Recording - July 2012 - 20

B Y PA U L V N U K J R .

Last year (October 2011) we introduced to you Radial Engineering’s foray into the world of the API 500-Series format, including Radial’s own 8-space 500 series rack dubbed the Workhorse. More than just another 500-Series module rack, the Workhorse also contains an 8-channel summing mixer with Jensen-transformered outputs, and the ability to feed modules in series, one into the next, to create your own channel strips. The Workhorse module system also features an extra rear-panel jack on each module known as an Omniport that allows for expanded module-specific features. Radial supplemented the Workhorse with a full line of Omniport-enabled modules, four of which we examined in our October 2011 issue and two more in December 2011.

Radial Engineering Solutions For Guitarists:
With this issue’s focus on guitar recording we will be taking a look at five new Radial boxes that are guitar-centric. Three of them are part of Radial’s 500-Series offerings, while the other two are traditional stand-alone Radial units. (For all units under review, you may correctly assume that each box is built to Radial’s high standards inside and out, indestructible build, enamel baked finish and all.) First up in our Radial roundup is a trio of boxes whose sole purpose is the reamping of guitar signals. If you’re asking, “What is reamping?”, check out my tutorial article on page 46, and watch our instructional video at www.recording mag.com/videos/videoDetail/17.html. The ProRMP is Radial’s most affordable, simplest, and easiest-to-use reamper. It is a small-form DI-sized box (the PRO Series standard size) measuring 3.3" x 5.0" x 2" and weighing in at 1.55 lbs. Its sky blue body has a balanced female XLR input with a ground-lift switch on one side and an unbalanced hi-Z 1/4" output on the other, as well as a simple, slightly recessed outputlevel attenuator that can be accessed with a small flathead screwdriver or, as Radial suggests, a guitar pick. The ProRMP internally makes use of a custom-isolated, low-distortion transformer of Radial’s own design. And, seriously,
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RECORDING JULY 2012

REAMP JCR and ProRMP Passive Reampers and X-AMP, JDX, and Tank Driver 500-Series Modules
that’s all there is to the ProRMP. It does just what it says, does it well, and does it without complicated extras or setup hassles. For more features and a boost in transformer quality, we’ll move on to Radial’s next offering... them inside one of Radial’s standard 3.3" x 5.0" x 2" 1.32lb, 14-gauge steel chassis. Just as with the ProRMP, the input side of the JCR starts with a balanced female XLR input and a ground switch, this time fully recessed. It also adds a recessed 180-degree phase switch. Around back are the 1/4" Hi-Z output, as well as an output attenuation pot (no guitar pick necessary on this one). Also found here are some of the JCR’s new and added features such as a second parallel input, this time in the form of a balanced 1/4" TRS jack that will accept either Hi-Z or Low-Z signals. This is handy, as many entry-level DAW interfaces make use of 1/4" line-level outputs rather than the more costly XLR versions. Then there is an output-mute button, and a 3-position filter switch that gives you a choice of a 3 dB down @ 1 kHz Hi-Cut or a 3 dB down @ 180 Hz Low-Cut. More than just cutting brightness or low rumble, I found this similar to the sound of switching between bridge- or neck-position pickups. It’s not exactly the same, but close enough for some post-recording tone shaping. With these added features and the good reliable

Reamp JCR
The Reamp JCR is a special box—in fact it is a rebirth of the box that started it all! Back in 1994, John Cuniberti was one of the first people to develop a commercial reamplification box, and he went on to trademark the name. These were the small red rectangular boxes called “The REAMP” that you probably saw advertised in the back of music-technology magazines such as ours over the past decade or so. In 2007 Mr. Cuniberti perfected his design in a V2 model that made use of a new custom transformer, ferrite filtering and other enhancements. In 2010 Radial acquired designs and intellectual property from Cuniberti, and the Radial Reamp JCR was born. JCR stands for John Cuniberti Reamp. The JCR keeps the original transformer and internal circuit design, adds new features, and houses

ProRMP

http://www.recordingmag.com/videos/videoDetail/17.html http://www.recordingmag.com/videos/videoDetail/17.html

Recording - July 2012

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recording - July 2012