DI20 : Versatile, cheap but does its jobs well.

At this price get a few for your tool kit. You can either use this to take a stereo signal from a laptop (with 3.5mm to 2 mono jack cable), 2 mono channels such as 2 acoustic guitars, or use it in split mode to take a DI of an instrument and send it to the front of house and an onstage amp. I have never used these for any other purpose so can't comment on using fro larger signals.

They work perfectly, I always get a nice clean signal, and if the PC signal is too hot, I can add a 20db or 40db pad to lower the gain. Although I always start my gain path with the PC to ensure its not overcooking its output and distorting.

I have used these from small intimate settings of acoustic music, to medium sized pub gigs upto 500.

These can run off battery if needed, or phantom power from the desk. I always use phantom power as why add the expense of batteries? But I always have a battery on hand incase my phantom power fails.

You dont need to spend more money. This does the job pure and simple. You get a great clean strong signal and thats what matters at this stage.

They are also fairly light but metal construction so will take a beating. Been using the same one for 7 years now, Adding more to allow for more complicated set ups.