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Samson MDA1 1-channel Active Instrument Direct Box

1-channel Active Direct Box with Ground Lift, Unbalanced Thru Output, Balanced XLR Output, and -15dB Attenuation Switch
$49.99

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Samson MDA1 1-channel Active Instrument Direct Box
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$49.99
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Active DI with 15dB Attenuator

The affordable Samson MDA1 is your ticket to clean, rich sound on a budget. Whether you need a faithful guitar signal to re-amp in the studio, or a discreet way to send your bass guitar or synth to front of house, the Samson MDA1 does a commendable job for the price. It includes a Thru output to go between your instrument and amp without coloring your sound. The Samson MDA1's custom transformer reproduces frequencies all the way down to 18Hz, and its rugged, noise-rejecting chassis stands up to nightly abuse and noisy conditions. The MDA1's -15dB attenuation switch keeps hot signals from overloading your DI.

Samson MDA1 Mono Active Direct Box at a Glance:
  • Custom STL transformer is rich and dynamic
  • Steel chassis is built for the road
Custom STL transformer is rich and dynamic

Samson's custom STL transformer sounds great in the MDA1. The STL covers the full audible spectrum and beyond, able to capture all the subharmonic richness of a synth and high-end detail of an acoustic guitar and carry it noise-free to your mixing board or interface.

Steel chassis is built for the road

The Samson MDA1's 14-gauge steel housing resists noise and stage abuse to keep your events running smooth night after night. Sweetwater knows sound professionals can expect years of performance from their Samson MDA1.

Samson MDA1 Mono Active Direct Box Features:
  • Converts an unbalanced, 1/4" instrument-level signal to a balanced, XLR line-level signal
  • 15dB input attenuator prevents overloading from hot signals
  • Sends bass guitar, synthesizer, or acoustic guitar to a mixer/recording console
  • Makes an affordable front end for studio re-amping and guitar modeling
  • Custom STL transformer covers the full frequency spectrum and beyond (18Hz-35kHz)
  • Captures subsonic bass and lifelike high-end detail
  • Reduces noise over long cable runs
  • Thru output integrates with stage amp setups
  • Ground lift reduces hum in some environments
  • Runs off a 9-volt battery or phantom power
Get the rich, full sound of a custom transformer in the Samson MDA1 direct box!

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Tech Specs

  • Type: Active Direct Box
  • Channels: 1
  • Pads: -15dB
  • Ground Lift: Yes
  • Inputs: 1 x 1/4" (instrument)
  • Outputs: 1 x 1/4" (thru), 1 x XLR (balanced out)
  • Power Source: 48V Phantom Power / 9V battery
  • Height: 1.95"
  • Depth: 3.38"
  • Width: 5.0"
  • Weight: 1.34 lbs.
  • Manufacturer Part Number: SAMDA1

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Customer Reviews

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Rated 5/5

Accurate sound, well-constructed, and an exceptional value

Summary: The MDA1 provides a very accurate representation of what you input into it, appears very well-constructed, suits my intended purpose well, and is therefore an exceptional value.
I bought the Samson MDA1 to use with my passive basses in a live setting. I have observed through recording that an active DI seems to preserve more detail and punch in the low end. Live, some of my amps have DIs, but I may not always be able to use my amp. Some amp DI levels are dependent upon the gain level, and most sound persons I have worked with do not prefer this dependence.
The unit is solid with a metal case. The battery compartment lid is plastic, and hinges on the terminal side of the battery. Push in on the terminal side of the battery to remove it, while taking care to not let your finger slip; you could inadvertently break the lid. I couldn't remove the battery by trying to push on the bottom (non-terminal side) of the battery. The power light on the MDA1 is very helpful, and automatic switching from phantom power to battery is noiseless. The MDA1 should be compared to other active stand-alone active DIs such as the Radial Pro48 and Countryman Type 85, but I have neither. The 15dB attenuation is useful for high output instruments.
I conducted a simple comparison test: I recorded electric guitar and bass with two preamp/DIs that I know well, then with the MDA1. The first preamp was a bass-amp brand tube preamp. The output selected was pre-eq, runs through half of the first tube, and the DI's output volume is not variable. The second preamp is from an Acoustic Image Clarus 1 Series III amplifier. The output selected was pre-eq. The Clarus DI output level is dependent upon the gain level, so I set the gain to about 12:30-1:00. The MDA1 output was not further attenuated. The channel input on the PreSonus AudioBox USB DAW interface was set to minimum in all cases. The recorded level was approximately the same in all cases. The results to my ears: All three are similar and all three sound very good. The sound of the MDA1 and Clarus DIs are very similar. The MDA1 is the most natural or balanced-sounding of the three. The Clarus has an enhanced bottom end (girth). The tube preamp has a greater extension (sparkle) in the high end. The difference in treble extension was more noticeable with the guitar. The difference in the bass frequencies was more noticeable with the bass guitar. I do now use the MDA1 for recording; one channel through the MDA1 without eq; and another channel through another preamp with eq. I hope this review has been helpful.
Rated 5/5

The Little Box That Could

Fantastic little box! I just recently purchased 2 of these to run guitar DI tracks to my DAW. The passive DI I've used in the past left a lot to be desired…weak and lifeless. The MDA1 boxes gave me a clear and robust signal with zero loss of the lower frequencies. The ground lift came in handy to deal with a ground loop on one of the rigs. This will enable me to REALLY use my DI tracks with plug ins for some cool mojo. Thanks Samson!
Music background: 40+ years semi-professional percussionist/20+ years recording/engineering.
Rated 5/5

Good D.I. Box

Does what it should and is an upgrade from what I had. Sweetwater is always great to buy from.
Rated 5/5

Great Direct Box

We have 4 of these for our practice studio. Very durable boxes!
Rated 5/5

Does the Job

I'm using this DI Box for Recording Bass. Love the fact it's active with 48 Volts Phantom Power from my MOTU M4, which is an outstanding Audio Interface, that I purchased at Sweetwater as well. The Samson MCA-1 does the job delivering a clean bass signal for recording, and at a nice price. Plus my wife got a little candy out of the deal!
Music background: Guitar Keyboard
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