We have several guitars but we are recording a active pickup electric guitar (ESP)
EC1000BLK  -  ESP LTD EC-1000 EMG Black (SN:W14081193)
 
I am using a focusrite ockta pre (without the compressors). Do I need a direct box? what about for our other non active pickups?
 
We have a nice set of Amps we can MIC but we are in a hurry on this project and always start with direct.
 
Any advice/knowledge of direct boxes in modern studio settings would be helpful.
Thanks!

the 2 inputs on the FRONT of the octopre are instrument inputs and will not require DI's, the ones on the back are MIC/LINE inputs (if you plug a 1/4" cable into it, it's a LINE input, if you plug an XLR cable into it, it's MIC level).
 
 

Passive pickups into an inst connection should be fine, actives are typically fine into line. Depending how hot passives are (or weak actives are), I will run them into the opposite connection type since the Focusrite gain knobs on my interface gets best resolution there.