Ridge Farm

This is a tube driven DI box/mic pre-amp. This alone makes it an interesting package as most mic pre-amps will not double as a DI box. I've noticed, however, that given how difficult it is to use as a mic pre-amp, most will probably end up using it as a DI. There are 2 1/4" inputs, which is part of the reason that using a mic is difficult (you need an XLR to 1/4" adapter just to use it, and you basically need to put it after the mic-pre in your line to get it to work.) There aren't any effects on this DI, and while it is rackable, it'd be difficult to use unless you brought your instruments into the control room (which isn't always easy, or even possible). Thus I probably would not rack it. UTILIZATION It's really easy to get good sounds with this when it's used as a DI. It's basically as simple as plugging into the input and choosing either the balanced or unbalanced outputs, both of which are post-gain There is also an unbalanced output that is pre-gain knob, which I've only used when using it as a mic pre, which actually still requires another transparent mic pre to even work, which I found odd. The manual will explain how to do all of these tasks, and for once, it's totally necessary because it's really confusing. SOUND QUALITY For all of the difficulty that can come with using this box (at least when it's not just as a DI), there sure are a lot of aesthetic benefits. It sounds fantastic when used properly. If you like to rely on digital-sounding things, and prefer a transparent DI box, this is not at all what you should be looking for. The coloration of this tube-driven box is the selling point. It really makes instruments that can sound weak and anemic (like bass and keys, especially when using a transparent DI) ring out with tone and color. I personally love using it on bass because it absolutely sings when in use. It also gives digital keys a warmth and edge that they would otherwise lack (this is crucial to me, as I have often been frustrated with digital keys in general). This isn't to say it won't also work great on a Rhodes or Wurlitzer, on the contrary I enjoy using it very much. Last but not least, it can make a condenser mic sound like a tube mic, which is pretty awesome. It requires the aforementioned difficult of going through the unbalanced output but it ultimately does sound pretty awesome. OVERALL OPINION I like the DI functions of this box the most, the tubes really make everything sound more saturated and colorful, in a good way. The downside to this is that there isn't much room to make a change after the fact, however, I'd rather know for sure that I have a particularly good sound before tracking than have one afterwards that I can't get to sound right. This is a really expensive DI, so I'd really think twice if you don't need it for many different instruments. I'd say it's more crucial to have it for keys than anything, because bass can also be amplified for tonal control. As a mic pre it's really awesome, however there are others that do similar things, and either way it still isn't quite like using a tube mic itself. So while it can be amazing, I don't know if it's a must-have by any means.

Ridge Farm's 'The Boiler' is a dual channel compressor/limiter designed for use in professional recording studios. Ridge Farm is a boutique company with only a few products, all of which are very well made and somewhat hard to come by. Each of the two channels on The Boiler has XLR jacks for input and output, and that's all of the connections that it has beyond the standard power jack. It is rack mountable and will only take up a single space in a traditional casing. UTILIZATION Using The Boiler isn't tough at all, as I found myself catching on very quickly while using it. Each of the two channels are identical, each with parameters for threshold and input level. Those are the main parameters that control your sound, but there are then switches for attack and release that can be set to either slow or fast. It also has a link switch in the middle of the two channels that allows you to pair the channels up and have only the left channel control your threshold, while having individual control over your input level still. Even those with a small amount of experience with dynamic processors should be able to use this without needing a manual. SOUND QUALITY In a word, the sound of Ridge Farm's The Boiler is outstanding. It's great for mixing, which is really the only situation I've used it in, as I haven't done too much tracking with The Boiler. Either way you'll get similar results, but most of the time unless I'm looking for a very specific sound right off the bat I'll tend to track clean and process sounds during mixing. It's hard to describe the sound of this compressor/limiter without one actually hearing it, but suffice it to say that this will add a lot of fullness and a vibrant quality to your sound no matter what you are using it for. I've tried it on vocals, snare and kick drum, as well as for bass guitar. The results were stellar across the board, leading me to believe that this will work very well for all applications when used right... OVERALL OPINION If you're ever able to give the The Boiler a shot, I'd highly recommend taking advantage of using it, as it's really got an awesome sound and is up there with some of the best compressor/limiters that I've used. It's incredibly easy to use, so even if you don't know all that much about compressors, you should be able to use this if you understand the basics. The price definitely isn't cheap, but that's what you're going to have to pay if you're looking for professional sound quality. I don't have a bad thing to say about The Boiler...