I am super happy to hear that this video was helpful! Countryman makes a great DI, and it is one of my favorites on acoustic guitar. For my money though, the WADI is the better choice. Let me know what you think after you hear it!
I don't like to talk bad about any company on my channel, so I chose not to disclose the brand. Just know that they are very common in the DI world, and run a couple hundred bucks. I've never heard of teagarden, is it pretty good?
Saw a heavy hitter get the best sound ever using two of them. His Vocal mic was a audiotechnica 5000 wireless w/ 5400 capsule and two AT4050 mics for Taylor guitar. Two teegarden audio Magic DI (one for dry signal from guitar & one for wet signal after strymon El capistan & Bluesky effects). Teegarden Audio is a family-owned and operated small business in the Nashville, Tennessee area.
I would really like to know how many watts the speaker level input can handle. Can’t find the information anywhere online. I know the Neve DI can handle up to 1000 watts.
Thanks for the question! No, I do not have any other audio examples. I would recommend you still get the active DI, because you can always put it in passive mode, but then if you get a different bass or instrument down the line, you will be ready.
I have not used the RND DI, but I have used plenty of RND gear. It is top notch, nothing bad to say about RND. I would be interested to hear the difference. I am not sure that I would want to take the RND out of the studio though. The WADI is easy enough to throw in a gig bag without worrying about.
@@mattingramsound Thank you. I appreciate your response. I own the Warm audio Di box currently, but if I end up getting the Neve at some point, I'll let you know what my findings are
Have you tried it with electric guitar and VST amp sims?? Did it offer any sonic benefit over the hi-z inputs on a standard consumer grade audio interface? Something I notice is that my guitars with active pickups sound much better with VST's because i dont have to use the Hi-z switch.
I have not used it in that way. I will say that there were definite improvements to the sound of my acoustic and bass over plugging directly into an interface. Typically, you won't hear the DI as much with an active output, but I would say it is still better than going into an interface.
@@mattingramsound ok I may just have to try it. Looking at this one or the Neve RNDI. They seem similar but I like that this warm audio version can run in passive mode also.
@jacobseal Did you ever end up getting this to use with amp sims? I've been advised to get one to help limit the amount of noise and hiss from my Neural Plugins.
Great looking piece of kit. The knobs and switches that stick out past the steel frame are a turn off for me. You can chuck a JDI in any old bag and it will fine because of the protection the frame offers. I'd be worried about damaging the switch and knobs doing the same with this. Great content man!
Totally get it. I had that same thought while I was demoing the DI. I just recommend you put it on a pedal board, then you have no problems! Thanks for the thoughtful comment!
Yea I have the same concerns, shame they didn't think about the switches in the design because the variable pad and passive/active mode are killer features, they use a cine mag transformer which is also in the telefunken DI so as a live engineer it's frustrating because if this product was road ready it would be killer. If it wasn't £150 I'd buy it and remake the chassis for those features. as it stands I'll stick with the usual radial, bss and telefunken, maybe mk2 will address this?
Cheers Matt, it's gonna be either this, an RNDI or the BSS-133 for me...? Decisions, decisions... And for what's worth I wouldn't even care if you did have some sort of financial interest in this product; you seem like a guy who would only promote quality gear, paid or unpaid. If it sucked, your cover would be blown pretty damned quickly, and you don't look that stupid... Your singer, the sunglasses, the wearing of, in lowlight...? Mmm... :-) Another thing for all the people who think that having a cheap DI is a 'cool' thing... In a home studio situation most people's audio interfaces have rubbish Hi-Z switches, I mean these things are cheap and, being so, add noise. When you are stacking up tracks for your favourite new song it simply piles on the mud. The point of a DI in a studio context is that you can avoid these crap Hi-Z inputs, and plug from your DI straight into the mic input, which is far higher quality, so cleaner. Now the point of an expensive DI is that it should not affect you sound in any way, it should be totally clear, and the clearer the better, with no added noise. The problem with cheap DIs is they introduce characteristics you do not want, noise, brittleness and bad colour. Now, in a live situation, at a gig, who really cares, use a cheap one be all means, no one will notice the difference but you, and anyway the guy on the sound desk will do more to mess up your sound than anything you can do to prevent it how ever much you spend.
Thank you for the kind words. To date, I have received no payment from any of the companies I highlight in my videos, but either way, I would never want to lie to my audience! And between the two choices you listed, I would go with the RND!
Just so everyone knows, there was a huge Bass DI shootout on another YT channel and the 40 dollar DI held its own against $1000+ DIs. I’ve had one in my stage kit from back when they were $20. The work and sound excellent. This guy’s probably paid or given free gear to tell you not to buy the cheap DIs.
HA! You got me figured out! Either that or I have 20 years live, studio, and broadcast experience to call upon to make my judgement calls. But I am flattered you think someone would pay me to make these.
Direct boxes are impedance transforming devices. They take a high impedance signal and make it a low impedance signal. How difficult is that to explain? And metal switches like that found on the WA DI, have been on direct boxes since time immemorial.
If an average musician was to ask me, "Why do I need a DI?", and I answered, "To change the impedance of your signal from hi to low.", they would likely have no idea what I was talking about. That is not an explanation. Also, DI's do more then change signal impedance. And all the DI's I have ever used have had push buttons. I think the little switches are cool.
@@mattingramsound I have to agree. I don't really know know what impedance is and how it impacts tone. Good video. Now I am off to do some more detailed research
@@mattingramsound The "average musician" should understand the basics of gain and impedance matching. It's not hard, we're not talking inverse square law or transfer function, it's basic stuff... Mic level colder, line level hotter...a child understands hot and cold to be fair.
@@spick1923 You can talk about what they SHOULD know all day. However, I have worked with musicians my whole life, and I can tell you that all they care about is how it sounds, not understanding electrical resistance, voltage, and balanced signals. Again, saying "you want to have higher gain", is not an explanation. And impedance is not a simple concept for most people.
Just ordered one of these because of this video. I've been back and forth between this and a countryman. I like how this one brings out the highs.
I am super happy to hear that this video was helpful! Countryman makes a great DI, and it is one of my favorites on acoustic guitar. For my money though, the WADI is the better choice. Let me know what you think after you hear it!
Nice tune!
Thank you!
What is the other one you referred to but did not name? How dose this compare with teagarden magic di?
I don't like to talk bad about any company on my channel, so I chose not to disclose the brand. Just know that they are very common in the DI world, and run a couple hundred bucks. I've never heard of teagarden, is it pretty good?
Saw a heavy hitter get the best sound ever using two of them. His Vocal mic was a audiotechnica 5000 wireless w/ 5400 capsule and two AT4050 mics for Taylor guitar. Two teegarden audio Magic DI (one for dry signal from guitar & one for wet signal after strymon El capistan & Bluesky effects). Teegarden Audio is a family-owned and operated small business in the Nashville, Tennessee area.
Best song I've heard in a "demo" ever. Wow
I would really like to know how many watts the speaker level input can handle. Can’t find the information anywhere online. I know the Neve DI can handle up to 1000 watts.
I'm not sure what the limit is, but I did put my 150w Triple Rectifier through it for the video.
Nice song! Great explanation of the DI.
Hey, thanks!
Hi! I have an active bass. Do you have a video playing the bass on passive mode? Would you recommend me the passive version of that DI box? Thank you.
Thanks for the question! No, I do not have any other audio examples. I would recommend you still get the active DI, because you can always put it in passive mode, but then if you get a different bass or instrument down the line, you will be ready.
@@mattingramsound Thank you
Is there a link for the song that was used here?
No, it is not recorded other than what you see here. But it may be coming soon.
The band is doing a live stream tomorrow though! th-cam.com/video/kTEB7SQ3YUM/w-d-xo.html
Just got mine and maaaaan it was sooooooooo great.
Glad you like it! It is a great DI.
Do you have any opinion/experience of the Warm Audio active DI vs the Rupert Neve Designs active DI ?
I have not used the RND DI, but I have used plenty of RND gear. It is top notch, nothing bad to say about RND. I would be interested to hear the difference. I am not sure that I would want to take the RND out of the studio though. The WADI is easy enough to throw in a gig bag without worrying about.
@@mattingramsound Thank you. I appreciate your response. I own the Warm audio Di box currently, but if I end up getting the Neve at some point, I'll let you know what my findings are
Have you tried it with electric guitar and VST amp sims?? Did it offer any sonic benefit over the hi-z inputs on a standard consumer grade audio interface? Something I notice is that my guitars with active pickups sound much better with VST's because i dont have to use the Hi-z switch.
I have not used it in that way. I will say that there were definite improvements to the sound of my acoustic and bass over plugging directly into an interface. Typically, you won't hear the DI as much with an active output, but I would say it is still better than going into an interface.
@@mattingramsound ok I may just have to try it. Looking at this one or the Neve RNDI. They seem similar but I like that this warm audio version can run in passive mode also.
@jacobseal Did you ever end up getting this to use with amp sims? I've been advised to get one to help limit the amount of noise and hiss from my Neural Plugins.
Great video! What's that mic you used for that demo song? I really like the effect!
Thank you! That is a Shure Green Bullet. It is actually a harmonica mic, but has that great AM radio sound.
@@mattingramsound Thanks! Dig the sound. Definitely buying one!
Now you have me wondering. Didn't know it was such a big deal... tbh, the last time I was a tone snob, I was playing through a 50W Bassman reissue
It's never too late to be a tone snob.
Great looking piece of kit. The knobs and switches that stick out past the steel frame are a turn off for me. You can chuck a JDI in any old bag and it will fine because of the protection the frame offers. I'd be worried about damaging the switch and knobs doing the same with this. Great content man!
Totally get it. I had that same thought while I was demoing the DI. I just recommend you put it on a pedal board, then you have no problems! Thanks for the thoughtful comment!
Yea I have the same concerns, shame they didn't think about the switches in the design because the variable pad and passive/active mode are killer features, they use a cine mag transformer which is also in the telefunken DI so as a live engineer it's frustrating because if this product was road ready it would be killer.
If it wasn't £150 I'd buy it and remake the chassis for those features. as it stands I'll stick with the usual radial, bss and telefunken, maybe mk2 will address this?
It's like you know stuff and things about audio, or something... 😉
Don't you spread those lies about me!
Cheers Matt, it's gonna be either this, an RNDI or the BSS-133 for me...? Decisions, decisions... And for what's worth I wouldn't even care if you did have some sort of financial interest in this product; you seem like a guy who would only promote quality gear, paid or unpaid. If it sucked, your cover would be blown pretty damned quickly, and you don't look that stupid... Your singer, the sunglasses, the wearing of, in lowlight...? Mmm... :-) Another thing for all the people who think that having a cheap DI is a 'cool' thing... In a home studio situation most people's audio interfaces have rubbish Hi-Z switches, I mean these things are cheap and, being so, add noise. When you are stacking up tracks for your favourite new song it simply piles on the mud. The point of a DI in a studio context is that you can avoid these crap Hi-Z inputs, and plug from your DI straight into the mic input, which is far higher quality, so cleaner. Now the point of an expensive DI is that it should not affect you sound in any way, it should be totally clear, and the clearer the better, with no added noise. The problem with cheap DIs is they introduce characteristics you do not want, noise, brittleness and bad colour. Now, in a live situation, at a gig, who really cares, use a cheap one be all means, no one will notice the difference but you, and anyway the guy on the sound desk will do more to mess up your sound than anything you can do to prevent it how ever much you spend.
Thank you for the kind words. To date, I have received no payment from any of the companies I highlight in my videos, but either way, I would never want to lie to my audience! And between the two choices you listed, I would go with the RND!
Just so everyone knows, there was a huge Bass DI shootout on another YT channel and the 40 dollar DI held its own against $1000+ DIs.
I’ve had one in my stage kit from back when they were $20. The work and sound excellent. This guy’s probably paid or given free gear to tell you not to buy the cheap DIs.
HA! You got me figured out! Either that or I have 20 years live, studio, and broadcast experience to call upon to make my judgement calls. But I am flattered you think someone would pay me to make these.
Direct boxes are impedance transforming devices. They take a high impedance signal and make it a low impedance signal. How difficult is that to explain? And metal switches like that found on the WA DI, have been on direct boxes since time immemorial.
If an average musician was to ask me, "Why do I need a DI?", and I answered, "To change the impedance of your signal from hi to low.", they would likely have no idea what I was talking about. That is not an explanation. Also, DI's do more then change signal impedance. And all the DI's I have ever used have had push buttons. I think the little switches are cool.
@@mattingramsound I have to agree. I don't really know know what impedance is and how it impacts tone. Good video. Now I am off to do some more detailed research
@@saadshah7857 Thank you!
@@mattingramsound The "average musician" should understand the basics of gain and impedance matching.
It's not hard, we're not talking inverse square law or transfer function, it's basic stuff...
Mic level colder, line level hotter...a child understands hot and cold to be fair.
@@spick1923 You can talk about what they SHOULD know all day. However, I have worked with musicians my whole life, and I can tell you that all they care about is how it sounds, not understanding electrical resistance, voltage, and balanced signals. Again, saying "you want to have higher gain", is not an explanation. And impedance is not a simple concept for most people.