During the last few years the folks at TAB-funkenwerk received inquiries weekly, asking if they could offer the V72S^® as a DI Box (several studio musicians bought the V72S just to use the DI option). Other V72S users that love the V72S as a mic pre also preferred it over their standard DI Box.

After working all summer of 2002 delivering the backordered V72STAB-funkenwerk finally finished the "Direct Pre" design based on the circuit incorporated in their recreation of the V72S.Technically speaking, it is just the back end of a single channel without the input transformer, placed in a 1/2 size 19 inch 1 RU enclosure.

Built in the same fashion as its big brother, the V72S, the new unit was named the V71DI preamplifier. With minimal distraction, just a gain control, polarity reverse and two 1/4 inch jacks on the front, the V71 delivers the same great classic sound as the full V72S, TELEFUNKEN powered by two Telefunken NOS tubes. The input stage is equipped with an EF806s made in the Berlin factory, the output handles an EF844s a special version of the EF804s made in the Ulm factory.

The maximum input signal capability of +10dB before going into smooth tube break up, with a maximum gain of 36dB, making the V71 the optimal solution for buffering or amplifying any unbalanced signal source. Everything from guitar and bass pick ups, CD players, radios, sound cards, keyboards, etc.

The V71 takes care of hot or very fragile signals. The very quiet circuit layout gives this all tube design a better Signal to Noise ratio (-100dB @ 0dB/-90dB at maximum gain) than standard Digital Sound cards, and most discrete or op amp based DI boxes.

After several field tests TAB-funkenwerk is proud to (re)introduce this classical Telefunken design reshaped for direct signal processing. Reference to the historic V71 made by Malotki and the best sound available for digital recordings, this direct preamplifier takes care of all your signal needs.

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I just received the TAB-Funkenwerk V71DI and either I'm doing something wrong or it doesn't work. I'm using it for bass guitar. I've got the bass going into the input on the front panel. The output on the front panel is going into an input on my Digidesign 192. I'm getting a signal, but a very low one. And the gain control on the TAB doesn't seem to do anything. There's no difference in volume from 0 gain to max gain. I don't know what that switch is on the back that says main/100, but I've tried it in each position. I have nothing going out of the aux or the output on the back. Also I've tried 2 different basses. Since there aren't a lot of different switches I don't know what else to try. Any ideas?

There are two holes in the front, one is for the input of your instrument, the second is a "loop through" to send that instrument to an amplifier. The XLR output on the back should be connected to the input on your 192 as that is the main output of the unit. The "aux" output is if you want to monitor the output without going through the computer for "no latency" in your monitoring path.

The "main/100" switch works like a ground lift... except that it puts a 100 ohm resistor between ground and the unit instead of entirely lifting the ground. In a live application where you can have all kinds of power in a system if you don't have some kind of ground you can get dead or injured if the grounds aren't so instead of giving you the potential to be "ground" for the instrument, TAB-Funkenwerks installed a 100ohm resistor so electronically it looks like a lifted ground to the circuit, but functionally it's a far easier path to ground than your body, possibly saving your life someday.