RADIAL EXTC 500 500 Series Module Reamp Owner’s Manual
- June 9, 2024
- Radial
Table of Contents
EXTC 500 500 Series Module Reamp Owner’s Manual
EXTC 500 500 Series Module Reamp
Congratulations and thank you for purchasing the Radial EXTC 500 Reamp®
module. The EXTC is a unique 500 series interface designed to allow you to
introduce guitar pedals and effects into the recording world with relative
ease while keeping the signal quiet. With the EXTC in your rig you are now set
to add wah to a Hammond, tube distortion to a vocal track or an envelope
filter to the snare drum. The EXTC is all about creativity and making sure
your recording stands above the rest.
This manual describes installing and operating your EXTC in the Radial
Workhorse or other 500 series module power racks. To take full advantage of
the unique features that have been incorporated into the EXTC, please read
through this guide before using it. This user guide will give you a broader
sense of the module’s capabilities. If you have questions that are not covered
in this manual, please visit the FAQ section on our website. This is where we
post answers to questions from users. If you cannot find the answer to your
question please feel free to send an email to
info@radialeng.com and we will do our very best
to respond as quickly as possible.
The Radial EXTC 500 module opens creative options to your recording world.
WARNING NOTICE TO USER!
Although preventative safety measures have been designed into Radial 500
series products we strictly advise against hot-swapping modules or plugging
and unplugging them when the Workhorse or other 500 series rack is powered on.
Hot swapping can cause connection sparks at the card-edge connector that could
send damaging transients to other equipment. This also greatly reduces the
life span of the contacts. Damage due to hot swapping is not covered under
warranty. There are no user serviceable parts inside.
FEATURE SET
-
BLEND – Lets you adjust the wet-dry mix between the original unprocessed signal and the EXTC’s effects loop.
-
180º POLARITY REVERSE – Lets you adjust the polarity of the wet signal path and bring it into phase with the dry signal when they are being mixed together.
-
OMNI INSERT (with Workhorse) – Turns on the Workhorse TRS Omniport insert jack. This is used to add a second unbalanced effects insert path, wired in series after the front-panel loop.
-
SEND LEVEL – Used to adjust the output level going to the pedals and optimize signal-to-noise for best performance.
-
RECEIVE LEVEL – Used to set the effects loop return path level and further optimize signal-to-noise.
-
¼” SEND and RECV – Separate send and receive jacks used to connect guitar pedals to the EXTC. Front panel mounted to make connections easy for use on the desktop
and transformer isolated to eliminate hum and buzz caused by ground loops. -
OMNIPORT (with Workhorse) – TRS insert jack lets you connect effects to a second unbalanced effects insert path, wired in series after the front-panel insert loop.
OVERVIEW
The Radial EXTC is a professional audio interface that takes a balanced line level signal and converts it to a guitar-level effects loop and then re- converts it back to a balanced line level for processing. In other words, you send in a balanced signal from your recorder, adjust the send level that drives the pedals. Set the return level from the pedals as it comes back and send the resulting sound to your recording system.
Although simple in principle, the key to the EXTC’s performance is
how quietly it does the task. This is achieved by employing full sized
discrete electronic components, class-A circuitry and transformer isolation to
help eliminate the hum and buzz that is common with pedals and guitars. The
other cool ‘trick’ inside the EXTC is the blend control. This mixes the
original dry signal with the newly introduced effects created by the pedals.
Something to think about here is how some effect pedals will reverse the
polarity of the signal passing through them. When you mix a dry signal with a
wet signal and one is polarity reversed, you will of course end up with
cancellation. The diagram below illustrates a setup where one pedal “B” is
inverting the polarity creating cancellation where two out-of-phase signals
come together.
The
180º polarity reverse switch plays an important role by ensuring both the dry
and wet signals are in phase. The next diagram shows how the 180° switch
inverts the signal before it gets to the offending pedal. Pedal “B” gets
tricked into re-inverting the signal back to normal phase.
Once
you get the EXTC hooked up, you will find it to be loads of fun! All of a
sudden, you will be going back into the attic looking for that box of
forgotten pedals, dusting them off and plugging them in. Some will sound
fantastic, others will sound bad in a good way. Who knows, only those brave
enough to enter blindly into these cold waters may live to tell the tale.
GETTING STARTED
Before making any connections, start by turning off your audio system and
turning all volume levels down. This helps protect equipment from turn-on
transients that could damage loudspeakers and other sensitive equipment. We
recommend using a power bar with an onoff switch as this makes it easy to turn
on and off the 500 series rack, monitors and so on, using a single switch.
Carefully plug the EXTC into your 500 series rack to avoid stress on the card-
edge connector. Screw the module in to ensure it does not accidentally get
dislodged. Connections between the EXTC and your pedals are made on the front
panel while connections to the recording system are done on the rear panel.
Most 500 series racks are equipped with XLR connectors. When you plug the EXTC
into your 500 series rack, it will automatically route the input and output to
the module. With the Workhorse, this is augmented with ¼” TRS connectors,
D-Subs and a signal to feed the Workhorse mixer. It also activates the
Omniport which in this instance (with EXTC) turns the Omniport into a second
effects loop.
Start by setting up the X-amp panel controls as follows:
- Set the blend control to the wet position (fully-clockwise).
- Make sure the 180º is off (switch outward) so that everything is in phase.
- Set the Omniport insert switch to off (switch outward).
- Set the send and receive level controls at mid-way (12 o’clock).
Connect the output from your recorder to the XLR input on the rear panel. To
connect your pedals, simply plug the ¼” send to your pedal chain and the
output of the pedal chain back to the EXTC receive input. We suggest you
start with one pedal first before using a complete chain. This will make it
easier to trouble shoot when setting up the EXTC in your system.
Turn on the effects and play the desired track. You should be able to monitor
the return path in your recording system and hear the effect. Separate send &
receive controls make it easy to adjust the levels to suit. Now, try varying
the blend control by rotating it counter-clockwise towards the dry setting to
hear how the effect mixes in with the original track. If you notice that the
signal is ‘thinning out’ when you are adjusting the mix, the wet and dry
signals may be out-of-phase with each other, thus causing cancellation. Try
depressing the 180º polarity reverse to fix the problem. If all is well, try
adding more pedals.
One of the most common applications for the EXTC is using it to add grit to a
vocal track. This can easily be done with a distortion or overdrive pedal. You
will find that the most realistic effects are created by introducing slight
distortion. But you can also have loads of fun creating Nine Inch Nails type
of tones by going crazy. There are no rules, only guidelines. Adding A Second
Loop If you have a Workhorse, you can use the Omniport to add a second effects
loop in series after the front panel pedal chain. This is ideally suited for
studio effects or to connect to a studio patchbay. The Workhorse TRS jack is
wired tip-send, ring-receive following convention. To turn on, depress the
OMNI INSERT switch on the front panel.
RADIAL EXTC SPECIFICATIONS
Circuit type: Solid state with transformer coupled effects loop
Power requirement: 60mA, +/-16VDC
| DRY| WET
---|---|---
Frequency Response:| 10Hz — 21kHz OdBu, -3dBu| 10Hz — 21kHz OdBu, -3dBu
Dynamic Range:| 94dB| >99dB
Gain| +5dB| +27dB
Signal to Noise Ratio:| 94dB| >99dB
Intermodulation Distortion:| -117dBu| -110dBu
Total harmonic Distortion| <0.0006% OdBu output| <0.0012% 0dB output
Maximum Input:| +26dBu| +20dBu
Features|
---|---
180° polarity reverse, OmniPort|
Input Connectors:| 1/4″, XLR
Output Connectors:| 1/4″, XLR
General|
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Conditions:| For use in dry locations only between 5°C and 40°C
Warranty:| Radial 3-year, transferable
CONNECTOR WIRING
RADAIAL EXTC BLOCK DIAGRAM
THREE YEAR TRANSFERABLE LIMITED WARRANTY
RADIAL ENGINEERING LTD. (“Radial”) warrants this product to be free from
defects in material and workmanship and will remedy any such defects free of
charge according to the terms of this warranty.
Radial will repair or replace (at its option) any defective component(s) of
this product (excluding finish and wear and tear on components under normal
use) for a period of three (3) years from the original date of purchase. In
the event that a particular product is no longer available, Radial reserves
the right to replace the product with a similar product of equal or greater
value. In the unlikely event that a defect is uncovered, please call
604-942-1001 or email
service@radialeng.com to obtain an RA number
(Return Authorization number) before the 3 year warranty period expires. The
product must be returned prepaid in the original shipping container (or
equivalent) to Radial or to an authorized Radial repair center and you must
assume the risk of loss or damage. A copy of the original invoice showing date
of purchase and the dealer name must accompany any request for work to be
performed under this limited and transferable warranty. This warranty shall
not apply if the product has been damaged due to abuse, misuse,
misapplication, accident or as a result of service or modification by any
other than an authorized Radial repair center.
THERE ARE NO EXPRESSED WARRANTIES OTHER THAN THOSE ON THE FACE HEREOF AND
DESCRIBED ABOVE. NO WARRANTIES WHETHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT
LIMITED TO, ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A
PARTICULAR PURPOSE SHALL EXTEND BEYOND THE RESPECTIVE WARRANTY PERIOD
DESCRIBED ABOVE OF THREE YEARS. RADIAL SHALL NOT BE RESPONSIBLE OR LIABLE FOR
ANY SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR LOSS ARISING FROM THE USE
OF THIS PRODUCT. THIS WARRANTY GIVES YOU SPECIFIC LEGAL RIGHTS, AND YOU MAY
ALSO HAVE OTHER RIGHTS, WHICH MAY VARY DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU LIVE AND WHERE
THE PRODUCT WAS PURCHASED.
This product is intended for professional use only. The user should be
familiar and experienced with the 500 series rack and module format.
Radial Engineering Ltd.
1845 Kingsway Ave, Port Coquitlam BC V3C 1S9, Canada
tel: 604-942-1001 • fax:
604-942-1010
email: info@radialeng.com
www.radialeng.com
API, Lunchbox, ProTools and Neve are registered trademarks of their respective
owners.
Reamp, Reamper, Reamping and Workhorse are trademarks of Radial Engineering
Ltd.
Copyright 2019+ Radial Engineering Ltd. All rights reserved.
Specifications and appearances subject to change without notice.
Radial ® EXTC ™
500 Module User Guide November 2019 – Part #: R870 1244 00 / 08-2022 True to
the Music
www.radialeng.com
Documents / Resources
|
RADIAL EXTC 500 500 Series Module
Reamp
[pdf] Owner's Manual
EXTC 500 500 Series Module Reamp, EXTC 500 500 Series, Module Reamp
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References
Read User Manual Online (PDF format)
Read User Manual Online (PDF format) >>