Acme Audio / Motown D.I. WB-3

Acme Audio's passive direct box faithfully reproduces the transformer used in DI boxes, delivering the same authentic sound as in the 1960s.

■Direct Box

■Passive Type

■Introduction

Inspired by the renowned direct box that was ubiquitous in Motown music recordings of the 1960s and 70s, the ACME AUDIO ""Motown D.I. WB-3"" was born. It faithfully reproduces the transformer used in the original D.I., reviving the sound of the 1960s. Acme Audio sought out the engineers who manufactured the transformers that were the core of this original sound, and after 35 years, they have strived to revive the Motown sound.

The completed Motown D.I. WB-3 uses the same components as the original D.I., possessing the exact same sound character and specifications, and featuring a pure sound image unlike any other direct box. The Motown D.I. is manufactured in Detroit, the birthplace of Motown.


■ How to Use

The Motown D.I. WB-3 is a reproduction based on the usage method of the 1960s and 70s, where the output signal was connected to a mixer or preamplifier. Since a microphone preamplifier was connected after the D.I., the output level of the Motown D.I. is matched to the input level of the microphone preamplifier.

Specifically, it is designed to produce an output of approximately 0dB when the microphone preamplifier gain is set to around 20-40dB.

Line input preamplifiers will not provide sufficient gain, so please be sure to use it with a microphone input.

Motown at the time used consoles such as the ALTEC 1567A, 1566, or ALTEC 250, and the Motown D.I. WB-3 is designed with the assumption that a microphone preamplifier or console will be connected after it. If you want to pursue the sound of that era, try connecting it to one of these consoles or preamplifiers. The authentic Motown sound will be revived.

Switching the switch to the ATTN. side will further reduce the gain by approximately 20-40 dB.