DI for recording

Re the IRs - I think that the analog speaker sims are more of a glorified lo/hi pass and that works really well for FOH: not a lot of detail but it will sit very well in the mix. Some of the IRs have too much going on in a lot of frequencies you don’t need. I consistently apply lo/hi pass to my signal when I go direct from my helix (and use IRs).

You’re exactly right. Even the Rivera RockCrusher is just a lo/hi pass type thing with a graphic EQ which they reckon is to simulate different speaker types.
 
It was smart of Friedman to use his name recognition to build his own version of the Redbox. It probably costs a couple bucks to have it manufactured in China. All profit.

It is priced half way between a Redbox and the low end Behringer clone. I'm sure its great.

Well, the Redbox has two more sliding switches than the Friedman (and sliding switches don't grow on trees).....:laugh2:
 
FWIW I use my Weber MASS for this application. You can keep the attenuator on full so it does nothing and always tap the line out to go to something else, board, recorder, etc.

https://www.tedweber.com/gadgets/attenuators/

Though that Friedman Mic-No-Mo really looks like the shizzle the doctor ordered if it passes through the speaker signal without loading the amp output.
 
For active or Passive Pickups?

For Passive the Rupert Neve dual is insanely good and what I use, also use the Radials

I have a LRBags Acoustic DI -great for live -but not great at recording
 
Are you insane man, that thing is way out of my budget. Our engineer said to save my money he has plenty of DIs. What would you suggest grabbing?

Radial J48
Radial ProD2 (2)
Radial ProDI (2)
Radial ProRMP (2)
Countryman Type 85 (2)
Fe DI (2)
Fe2 DI
Line-2-Amp (2)
Samson S-Direct (4)
Sescom SM-1A
Whirlwind IMP Splitter (2)
 
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Are you insane man, that thing is way out of my budget. Our engineer said to save my money he has plenty of DIs. What would you suggest grabbing?

Radial J48
Radial ProD2 (2)
Radial ProDI (2)
Radial ProRMP (2)
Countryman Type 85 (2)
Fe DI (2)
Fe2 DI
Line-2-Amp (2)
Samson S-Direct (4)
Sescom SM-1A
Whirlwind IMP Splitter (2)

Crazy? You asked to suggest a DI for recording -thats what I did. Good Quiet Recording DIs are more expensive than regular live kit ones.

Second you didn't answer the question which is critical for DI selection. -Passive or Active Pickups?
 
Passive highoutput, Black Winter, Dimebucker.

Definitely NOT J48 (its for active pickups) and not RMP (Its a re-amper not a DI), I'd got Radial PRO DI for passive or Radial JDI for passive if you got the $$

I wouldn't consider anything but Radial at the lower price points personally -they are great.
 
Definitely NOT J48 (its for active pickups) and not RMP (Its a re-amper not a DI), I'd got Radial PRO DI for passive or Radial JDI for passive if you got the $$

I wouldn't consider anything but Radial at the lower price points personally -they are great.

I have limited experience dealing with DIs other than having to plug acoustics and occasionally electric into them for stage use. The JDI says stuff about eliminating phase problems and being ruler flat from 10hz - 40khz. But for me that begs two questions:
  • How would a DI introduce any phase problem in the first place?
  • How would a DI not be ruler flat? Isn't it just splitting the original signal as-is?
 
I have limited experience dealing with DIs other than having to plug acoustics and occasionally electric into them for stage use. The JDI says stuff about eliminating phase problems and being ruler flat from 10hz - 40khz. But for me that begs two questions:
  • How would a DI introduce any phase problem in the first place?
  • How would a DI not be ruler flat? Isn't it just splitting the original signal as-is?

Im guessing the common mode rejection circuit phase inversion out on the output? is where a cheaper DI might introduce an issue.

I just finished an album where I did the DI stuff at home with my Rupert Neve Designes DI and a Radial JDI and the Studio we re-amped and mixed in's Engineer was blown away with the sound of the DI versus the Radial he has and the Warm and BAE stuff he has...

I mean, at the end of the day in a heavy mix does it matter much? maybe not as much -but transformers, and circuit design do matter
 
I've always used a Red Box along with a mic for live stuff with tube amps. Now that I'm using a powered Kemper I just use a DI and mic a cab. Red Box is a great compromise between ease of use but still having a few EQ options/
 
The analog cab compensation praise in the reviews of the Friedman and the low price shows how bad Mesa dropped the ball with the Cab Clone. They have an IR version now but it’s still not really worth your money when you look at the competition. The RedBox is pretty impressive.
 
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Sol, the key for a recording DI is super quiet operation, matching passive pickups with active DIs and active pickups with ones designed for active pickups , also true transformer isolation, and with a ground lift -From there I'd say massive headroom is key -as a guitar pickup straight into a DI has intense transient spikes that are rounded off by an amp and pedals, but straight from the guitars into a DI to record are pretty intense to control without exceptional headroom

Im not sure EQ is desired in a recording DI -as there are better places in the record chain for EQ, but if you want to use for for live -then yes can be cool -especially acoustice instruments -and especially if you want to notch out feedback issues.
 
Sol, the key for a recording DI is super quiet operation, matching passive pickups with active DIs and active pickups with ones designed for active pickups , also true transformer isolation, and with a ground lift -From there I'd say massive headroom is key -as a guitar pickup straight into a DI has intense transient spikes that are rounded off by an amp and pedals, but straight from the guitars into a DI to record are pretty intense to control without exceptional headroom

Im not sure EQ is desired in a recording DI -as there are better places in the record chain for EQ, but if you want to use for for live -then yes can be cool -especially acoustice instruments -and especially if you want to notch out feedback issues.

This is all true. I would also inform everyone to really understand their needs, what the products provide and to make sure you aren’t paying more than you need to for advertised features that don’t do anything helpful whatsoever, sometimes to the detriment of doing the most basic features properly. The music gear industry like any other has a lot of BS I could go on all day about. Instead I’ll recommend you check out the Audio Myths Workshop.


Running an effective project studio, it’s been very important to me to optimise money going into the right aspects. I can grab guitar DIs and reamp them clean and clear for a fifth of the price all the toys on the market would suggest.
 
This is all true. I would also inform everyone to really understand their needs, what the products provide and to make sure you aren’t paying more than you need to for advertised features that don’t do anything helpful whatsoever, sometimes to the detriment of doing the most basic features properly. The music gear industry like any other has a lot of BS I could go on all day about. Instead I’ll recommend you check out the Audio Myths Workshop.


Running an effective project studio, it’s been very important to me to optimise money going into the right aspects. I can grab guitar DIs and reamp them clean and clear for a fifth of the price all the toys on the market would suggest.

Cool, I go to workshops like this all the time to keep learning -I'll be in Amsterdam next week for one
 
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