www.radialeng.com ® True to the Music STAGEDIRECT ™ Active Direct Box with Mute User Guide ® True to the Music Radial Engineering Ltd. 1588 Kebet Way, Port Coquitlam BC V3C 5M5 tel: 604-942-1001 • fax: 604-942-1010 info@radialeng.com • www.radialeng.
Radial StageDirect ® ™ Active Direct Box with Mute Table of Contents Page What is a direct box anyway ............................................1 Features ...........................................................................2 Getting started with power and connections ....................3 Using the PAD and tuner output ......................................4 Using the mute footswitch ................................................5 Using the remote mute ........................................
True to the Music ® WHAT IS A DIRECT BOX ANYWAY? A direct box (aka a DI box) is a device that lets you interface hi-impedance instruments (hi-Z) like electric guitar, bass or keyboard with professional low impedance (low-Z) PA and recording systems. Direct boxes, like the StageDirect, first split the unbalanced hi-Z signal in order to output it to your amp and tuner, then converts it to a low-Z balanced output that can connect to a professional audio system.
True to the Music ® FEATURE SET 1 2 3 4 5 10 6 11 9 12 7 8 1. POWER SUPPLY (15VDC-400mA): Use to connect the included power adapter. 2. LIFT: Disconnects pin-1 on the XLR output to help eliminate hum and buzz caused by ground loops. 3. BAL OUT: Lo-Z balanced output used to feed the PA system. Follows standard AES format with pin-1 ground, pin-2 hot (+) and pin-3 cold (-). 4.
True to the Music ® GETTING STARTED Before making any connections, always ensure your audio system is either turned down or turned off in order to protect more sensitive components from damage due to turn-on or plug-in transients. PHANTOM OR AC ADAPTER The Radial StageDirect is unique in that it may be powered using either 48V phantom from the PA system or by using the included 15VDC power supply. Most musicians will likely use phantom power as it is convenient.
True to the Music ® USING AND TESTING Bring up the level on the PA system. It is good practice to always test at a low volume to ensure proper connections have been made and all devices in the signal chain are working. This way, should a device not be turned on or a connector not fully pushed in, it will not create a loud transient ‘pop’ in the PA which in turn could blow a tweeter or annoy your audience. Check the status of the two footswitch LED indicators.
True to the Music ® USING THE MUTE FOOTSWITCH The top mounted mute footswitch adds another dimension by enabling you to turn off the signal going to your stage amp and the PA system by simply depressing the footswitch. Once muted, the tuner output remains active to let you tune in silence without bothering the audience. The mute footswitch also lets you Outputs Outputs Muted Active noiselessly disconnect your guitar or bass to exchange instruments on stage.
True to the Music ® VARIOUS REMOTE MUTE SETUPS The remote footswitch can be used in a few different ways depending on your setup. For instance, you could locate the StageDirect off-stage with your amplifier and use the remote footswitch on your pedalboard. REMOTE FS AMP PEDALBOARD You could also have your guitar tech do the switching by locating the remote footswitch off-stage. This lets him swap guitars in between songs without missing a beat.
True to the Music ® REMOTE SWITCHING WITH THE RADIAL SW2 FOOTSWITCH For even more control over your system you can employ the Radial SW2 footswitch. This programmable controller features two footswitches that can operate the mute function on the StageDirect and one other device that has a footswitch input. You can employ the second footswitch to change channels on your stage amp or turn an effect unit on and off.
True to the Music ® MANAGING FEEDBACK The StageDirect has two built-in features that are designed to help reduce resonant feedback when using an acoustic instrument on stage. These include a high-pass (low cut) filter and 180° polarity reverse switches. USING THE HIGH-PASS FILTER A powerful feedback fighting feature is the builtin high-pass filter. This 3-position switch lets you remove low frequencies from the signal path to eliminate resonance and ‘size the instrument’.
True to the Music ® Using the phase and 180° polarity reverse Resonant feedback generally occurs when a powerful low-frequency wave on stage causes the top of the instrument to vibrate. This low frequency wave may be produced by the stage monitors, PA system, stage amp or a combination as they interact together in the acoustic space. When two waves from different speakers collide in phase they can increase in amplitude causing a resonant peak or ‘hot spot’ on stage.
True to the Music ® ELIMINATING HUM AND BUZZ Solving noise problems on stage is a never ending battle! The StageDirect has been designed to minimize noise by incorporating a dual purpose ground lift switch that isolates the audio signal ground in a specific way, depending on which power source is being used. Lifting the signal ground usually helps to reduce the hum and buzz caused by ground loops.
True to the Music ® SPECIFICATIONS* Audio circuit type: .................Active Buffer with class-A FET front end Frequency response: ................................................... 20Hz ~ 20kHz Total harmonic distortion: ........................................................<0.01% Dynamic range: ........................................................................ 100dB Instrument input impedance: ............................................ 250k Ohms Maximum input: .............................
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.
