Suggested DI Pedals for SansAmp Classic

[adam79]

I'm finally grabbing another SansAmp pedal, the original version, not the "Classic" reissue. The one drawback of this, my favorite dirt pedal ever, is that you can't use it DI into the line-in of DAW interfaces, in my case I have a UA Apollo going into Pro Tools 12.4.

I'm just looking for some suggestions of a good DI box to use with the SansAmp. I'm guessing that it doesn't really matter that I'm using a SansAmp, the good quality DI boxes work well with everything.

I look forward to hearing which ones you guys suggest.

Thanks.

 

[tlagosh]

Radial makes excellent direct boxes

 

[VintageSG]

Palmer and Samson make some good units. At the cheap end of the spectrum, the Behringer Ultra-DI or Ultra-g ( has cab emulation, quite good emulation too ) will do the job and leave money for beer/strings.
Pedal wise, there are a few and they all get mixed reviews.
Do you need cab emulation?

 

[adam79]

Palmer and Samson make some good units. At the cheap end of the spectrum, the Behringer Ultra-DI or Ultra-g ( has cab emulation, quite good emulation too ) will do the job and leave money for beer/strings.
Pedal wise, there are a few and they all get mixed reviews.
Do you need cab emulation?

Cab emulation, eh? I'm not sure if I NEED it, but it sounds like it could be a cool addition. Would that be a separate pedal, or do some of the DI boxes come with that feature?

I'll be using the SansAmp in two ways. The first is what I already explained...direct into Pro Tools interface so I can write and record demos in silence (w/headphones).

Then once I got the band together and we start practicing, and eventually shows, I'm either gonna get a tube preamp to connect to my PA and have pedals in front for my FX, or I'm gonna buy an actual amp to use w/ the pedals.

 

[adam79]

Radial makes excellent direct boxes

Ya, I've read good things about Radial. Any particular models u recommend? I've heard that the Tonebone is an awesome pedal, but that's not a DI box, right?

 

[VintageSG]

Some DI boxes, like the aforementioned Behringer and the H&K RedBox have emulations built in. There are cab emulating pedals available, and I have no direct experience of them, only Youtube demos. They seem reasonable. Cab emulation isn't needed with DAW software as you can load impulses to take care of it, but direct to PA?, you need it!
From what I hear, and bear in mind my hearing will be different to yours, the DI boxes with cab emulation built in as an EQ curve and transformer sound better than the software ones, but it sure is close!

 

[luckett]

Why can't you just plug into the line level input on the interface?

 

[bgmacaw]

With my Sansamp GT2 I go direct into a Behringer Eurodesk board and then to the PC.

 

[1300 E Valencia]

H&K RedBox.

Versatile. Runs on phantom, 9-12 volt wall wart, or 9 volt battery.
Adjustable speaker sims.
I use mine mainly live, running a Deluxe Reverb into the Red Box right from the *external speaker jack* (leaving the internal speaker plugged in, of course), use the -26 dB pad, and run an XLR to the P.A. at line level. Very little gain or EQ fiddling. Works great, sounds great. Fits in your pocket. Easy peasy.
I'm sure there are more complicated and expensive boxes.
I've used a couple of the Radial boxes, too. Lots of features to choose from.
Built like a tank, and almost as heavy.

 

[codamedia]

you can't use it DI into the line-in of DAW interfaces, in my case I have a UA Apollo going into Pro Tools 12.4.

What Apollo do you have? The original sans amp will be instrument level, but every Apollo I've seen has an instrument input, or adjustable gain line level inputs. There is no reason it shouldn't work.

Cab emulation, eh? I'm not sure if I NEED it, but it sounds like it could be a cool addition.

If you get something with cab simulation, make sure it can be defeated otherwise it becomes a one trick pony! You won't be able to use the DI for anything else if you can't defeat the cab simulation. Plus, the Sans Amp should have cab simulation already.