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What Is A DI?
Here is a great, clear explaination 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?
My Personal Recommendations for a Ukulele DI
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.
Fire-Eye Red-Eye Instrument DI w/Boost
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.
Other Great Fire-Eye Pedals
Fire-Eye Red-Eye Twin DI w/Boost
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.
Fire-Eye Dee-Eye
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.
Fire-Eye Bright-Eye
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.
Other DI Recommended Choices
Radial Engineering R8001010JDI Single-Channel Passive Direct Box with Jensen Transformer
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.
LR Baggs Venue DI Acoustic Guitar Effect Pedal
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.
LR Baggs Para Acoustic D.I.
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.
LR Baggs FIVE.O Undersaddle Ukulele Pickup
(Curt) This is the pickup that is in my newer Ko'olau CS Tenor. We carry and install these at our Funky Frets Music Store in Boyertown, PA USA.
Undersaddle Ukulele Pickup/Preamp System with Volume Control and 300-hour Battery Life.
The Funky Frets Main Stage
Funky Frets Music Store , 124 N. Chestnut St., Boyertown, PA USA
Some performers just like to play on and on!
The Funky Frets Main Stage can accommodate up to 60 for a House Concert atmosphere.
Recommended Direct Boxes
Fire-Eye Development, Inc.
3800 Mia Tia Austin, Texas 78731 USA
Tel: 512-346-6944
Hand-made in the USA
Listing Info
from the Fire-Eye Development, Inc. web site
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.
Red-Eye DI/Boost
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Also available a twin for switching A/B instruments.
The Red-Eye DI/Boost is flat-out the BEST and easiest DI that I have ever used. It is my go to pedal for all situtitions.
Hoping to have these available at our Funky Frets Music Store in the near furure.
More information available on the Fire-Eye Development, Inc.'s web site.
Even more information, discussion and comments on this listing below.
Radial Engineering
Radial Engineering 1588 Kebet Way Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada V3C 5M5
Listing Info
from the Radial Engineering web site
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.
Which DI?
A simple rule of thumb:
- If the source is active, use a passive DI box
- If the source is passive, use an active DI box
Source Instruments - Ukulele with Piezo Pickup
these are the same for a Classical guitar
Radial has a great page for selecting the right DI for pretty much any instrument and pickup combination: Comparing DIs
More information available on the Radial Engineering's web site.
Even more information, discussion and comments on this listing below.
Fishman Transducers, Inc.
340-D Fordham Road Wilmington, MA 01887 USA
tel: 978-988-9199 fax 978-988-0770
Listing Info
from the Fishman Transducers, Inc. web site
Fishman is dedicated to helping acoustic musicians achieve the truest sound possible whenever they plug in. Our ongoing commitment and wide range of innovative products has helped our company grow to become the industry standard for acoustic amplification.
From the largest arena to your own living room, wherever you hear an acoustic instrument, you can bet you’ll hear a Fishman. Fishman users are passionate about their brand of choice, for one simple reason: we put the needs of the acoustic musician first. With exciting new products in development and the ongoing growth of Aura Acoustic Imaging technology, Fishman continues to lead the way in acoustic amplification.
The loyalty from our extended family of players, technicians, repair professionals and instrument manufacturers is really a result of our loyalty toward them, as evidenced by our innovative, reliable products, over-the-top customer support, and unwavering goal of amplified acoustic excellence.
After 30 years of working for acoustic players, you have my promise that Fishman will always endeavor to be the best, but most importantly, to make you sound your absolute best.
More information available on the Fishman Transducers, Inc.'s web site.
Even more information, discussion and comments on this listing below.
Additional D.I. / Preamp Resources
I'm sure there are a few more out there. Let me know if you have a favorite for ukulele.
L. R. Baggs
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.
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 Microphones and Audio Electronics
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.
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
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.
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.
K & K Sound Systems, Inc.
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.
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 USA
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.
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.
