www.radialeng.com True to the Music SW8 MK2 ™ Eight Channel Auto-Switcher Part No. R800 8100 00 User Guide Radial Engineering Ltd. 1588 Kebet Way, Port Coquitlam BC V3C 5M5 tel: 604-942-1001 • fax: 604-942-1010 email: info@radialeng.com • web: www.radialeng.com www.radialeng.
SW8™ MK2 Auto-Switcher User Guide Combination Eight Channel Auto Switcher & Transformer Isolated Direct Box Table of Contents Page SW8 Overview .........................................................1 Features and Functions ...........................................2 Getting Started ........................................................3 Making Connections ................................................4 Remote Switching....................................................5 Auto-Switching...........
OVERVIEW The Radial SW8 is an eight channel redundant switcher designed primarily for live concerts where backing tracks are used to reinforce the performance. Should the primary playback machine suffer a failure, the SW8 can switch to a backup machine either automatically, manually, or by remote control. The SW8 lets you select between two groups of eight audio inputs and route either group to eight discrete outputs.
FEATURES AND FUNCTIONS Front Panel 1. GLOBAL PAD: Attenuates the signal going to the XLR direct box outputs by -20dB to prevent transformer saturation. 5. STANDBY: Holds the auto-switching on inputs-A so that the SW8 does not switch to inputs-B while waiting for drone signal. 2. AUTO ON: Activates the auto-switching mode. When active it monitors the gate input (channels 1, 8 or direct) for a drone signal and switches from inputs-A to inputs-B if the signal disappears. 6.
GETTING STARTED The following considers you will be using the SW8 to switch between two eight channel multi-track machines running in sync and designated as the PRIMARY-A and the BACKUP-B playback systems. The SW8 lets you instantly switch from the PRIMARY-A to the BACKUP-B system and outputs eight isolated channels to the PA system and eight direct channels for local monitoring. If you anticipate switching manually you can fill all eight tracks of your multi-track with audio.
MAKING CONNECTIONS As with all audio equipment, ensure system levels are turned off before making any connections. This will help avoid turn-on or plug-in transients that could damage more sensitive components such as tweeters. There is no power switch on the SW8. As soon as you connect the power supply, it will turn on and one of the LED’s below the AB select switch will illuminate to let you know power is on.
SWITCHING THE SW8 VIA A REMOTE It is sometimes preferable to have the playback recorders and SW8 located in a secondary rack off to the side. A common example would be a keyboard player that is also managing the playback system. To address these situations, the SW8 may be remotely switched using a common latching footswitch. The rear panel is equipped with a ¼” CONTACT INPUT jack that will cause the SW8 to switch by merely shorting the tip of the ¼” connector to ground.
AUTO-SWITCHING To use the SW8 in the auto-switch mode, record a drone track (steady state tone) onto your primary playback recorder. This channel is then connected to the SW8’s gate input where the signal is detected. If the drone signal ‘drops out’ the SW8 will divert the 8 inputs from primary-A playback system to the backup-B system using a series of relays. A pure 1kHz tone is recommended but any steady state tone will work for the drone track. You merely need to adjust the threshold to match the level.
LINKING MULTIPLE SW8 SWITCHERS TOGETHER For larger playback rigs, the SW8 may be configured in a master-slave configuration whereby two link connectors are used to tie multiple SW8’s together. Once connected these jacks relay front panel A/B switching and provide the same remote control capabilities as the optional JR2 footswitch. For instance, one footswitch connected to the master can control multiple SW8’s and in doing so, also sends the ‘standby’ command to the slave units.
RECONFIGURING THE ISOLATED OUTPUTS WITH THE INTERNAL RIBBON CONNECTOR An internal ribbon cable allows the SW8 to be reconfigured so that the eight transformer isolated mic-level outputs appear on the rear panel 25 pin D-Sub connector. This allows mic-level connections to be made at the rear panel instead of the front XLR jacks. The -20dB PAD, the LIFT switches and the front panel XLR outputs will continue to function as normal.
BLOCK DIAGRAM PRIMARY-A ¼” TRS INPUTS PRIMARY-A D-Sub INPUTS PAD ISO XLR MUTE XLR OUTPUT A/B SWITCHING CONTROL BACKUP-B D-Sub INPUTS D-Sub OUTPUT BACKUP-B ¼” TRS INPUTS SPECIFICATIONS FEMALE DB-25 PIN-OUT (PANEL VIEW) Input-A & B 1/4” phone: ..................TRS balanced +4dB / -10dB D-Sub: .........................DB25 balanced +4dB / -10dB Input impedance: ........
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.
