Whirlwind pcDIQ 4-Channel DI with Summed Output

The Whirlwind pcDIQ is a 1 RU, 4-channel version of the company's PCDI direct box. It's designed to convert unbalanced, line-level audio from MP3 players, CD players, or other consumer audio devices to balanced, mic-level signals for connection to the XLR inputs on a mixer, audio interface, or other devices. It sports four stereo pairs of unbalanced line-level inputs in three formats: 1/4", 3.5 mm, or RCA.

Signals are output through four corresponding XLR stereo pairs on the back panel. Setting a channel's Mono/Stereo switch to Mono will cause that channel to output a mono mix of its two inputs. You can output a summed, balanced, mic-level version of any combination of the four channels through a separate mix bus, which is also on an XLR pair. Pressing a channel's Mix button assigns it to the mix bus. The mix bus can be toggled between mono and stereo output by pressing the Mix Output Mono/Stereo button.

Overly hot input signals can be attenuated by pressing a channel's Pad switch, which cuts by -20 dB. For noisy signals, each channel has its own Ground-Lift switch that will break the audio ground between its input connectors and the XLR outputs.