PRIMACOUSTIC BROADWAY GETS RAVE REVIEW

Visit Radial at AES
Booth # 1047
AES Fall 2006 Edition
PRIMACOUSTIC BROADWAY GETS RAVE REVIEW
The Primacoustic Broadway series of acoustic
panels is now shipping and response so far has
been very strong. According to national sales
manager Steve McKay: “Up until now, high-density
fabric-covered acoustic panels have been very
expensive and therefore, limited to broadcast and
high-end studio installations. With panels starting
at under $50 list, the average person can now
afford to treat their room using the same high-end
panels that the pro's employ.”
Broadway panels are made from 6lb per cubic
foot, high density encapsulated fiberglass that is
then covered with an attractive and durable fabric.
By limiting the options to 3 colors and four standard
panel sizes, Primacoustic is able to mass-produce
the panels and lower the price considerably, so that
a basic project studio can now be equipped with 12
panels for under $500US retail.
And installation is easy! Various impaling clips
are available to hang the panels on any wall
surface. Simply screw the impalers on the wall and
position the panel at the desired height. If ever you
want to relocate the panels, they simply lift off. No
more messy glue to deal with!
RADIAL JX44 AIR CONTROL LAUNCHES AT AES
ON
ON
DRAG
AIR CONTROL
SWITCHING JACK
FRONT PRIORITY
SWITCHING JACK
FRONT PRIORITY
B
B
4
ON
180º ISO
ON
180º ISO
ON
B
A
4
B
OUTPUT
180º ISO
180º ISO
A
B
ON
180º ISO
A
2
A
3
AMPLIFIER OUTPUTS
1
DI BOX
SOURCE
SELECT
EFX GTR PIN1 POL
OUT LOOP IN·D GRND
øº
FOOT SWITCH
POST ALL
LIFT
REAMP
XLR INPUT
LEVEL
180º
PUSH
DI BOX - ISOLATED OUTPUT
The Radial JX44 Air Control is a powerful guitar switching device aimed at
concert touring professionals that employ several guitars, effects and amplifiers on a
stage. It features four instrument inputs and four amplifier outputs and is equipped
with local and remote-control capabilities to select guitars and amps from multiple
points on a stage, allowing the guitarist or guitar tech to mute instruments for tuning or
set up different amps and effects as needed.
According to Radial president Peter Janis: “The Radial client base now includes
some of the biggest names in the business including Carlos Santana, Buddy Guy,
Aerosmith, Toto, Motorhead, Slayer and Def Leppard. When these bands tour, their
guitar technicians are faced with all kinds of challenges: noise from ‘less than ideal’
electrical systems; vintage guitar and amps; and wireless systems that can often
wreak havoc. Many of these bands began using the Radial JD7 studio guitar amp
switcher to solve their on-stage problems. The JD7 is a Class-A distribution amplifier
with Drag™ Control load correction and is equipped with isolated outputs that can be
SGI
DIRECT OUT
TM
RX
TX
TM
ON
PATENT 6005950
ON
ON
LIFT
RECEIVE
TRANSMIT
STUDIO GUITAR INTERFACE
EFX LOOP
RECV
A
3
OUTPUT
180º ISO MUTE
GUITAR
& AMP
DISTRO
SYSTEM
B
A
D
C
B
A & B ARE SWITCHING JACKS WITH
FRONT PANEL PRIORITY
3
SUPPLY
FOOTSWITCH REMOTE CONTROL
2
OUTPUT
SEND
4
A
1
OUTPUT
FLASHING LED = STATUS ACTIVE
15VDC · 400mA
Radial Engineering Ltd.
Port Coquitlam, BC Canada
TRIM
MUTE
CE
AMPS
ON
TRIM
TUNER
GUITARS
ON
DRAG
STATUS-A
PANIC
SYSTEM MONITOR
EFX LOOP
D
INPUT
SGI LOOP
C
INPUT
REAMP XLR
B
INPUT
SIGNAL
JX44
A
INPUT
STATUS-G
©
GUITAR INPUTS
phase-corrected for various amps.As it was never intended for live use, the JD7 is not
equipped with the type of functionality that is required on stage. After consulting with
our customers, the direction became clear and this drove us to create the JX44. We
are very proud of what we have achieved and it is without a doubt one of the most
complex yet comprehensive pieces of engineering ever made for guitarists.”
The JX44 features four instrument inputs and four (to six) amplifier outputs with
remote control capabilities for amps and guitars and mute for tuning. A rear-mounted
local effects loop for rack-effects and built-in Radial SGI effects loop connects to
pedalboard up to 300 feet away by adding an off-the-shelf SGI set. A built-in fully
isolated direct box with full re-amplifying capabilities allows acoustic guitars to be
connected on stage and re-recording to be performed in post production. Two
optional remote footswitches may be connected to select guitars or amplifiers.
Should the wireless system fail, a panic button re-routes the signal 'hardwire' from
guitar input-Ato amp output-1. Perfect for your next world tour!
Radial Engineering Ltd. · 1638 Kebet Way, Port Coquitlam, BC V3C 5W9 · Tel (604) 942-1001 · Fax (604) 942-1010 · email: info@radialeng.com
RADIAL TAKES WORRY OUT OF BACKUPS WITH SW8 SWITCHER
1
©
®
2
3
4
5
6
7
LIFT
LIFT
LIFT
LIFT
PIN-1
AUTO-SWITCHER
OUTPUT
PIN-1
PIN-1
OUTPUT
OUTPUT
THRU-PUT +4dB
PIN-1
PIN-1
OUTPUT
PIN-1
OUTPUT
INPUT-B
PIN-1
OUTPUT
OUTPUT
NOMINAL SWITCHING CAPACITY
5A-120VAC / 5A-50VDC
INPUT-A
SIGNAL
THRESHOLD
A
GLOBAL ALARM AUTO
PAD
ON
SWITCH
B
7
6
5
4
8 CHAN
AUTO
BACKUP
SWITCH
LIFT
CH-1
TONE
3
2
1
CH.1
SYNC
TONE
INPUT
www.radialeng.com
The Radial SW8 Switcher is an 8-channel redundant backup switching interface
designed for live concert touring and stage shows that employ backing tracks as part
of the sound production.
According to company president Peter Janis: “Today it is common for bands to
support their live performance with backing tracks as a means to provide the
audience with the type of production that they expect when they hear a record. For
instance, when Queen performed Bohemian Rhapsody, backing tracks were used to
provide the vocal chorus. This is generally done using one or more stand-alone
digital recorders such as the ones made by Tascam, Alesis, or Radar. Unfortunately,
even though these machines are very dependable in the safety of the studio,
traveling night after night across the continent in a truck on bumpy roads inevitably
takes its toll and these machines invariably fail due to the inordinate abuse. When
disaster occurs, a backup recorder is required. The Radial SW8 makes it possible to
switch to an alternate machine either automatically or manually should the need
Made in Canada
PIN DIAGRAM PANEL VIEW
13
-
G
G
1+ 2
+
-
G
G
3+ 4
Radial Engineering Ltd.
Port Coquitlam, BC Canada
-
G
G
5+ 6
+
-
G
G
+
7+ 8
PUSH ON
-20dB
ACTIVE
CH-1
CE
SUPPLY
SWITCH
LINK
15VDC · 400mA
arise. Before launching the SW8, we consulted a wide number of stage technicians
including techs that work with Chick Corea, The Eagles and U2. These guys know all
of the ins and outs of road travel and helped us establish a common feature set. The
result is the Radial SW8.”
The SW8 features two A-B sets of eight input channels with DB25 multipins or
¼” TRS inputs. Eight outputs are DB25 for balanced line-level or mic-level XLRs and
transformer-isolated to eliminate ground loops. A -10dB pad accommodates both
+4dB or -10dB levels. Switching is done by depressing the front panel AB selector or
auto-switching by recording a drone track and playing it into channel-1 of the SW8.
Should the drone disappear, the SW8's alarm LED will illuminate, advising the
technician a problem is at hand. The SW8 can also automatically toggle to the B
inputs as soon as the drone track is lost. A link function accommodates larger 16 or
24 track systems. All of this is housed in a single 19” rack space and powered by an
external 15VDC power supply.
Radial
Radial Multi-Media
Multi-Media Direct
Direct Box
Box
The Radial ProAV2 is an overachieving stereo passive DI designed
to interface almost any highimpedance source such as DVD
players, iPODs, computer sound cards
and musical instruments with low
impedance mic inputs on a mixing console.
It is equipped with stereo ¼”, RCA, 3.5mm
inputs and balanced stereo XLR outputs. The
twin transformers convert the impedance,
perform the balancing and provide isolation to help
eliminate troublesome ground loops. Perfect for
interfacing consumer audio with professional systems.
Daniel Lanois Picks Radial
Radial Engineering is pleased to announce
that Daniel Lanois, arguably the mosty influential
musician-engineer-producer today, recently
added Radial direct boxes to his recording
arsenal.
In addition to his ground-breaking work with
U2, Mr. Lanois has produced and engineered
works by Bob Dylan, Marianne Faithfull, Willie
Nelson and Emmylou Harris.
Lanois had this to say about Radial: “It is
nice to see great sounding, industrial-grade
equipment still being made today!” That pretty
well sums it up! Thanks Dan!
+
PIN-1
OUTPUT
LINK-IN
ALARM
LIFT
LINK-OUT
B
LIFT
CONTACT
A
LIFT
FOOT-SW
SW8
8
8
CONTROL MONITOR
INPUT SELECT
Primacoustic
Venice Delivers
Roman Pillars
Over the past 5 years,
Primacoustic has gained a solid
following in the home studio
market with their range of opencell acoustic panels. The panels
are typically glued to the wall
surface to treat primary and
secondary reflections. This
eliminates standing waves and
flutter echo. But sometimes, folks
do not want to permanently affix
the material to the walls. This is
where Venice comes in.
Venice is an acoustic panel
that combines the standard
Primacoustic panels with a
corrugated plastic backboard.
Instead of gluing the panels to the
wall, small discreet finishing nails
are used, therefore making it easy
to pull the panels off and relocate
them with only minor refinishing.
Panel size is 52” tall x 12”
wide. Effective from 500Hz and
up. Venice panels come 4 to a
box, pre-mounted and glued to
the backboards. Venice; the
simple acoustic system you can
install in minutes.
Radial Engineering Ltd. · 1638 Kebet Way, Port Coquitlam, BC V3C 5W9 · Tel (604) 942-1001 · Fax (604) 942-1010 · email: info@radialeng.com
Tech-File
Gefell
Intros
M950
Wide
Cardioid
Condenser
ACOUSTICS 101 FOR STUDIOS
Just like large commercial studios, home studios suffer
from acoustical interference that can make it more difficult to
mix, especially when surrounded with the sound effects and
ambiance that now typifies today's stereo and 5.1 surroundsound mixes. In professional studios, the walls are
strategically treated with fabric-covered absorptive panels on
the sides, front, rear and sometimes on the ceilings.
The key to improving intelligibility (or our ability to discern
what we want to hear and what we do not) is achieved by
reducing unwanted reflections from hard wall surfaces. What
happens is that the direct sound from the speaker arrives at the
listening position first and then the reflected sound arrives a
few milliseconds later. These loud reflections cause the brain
(human hearing mechanism) to have to ignore the second
sound, thus making us work hard for nothing. In studio, this
effect is known to contribute to listening fatigue.
The solution is actually quite simple. Sound, especially in
the voice range, is directional. This means that by using simple
vectors, you can strategically position acoustic panels where
they will be most effective. By sitting in the various listening
positions and simply moving a mirror on the wall to mark the
areas where you see the speaker in the mirror, you will
establish the ideal locations on which to position your panels.
The most common surfaces to treat a project studio is on
the side walls in between the reference monitors and the
listening area. These are usually positioned waist-high to
control the upper section of the wall, which will be most prone
to reflections. By leaving some open space on the wall, you
retain some of the natural ambiance of the room, which will
yield a more natural sound. Treating either the receive wall or
the transmit wall (behind the speakers) will also help eliminate
flutter echo and standing waves that can further deteriorate the
sound. This is particularly helpful in square and rectangular
shaped rooms where the parallel surfaces work in tandem to
cause long trailing echoes.
DIRECT
SOUND
PRIMARY
REFLECTION
First, the sound coming from the speaker arrives directly at
the listening position. A few milliseconds later, the sound
reflecting off the wall arrives. This forces the brain to work
harder as we try to discern the two sounds.
DIRECT
SOUND
PRIMARY
REFLECTIONS
ABSORBED
BY PANELS
PRIMARY
REFLECTION
DIRECT
SOUND
Let Radial
Custom Shop
do the work!
ACOUSTIC
PANELS
SLIDE MIRROR ALONG
WALL TO SEE SPEAKER
IN REFLECTION
To locate the best position for acoustic panels, slide a mirror
across the walls to see the speakers. This will determine the
optimum position for acoustic panel placement.
Germany's Microtech-Gefell is expanding
its range of hand-made microphones with the
Gefell M950 wide cardioid. This little giant
features a full-sized 1” diaphragm mounted on
a triangulated pedestal to eliminate smear
from nearby body reflections.
The wide cardioid pattern is particularly
advantageous when recording acoustic
instruments where sound is produced from
multiple points. For example, the natural
sound of a guitar is made up of the sound from
the pick, the resonance from the top, the sound
projecting from the sound hole and the
sympathetic vibrations from the strings.
By capturing the whole instrument from a
single mic, the results are much more
balanced and defined tone. The directional
characteristic of the cardioid pattern aids to
control spill from other sources. In fact, one
could certainly qualify the M950 as a clever
combination of the natural sound of an omni
with the control of a cardioid.
Once the area has been determined that needs treatment,
simply affix Broadway panels to the wall using the impaling
clips. The whole process can be done in minutes!
The Radial Custom Shop began
manufacturing custom cable assemblies and
panels in 1991 and today boasts thousands of
successful clients including Cirque Du Soleil,
Sony Broadcast, CBS TV, the Hull Casino and
the Rolling Stones. But don't let these big
names scare you… we offer a complete custom
range of solutions that includes simple RCA
cables to custom-madeAV panels.
Simply sketch out your needs and fax it
through to the Radial Custom Shop. Our team
of seasoned professionals will deliver a quote
and delivery schedule to meet your needs.
Radial Engineering Ltd. · 1638 Kebet Way, Port Coquitlam, BC V3C 5W9 · Tel (604) 942-1001 · Fax (604) 942-1010 · email: info@radialeng.com
CBC BROADCASTS WITH GEFELL
CBC Radio Canada
(Canada's public radio station),
recently purchased 15 Gefell
M930 microphones for on-air
use in their new digital format
studios. According to CBC
Engineering, they tested over 30
microphones before selecting
the Gefell M930.
The M930 features a full 1”
diaphragm mounted on a
triangulated pedestal in the
smallest mic body made today.
This reduces acoustic
turbulence around the mic,
delivering a true rendition.
Internal electro-optical isolation
eliminates ground potential
while delivering 80 volts to the
capsule. This results in over
140dB of signal handling with
less than 7dB-Aof self-noise.
PRIMACOUSTIC FULLTRAP
AMAZING LOW FREQUENCY ABSORPTION AT
AN AMAZING LOW PRICE!
AES exclusive! Primacoustic has launched a new range
of bass traps in the form of easy to assemble do-it-yourself kits.
According to president Peter Janis: “The challenge with
bass traps is that for them to be effective, they must be large,
deep and incorporate an air cavity where the bass can be
absorbed. Because of the size, they become expensive to
ship. For this reason, most acousticians tend to suggest builtin bass traps as part of the room design, which of course makes
them somewhat expensive. We looked at the huge success
Ikea is enjoying by providing easy-to-assemble kits that the
average person can put together with only a screwdriver,
stapler and hammer. We then applied this concept to creating a
bass trap and the result is our new Primacoustic Fulltrap™.”
Two models are offered: The Fulltrap™, which is
approximately 24” wide x 48” high and 8 inches deep and the
Halftrap™, which is approximately 12” wide x 48” high and 6”
deep. Both traps are made from high-density wood composite
with a black, easy-to-clean melamine finish. The front
absorptive panel is made from 6lb per cubic foot high-density
encapsulated fiberglass. Behind the panel is a stretched
membrane that acts as a low frequency resonator. The science
is based on thermo-dynamic energy transfer, whereby sound
penetrating the Fulltrap causes the glass fibers and membrane
to vibrate, which in turn convert the acoustic energy into heat.
Estimated low frequency absorption will be between 65Hz and
100Hz depending on the final outcome from tests.
Each kit contains the absorptive panel, resonant
membrane, the sides and top, easy-build hardware and wall
mounting bracket. Building a Fulltrap™ takes about 15 minutes
from start to finish!
Professional audio interface equipment such
as direct boxes and re-ampers used in live
sound and studio recording.
primacoustic
tm
Acoustic panels, gobos, bass traps and
diffusers for recording, home theatre and
broadcast.
Gefell
Gefell microphones are handmade in
Germany for recording, broadcast, live sound
and test and measurement.
World class transformers and interfaces for
home theatre, recording and live audio and
video systems.
MB Quart headphones and headsets for the
most demanding audiophiles where added
durability is needed.
Ultra-high performance audio and video cable
for recording, broadcast and audiophiles.
Professional guitar and bass distortion pedals,
effects loops, amplifier and cabinet switchers
and instrument preamplifiers.
ZEBRACASE
PRO AUDIO-VIDEO EQUIPMENT PROTECTION
Made in Canada
Protective yet highly affordable carry cases
with pick & pluck foam cubes to fit any piece of
gear.
Radial Custom Shop - audio and video cables,
panels, snakes and interfaces for recording
and concert touring.
Radial Engineering Ltd. · 1638 Kebet Way, Port Coquitlam, BC V3C 5W9 · Tel (604) 942-1001 · Fax (604) 942-1010 · email: info@radialeng.com