford it. Also this http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Robbie/ You can also build your own using Jensen Transformers. Information here http://www.jensen-transformers.com/datashts/dbe.pdf including the schematic.

Best of luck!

Cman and the old Westcams, ProCo's, Directors - most common I've had at my disposal.

PCDI for Ipods and such.

Lately I've seen a few different flavors of Radials showing up on riders with the note "no substitutions", never actually used them myself but they seem pretty popular.

[[url=http://[/URL]="http://recording.or…"]Similar post from last year.[/]="http://recording.or…"]Similar post from last year.[/]

The Radial stuff is good. In any passive type of DI, the transfomer is key and the most expensive part. If you need reamp and DI in one box then the Radial or Little Labs are good choices. I'd be looking at them also if I was shopping but I spent my coin on 3-Countryman many years ago and although scratched up a bit, they work as well as they did the day I bought them - no need for anything else. Always keep one in my Audio Slut briefcase.

As far as active vs passive, I don't see it as black and white in one being better than the other. For passive I want it clean and simple with no tone of it's own. If I am going active, then I am also wanting tone. I choose based on what I think is best overall for the guitar/song. In some cases when I don't have time or the right speakers/environment to judge properly, I record using both to separate tracks and decide later when I can judge properly.

Yeah... Radial is more than adequate. Used em' quite a bit.

I own a dozen HotBoxes that do fine, and a coupla Horizon passives that are adequate.

I also agree that that if you want color, you want color... when you don't, you don't...

But your question was what's my fav'.... and that's my REDDI's. (well... besides the 1073's that is.)

Haven't toyed around with planks too much with em', but for bass and key's.... pffft...

wicked

The REDDI's THE best bass DI I've ever used.

For passive I like the Jensen XFMR, so the Radial JDI is good. For active I like the Countryman 85. Have not tried the Reddi yet though.

My compadre The Doctor has built a few in the past and even though theres Countryman85 and several 'other' brands around here, these 'homemade' doo-dads are killer. And they run on 48v phantom and have transformers of various sorts depending on what you want them to sound like.

And then theres the DI built into the 1/4" jack at the end of the cable.

Really.

I have yet to find an acoustic instrument with ANY kind of p/u system that this thing didnt simply improve by 100%.

Link555 wrote: For passive I like the Jensen XFMR, so the Radial JDI is good. For active I like the Countryman 85. Have not tried the Reddi yet though.

Linkster... you GOTTA try one...

Scrounge one up somewhere...

Verrrrry beefy in the upper low's through the lower high end. You can crunch it or run it gassed and the response is very even across the spectrum.

The subtle nuances of string action come through very cleanly, even when you saturate the tube.

Haven't had the time to run it through the entire range of gain, but I can tell you that the REDDI's got plenty of gas and the tube is no starved plate Hansringer special... it's the real deal.

Sounds drool worthy, I will have to see if I can get my mitts on one!