Behringer UltraG GI100 active DI box

Quick Test
Behringer Ultra-G GI100 active DI box £39
with largely noiseless, fuss-free
performance.
Verdict
For £39 it’s hard to complain about this
unit. It isn’t going to make engineers
across the land bin their SM57s, but it
will prove useful for live use or in the
studio, whether you need to DI a bass
head at a gig or get your amp sound
down on tape quickly and quietly.
RATING
Charlie Hall Cutting Edge pedal £43
142 JULY 2006
KEY INFO ❘ ULTRA-G GI100 ❘ PRICE: £39 ❘ TYPE: ACTIVE DI-BOX WITH CAB SIM ❘ WEB: WWW.BEHRINGER.COM
FOR ALL THE GIANT STEPS IN
amp-modelling over the last few years,
many of us still prefer the living,
breathing sound of our own guitar
amplifi er pushing air with a couple of
choice microphones capturing the
Behringer provides yet another bargain basement solution for real-world guitarists by Chris Vinnicombe
Instant early Shads tone for sixties throwbacks. Nice! by Roger Newell
RATING
them and the amp. When switched off
the unit allows true signal bypass, but
when activated the sound tightens up to
become thinner with less bass response.
This tonal range can be replaced by
resetting your amplifi er circuit so the
overall dynamics are not lost, but now
you have a tighter and warmer sound
that will actively relive a classic era.
Verdict
Quite simply this is a tonal time
machine that subtly revisits the days
before top boost was invented. Try one.
quality components. There’s no need
for batteries as this is a non-powered
switching unit that gives an accurate
reproduction of the original Vox AC15
tone circuit. Older amplifi ers had this
four-section passive fi lter circuit
installed to prevent unwanted
thumping sounds when the tremolo
effect was on, but as a by-product the
overall sound became much tighter.
SOUNDS: On the face of it that may
not seem much, but if you’re one of the
many players constantly looking for that
elusive Hank Marvin sound this will
bring you one huge step closer. As fans
will know, for most of the early big hits
by The Shadows, Hank continued to use
a Vox AC15 as volume was certainly not
an issue in EMI’s hallowed studios at
Abbey Road. Because of its unique tone
circuit this has become an essential
ingredient in obtaining that much
desired, recorded sound. For full effect
it should be the last thing plugged into
your amp, so if you’re using effects
(most likely echo) this goes between
SPORTING A DISTINCTIVE
Fiesta Red fi nish this deceptively simple
pedal box is destined to cause quite a
stir, particularly within the fraternity of
Shadows soundalikes. Designed by
electronics wiz Charlie Hall, who is
responsible for the much-loved Echoes
From The Past program, the Cutting
Edge is hand-built using the very best
The Ultra-G is a
useful tool for live
and studio work
Hanking you: the
Cutting Edge gives
a reproduction of an
AC15 tone circuit
BEHRINGER ULTRA-G TEST RESULTS
Build quality
Features
In use
Value for money
■ WE LIKED Myriad uses; great value
■ WE DISLIKED Cabinet simulation a little
underwhelming
CUTTING EDGE PEDAL TEST RESULTS
Build quality
Features
In use
Value for money
■ WE LIKED Simple and effective; great
colour
■ WE DISLIKED Not everyone will
appreciate its subtle manipulation
results. Often though, it’s just
impractical; perhaps you are in a small
studio with live drums and want to
avoid any tub-thumping bleeding on to
the guitar track. The Behringer Ultra-G
GI100 is a robust aluminium unit with
stackable rubber corners that looks
more than up to the job. Around the
back, an XLR output is joined by a pair
of switches that engage 4 x 12 cabinet
simulation and ground lift. If you use
a valve amplifi er, you’ll still need to
connect the direct link output to a
speaker cabinet of the right impedance
to provide your amp with a load.
IN USE: We sent the XLR out to
a mixer and then a Mac running
Garageband. The voicing of the speaker
simulation is essentially a preset EQ
curve that mimics a mic’d 4 x 12
cabinet. It’s not the most detailed or
three-dimensional virtual cabinet sound
we’ve heard, but it does the business
KEY INFO ❘ CUTTING EDGE PEDAL ❘ PRICE: £43 ❘ TYPE: TONAL FOOTPRINT PEDAL ❘ WEB: WWW.EFTP.CO.UK
GIT278.rev_quick 142GIT278.rev_quick 142 24/5/06 5:16:53 pm24/5/06 5:16:53 pm