LR Baggs Venue DI Direct Box  

This is among the best acoustic DI's I've used. The build quality seems about the same as the Para DI?I actually prefer the feel of the knobs on the Para DI, these feel a little cheap in comparison. What separates it from the Para is that this is a COMPLETE PACKAGE?it has everything you need, besides maybe dual inputs. Playing through the Venue actually helped me get a better sound out of my Para, because the VU meter allowed me to get an optimal gain setting. The added hi-mid control makes a huge difference, because the brightness of an acoustic guitar usually comes from the 2k-2.5k freq range, which is covered by the Venue and missing from the Para. My biggest complaint is the price. The Para DI is less, and an additional tuner is cheap?add a boost and that?s still less than the Venue. That said, the features are very well thought through, and I would recommend it if you don't already have a tuner and a Para. But if you have those two, it may not be worth the upgrade.

My 3rd try to submit my review- why not publish the ones that aren't so glowing guys? PROs: boost is okay, boss 9v powerable, has DI and adjustable gain structure. Transparent acoustic tone CONs: boost could be more than 9db, could use a second quarter-inch out, EQ does little to change the tone, TUNER IS EXTREMELY SLOW and not very useful and I have an electric acoustic with a very strong signal/pickup. This unit is overpriced and not all it's cracked up to be. Sent it back. MF good about returns, as always, at least.

Let's try this again. For some reason, my negative reviews get "lost" here sometimes. This box is overpriced and does little to EQ the tone on my Ovation. The boost is adequate, but could go louder for subtle leads and does not ad any gain, which could be desirable for some. I personally like a little more gain when boosting up for acoustic leads. The tuner is VERY slow to respond and does not work well with any bass noise present in the room. It's bright and pretty, but not very useful. This thing would also benefit from a second 1/4 inch out to feed a vocal harmonizer(like the vocalist that uses the guitar signal to read the key off your guitar). PROs: DI out, transparent sound, may be decent for passive acoustic pickups with no preamp. CONs: overpriced by at least 100 bucks, lousy tuner, boost is so-so, EQ does not seem to do much. BOTTOM LINE: When someone makes a product that actually does what they say it does, I will buy it and keep it. This one is not the pro-level wonder they are claiming it is. SENT IT BACK.

I was hesitant at first to buy the Venue, because of its price. But I've had good luck with the Baggs PADI, and I needed an onstage tuner, plus a way to switch between my instruments on stage noiselessly. The Venue satisfied all my wishes and then some. First, it's a wonderful pre-amp. But more, it's a great onstage tuner- very easy to see and use. Plus, with its signal cut-off when you hit the tuner button- it lets me play 3-4 instruments with just one cord, and change between them effortlessly and noiselessly. If that wasn't enough, it has an adjustable volume boost pedal that lets you kick it up for leads. I love my Venue!