Caution must be used when connect ing electronic equipment to the JD7. The JD 7 brid ges all electronic
equipment connected to it so faulty wiring or i ncorrect grounding of any of the equipment may cause a
shock hazard to be present and/or damage to the JD7 or other connected equipment. Because grounding
schemes differ between manufacturers, it is important to check for correct polarity, in particular with older
amplifiers using 2-prong ungrounded A/C cords. If the polarity is reversed on an ungrounded amplifier
there may be a potential of 120V pr esent between the amp chassis and ground. Radial Engineering takes
no responsibility for this or how the JD7 is connected or used. It is the users full responsibility to ensure that
proper electrical polarity is maintained on all equipment connected to the JD7 and tha t proper building
electrical codes have been followed wherever the JD7 is being used.
To reduce opportunity for shock hazard or damage to th e JD7 or connected equipment, plug t he ¼”
connectors into the amplifiers first and then to the JD7. This is especially important when using old
amplifiers that do not have 3-prong plugs as the poss ibility exists to touch the chassis ground wi th the
connector plug tip when the plug is inserted into the jack.
Cautions for amplifiers with ungrounded 2-prong A/C cords:
Before connecting any input to an
ungrounded amplifier, power the amp up and listen to the residual hum. If the amp has a two-position
ground polarity reverse switch, set the switch in the posi tion that produces the least residual hum from the
speakers. If there is no polarity switch, reverse the A/C plug at the outl et to find the least residual hum.
To ensure an u ngrounded amplifier does not present a shock hazard:
Test for voltage potential by
connecting a voltmeter between the amplifier chassis and the JD7 chassis. If voltage is present, reverse
the amplifier’s A/C supply polarity and test again.
Note that due to this potential problem, damage to the JD7 or other c onnected equipment caused by
improper A/C polarity is not covered under warranty.
RADIAL LIMITED THREE YEAR WARRANTY
Radial Engineering - a division of JP Cabletek Electronics Ltd. ("Radial") warrants this product to be free from defectsin material and
workmanship to the original owner 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. 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. To make a request or claim under this limited warranty, the
productmustbereturned prepaid in the original shipping container (or equivalent) to Radial or to an authorized Radial repaircentre and you
must assume the risk of loss or damage. A copy of the original invoice showing dateof purchase and the dealer name must accompany any
request for work to be performed under this limited warranty. This limited warranty shall not apply if the product has been damaged due to
abuse, misuse,misapplication, accident or as a result of service ofmodification by anyother than an authorized Radial repair centre.
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 THREEYEARS.
RADIAL SHALL NOT BE RESPONSIBLE OR LIABLE FOR ANY SPECIAL OR INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OF
LOSS ARISING FROM THE USE OF THIS PRODUCT. THIS WARRANTY GIVES YOU SPECIFIC LEGAL RIGHTS, AND YOU MAY
ALSO HAVEOTHER RIGHTS,WHICH MAY VARY, FROM STATE/PROVINCE TO STATE/PROVINCE.
Rad ial Engineering 1638 Kebet Way, Port Coqu itlam BC Canada V3C 5W9tel : 604-942-10 0 1 · fax: 604-942-1010
email: info@radialeng.com web : www.radialeng.comRadial Engineerin g is a division of JP Cabletek Electronics Ltd.
Introduction
Concept: Gaining a CreativeEdge . . .
Congratulations on your purchase of the Radial JD7 guitar distribution and routing amplifier.
You now own one of the most powerful creative tools ever devised for th e professional
guitar player. We are confident that you will quickly go well beyond the scope of this
manual as you develop new and creativewaystousethisdevice!
As you read this, keep one thing in mind: The Radial JD7 Injector was
designed to enhance the creative spiritduring the recording process.
Experiment and have fun! Start with simple set-ups and
combinations before you go hog-wild. You will quickly
find that small changes such as reversing the polarity
to one amp versus another will dramatically change
the wayyour guitar sitsin a mix.
As your configurations become more complex, try
different combinations and keep track of what you
liked with the handy scribble page at the back of this
manual. We have found that keeping track of great sounds is
a lot easier if you remember how the equipment was set up and
where the dials were set.
Now go out there andplug in, close your eyesand enjoy!
Introduction:
The Radial JD 7 is a guitar signal
distribution amplifier.It has been
optimized to retain the original sound of
the instrument so that the connection is
the same as if the guitar was plugged
directly into the amp. The JD7 is also a
‘unity gain’ device. This means what
you put in - you get out... only more!
Once the guitar is connected, you may
route the guitar signal to one or as many
of the outputs as desired. A myriad of
signal paths and combinations are
av ailable . F o r add ed flexibility,
switchable effect device routing is
available, as is direct-to-record output
for redistribution of the recorded clean
guitar signal to the amplifiers for r emixing during the record production
stage.
The JD7 is not limited to electric guitars;
it may also be used with instruments
such as bass, keyboards, acoustic guitars
or any other signal. The operative idea
with the JD7 is to 'expand the creative
process' by taking full advantage of the
equipmentyou alreadyown.
JD7 BlockDiagra
m
1
Connections
Connecting the power:
For lowestinsertion noise keep the power supply unit away from any audio connections.Plug the power adapter cord into the
rear 9VDC input on the rear. The JD7 does not have a power on-off switch for two reasons: (a) the Class-A circuit will sound
better once the unit has gained electrical and thermalstability, and (b) on-off transientscan devastate speakers down the line if
'popped' by switchingon at full volume. Alwaysswitch amplifiers on last.
Power supply and DC supply lock: The JD7's power supply input is outfitted with a handy cable lock. Simply unscrew the
lock, pass the DC supply cable through the hole and tighten. This will keep the DC supply jack safely in place and prevent
accidental unplugging.
Connecting guitars and amplifiers:
Make sure all of the channel output switches are set to the 'off' position (LED light out) before making connections. Turn all
guitar amplifier levels down to eliminate connection 'popping'. Caution must be observed when connecting older and nongrounded (2-prong) amplifiers. Please read thenotice at the beginning of this manual regarding equipment
connection.
CAUTION
Making connections:
A typical routing example.
2
Inputs
Input Section:
The JD7 has two inputs allowing a second
guitar to be used without having to
reconnect instruments. Input clipping is
monitored with a red LED indicator. Under
normal use, a typical electric guitar should
‘Drag’ con t rol
Channel-1on-off swi t ch
Channel-1on/off ind i ca tor
Channel-1outpu t
D
ire c t coupl ed
not caus e the LED to illuminate. If you have
a very high input level and it does
illuminate, either turn down the level or
reconnect using input-2. This input is
outfitted with a switchable 8dB pad.
Input-2
is dual function. It is used for a
second guitar and to access the rear XLR
female input jack. This is a switching jack
with front panel priority. When the front
1/4” input jack is used (has a jack
connected), it becomes active. When it is
not used, the rear XLR female input jack
O
verloadLEDindi ca t or
Input se le c tor swi t ch
Primary gui t ar input
Se cond ins t rument inpu t
8d B pad for Input-2
becomes active when the selector is
depressed. See the ‘Balanced Low-Z output
and input’ section in thismanual for details
on using thesefeatures.
™
Drag Control:
Drag control is a simpleyet extremely musical function that allows you to simulate the way your guitar
reactswhenconnected directly to youramplifier.
After many months of listening tests, we found that the particular sound of a guitar is in fact made up of the way the
amplifier’s input section ‘sees’ or loads down the guitar. This effect
and
is compounded by the guitar cable used. For instance, a low output single coil pick-up has less ‘drive voltage’
depends greatly on the type of guitar pick-ups
than a humbucking pick-up and is therefore more prone to these effects, while active guitars and basses (and
keyboards) will be virtually unaffected.
Drag control lets you ‘dial-in’ the natural relationship between your guitar and amplifiers with a simple, yet very
musical one dial interface.
To start, set the Drag control to 12 o’clock, which is about normal for a PAF humbucker. A Strat to a Twin sounds
‘normal’ at about 10 o’clock. To add Drag for a darker sound, turn counter-clockwise. For less Drag, turn the knob
the other way. Once you have found the sound that best matches your set-up, leave the control where it is. There is
no ‘plastic’ finger knob on the JD7 as Drag will normally not be used once you have your set-up dialed in. You will
find that the JD7 will quickly become a centerpiece in your studio and you will be using it all the time. We made the
Drag control hard to adjust so that it will not be changed inadvertently.
This is not to say that you cannot use Drag control. In fact, the more you play with it, the more you will hear the
subtleties that make the function both unique and musical. Opening up the Drag (clockwise) will give your sound
more ‘air’ while going counterclockwise will darken the tone. Use your ears!
A note about grounding:
Since guitar circuits are high-gain and high impedance, RF noise, hum and buzz are easily induced. Connecting
equipment with different grounding schemes often results in ground loops and more noise. The Radial JD7 addresses
these problems by employing a floating ground architecture which requires an earth ground. This is accomplished via
the Channel-1 output. Channel-1 provides an electrical ground from the JD7 chassis to the primary guitar amplifier,
thereforeto enable a proper
ground and keep noise out. If a Channel-1 connection is not desired, another ground path is necessary to minimize
noise. This can be achieved by grounding chassis to chassis using a ground lug and wire attached to (eg.) one of the
chassis assembly screws.
always connect Channel-1 to a guitar amp with a 3-prong grounded A/C power cord
3
Outputs
Output Section- Channel-1 direct out:
The direct out connects to the normal guitar amplifier. This also provides the usual ground path for the guitar. An on-off
channel output activationswitch is provided. Thiswou ld be the first connectionmade.
Channel-2 thruChannel-6 primary amp drivers:
Adjacent to channel 1 are five transformer isolated outputs. These outputs feature Jensen Transformers to ensure signal
integrity and provide electrical isolation to eliminate 60 cycle ground hum caused by ground loops. A ground lift switch i s
available to allow JD7-to-amp grounding to be lifted at any output. Many older vintage amplifiers use the chassis as the
neutral. Theseare often a source of noise when integrated within a system. Lifting the ground can often help reduce noise. A
polarity reverse switch is provided as an added creative option and for 'voice coil alignment' when combining mic'd
amplifiers with directsignals.
Channel-1, 2, 3 and 4 front panel output jacks, switches & LEDs.
Channel-1outpu t
D
ire ct coupl ed
Channel-1on/off ind i ca tor
Channel-1on-off swi t ch
O
n-off swi t ch
Pola r i t y re ver s e -18 0 º
Ground lif t
Channel on/of f ac t iv e indica tor
Channel-5 &Channel-6 signal routing and effect loops:
Channel-5 and 6 are identical to channel-2, 3 and 4 with the addition of a
switchable effect loop circuit for each channel. Connections are made
on the back panel with normalling jacks so that if the 'loop’ button is
depressed, it will have noeffect unless a cable has been inserted.
As the effect loop jacks are not transformer isolated, it is a good idea to
power all your effects and the amplifier used with this channel from the
same power bar. This will reduceinduced noise . The
transformer isolated output will then allow you to combine different
signal paths without added noise. The effect loop provides guitar level
outputs for use with standard guitar effects. Using line level devices
such as those normally used with mixers may require you to turn up the
effect’s inputwhich could increase backgroundnoise.
Using the effects loops is essentially the same as if you were connecting
effects directly between your guitar and amplifier. Begin by inserting
the effects with the JD7 channel output turned off and the 'loop' button
out (inactive). Test your guitar amp connection by turning on the output.
Then, depress the loop insert switch to insert the effects. Adjust the
levels to unity gain so that when the effects are in, the level coming out
of the amplifier is the same whether the loop is in or out. Youcan always
increase the outputas needed.
susceptibility to
Channel ou t pu t - Transformer isola t e d
Channel-5 front panel output jack, switches & LED.
Effe c t loop bypa ss swit c h
Channel-6 effect loop rear panel send/return.
Effe c t loop outpu t
to gui t a r e ff ec t.
Effe c t loop input
fromgut ar ef fec t .
4
Channel-7 rear panel auxiliary output:
This output is identical to the Channel-1 direct output and is used
to drive tuners, alternate amplifiers, the 2 channel on an already
connected amplifier, to drive monitors, etc, etc... in fact, we
would love to hear howyou’ve used thisoutput in a creative way!
These important connections allow the clean unaltered guitar
signal to be routed to the low impedance input of a mixer and
then sent directly to the recorder. This way, you can perform
with a wild and distorted sound while recording the original
clean sound for future playback through the JD7 and your amps
and effects. This opens the door to a whole new creative process!
By 'injecting' the clean guitar signal into your rig at guitar levels,
you can sit back in the comfort of the control room chair and
auditiona varietyof sounds before committing one to tape.
Hookup is simple. Connect the output from the XLR-male to
your mixing console or recording device. A ground lift is
supplied should the need arise. Once the track is recorded, return
the signal to the JD7's XLR female input. Select the rear input by
depressing ‘SELECT’ on the front panel ‘Instruments Inputs’
section. Input-2 is a switching jack, which means the front panel
1/4” jack has priority over the rear XL-F jack if a plug is inserted,
thus, if something is connected to the front 1/4” jack, there will
be no signal input at the rearXLR.Adjust the level potentiometer
and make sure the overload LED on the front panel does not
light-up. If it does, back off the input level by turning the level potentiometer counter-clockwise. Use the JD7 as
usual. Try different combinations until you get the sound you are looking for and then press record. Instant magic!
You not only get to play the track but also get to produce it too! Please see ‘Re-mix Function’ section illustration
elsewherein thismanual formoredetails.
Of course you can also use the balanced out instead of a direct box. This features an active input and transformer
coupled output for the best of both worlds... and yes, a Jensen transformer is provided of course, just like on other
renownedRadial DI’s!
Labelmarking zones:
The Radial JD7 panel has been silk screened with white label areas for identifying your routing. These can be a
lifesaverduring those hecticstudio sessionswhere simplifying equipment routingwouldbe abighelp.
Use only erasable pens such as a dry/wet erase or wax markers. Test a small corner on a back label for eraseability
beforemarking the front.
Note that different markers will affect the white enamel finishin different ways.
Front panel label marking example.
Set-up charts:
Attached you will find a master ‘set-up saver’ that you can use to record your amplifier and effect pedal settings for
future reference. These charts will come in handy when trying to re-create a certain ‘magical’ sound you’ve
discovered.We suggest youphotocopy extra copiesof thesehandy sheets.
5
The re-mix function
Re-mix
ForRe-Mix - Connec t t he gui t ar and amplifie rs as us ual. Ta ke
direc t ou t put frombalanced XLRmale ou t put tomixe r a nd
recorder.Record the dry t ra ck.
Q: Can I use all the JD •7 outputs to my amps at the same time?
A: Yes. The JD•7 is a high-impedance, unity gain distribution amplifier. This means that it takes the original signal and then amplifies it so
that the output signal to each connected amp is the same as if only one amp was connected.
Q: Whenever I have tried to connect more than one amp together in the past, I have experienced all kinds of hum and noise. How does
the JD•7 get around this problem?
A: The problem you were experiencing in the past was caused by what is commonly known as a ground loop. Each amplifier is different and
as such, h as different chassis voltages referenced to ground. When you connect these together these voltages combine to cause noise and hum.
The Radial JD•7 is equipped with isolation transformers on most of the outputs. These electrically isolate the amplifiers from each other thus
solving the g round loop problem.
Q: I have tried many A+B boxes but they always change the sound of my guitar. Why?
A: If you simply Y-jack the output of your guitar, the signal goin g to each amp is cut in half or to be more precise, you will experience a 3dB
loss at the input. You loose punch, dynamics and drive which makes your guitar sound lifeless and thin. Most A+B boxes are simple passive
devices that cause this problem. The next level AB box uses inexpensive dri ve circuits (opamps and IC's) to step-up the power so that you do
not experience the power loss. These circuits are cheap to build and unfortunately sound like it. They are brit tle and unnatural and ruin the
sound of the guitar.
Q: Will the JD•7 change the sou nd of my guitar?
A:
The JD•7 is as perfect as perfect can be! The JD•7 has been designed to reproduce your guitar as faithfully as technology will allow. In
other words, although nothing is perfect, the JD•7 is as cl ose to perfect a s possible. The JD•7 does not employ any opamps or ICs it is 100%
discreet Class-A. This is what audiophiles insist on for best reproduction. Further, the JD•7 uses the worlds finest Jensen Transformers. The
best circuit with the best components produces the best results!
Q: Can you explain Drag control?
A:
After we built the 1 JD•7 prototype, we knew it was exceptionally accurate. It was perfect. In fact it was too perfect. The problem was
that it did not sound right. After many hours of testing, we found that there was a relationship between the guitar and the amplifier that was
being lost. When a guitar is connected to an amplifier, the amplifier's input section, tubes and transformers combine to create a load on the
pick-up. This 'loading effect' c ombined with the type and length of cable further causes a noticeable tonal change, especially on lower output
single coil or vintage humbucking pick-ups. Although subtle, the change is more than tonal; it has to do with the feel and grind of the guitar.
This was the problem: When the guitar was connected through the JD•7, the natural loading and resistance was lost. The guitar no longer saw
the amplifier; it was seeing the perfect input on the JD•7 w hile the amp was seeing the JD•7's perfect outpu t. The relationship was lost. The
amp was no longer 'draggin g' down the pick-up. Drag contro l recreates this effect by allowing the musician to adjust with the guitar's
impedance and resistance before it is sent out to the amplifier s. Drag is subtle yet absolutely awesome!
Q: Can I use a foot switch to control the JD•7?
We do not provide a foot switch however you can connect the JD•7 to a custom switching system and it will work fine. I am sure that the
A:
Radial Design Team will one day pr oduce a foot controllable system for live use.
Q:
Can I con trol the level going to each amplifier independently?
Yes. We have a devic e that you can purchase called the Radial Trim-Set. [hyperlink] It has 3 inputs, volume controls, and an amplifier
A:
Drag offset c ircuit. You simply connect the Trim-Set between the output of the JD•7 and the amplifier and you can now fine-tune your amp
input levels in the comfort of your chair!
Q: I notice that there are two effect outputs on the JD•7. Can these be used as extra outputs?
Yes. Maybe we should have called the JD•7 the JD10… The effect loop outputs on channels 5 and 6 are always engaged. Depressing the
A:
loop switch on the channel front panel turns the 'receive' on. This means that you can use these outpu ts for other devices such as guitar
tuners.
Q: Can I use any amp with the JD•7?
A:
Yes of course. However please keep in mind that in order to keep no ise down and to avoid getting a shock, you should always use
properly designed equipment with 3 prong plugs. The 3 ground plug is there for saf ety and using ol der 2-pronged amplifiers can be both
dangerous and noisy.
To prevent noise, we recommend that channel-1 always be connected to a relatively new amplifier with proper grounding. This is where the
JD•7 derives its ground. You must make sure that any old amplifiers be set to the correct electrical polarity.
matter as this will not only protect you from shock
st
rd
Read the owner's manual on this
, but it will also reduce noise.
Q: Is the balanced out on the JD•7 line level?
A:
No. It is mic level. The output is about the same as what you would get fro m a direct box. This allows the JD•7 to be used in a concert or
recording splitter snake system. The JD•7 bal anced output should be connected to a mic preamp or mixer mic input.
Q: Where can I buy a JD•7?
A: The Radial JD•7 is a professional box sold through professional audio an d recording outlets. Please contact Radial Engineering for the
name of a dealer near you.
7
BALAN CED IN
JD•7Specifications
SPECIFICATIONS
Instrument inputs:Selectable A/B ¼” inputs w/8dB pad on input ‘B’
Balanced inputs:XLR balanced line level input w/level control.
Instrument outputs:2 x ¼” Class-A direct coupled outputs, 5 x ¼” Jensen
Ground lifts:Ground lifts on outputs 2 thru 6.
Polarity reverse:180º reverse on all isolated outputs.
Transformer isolated outputs, mic level isolated balanced XLR out.
Effect loops:2 separate loops, ¼” send / receive on channels 5 & 6
Input section:Position A – hi-Z input (1mega Ohm).
Output section:1 & 7 – Direct coupled and grounded outputs.
Position B – Hi-Z input (1 mega Ohm) with 8dB pad
Drag control amp and pickup compensation circuit
Overload LED indicator
Balanced low-Z(600 Ohm) XLR input w/ variable trim and clip LED.