REDDI is a fire-engine red valve direct box with an unquestionable quality of sound, a truly outstanding hand-built product at a sensible price. During field tests it has been described by recording engineers to be the "best tube DI ever made".

With wider bandwidth and just the right amount of gain, the REDDI stands clear and clean above the competition. The REDDI can be rack-mounted for use with 2 or more units.  Great for Basses, Guitars, Synths and electronic instruments that require a direct box for recording, the REDDI is, er, READY to give you unsurpassed sound for a perfect recording or live performance.

Based on the sound of the legendary Ampeg B15 all-tube bass amp, The REDDI's tone is tight, focused, and deep -- in essence, right in the pocket.  It's ultra wide frequency range is another reason for the depth and clarity of the bass, as well as its unique ability to add a sense of dimensionality to whatever instrument is played through it.  Inside its unmistakable fire-engine red case, the REDDI houses a toroid power transformer, which offers the quietest operation, and a 6N1P tube-driven amplifier that feeds its signal direct into a massive custom output transformer.  Therein lies the secret to its sound.  It's a well-known fact that transformers are responsible for a truly big, punchy sound (also called the "big iron" sound of the '70s).  By sending the tube-amplified, harmonically rich signal direct to a transformer that is hand and "ear" built you get a sound like no other.

Another thing that professional bassists have discovered is that, rather than combining the DI sound with an amp, as is customary in bass recording, the sound of the REDDI alone is just perfect.  On guitar, keyboards, and other electronic instruments, the REDDI works its particular brand of magic just as effectively as it does on bass. In fact, once you own a REDDI, you'll be tempted to put just about anything you can through it. (In fact, Grammy-winning producer Ted Perlman, has even used the REDDI with a Shure Green Bullet mic to record harmonica!)

After several years int he market, A Designs believes the REDDI is still the benchmark for valve direct boxes.

If you want to hear for yourself exactly what the REDDI can sound like, click this link.  Basstasters has audio clips of 10 different basses with various combinations of strings and pickups, all recorded completely flat - an unique opportunity to check out the possibilities, and even compare the REDDI with other quality DI boxes. And the unsolicted User Quotes below tell it all....

Also, here's a link to a short YouTube from RSPE Television where host Mark Tipton talks to Producer, Mixer and Musician Randy Emata about his REDDI (and Pacifica): http://youtube.com/watch?v=1Rvsy8mB5GM

USER COMMENTS:

The Reddi has an amazing tone, and is really easy to use as a DI.
Todd Atlas - Producer/Engineer/Composer/Musician, Gearslutz 19th Aug 2010

I've used a reddi a few times for bass and it was awesome! Too round sounding for metal guitars tho
http://myspace.com/raincityrecorders, Gearslutz, 19th Aug 2010

I use my REDDI on bass, electric guitars, acoustic guitars, keys/synth or wherever i want a big fat sound. Can't say enough good things about the REDDI.
Joshua Aaron, President/Chief Engineer, AudioLot/AudioLot Studios, Gearslutz, 13th Feb 2010

But, if you have to prioritize which first and you're talking about bass tone, it's the REDDI.
NWSooner Gearslutz, 13th Feb 2010

This is my first experience using the Reddi DI and it really kills!  I hate to get into the endless debates about which amp/strings/DI's, etc are The Best, but I will say this: anybody who is picky about what their DI sounds like needs to hear the Reddi.  To my subjective ears, my Alembics have never sounded better through a DI.  The Reddi gave me a perfect combination of detail, presence and warmth. It is an amazing tool.
s_wood, Alembic Club, 24th March 2010, http://alembic.com/club/messages/393/77971.html?1270234348

The REDDI compared to the SVTDI is no contest...REDDI wins everytime! Thought I'd share.
drasticDUB, 5th May 2010, http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?p=9086146

The REDDI is much more immune to external noise.  I have a very electromagnetically noisy workspace, and the REDDI shrugged it all off like a champ, while the SBox picked some of that up.
Bongomania, Talkbass.com, 21st April 2010

The A Designs REDDI is one of the most versatile direct boxes designed today. It is a tube DI that can be used on a variety of sources. The tone is amazing and makes a bass guitar sound outstanding. The REDDI adds a smooth, yet growly tone to the bass. It also cuts through a dense rock mix with less processing.
Stewart Cararas, ehow.co.uk  March 2010 Here's a link to his "How to Use the A Designs REDDI For Bass Guitar Recordings" (!)
http://www.ehow.co.uk/how_4925363_designs-reddi-bass-guitar-recordings.html

...we've done a lot of gospel and country releases which featured acoustic guitars, and the combination of DI/Reddi and mic (or in many cases, just the Reddi) proved to be what the song needed... the only thing to be careful of is adjusting the mic and DI tracks, as air does add a slight latency not found in the DI tracks...
FWIW: I've used our Reddi as a DI for acoustics, bass, and electric live as well as studio, always with much better than expected hopes...
Ken Morgan, Wireline Studio, Midland, TX, http://www.gearslutz.com/board/so-much-gear-so-little-time/120516-reddi-how-does-sound-acoustic-guitar.html 21st April 2007

It's pretty much all we use for bass, DI electric gtrs, Rhodes piano, and frequently as a pre for dynamic mics on snare....
Ken Morgan, Wireline Studio, Midland, TX. 9th March 2009

I was skeptical dropping that much on my REDDI... until I heard it. They are giving the box away at the price. I love mine.
Limit 6 , Philadelphia 9th March 2009

"When I tried it, it just changed my whole world. It completely had the mojo I had been missing in my sound. The way that the bass sat in the track, and how clear and warm and even it was, was really amazing. Literally as soon as I heard the REDDI, I said 'this is it... this is what I've been looking for.' So I immediately went out and bought one for myself."

"the REDDI is as cool as it looks and is the 'must-have' direct box for any serious bass player. This is hands-down the warmest, most even DI I've ever used, and it surely is bringing the mojo for me every day that I'm using it."  
Carlitos Del Puerto - Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Ricky Martin, Herbie Hancock, Kevin Eubanks, the acoustic bass library on Apple's GarageBand, etc.

"Just spent another evening in the company of Dana Decker, and wonderful old Thunderbird bass, and SVT Pro, A Reddi and a Pacifica.   Absolutely bass-tastic all round."
Studio GSQD, Los Angeles

"I find it pretty versatile in that it makes everything I use it on sound bigger and better--bass, keys, you name it.  Sometimes you just stumble across pieces of gear that makes your life easier when it comes to getting a killer sound. The REDDI is one of them."  Grammy-nominated engineer Billy Bush, Garbage, The Subways, etc.

"My initial impression of it was how focused the bass sounded while remaining fat and warm. It’s also very versatile with a very wide range – from clean to nicely driven. (In recording) the bass sounded truly awesome. From clean to warm tube, the REDDI is true yet character-full and, man, is it focused!"
Paul Turner, bass guitar with Jamiroquai, Annie Lennox, Tom Jones, Tina Turner, George Michael, Belinda Carlisle, Kylie Minogue etc. 2009

"I'm really pleased with the REDDI, its the pride of my equipment fleet. I just invested in a hard case for it, as I've been cradling it from venue to venue, and have been getting ridiculed by the crew. They don't understand the love been a man and his tube DI!"
Max Tite, bass guitar with Switches

"I found the REDDI to be the most versatile and useful DI I've encountered. It solves a lot of tracking needs in my studio, and adds a new sonic dimension to anything you throw at it." - Ken Morgan, Wireline Studio in Midland, Texas, USA

"Wow! How did you get that sound?" -Ted Perlman, Producer, Engineer, Musician

"The REDDI is not only the largest and brightest colored DI that I've encountered, it's the best sounding." - Russ Long, Pro Audio Review, 11/1/2005

"Now, the REDDI is my favorite DI and definitely my go-to on bass.” - Dylan Dresdow, Grammy Award Nominee, Tech Award Nominee, Engineer

"The New REDDI DI from A Designs kicks ass..." - Ross Hogarth, Grammy Award Winner

"If it needs to be really clean, then I'll just use the REDDI" - Viktor Krauss, Bassist for Lyle Levitt

"I've used a number of DIs on electric pianos over the years, active, passive, tube, solid state, whatever was around.  But, I don't remember that any of them worked as well or sounded as good as the REDDI." - Dave Martin, Recording Magazine

"REDDI's first outing was on an active bass. The bass player's head turned as soon as he heard his instrument in the phones.  It was an instant hit both in and out of the control room." - Kevin Becka, Mix Magazine

"The REDDI is only the second product I've had in for review [this year] that I sent back and then realized how much I missed it when it was gone." - Dan Richards, Studio Review

"The best way I can describe what REDDI adds is dimension.  It reveals a wide range of harmonics in a source, with an excellent translation of an instrument's character. It doesn't have to be blended with an amp signal to sound good. I tried it with electric guitar and bass as well as a synthesizer, and found the REDDI to perform impressively on every source." - Frank Moldstad, Digital Pro Sound

"I didn't use an amp at all. I used only the REDDI and it sounded really, really nice." - Justin Meldan-Johnsen, Bassist with Beck

Reviews of the REDDI

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Input Impedance: Min 1.4kOhm
Gain Range: 16 dB
Noise (EIN): -126 dB
Instrument Jack Input: ¼" jack/XLR combo
Input Impedance: Min > 100k Ohm
Output Impedance: 600 Ohm
Maximum Level: +22 dBu
Output: XLR, Low-Z, transformer-balanced
Frequency Response: 20 Hz - 60k Hz
Distortion THD: > .08 @ 1 Khz
Power Requirements: 100/120/230 VAC - 42 Watts
Dimensions: 89w x 89h x 368d mm
Weight: 4.54kg (10 lbs.)