Boss DI-1 Direct Box

The Boss DI 1 is a analog direct input box. It allows you to send a 1/4 inch instrument cable direct via the input and send an XLR microphone cable out into a preamp. It is not a rackable direct input, it is a direct input box.


UTILIZATION

The configuration of the box is real simple. Just plug your guitar, bass guitar, keyboard into the 1/4 inch input, and send the XLR output to your audio interface or preamp. Like most, direct input boxes, it is extremely easy to set up and use. It also has switches for grounding, which can really come in handy! I haven't had access to a manual to this, but its really not needed as it is real easy to use.


SOUND QUALITY

The Boss DI 1 will not color your sound at all, it will simply send the signal directly from instrument to your preamp. The signal is clean and isn't noisy at all. When there is any noise, it is because there is a grounding issue and the grounding switch this has will always take care of that. It reproduces the sound faithfully without coloration, which I what I always look for in a DI box.


OVERALL OPINION

I've been using a few of Boss DI 1s for the 2 year2 and have found them reliable and overall quite useful. I use it mostly on bass guitar, running this DI box to a hardware preamp. I have also used it with a variety of keyboards and pick ups for stringed instruments like violin and cello. It won't color your sound and is generally pretty sturdy. The price is pretty cheap and while I use a different DI box as my main DI box, these come in real handy when I need to use more than one DI at a time. These are reliable DI boxes that won't break the bank if you need a few of them.

This is a relatively low cost DI box. There is an input (1/4"), an XLR and 1/4" output (the XLR is for DAWs or analog recording hardware, the 1/4" for an amplifier). There is also an attenuator and a power switch.

UTILIZATION

There isn't really much to describe in the way of using this product, it works just like any DI box. Simply plug the instrument through the 1/4" input, and take it from the DI to the console via the XLR output. Also use the 1/4" output if using an amplifier or speaker of some kind. The attenuator will adjust the signal flow in case of noise or loss of signal, just so you can get some adjustment prior to the signal entering the DAW.

SOUND QUALITY

The console is pretty transparent from what I can tell. This is both good and bad. It's good in the sense that there is no automatic coloring of the sound, and the sound is left entirely up to the whim of the engineer, via the effects/edits he makes in the DAW. However, I feel as though there are other DIs out there that are transparent yet still somehow have a more full sound. I know that sounds like an oxymoron, but I feel like I would prefer to have to do less with the signal than more just to get it to sound right. This is certainly nitpicking to an extent but I think I'd prefer a better DI in some cases, if not most. However, for practical purposes, this sounds fine.

OVERALL OPINION

this is a good DI box for the price. Professional studios could probably do better, but most people with a setup at home would have no problem using this. I recommend it, especially if you are looking for your first DI box.

The Boss DI-1 is an analog direct input box that has a lot of different features for a direct box. It has a slew of 1/4 connections including for input, parallel output, balanced output and then it has a few switches for power and an attenuator. It is not a rack mountable unit as it is box.

UTILIZATION

The configuration and set up of the Boss DI-1 is very simple and easy to follow. Simply plug your instrument into the input and send the output to your console, amp, or wherever else you would want to send it. While it is very simple like all direct input box, it still provides a good amount of control, more than most direct input boxes out there. I don't have the manual for the Boss DI-1, but it is easy to use and you really don't need it.

SOUND QUALITY

The sound quality of the Boss DI-1 is very good as it will reproduce your signal accurately and faithfully. It won't color your sound and will be true to the signal you send into it. When it comes to direct boxes there is not much you can do to alter the tone, but luckily the Boss DI-1 has a great inherent sound and will always do a good job. While I have heard warmer and better sounding direct input boxes, the Boss DI-1 does a great job and is definitely a worthy DI box.

OVERALL OPINION

I've been using the Boss DI-1 for about two years and while it is not the best direct input box I've ever used, it sounds great and does a great job of reproduce your signal accurately. I would rather a Countryman type 85 DI box, but the Boss DI-1 is a nice substitution and will save you a couple of bucks when compared to the cream of the crop when it comes to DI boxes. Boss is known for making extremely sturdy and durable pieces of gear that will last for a while. All in all, the Boss DI-1 is a top notch direct input box for home studio owners and professionals alike.