500TDI TUBE DIRECT BOX (DI)
500 SERIES VACUUM TUBE DIRECT INJECT INTERFACE MODULE
LaChapell Audio warmth and clarity for bass and other instrument pickups.
Another first of its kind, the LaChapell 500TDI is a 500 series tube direct box (tube DI) that ranges from pristine clean to loads of character. It can be focused and articulate with crisp distinguished notes, or meaty with growl and harmonic overtones. Using the tube-drive and level knobs, dial in the perfect tone for your bass or other instrument.
The 500TDI Tube DI features LaChapell Audio’s TrueTube™ technology which provides proper operating voltage to the 12DW7 tube. Most tube modules for the 500 series use a starved plate design which does not give the tube the full voltage it needs to get the tube sound recognized as “classic.” A Cinemag transformer adds weight and warmth to the output.
The front panel of the 500TDI tube direct box has two inputs. The top input is a high impedance input while the bottom input can be used as a through or a lower impedance input for more tonal variety.
FEATURES
DUAL DRIVE KNOBS
The Dual Drive knobs on LaChapell's preamps provide an infinite array of tonal options. Favoring the input knob increases the signal going to the tube, resulting in more harmonics and overall distortion. Favoring the output knob yields a very clean signal. Together, you can dial in sounds from pristine to warm and harmonically rich.
TWO FRONT PANEL INPUT OPTIONS
The front panel 1/4″ jacks provide even more versatility. The bottom jack is a through output, but can ALSO be used as a lower impedance input, each jack offering a slightly different quality.
TRUETUBE™ 250V POWER
TrueTube™ technology supplies both the plate and filament of the tube with the proper voltages they need to access the full characteristics of the tube. Other 500 series modules cannot supply the needed 250V and don’t have the headroom or harmonics that characterize that classic tube sound.
HIGH PASS FILTER
A built-in high pass filter inserted after the first gain stage has a -3dB point 65Hz at MAX gain shifting semi- proportionally with the TUBE-DRIVE gain.
BEST IN CLASS PERFORMANCE
Everything in the 583S mic pre is designed to be best in class. Every component, transformer, wire and tube has been meticulously selected for performance and longevity.
PRODUCT SPECS
INTERNAL GAIN
​
THD+N
​
FREQUENCY RESPONSE
​
EIN
​
INPUT IMPEDANCE
​
TRANSFORMER
​
TUBE COMPLEMENT
24dB
​
0.10% - 25% (+2dBV)
​
8Hz to 28KHz
​
-100dBu
​
~1.5MΩ
​
CINEMAG CMOQ (output)
​
1x 12DW7 (ECC832)​
500TDI USER GUIDE AND DOWNLOADS
500TDI RAVES & REVIEWS
“I’m in total shock! I don’t know what the hell you did to get these tubes to pop like this, but it’s other-worldly. So much percussion from the note, and air around it. I can’t stop listening to it. Insane.”
– Craig Young, Nashville Session Bass Player (Michael McDonald, Lady Antebellum, Faith Hill, Martina McBride)
​
​
“I’ve been using the 992 now for several years and it is my “go to” mic/line instrument preamp for all of my recordings. It is clean and any mic or instrument that I plug into it sounds good. I use it for acoustic guitars, vocals and other instruments as well. It is a fine piece of professional recording gear that I highly recommend!”
​