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moosers
Published on 08/18/10 at 17:29
The Tech 21 Sansamp Acoustic DI is a direct input box that is designed specifically for use with acoustic instruments with piezo pick ups. I don't know what the exact differences are between this DI and the others in this line of DI boxes beyond them just being designed for different types of uses. The box has the same make up as the others, with 1/4" jacks for two separate sets of inputs, an output, and an XLR output as well. It doesn't require external power that I'm aware of and isn't rack mountable since it's a DI box.
UTILIZATION
Using the Tech 21 Sansamp Acoustic DI isn't difficult in the least, although it definitely has a lot more going on than your average DI box. The box has switches for phantom/ground connect, a -20 db pad, and an active switch as well. The general parameters that it has are for level, blend, treble, mid, bass, and a mid shift for choosing the exact mid range frequency you'd like to use. Beyond this there isn't anything you wouldn't see on a normal DI box, so a manual shouldn't be necessary.
SOUND QUALITY
I've only used the Tech 21 Sansamp Acoustic DI for recording a direct signal for an acoustic guitar, but for this use the DI was nearly perfect. Of course we used a microphone to pick up the guitar as well, but we wanted a DI signal as well since the pick up was a good one and we had this great acoustic DI available. I can't think of a better DI for acoustic guitar, as there is more flexibility and possibilities here than on any other that I've used before. I can't really say how well this would be for other acoustic instruments with pick ups, but for acoustic guitar it's nearly perfect.
OVERALL OPINION
The only bad thing about the Tech 21 Sansamp Acoustic DI is the price, as it isn't really too affordable for anyone other than professionals. It isn't something that you can just have sitting around just in case because of the price, but if you do want something more all purpose I'd recommend checking out the normal DI boxes from Tech 21. However, if you do a lot of acoustic recording with a DI box, the Sansamp Acoustic DI is the best of it's kind!
UTILIZATION
Using the Tech 21 Sansamp Acoustic DI isn't difficult in the least, although it definitely has a lot more going on than your average DI box. The box has switches for phantom/ground connect, a -20 db pad, and an active switch as well. The general parameters that it has are for level, blend, treble, mid, bass, and a mid shift for choosing the exact mid range frequency you'd like to use. Beyond this there isn't anything you wouldn't see on a normal DI box, so a manual shouldn't be necessary.
SOUND QUALITY
I've only used the Tech 21 Sansamp Acoustic DI for recording a direct signal for an acoustic guitar, but for this use the DI was nearly perfect. Of course we used a microphone to pick up the guitar as well, but we wanted a DI signal as well since the pick up was a good one and we had this great acoustic DI available. I can't think of a better DI for acoustic guitar, as there is more flexibility and possibilities here than on any other that I've used before. I can't really say how well this would be for other acoustic instruments with pick ups, but for acoustic guitar it's nearly perfect.
OVERALL OPINION
The only bad thing about the Tech 21 Sansamp Acoustic DI is the price, as it isn't really too affordable for anyone other than professionals. It isn't something that you can just have sitting around just in case because of the price, but if you do want something more all purpose I'd recommend checking out the normal DI boxes from Tech 21. However, if you do a lot of acoustic recording with a DI box, the Sansamp Acoustic DI is the best of it's kind!