Since its introduction just over a year ago, the HDI, Radial Engineering’s flagship high-definition studio DI, has quickly become the go-to studio tool of choice for world-leading artists, engineers, and producers, including Tony Levin, Jason Mraz, Jacquire King, Mark Egan, Chris Rakestraw, Michael Dean, Jason Hook, and John Rzeznik, to name a few.
The list of high-profile artists relying on the HDI in the studio continues to grow.
Bassist Tony Levin, currently on tour with progressive rock band King Crimson, has used the HDI to track bass on numerous projects. In addition to his association with King Crimson, Levin has worked with a long list of high-profile artists over his extensive career, including Peter Gabriel, Mark Knopfler, John Lennon, and Paul Simon.
"I’ve already used the new HDI on my bass for a number of recordings, with great results,” says Levin. “It’s super clean and has some dial-in options that are wonderful to have on hand. Another home run for Radial!"
Bassist Mark Egan’s credits include Pat Metheny, Sting, Bill Evans, Joan Osborne, and Marianne Faithful. Egan has been recording bass tracks through the HDI on a number of current projects.
"The HDI surpasses all of my expectations for what I've been looking for in a direct box,” says Egan. “It's so simple to go from ultra-clean, with the enhanced Jensen transformer, to a warm and colored sound with everything in between. This is a serious tool for any musician's toolbox."
Currently using the HDI on the new Megadeth album, Nashville-based producer Chris Rakestraw had this to say of the HDI: “It’s one of those boxes that when you need something to just sound better, use the HDI,” says Rakestraw. “Most tracking sessions, I'll just keep it plugged in so if at any point I need a sweetened DI quick, it's my go-to.”
In addition to Megadeth, Rakestraw’s credits include Danzig, Dead Label, and Dark Heavens.
Producer Michael Dean, who has worked with Madonna, Travis Scott, Kanye West, has found the HDI enhances the sound of a Rhodes piano when tracking. “The Radial HDI makes my Fender Rhodes sing,” says Dean. “It sounds really good. I recommend the HDI to anyone who wants serious quality DI.”
Most recently, Dean has used the HDI on projects with Madonna, Christine and the Queens, FKA Twigs, Noah Cyrus, and Iann Dior.
Studio guitarist Jason Hook has come to rely on the HDI for both his original and independent production projects. Currently, Hook is “...producing an amazing singer-songwriter from Toronto named Alex Coles while working on assembling my new band, with tons of songs ready. I really love the HDI. It has the most sonic options of all the DI’s out there,” says Hook.
For more information on the Radial HDI high-definition studio DI, visit Radial Engineering’s HDI product page.
