The Behringer GDI21 V-TONE GUITAR Guitar Amp Modeler/Direct Recording Preamp/DI Box. Guitar amp modeling, direct-recording preamp and DI box all rolled into one.
The Behringer GDI21 V-TONE GUITAR pedals V-TONE modelling technology recreates 3 classic guitar amps, 3 gain modes and 3 mic placements for a total of 27 configurations. It provides a truckload of great amps in a single stomp box, simply choose your favourite sounds with a flick of a switch. Behringer have even included precise level and drive control plus a musical 2-band EQ for ultimate sound shaping. Use the GDI21 either for direct recording output with a speaker simulation or as a standard active direct injection box in bypass mode. The output is laid out on 1/4 inch jack or balanced, gold-plated XLR connectors. A ground lift switch eliminates typical ground loop problems, and it runs on a 9 V battery or a DC power supply (not included). Go from clean or crunch to super-fat distortion in a matter of seconds.
The main features of the Behringer GDI21 V-TONE GUITAR include:
Let me put this clear: for the price, and if you are lucky to get a reliable unit, you will be quite well served. This small box does several sounds, but in my opinion it excells at high gain sounds (say Mesa and Marshall type). It doesnt pick your dynamics accurately (you will not get a nice breakup tone of this) nor get a beautiful clean tone out of it, it is very sterile.
The main downside of this pedal its workmanship and reliability. I had one which stopped to receive power from the DC socket. I tried using batteries, but this is a battery eager eater. The ground lift is almost useless and there is not much difference when you change gain settings from "hot" to "hi gain".
It is heavy because behringer put some metal chassis inside of it. I only recomend it for some metal guitar recording.. and you should treat it with care!
I have a Zoom G5 which sounds great into an amp, but I wasn't happy with the sound when plugged directly into a mixer.
I first tried to plug in Yamaha THR10. and then mixer with great results. Only I wanted to run stereo straight from the Zoom and wasn't really keen on buying another Yamaha.
Behringer GDI21 is a great solution and I'll be getting both bass and acoustic guitar versions of this.
It's very solid build, sounds great, excellent features and fantastic value for money.
If there is anything I'd like to change - it's knobs and the useless oval chrome halo around the switch.
It has no purpose and esthetically is rather offensive.
Without a doubt that the model as some issues with a little ground noises but it's something you can easily solve with a good filter.
Besides that it's amazing versatile and a must-buy for people who often use monitors as their amps.
If you have handmade guitar for 2000 euro and combo for 1500 euro, then you should not buy this blue box. But to listen at it is definitely. For smallest money, you get a few variations of Rock and Blues sound - is that not enough? Yes, GDI21 a little bit noisy, but the price covers this problem. After all, you cant go with them in the professional studio of course, but you can play at home or in the club! In my opinion this thing is the best option for these purposes. Do still need some words to understand what is to be run and buy this thing? :-))))