Mercenary Audio - Smart Research SmartGuitar DI System

The SmartGuitar DI system was conceived at Real World Studios to solve the problem of a guitarist wanting to play in the control room through amplifiers set up in a live room, usually many tens of meters away, or to feed amps without grounding or hum problems. Prototypes were also used at Virgin/EMI's Townhouse studios and Manor studios. Four systems were used to cure problems for Peter Gabriel's live show, where two stages had to be interconnected with 100 meters of cable carrying guitar signals from radios to effects pedals on both stages and back to guitar amps on the main stage without degradation, allowing each stage to be patched independently.

SmartGuitar DI System features

The system comprises two boxes - a TRANSMIT unit and a RECEIVE unit. The TRANSMIT unit features a high impedance input normalled to two transformer DI / splitters, and is specifically designed for use with guitars and other musical instruments. The output line driver is capable of driving long cables such as existing studio mic or tie lines to the RECEIVE box. The TRANSMIT unit may be powered via an internal 9V battery, or from the supplied external plug-pack rated at 9 - 24Volts DC.

The RECEIVE unit input feeds two more DI / splitters providing four more outputs, and can also be used independently as passive DIs. The DI / splitters each have an EARTH LIFT switch to alleviate hum problems. The RECEIVE unit also has a SPEAKER SIMULATOR input, which accepts a speaker-level amplifier output for "dirty" DI sounds with or without a speaker connected. The RECEIVE unit requires no battery or power supply to operate.

All the DI / splitters on both boxes have break jack inputs and can be used separately.

In total, the SmartGuitar DI Deluxe provides four DI /Splitters, a line driver and receiver, and a speaker simulator.

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