Suggestions for a DI Box

[Duke]

On the older Taylor's (circa 2001), what were popular DI boxes to work with the Fishman Matrix blend system? I'm curious and all that I'm seeing when I look around at Fishman stuff is the new Aura imaging pedals.

Currently, I have a Boss AD5, but I wasn't sure what the word was for some of the Fishman-specific gear.

[Herb Hunter]

The term, DI box, is often misapplied to preamplifiers and equalizers that have a DI function. If you mean an interface to convert the high-impedance, unbalanced output of the Fishman Matrix system to the low-impedance, balanced signal used by professional recording and PA equipment, that is, a true D, the Radial JDI is one you might want to consider:
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[/size]http://www.radialeng.com/re-jdi.htm[/color]

[/size]Since you mention the Aura pedals and the Bose AD5, it is likely that by, DI box, you mean a preamp/signal processor with a [/color] low-impedance, balanced output.


The Boss AD5 will work with the Fishman Matrix system and you should only consider using something else if you don't like the results you achieve with it.

[Edward]

Hi Duke,

No need for "Fishman specific" gear ...a "DI" simply is a matching transformer converting high to low impedance.  Any "DI" will work.

That said, do you want a preamp?  Do you want the ability to shape tone?  If the latter, how much control do you want over shaping tone?  There are "modelers" which offer digital representations of acoustic tone, then there is Fishman's "Images" which is their version of "modeling" (which is not "modeling" per se, as per their spin, but it's still canned tone in a box you can choose from IMHO), then there are DI boxes with tone stacks, notch filters, and sweep EQs with one or multiple bands of EQ beyond the basic "bass" and treb" that you can tailor.  In other words, lots to choose from: and depends on what you want. 

Simple opinion on my part: LR Baggs' ParaDI or Venue are both excellent DIs which are also preamps, and provide superb tone shaping capability, IMHO.  In my experience, they are dead quiet, do what they're supposed to do w/o encumbrance, and are excellent choices to get your guitar signal into the house mix. 

A more "pure" approach w/o preamp is the PreSonus EQ3B, which is a 3-band parametric EQ, and has the added nicety of accepting XLR or unbalanced 1/4" inputs, along with both balanced or unbalanced output.  Again, no preamp with this one, but a heck of a nice/quiet tone shaper, IMHO.

And of course, there are many other units out there that also do a fine job ...just offering a couple of specific ones that I've come across that I personally like.  Hope that gives you a bit to think about

Edward

[Duke]

Excellent. Thanks for the advice. I'm not as much into the "imaging" stuff. I've used POD modelers for years of recording bass and it never had the same feel as mic'ing up a good cab with a good mic. So, I've been hesitant to get into any imaging as well.

However, are there aspects of the Aura system that would not work with the Matrix Blender? If I remember correctly, the Aura Spectrum didn't seem to play well with anything that wasn't an under saddle pickup.