User guide

Radial Engineering Ltd.
PreComp™ Preamp and VCA Compressor
True to the Music
®
7
USING THE OMNIPORT™
If you are using the PreComp in a Radial 500 series power rack you can use the Omniport
function. The Omniport is confi gured as an unbalanced insert point that gives you access to
the signal between the preamp and compressor. It allows you to insert an audio processor,
like an equalizer, in between the preamp and compressor or use the preamp and compressor
independently, as if two separate modules. The Omniport is used with a standard ¼” TRS insert
type cable to connect the preamp output and compressor input. The TIP carries the output
signal from the preamp section and the RING is the input to the compressor.
Standard unbalanced studio INSERT cable used with PreComp Omniport.
¼” TRS
TIP: PREAMP OUT
RING: COMP IN
¼” TS
MIC
PREAMP
XLR
IN
XLR
OUT
VCA
COMPRESSOR
OMNIPORT I/O
Before you can use the Omniport it must be turned on. Power down the rack and remove the
module. Set the mini-toggle switch located next to the 15-pin card-edge to ‘INSERT’. Re-install
the module and power up the rack.
Using the Omniport as an insert
Inserting another 500 series module is
quick and easy as Radial Workhorse
power racks provide ¼” jacks for cross
patching modules. Using your insert
cable, simply connect the TIP and RING
to the ¼” input and output provided on
each module card slot I/O. It is common
to insert an equalizer module like the
Radial Q4 but you can also insert guitar
effect pedals using the Radial EXTC 500
modules or even a spring reverb using
the Radial TankDriver module.
Using as two independent processors
The Omniport allows you to use the
preamp and compressor independently.
For instance, you can patch the output of
another mic preamp into the PreComp’s
compressor section and output a
balanced signal to the recorder (fi g-b).
You could also use the PreComp’s mic
preamp to start another signal chain by
patching the Omniport TIP into another
module.
MIC-PRE #2
TIP
RING
PRECOMP
INPUT
OMNIPORT
FEED
LINK
1
OFF
OFF
CARD SLOT 1
OUTPUT
OUTPUT
INPUT
INPUT
OMNIPORT
FEED
LINK
1
OFF
OFF
CARD SLOT 1
OUTPUT
OUTPUT
INPUT
INPUT
N
N
P
P
P
PU
U
U
U
U
Fig-b: Using the compressor section with another mic preamp.
INPUT
OMNIPORT
FEED
LINK
1
OFF
OFF
CARD SLOT 1
OUTPUT
OUTPUT
INPUT
PRECOMP EQ
INPUT
OMNIPORT
FEED
LINK
1
OFF
OFF
CARD SLOT 1
OUTPUT
OUTPUT
INPUT
INPUT
N
N
P
P
P
P
PU
U
U
U
U
Fig-a: Using the Omniport as an insert
TIP
RING