All you need to know for selecting a direct box (DI) when amplifying or recording your ukulele that has a built in pickup. This page give the resources and information on the various active and passive DIs available.
19 September 2025
- Cases & Gigbags • protect that ukulele from nicks and dings.
- Instrument Cables • a good instrument cable really does make a difference.
- Capos • open position chord in other keys.
- Electronic Tuners • Electronic tuners come in two varieties: LED and Strobe..
- Effects Pedals
- Recording Your Ukulele
- Music Notation & Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) Software
- Direct Boxes
- Pre Amps & Pickups
- Acoustic Amplifiers - These are amplifiers specifically optimize for acoustic instruments
Here is a great, clear explanation of What exactly is a Direct Box?
from Radial, one of the foremost manufactures of Direct Boxes.
A DI box, also called a direct box, converts the unbalanced, high impedance signal output of an instrument to a balanced low impedance mic-level signal.
This enables the signal to travel distances of 100 meters (300 feet) without adding appreciable noise. The output of a DI box is mic level – thus the balanced output signal is treated just like a microphone. When playing live, the mixing console is usually positioned in the house (front of house or FOH position) which is often 50 to 100 meters away. Most instruments such as bass guitar, acoustic guitar and keyboards are connected to a DI box and mixed at FOH. For the sound engineer, capturing the direct sound of the instrument separately from being processed by the artist on stage usually makes it easier to amplify the signal as it can be optimized for the room.
For more on Direct Boxes: What exactly is a Direct Box?
The Fire-Eye Red-Eye, the Radial JDI or J48 are the two pedals that I go to for the ukulele live. For the Radial get the Jenson equipped Radial JDI.
Been using the Fire-Eye, Red-Eye exclusively with my ukuleles. Simplest the best and easiest to use DI I've ran across. Going to get a few more of these for our Funky Frets store main stage.
I love this Red-Eye for is lack of additional knobs and controls - less to mess up. And, for the boost part for taking solos at loud jams with a full band - guitar and all can drown out the ukulele.
Checkout the links below for some great info on sorting out just what a DI — active or passive - does.
- DI Basics – Why a direct box anyway? — by Radial Engineering
- Comparing Direct Boxes — by Radial Engineering
Radial is one of the go to source for seasoned sound engineers. Really great gear. I have a couple that I use on the main Funky Frets stage.
The Red-Eye is an all analog, handmade, high input impedance DI and clean boost. Designed and improved over the course of several years to meet the needs of performing musicians, the Red-Eye is crafted from the highest quality components available. Engineered by an electronics engineer with over 50 years of professional experience, the Red-Eye design focuses on high fidelity, low noise and simple plug and play performance. This no frills precision approach to amplification offers a truly satisfying experience for musicians and their audience.
ALL Fire-Eye pedals are 100% Handcrafted in Texas, 100% Analog and Made in the USA
Curt — The Fire-Eye Red-Eye is my go to DI for ANY performance. And, flat-out the best DI I've ever had.
The Red-Eye Twin Instrument Preamp offers a simple, one-box, direct-connect solution for musicians that play two instruments at the same gig or have an instrument with dual pickups. The Red-Eye Twin works well with instruments having passive or active piezo pickups, electret microphones or magnetic pickups such as electric guitars and basses. Performers that find the Red-Eye Twin useful are, for example, those playing fiddle and mandolin, guitar and mandolin, string bass and electric bass or dual pickup instruments.
The Red-Eye Twin’s impedance-matching field-effect transistor input circuit is designed especially to match and track the impedance of passive piezoelectric pickups. That results in a smooth, natural, acoustic instrument tone. Low distortion, low noise, and generous headroom mean that clear tone comes through even when an instrument is played percussively and loudly.
The Dee-Eye Instrument Preamp offers a simple solution for connecting instruments with high-impedance piezoelectric pickups to a venue’s sound system. Any passive or active instrument pickup is supported. Designed and improved over the course of several years to meet the needs of performing musicians, Fire-Eye products are crafted from the highest quality components available. Engineered by an electronics engineer with over 50 years of professional experience, the Red-Eye design focuses on high fidelity, low noise and simple plug and play performance. This no frills precision approach to amplification offers a truly satisfying experience for musicians and their audience.
The Bright-Eye is a clean boost and buffer pedal that uses a 9V or 18V center-negative power supply, bringing the hi-fidelity signal-conditioning circuitry of the Red-Eye Preamp to a pedal-train format.
The JDI is a high performance passive direct box for live concert touring and professional studio recording applications, featuring a premium Jensen transformer for exceptional audio performance.
The Radial JDI is a passive direct box designed to handle extreme signal levels without distortion of any kind. At the heart, the Radial JDI employs the world class Jensen JT-DB-EPC audio transformer delivering a smooth, warm sounding Bessel curve, reminiscent of the finest vintage gear. Ruler flat from 10Hz to 40kHz and with virtually zero phase deviation, the JDI delivers the natural, pure sound of the instrument without artifact. By its no-power passive design, the Radial JDI performs both high-to-low impedance conversion and signal balancing over a magnetic bridge that passes signal while rejecting stray DC voltage. This makes the JDI particularly adept at eliminating hum and buzz caused by ground loops.
The AC-Driver is an acoustic instrument preamp designed for use on stage, with helpful features to streamline your performance and ensure the best possible tone from your instrument.
Every Tool You Need in One Acoustic Pedal.
The Venue DI gives you complete control by combining a full-isolation DI output, 5-band EQ with adjustable low & hi-mid bands, variable clean boost, and chromatic tuner all in one acoustic pedal. With its all-discrete signal path, hi-graded semiconductors, and exclusive use of audiophile grade film capacitors, the Venue DI is on par with the world’s elite preamps and provides a studio quality sound for the stage.
Studio quality performance, powerful tone shaping EQ and rock-solid reliability, the Para DI has become an indispensable stage tool for countless musicians around the world. This roadworthy box effortlessly tames the stage and enhances any acoustic pickup for a fuller, more complex sound. The Para DI features a 5-band EQ with a tunable mid-range and notch, variable gain control for passive or active pickups and a high-quality DI output for a pristine signal to the board.
Flat response and high headroom - no knobs to fiddle with on-stage.
The Red-Eye is an all analog, handmade, high input impedance DI and clean boost. Designed and improved over the course of several years to meet the needs of performing musicians, the Red-Eye is crafted from the highest quality components available. Engineered by an electronics engineer with over 50 years of professional experience, the Red-Eye design focuses on high fidelity, low noise and simple plug and play performance. This no frills precision approach to amplification offers a truly satisfying experience for musicians and their audience.
Radial Engineering Ltd. is a manufacturer of professional audio products based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The company offers a wide array of products that are sold under brand names such as Radial, Tonebone, Primacoustic, Reamp and Zebracase. These are offered through a network of dealers and distributors that span the globe. Quality construction, exceptional audio performance and superb customer service are the underpins that have served to make Radial one of the most respected and trusted brands in the industry.
We started this in a loft in downtown Los Angeles, California, with a hope and a dream, and no business sense whatsoever. The first L.R. Baggs product was our LB6 Series Pickup. We would like to thank Leo Kottke for his early support. Stores would call us and say, "Leo Kottke said he was using your pickup." We could literally track his touring route as the stores would order in his wake. Early endorsers were Steven Sheehan of the Judds, James Taylor and Kathy Mattea. These endorsers gave us the encouragement and support that sustained us when we had more enthusiasm than business sense. They spread the word and gradually our business grew.
Shure Incorporated is an American corporation originally founded by Sidney N. Shure in Chicago, Illinois in 1925 as a supplier of radio parts kits. The company became a consumer and professional audio-electronics manufacturer of microphones, wireless microphone systems, phonograph cartridges, discussion systems, mixers, and digital signal processing. The company also produces listening products, including headphones, high-end earbuds and personal monitor systems.
BBE Sound is a premier audio technology company dedicated to improving the quality of amplified sound for all people, from everyday consumers to music and sound professionals. BBE High Definition Sound technologies are found throughout the audio entertainment production spectrum; from the stage and studio, where world-renowned musicians insist upon using BBE professional audio processors, to consumer electronics manufacturers who implement BBE High Definition Sound technologies into their products so that they provide a more satisfying audio experience to their customers.
Our mission is to establish K&K as the premier manufacturer of the highest quality acoustic amplification products in the world while maintaining the highest respect and service to our customers, employees, and community.
All K&K products are designed and manufactured in house, enabling us to quickly react to customer and market needs. Specific requests for customized products are easily met for musicians, dealers, and manufacturers. Our products are proudly Made in Oregon, USA. We encourage our customers to shop local and we strive to do the same.
Whirlwind manufactures and distributes a wide variety of products through our worldwide network of independent dealers. Some only sell pro audio, some only service the install and contracting markets and others are music stores which primarily sell our snakes, cables and interface boxes.
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