Radial Phazer User guide

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Phazer

True to the Music

™

Owner's Manual

Radial Engineering Ltd. 1845 Kingsway Ave., Port Coquitlam, BC V3C 1S9, Canada tel: 604-942-1001 • fax: 604-942-1010 info@radialeng.com

www.radialeng.com

True to the Music

™

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Radial

Table of Contents ...........................................................Page

Design Overview ..............................................................1

Feature Set - Phazer ........................................................2-3

Connections and Getting Started .....................................4-5

Adjusting The Phase ........................................................6-7

Using The Filter ................................................................8

Applications ......................................................................9-11

Block Diagram ..................................................................12

Specications ...................................................................13

Warranty ...........................................................................Back cover

INTRODUCTION

Congratulations on your purchase of a Radial Phazer. The Phazer is a phase adjustment tool that allows you to quickly align the phase response of two audio signals to fatten and create more natural tones. We recommend that you take a few minutes to read through this manual in order to familiarize yourself with the many innovative features incorporated into the Phazer.

Phazer™ Owner's Manual

Should you have a question or an idea for an application not covered in this manual, we invite you to log onto the Radial web site at www.radialeng.com to check the Phazer's FAQ section for more info and the latest updates. Of course, you can also send us an email at info@radialeng.com and we will do our very best to respond to you promptly. Now get your mic's, D.I.'s and mixer revved up and get ready for some real tonal fun!

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True to the Music

OVERVIEW

The Phazer is a real-time analog phase adjustment tool with 100% discrete class-A circuitry for great sound. The Phazer gives you a quick and easy means to experiment with the creative use of phase shift and it inspires new sounds when working with your favorite mics and Radial direct boxes.

Its purpose is to shape the sound by shifting the phase of one signal against another, allowing you to tune the overall phase-response of the combined signals. The Radial Phazer is capable of shifting the phase continuously over the complete 360° range. You simply dial in the amount of phase shift that sounds best to your ears.

For instance, an engineer may use two mics to record an acoustic guitar.

The rst mic is placed close to the sound hole and a second mic is

located further away from the guitar. Because the sound waves take a little longer to reach the more distant mic, its signal is slightly delayed compared to the close mic.

Close Mic

Distant Mic

Time

Close Mic Distant Mic

Time

Phase Shift

This minute delay creates a phase shift between the two mic signals that colors the tone through a type of phase cancellation known as

comb-ltering. The Phazer exploits this phenomenon and presents it as

a simple, fun and musical tool for the audio engineer.

For instance, the Phazer can be used to shift the close mic's signal into alignment with the distance mic to create a fuller, richer sound when the

two mic signals are combined. Alternatively, it may be used as an e󰀨ect

to intentionally shift the phase and create new unique tones.

The more you use the Phazer the more you will come to appreciate the creative options that are uncovered. When you think about it, creativity is what making music is all about.

Radial Engineering Ltd.

Phazer

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True to the Music

PHAZER FEATURES AND FUNCTIONS

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

1. PHASE-ON WITH LED: Activates the phase section. LED illuminates when engaged.

2. INVERT SWITCH: Flips the phase range of the SHIFT control from 0° - 180° to the 181°- 360° range at the XLR output.

3. SHIFT CONTROL: Analog control used to adjust the phase shift.

4. BLEND: Lets you mix the original dry signal and the wet phased

signal together.

5. FILTER-ON WITH LED: Bypass switch for the low-pass lter. LED illuminates when engaged.

6. RANGE SWITCH: Selects between two frequency ranges for the

low-pass lter: 300Hz to 3.8kHz range or 3kHz to 38kHz.

7. CUT-OFF CONTROL: Adjusts the high-frequency cuto󰀨 point for the low-pass lter within the selected range.

8. POWER SWITCH: Turns on the Phazer. LED illuminates when unit is active.

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Phazer

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True to the Music

109 11 12 13 14

9. CABLE LOCK: Used to clamp down the power supply cable to prevent accidental power disconnect.

10. POWER SUPPLY CONNECTION: Connection point for the included Radial 15VDC power supply.

11. ¼" TRS PHONE JACKS: Input and output connections for balanced +4dB and unbalanced -10dB signals.

12. GROUND LIFT: Helps eliminate hum and buzz caused by ground loops. Disconnects Pin-1 at the XLR and sleeve at the ¼" TRS outputs.

13. XLR JACKS: Input and output connections for balanced +4dB signals.

14. FULL BOTTOM PAD: Neoprene no-slip pad won't scratch your surface.

15. 14-GAUGE STEEL ENCLOSURE: With bookend shell creates a protective zone for the controls and switches.

Radial Engineering Ltd.

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Phazer

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True to the Music

TRS BALANCED

1/4” UNBALANCED

XLR BALANCED LINE LEVEL

15VDC · 400mA

INPUT

OUTPUT

www.radialeng.com

Made in Canada

TUPTUO

TUPNI

GND

PUSH TO

LIFT

TRS BALANCED 1/4” UNBALANCED

XLR BALANCED LINE LEVEL

15VDC · 400mA

INPUT

OUTPUT

www.radialeng.com

Made in Canada

TUPTUO

TUPNI

GND

PUSH TO

LIFT

CONNECTIONS

Before making connections, make sure all levels are turned down in order to prevent power-on and connection transients from damaging more sensitive components such as tweeters.

Power: The Phazer is powered by the included 15VDC/400mA supply. The Phazer's power connection includes a cable lock feature that prevents accidental disconnection.

Use a hex driver to loosen the cable lock.

Pass the cable through and re-tighten.

Audio: The Phazer is a line-level device that accepts +4dB balanced and -10dB unbalanced signals using either the XLR or ¼" phone jacks. Balanced connections use the AES standard (pin2 hot). There are two basic methods for connecting the Phazer:

1. Console Insert Connection - This is the most common connection.

The Phazer is placed in the signal path using the 'insert' point at the console (studio patchbay).

Most consoles are equipped with an unbalanced single-point insert (-10dB) that employs a dual 1/4" to TRS connection as shown here:

TUPNI

TRS BALANCED

1/4” UNBALANCED

TUPTUO

Tip = Send Ring = Return Sleeve = Common

Larger consoles sometimes employ balanced inserts with separate jacks (+4dB). These can be with either XLR or TRS Phone jacks.

OUTPUT

INPUT

Contacts

XLR TRS

Radial Engineering Ltd.

XLR BALANCED LINE LEVEL

Pin 1 Common Sleeve

Pin 2 Hot (+) Tip

Pin 3 Cold (-) Ring

Send

Return

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True to the Music

3.8kHz

300Hz

2. In-line Connection

The Phazer can be connected between line-level devices, such as between a mic preamp and a recorder. An example would be a stereo microphone setup where one mic is patched direct and the other is passed through the Phazer.

Microphones Preamps Phazer Recorder

GETTING STARTED

1. Set all panel switches to the outward position (LED o󰀨).

2. Set the SHIFT and BLEND control fully counter-clockwise. Set the

CUT-OFF control fully clockwise.

CUT-OFF

3kHz

38kHz

0º

SHIFT

BLEND

180º

DRY WET

3. Insert the Phazer into the microphone or direct box channel you would

like to phase align. Keep in mind that the Phazer should be processing

the signal that arrives at the mixing console rst. This would be the

signal from the closest of the two mics, or a direct box since electricity travels faster than sound waves.

Distant Mic

Close Mic or D.I. Box

4. Activate the Phazer by connecting the power supply and depressing

the POWER switch. The LED will illuminate.

5. Turn your audio system on and test your connections at a low

volume level. If no sound is heard turn your equipment o󰀨 and check

the connections. If all is well turn the level up to a comfortable listening level. If you hear hum or buzz, try depressing the GROUND LIFT switch. You are ready to start using the Phazer.

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True to the Music

CUT-OFF

RANGE

POWER

FILTER

38kHz3kHz

3.8kHz

300Hz

300Hz~3.8kHz

ADJUSTING THE PHASE

The phase section is tuned by ear using two controls. To best hear the

e󰀨ect of each control set your mixer controls for both signals (one with

the Phazer inserted and one without) to equal volume and panned center in your monitors, follow these steps.

Start with the INVERT switch ward position and the SHIFT control turned full counter-clockwise. Make Sure the BLEND

control

is also fully clockwise (WET).

Engage the PHASE ON switch illuminate.

Slowly rotate the SHIFT control

in the out-

, the LED will

clockwise

B A

while listening. Tune the control by ear to best suit the program material.

For the most part the goal is to shift the close mic signal until the fundamentals phase-align with the distant mic in a musical and pleasing way that compliments the instrument and program material. Keep in mind it is impossible for all frequencies to line up or be in perfect phase at the

same time. When tuning the SHIFT control, simply use your ears to nd

what sounds best to you.

The Invert Function

The INVERT control is used to reverse the absolute phase of the signal passing through the Phazer and allow the SHIFT control to access the 181° to 360° phase range.

PHASE

INVERT

180º~360º

SHIFT

SHIFT BLEND

0º 180º

DRY WET

The INVERT switch can also be used for several clever functions. For instance, not all microphones and direct boxes produce the same polarity at their output. The INVERT switch can be used to correct the polarity of one device to match another.

When listening for the 'sweet spot' it can sometimes be easier to hear phase cancellation rather than reinforcement. Employ the INVERT switch to help you tune the SHIFT control while listening for maximum phase cancellation. When you've found the spot that produces the

weakest sound hit the INVERT button again and the e󰀨ect switches from maximum cancellation to maximum reinforcement. This is most e󰀨ective when tuning the e󰀨ect to the fundamental frequency.

Using the Phazer as a creative EQ

Filtering a signal through phase cancellation is one way to make tracks

sit better in the mix without ghting with other instruments in the same

register. Try phase shifting the rhythm guitar part while monitoring the other rhythm section instruments to see how you can change the balance without adjusting fader levels. The blend function lets you apply this

technique using a single sound and phase 'canceling' to create an e󰀨ect.

It's fun!

Radial Engineering Ltd.

Phazer

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True to the Music

SHIFT

0º

180º

SHIFT

0º

180º

SHIFT

0º

180º

SHIFT

0º

180º

SHIFT

0º

180º

SHIFT

2k 5k 10k 20k

+150

+100

+50

-50

-100

-150

-200

-250

-300

-350

+150

+100

+50

-50

-100

-150

-200

-250

-300

-350

Degree

+150

+100

+50

-50

-100

-150

-200

-250

-300

-350

Degree

20 50 100 200 500 1kHz2k 5k 10k 20k 20 50 100 200 500 1kHz2k 5k 10k 20k

20 50 100 200 500 1k

2k 5k 10k 20k 20 50 100 200 500 1k

2k 5k 10k 20k

+150

+100

+50

-50

-100

-150

-200

-250

-300

-350

2k 5k 10k 20k

+150

+100

+50

-50

-100

-150

-200

-250

-300

-350

Degree

20 50 100 200 500 1k

2k 5k 10k 20k 20 50 100 200 500 1k

2k 5k 10k 20k

ADJUSTING THE PHASE (continued)

The following diagrams plot the phase response at di󰀨erent positions

of the SHIFT control. The gentle curve displaying phase shift increases (in degrees) as the control is turned. Radial's unique phase curves and class-A analog electronics combine to make the Phazer sound musical.

+150

+100

+50

-50

-100

-150

-200

-250

PHASE SHIFT IN DEGREES

-300

-350

FREQUENCY (Hz)

+150

+100

+50

-50

-100

-150

-200

-250

PHASE SHIFT IN DEGREES

-300

-350

FREQUENCY (Hz)

+150

+100

+50

-50

-100

-150

-200

-250

PHASE SHIFT IN DEGREES

-300

-350

+150

+100

+50

-50

-100

-150

-200

-250

PHASE SHIFT IN DEGREES

-300

-350

FREQUENCY (Hz)

Radial Engineering Ltd.

180°

Bypass - zero phase shift, response is linear.

0°

At this setting 200Hz is shifted by just one or two degrees while 20kHz is shifted 180°.

At this setting 200Hz is shifted by 100° while everything above 2kHz is shifted 180°.

Near maximum setting 200Hz reaches 180°.

0º

SHIFT

0º

180º

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True to the Music

POWER

CUT-OFF

RANGE

FILTER

CUT-OFF

RANGE

FILTER

USING THE FILTER SECTION

Once you have found the ‘sweet spot’ in the phase shift section, try

adjusting the low-pass lter controls to hear their e󰀨ect. The lter section is designed to roll-o󰀨 high frequencies above a variable cut-o󰀨 point allowing the Phazer's e󰀨ect to be focused on the fundamental frequencies. Before adjusting the lter section set the controls as follows.

Depress the lter ON switch A, the LED will illuminate.

Set the RANGE switch B to its outward position. This sets the lter to it's highest frequency range, up to 38kHz.

Set the CUT-OFF control

the cut-o󰀨 point to it's highest frequency allowed by the RANGE switch.

Slowly turn the CUT-OFF control counter-clockwise while listening to

the e󰀨ect. As you turn the CUT-OFF control counter-clockwise the lter

moves downward through the spectrum removing frequencies above the

cut-o󰀨 point from the Phazer’s output.

The lter o󰀨ers two cut-o󰀨 ranges accessed with the RANGE switch. When set to the outward position the lter will attenuate frequencies between 3kHz and 38kHz and produce a subtle e󰀨ect on most instruments. When set to the inward position the lter a󰀨ects the 300Hz to 3.8kHz range producing a more pronounced high frequency roll-o󰀨.

to the maximum clockwise position. This sets

RANGE

300Hz~3.8kHz

CUT-OFF

300Hz

38kHz3kHz

3.8kHz

FILTER

Filter Range 3kHz - 38kHz.

Subtle ltering

Filter Range 300Hz - 3.8kHz.

Extreme ltering.

Radial Engineering Ltd.

Filter Cut-o

Phazer

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True to the Music

APPLICATIONS

Acoustic Guitar - Mic and Direct Box

A good application to try out the Phazer's capabilities is recording with a direct box and a microphone. Start by setting up a mic and a DI box and connect them to separate channels on your mixing console. Adjust both signals in the monitors to an equal level and panned to the center.

Distant Mic

Direct Box

Once you have the D.I. and mic set up take a look at the time line below. It will help you understand what you are hearing. When the guitar is strummed the D.I. sends an electronic signal at nearly the speed of light while the mic has to wait for the slower sound waves to travel through the air. This creates a phase shift between the two signals that is measured in degrees. Listen for a few moments to the combined signals without the Phazer before continuing.

Insert Phazer

on direct box

Direct Box

Microphone

1130 feet

per/second

Speed of

Direct Box

Light

Phase Shift

So, how does it sound? What you are hearing is the complex interaction between the DI, mic and the room causing phase cancellations at some frequencies and reinforcement at others. It may sound good or it may not. It depends on where those cancellations and reinforcements are occurring in the audio spectrum. Before the Phazer, the only way to 'tune' the phase response would have been to move the mic around the studio until a sweet spot was found.

Next, insert the Phazer into the D.I. signal path. While mic placement is still very important, the Phazer gives you another approach. Instead of

moving the mic around the studio to nd the sweet spot, place it where it

sounds good on its own then use the SHIFT control to tune the phase of the D.I. signal until it aligns with the mic in a way that sounds good to you.

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Electric Guitar - Mic and Radial JDX Amp DI

The magic of the Phazer is fully revealed when used with the Radial

JDX amplier D.I. The JDX connects between your amplier's output and your speaker cabinet. It taps and lters the direct sound of your amp then

outputs a balanced mic-level signal to the mixing console.

Combining the JDX with a microphone can produce good results. The Phazer can take it to the next level by aligning the direct output of the JDX with the mic signal, allowing you to dial-in huge sounding guitar

tones in a ash. This technique is of particular advantage to touring

bands as it provides a consistent 'repeatable' guitar sound while reducing phase related problems.

Insert Phazer

on JDX channel

JDX Amp

Direct Box

Microphone

Bass Guitar in a Live Venue

In a typical stage set up the bass guitar connects to a D.I. box to feed the PA system and the bass stage amp. Here’s what happens. The sound from the bass is reproduced almost instantaneously by the bass-amp and PA speakers, but since the bass-amp is positioned at the back of the stage, several feet behind the PA speakers, the bass-amp sound will arrive at the mix position a few milliseconds AFTER the sound waves

from the PA, causing a phase o󰀨set.

Bass Amp

A B

Time Dierence

in Degrees

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FOH Engineer

PA Speakers

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The resulting comb-ltering makes mixing the sound more di󰀩cult and the low-frequency denition from the bass may be lost for most

listeners. As it is impossible to solve all of the phase problems in

a room (due to reections o󰀨 walls and ceilings) the intent is to at

least provide the mix position with the best sound possible so that the mix is balanced. This is where the Phazer comes in. By inserting the Phazer on the bass guitar signal going into the PA system, we can shift the phase so that the PA and bass amp play together in phase.

Kick Drum - a Better Beater Sound

Engineers often use two mics on a kick drum. The rst mic (A), typically a condenser, is placed close to the drum head to pickup up the beater sound for added snap. A second mic (B), often a dynamic, is positioned further away to pickup the overall low frequency tone of

the drum. The distance between the two mics creates a phase o󰀨-

set which the Phazer can compensate for. Insert the Phazer into the signal path of Mic A to time align the two mics for a tighter sounding track.

Mic A - placed close to beater head.

Mic B - placed outside drum shell.

The two signals arrive

at dierent times.

Upright Bass

Engineers often combine the signals from a piezo contact pickup (A) and a microphone (B) when recording an upright acoustic bass. The piezo's signal arrives instantaneously followed by the mic's signal a moment later. Shifting the piezo signal into alignment with the microphone will reinforce the fundamental creating a bigger and more natural bass sound.

Radial Engineering Ltd.

The Phazer aligns the signals for a bigger and tighter kick drum sound.

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Block Diagram

WET/DRY

BLEND

CONTROL

OUTPUT

VARIABLE

PHASE

LOW PASS

DUAL RANGE

INVERTER

FILTER

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DIFFERENTIAL

FILTER

VARIABLE

LOW PASS

CONVERTER

UNBALANCED

BALANCED TO

INPUT

AMPLIFIER

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True to the Music

Specications*

Circuit: Class-A, 100% discrete components

Frequency response: 20Hz to 20kHz +/- 0.5dB

THD: 0.01 % from 20Hz to 20kHz

¼" Phone I/O: TRS +4dB balanced

TIP: hot (+)

RING: cold (-); SLEEVE: ground

TS -10dB unbalanced

TIP: hot (+);

SLEEVE: ground

XLR I/O: +4dB balanced,

PIN-1: ground

PIN-2: hot (+) AES standard

PIN-3: cold (-)

Input impedance: 10K Ohm

Output impedance: 2k Ohm balanced, 1K Ohm unbalanced

Ground Lift: Lifts pin-1 on the XLR output

Phase Shift: 0º to 180º degree control

Invert switch on: 181º to 360º

Low Pass Filter: Variable from 300Hz to 3.8KHz

and from 3KHz to 38KHz

Bypass: True-bypass with sealed gold relay

Construction: 14-gauge steel chassis and outer shell.

Durable powder coat

Warranty: Radial 3-year, transferable

Power: 15VDC (400mA), center pole positive

* Subject to change without notice.

Radial Engineering Ltd.

Phazer

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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 nish

and wear and tear on components under normal use) for a period of three (3) years from the original date of purchase. In the event that a particular product is no longer available, Radial reserves the right to replace the product with a similar product of equal or greater value. In the unlikely event that a defect is uncovered, please call 604-942-1001 or email service@radialeng.com to obtain an RA number (Return Authorization number) before the 3 year warranty period expires. The product must be returned prepaid in the original shipping container (or equivalent) to Radial or to an authorized Radial repair center and you must assume the risk of loss or damage. A copy of the original invoice showing date of purchase and the dealer name must accompany any request for work to be performed under this limited and transferable warranty. This warranty shall not apply if the product has been damaged due to abuse,

misuse, misapplication, accident or as a result of service or modication by

any other than an authorized Radial repair center.

THERE ARE NO EXPRESSED WARRANTIES OTHER THAN THOSE ON THE FACE HEREOF AND DESCRIBED ABOVE. NO WARRANTIES WHETHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE SHALL EXTEND BEYOND THE RESPECTIVE WARRANTY PERIOD DESCRIBED ABOVE OF THREE YEARS. RADIAL SHALL NOT BE RESPONSIBLE OR LIABLE FOR ANY SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR LOSS ARISING FROM THE USE OF THIS PRODUCT. THIS WARRANTY GIVES YOU SPECIFIC LEGAL RIGHTS, AND YOU MAY ALSO HAVE OTHER RIGHTS, WHICH MAY VARY DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU LIVE AND WHERE THE PRODUCT WAS PURCHASED.

Radial Engineering Ltd. 1845 Kingsway Ave., Port Coquitlam, BC V3C 1S9, Canada tel: 604-942-1001 • fax: 604-942-1010 info@radialeng.com

Radial® Phazer™ User Guide - Part# R870 1216 10 - 05/2022

Specications and appearance are subject to change without notice.

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