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Mackie MDB Series Active Direct Box (MDB-1A) Mackie MDB Series Active Direct Box (MDB-1A) Mackie MDB Series Active Direct Box (MDB-1A) Mackie MDB Series Active Direct Box (MDB-1A)

Mackie MDB Series Active Direct Box (MDB-1A)

Mackie MDB Series Active Direct Box (MDB-1A) Mackie MDB Series Active Direct Box (MDB-1A) Mackie MDB Series Active Direct Box (MDB-1A) Mackie MDB Series Active Direct Box (MDB-1A)
$ 59.99

Score By Feature

Based on 187 ratings
Versatility
9.48
Sound quality
8.88
Volume control
8.58

OveReview Final Score

How Our Score Is Calculated

Product Description

An input and output with a high impedance of 1/4"
Ground lift XLR output to balance the signal
Turning off the low cut and the polarity switch
By connecting stereo sources, you can sum them to mono at the output by using the merge switch
Phantom power is applied to the unit at 48V

Questions & Answers

I connect the unbalanced l and r ts outputs of the drum machine to the balanced xlr inputs of two (left and right) speakers using this Jack?

Yes, it is. This two channel direct box consists of two tuners. Each 1/4" input is converted to an XLR output with the use of this device. In this case, either stereo left and right outputs, or two separate instruments, would work.

Do I have the option of running 2 keyboards in stereo through ?

Two inputs and two outputs make up this DI, imagine two very thin DI's connected In other words, you can run stereo into this but the output will be separate XLRs for L and R

What do I do if the XLR outputs on this unit aren't there?

In addition to the XLR outputs, there is a XLR input. I really like how this direct box works.

When I connect my usb hub to my device via a powered USB cable, will that work?

Yes, it is. It works great as the docking station hub for my Surface, which is a powerful USB hub.

Selected User Reviews For Mackie MDB Series Active Direct Box (MDB-1A)

For OBS, we needed two of these, one for the PC and one for the mixer
5/5

Exactly what I was after. I needed one for main PC audio to capture game audio and some OBS monitoring, and another one for communications audio, so that I could feed the communications audio to a separate channel with its own mix that went over to my BEHRINGER U-88. A PHORIA UMC202HD, a 2-" The bus' channel was selected so that the people on coms would not hear themselves reflected back. Also, I had another UMC202HD to record the main mix from the mixer and then throw it They are both plug and play. I used to use the 1/8 inch jacks on the PC for a while because it was good enough, but I picked up a lot of ground buzz and cable whine that I couldn't eliminate despite running everything Since then, these devices have solved my problems and have been a workhorse in my studio.

Ibrahim Conrad
Ibrahim Conrad
| Mar 31, 2021
An active direct box that is solid, flexible, and affordable
5/5

The product is very solid, quiet, and has a lot of great When compared with other active direct boxes that do not include amp or cabinet simulators, this is a great value. The Phantom - As the MDB is powered (48v), you will need a mixer on the output side of the XLR, although it sends the thru signal to an amp even when the MDB is not powered The 1A signal does not appear to be connected (with the merge/dual inputs Having this last feature on is indeed very useful not only when driving an amp on stage as a monitor while the low-frequency bass is being played There is a mixer for signal Z. The MDB-II is in my possession When I don't have a mixer, I can keep the Thru and 1A on my pedal board to practice with an amp without taking everything apart. Alternatively, I perform modulation and delay as shown in the picture To reduce distortion or noise in two different signal chains before merging them, use an MDP-based processing scheme.

Ayla SANDERSON
Ayla SANDERSON
| Apr 27, 2021
I find it to be sturdy and solid, and does exactly The item was purchased to be used with my Nord keyboard, which has stereo 1/4 inch outputs, and feed our audio board, which has traditional XLR connectors
5/5

Two single channel boxes were previously in my possession. It makes it easier for performers to travel, as they will carry less gear. This product has solid construction and switches that are protected to avoid getting bumped while using it. The rubber strips on the bottom make sure it doesn't slide around on the floor or when it is kept in place. A slight hum can be heard when the ground is lifted, but otherwise, the audio quality is fine. So far, this purchase has been a great buy!.

Leonardo Gray
Leonardo Gray
| Nov 13, 2020
The performance of our products and services
5/5

It seems that his and buzz have been bothering me for the last year. Even with the best sound system in the show business, if you get feedback, hiss, and buzz you are less likely to get good reviews and recommendations. In my research I have found a number of industry players managing these issues effectively with the right power management gear, not to mention DI boxes, and that will be the focus of this review. It seems to me that there are many different DI boxes, brands, schemes to choose from, but I have chosen to match my Mackie digital console with Mackie DI's. As a result of the DI, the channel outputs to powered monitors as well as some outputs to the DI are cleaner and I can push decibels higher without a hissing. There is no doubt the DI is made for different usage, but I selected Mackie DI in order to match my FOH setup and system. This monitor system allows you to track your progress.

Parker Lawrence
Parker Lawrence
| Apr 04, 2021
Mackie provides a great digital imaging solution
5/5

The Mackie products are pretty much bulletproof, as the company is based in the United States. From the time of their legendary 1604 mixers, I have been a Big Boy fan. DIs work in lots of cases and I think I have a lot of them already. You can also count on Mackie being reliable, no matter where you are in the studio or on stage. A Mackie may cost you a little more but you can also count on it as an investment. There's no doubt that it can take a lot of abuse (even though it's not recommended) and still function as intended. I would highly recommend this product.

Victoria Stein
Victoria Stein
| Oct 30, 2020
A sound that is clear
4/5

The system The monitors in my studio are fed by this in my office. It is common to hear noise coming from the PC when using USB d/a converters, but the power lift switch on the back quickly eliminated that issue. It works with Ubuntu 18 out of the box The number 10 is also included. 1) The only complaint I have is the fact that both speaker outputs are active whenever the headphone jack is in use. If there was a knob or bypass switch, it would simplify the setup and eliminate the workaround to use another headphone amp and switch outputs in the operating system when I need Besides that, this piece of equipment doesn't fall short of its promise.

Bishop Vasquez
Bishop Vasquez
| Jan 10, 2021
My impression is that I'm impressed
5/5

My personal favorite Mackie mixer is their DI box, and when I saw their DI box I decided to try it. very low compared to other DI products I use (Radial), so I wasn't sure how it would stand up. I am impressed by your recording skills after several sessions. I have not heard any buzzing or hum from the audio.

Amani Mullen
Amani Mullen
| Jan 02, 2021
My headphones' L/R is backwards on both of mine after I bought two of these
3/5

The sound is good, and you can adjust the volume with media keys, but I don't like how the USB plugs are in the front and the cables are in the back, and the fact that the headphone jack for both is also wired backwards makes no sense at all.

Trevor Wood
Trevor Wood
| Apr 21, 2021

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