No matter how you slice it, there’s something just not quite right about the sound of a guitar plugged straight into an interface. It’s good, even great sometimes, but it’s not perfect. Adding a quality DI box or preamp makes a big difference in the overall sound, but for musicians on a budget that might not be an option. Also, if you want to go back and fix up already-recorded tracks, all the hardware in the world won’t fix a baked-in sound. United Plugins’ new DIFIX is designed to fix this problem by boosting and sweetening the signal from Hi-Z inputs on most budget audio interfaces without the added hardware. I did a bunch of testing on DIFIX to help you decide if it’s a good investment for your studio, so let’s check it out!
Looks
DIFIX has the look of a metal DI box with a mustard yellow powder coat finish. There’s a power switch at the top, plus a switch for Bass DI or Guitar DI. Below that are input and output gains like a real DI box, plus an Intensity knob. Simple controls in a neat-looking package.
Features
With a total of three knobs and two switches including the bypass, there’s not a ton of features to talk about. The main switch at the top toggles between guitar and bass DI models, and the Intensity dials in the right amount of DI sparkle. The input and output offer a cut and boost of the signal and can be used to add saturation. Finally, the Power On/Off bypass control has a smart feature for making automations that use the switch free of clicks or pops. With exactly the features you’d expect from a quality DI box, switchable bass or guitar operation, plus the smart bypass and Intensity controls, DIFIX ticks off all the boxes from an emulation standpoint and gets an easy five stars there.
Usability
As a guitarist who has been using amp sims and DIs for a very long time, I was intrigued by the idea of DIFIX and was curious about how it would sound. Brass tacks, DIFIX is definitely a one-trick pony, but all things considered, it’s a very good trick. The ability to add the sparkle and clarity of a good DI or preamp to your new tracks straight into the box is pretty sweet, and the fact that you can add it to existing tracks that were recorded in the past and revitalize the guitar and bass parts kicks it up a notch. In my extensive testing, which you’ll hear in the next section, I found that it did exactly what it’s designed to do, and even added a nice flavour when I added a mid-priced channel strip in the signal path. DIFIX is easy to use, and the dials take you from subtle to “wow” in a hurry, with plenty of usable room in between.
In Conclusion
Overall, United Plugins’ DIFIX is a great product that fulfils a unique need. DIFIX was tailor-made for budget producers in home studio environments where signal path options are limited, though even higher-end hardware can benefit from the sound enhancement DIFIX offers. If you’re recording guitars in the box or if you’re a mixing engineer who works with clients on a budget, this is a must-have. I give DIFIX an enthusiastic five stars and my recommendation for DI warriors everywhere.
Original Source: HomeStudioToday
