The DirtBox is a phantom-powered distortion box for microphones! Just plug any mic into the DirtBox to get amazing analogue distortion sounds. Building on the success of the DrAlienSmith DirtMic-01, the brand took the same circuit and put it in a dedicated box. Now any microphone plugged into the DirtBox becomes a distortion tool!
Real analogue distortion
The circuit was designed to run on 48 V phantom power, so no batteries or external power supply are needed. The DirtBox's two transformers match your mic's low impedance to the distortion effect, then send the signal back to the mic preamp. Just plug a mic into the input, connect the DirtBox output to any mic preamp and turn on phantom power. The LED on the top panel lights up to show phantom power is present. The amount of distortion is controlled by the "pre-gain" knob. Turn it up to 10 for the most saturated sound possible, or try subtler settings closer to 0.
1 XLR Y-cable for 2 possibilities
An XLR Y-cable is supplied with the DirtBox and gives access to two extra functions:
the first is the ability to capture a clean signal and a distorted signal from a single source. With the Y-cable, you split the signal in 2: one goes to the DirtBox and the other directly to another preamp dedicated to the clean signal. Both signals are in phase and can be blended to taste;
the second is the ability to use a condenser mic with the DirtBox. By enabling phantom power on both preamp inputs (clean and saturated), both the DirtBox and the condenser mic are powered.
Designed for the studio, but formidable live too
The DirtBox was mainly designed as a studio tool, but it can also be used on stage. Feedback is always a problem with distortion on stage, but if you keep stage volumes low and take advantage of the two outputs (clean and saturated), you'll have a good chance of success.
