Radial Engineering JDV Mk5 User Manual

True to the Music

www.radialeng.com

®

True to the Music

®

User Guide

JDV Mk5

Active Direct Box

www.radialeng.com

Radial Engineering Ltd.
1588 Kebet Way, Port Coquitlam
British Columbia, Canada, V3C 5M5

tel: [phone] • fax: [phone]
email: [e-mail]

™

JDV™ Mk5 Active Direct Box

True to the Music

®

Radial Engineering Ltd.

Radial JDV Mk5

Active Direct Box

™

®

Table of Contents Page

Feature set ..............................................................................................................1-2

Overview.....................................................................................................................3

Pickup or instrument source options .......................................................................... 4

Making connections .................................................................................................5-6

Selecting channels .....................................................................................................7

Using the JDV.............................................................................................................8

Blending the two channels..........................................................................................9

Setting the output controls ........................................................................................10

Rackmounting kit ...................................................................................................... 11

Specications ........................................................................................................... 11

Block diagram ........................................................................................................... 12

Warranty .................................................................................................... Back Cover

Thank you for purchasing the Radial JDV Mk5 Super DI. We are condent that you will nd

it to be one of the most enjoyable pieces of equipment you will ever use and it will likely
become a mainstay for all of your recordings and live gigs.

This next generation JDV retains the natural tone of the original while adding many new
features that will enhance the performance and open up creative new options. Before you get
started please take a few minutes to read through this manual. Inside you will discover why
certain features have been implemented which in turn will make using the JDV a lot more fun.

If after you have read the manual, you nd yourself asking questions... please visit the FAQ

page on the JDV web site. This is where we post questions from users and the latest updates.

If you do not nd what you are looking for, please send an email to [e-mail] and

we will do our very best to reply to you in short order.

Now get ready to experience natural sound like never before!

Radial Engineering Ltd.

JDV™ Mk5 Active Direct Box

True to the Music

®

FRONT PANEL FEATURE SET

1

1. LEVEL A: Fully variable control, used to set the input sensitivity for channel-A.

2. ON/10M: Sets the load to 10MΩ for piezo or variable drag for magnetic pickups.

3. DRAG: Used to retain the natural feel of the instrument by adjusting the load for

passive pickups.

4. 48V: LED Indicator lets you know 48V phantom power is activated on the MIC IN.

5. HPF: Variable high-pass  lter rolls off low frequency resonance that can cause

feedback or muddy up the sound.

6. AB: Channel selector toggles between A and B inputs with LED status indicators.

7. LEVEL B: Fully variable control, used to set the input sensitivity for channel-B.

8. LOAD: Switches the input impedance from 10MΩ for piezo transducers to 220kΩ for

magnetic pickups.

9. SIG/OVD: LEDs show signal presence and if you are exceeding the maximum input level.

10. PHAZER: Adjusts the relative phase between channel A and B to time align

fundamentals for a more natural sound.

11. 0/180º: Shifts the Phazer's range from 1º~180º to 181º~360º.

1

12 13 14

7 82 43 9 10 11

A

A

5 6

12. MIC 48V: Turns on the 48V phantom power at the MIC IN.

13. BLEND: Combines input-A with input-B and lets you mix the

two sources using the front panel level controls.

14. AUX OUT/DIRECT: Lets you introduce an isolation transformer

into the stage amp output signal path to reduce hum and buzz

caused by ground loops.

JDV™ Mk5 Active Direct Box

True to the Music

®

Radial Engineering Ltd.

REAR PANEL FEATURE SET

2

15 16 17

19 20 21 22 23 24 2518

15. POWER: Locking 4-pin XLR connection for the external power supply.

16. OUTPUT: Balanced XLR output connects to the PA or recording system. Transformer

isolated to eliminate hum & buzz caused by ground loops.

17. 180º POLARITY: Inverts the signal polarity by fl ipping pins-2 and pin-3 on the XLR

output. Used to reduce resonant peaks that cause feedback.

18. GROUND LIFT: Disconnects pin-1 at the XLR out to reduce hum and buzz caused by

ground loops.

19. ISO: Introduces an isolation transformer into the XLR signal path to help eliminate hum

and buzz caused by ground loops.

20. +20dB: Increased output to line level for direct recording.

21. TUNER OUT: Always-on, hi-Z output used to connect an electronic tuner.

22. JR•2: For optional JR•2 remote footswitch. When connected, this lets you select the

input channel or mute the JDV for silent tuning.

23. THRU: Unbalanced ¼" thru-put used to feed the stage amp.

24. MIC IN: Balanced ¼” TRS input for condensor or dynamic microphone.

25. INPUTS A & B: Unbalanced ¼” input jacks used to connect instruments to the JDV.

Radial Engineering Ltd.

JDV™ Mk5 Active Direct Box

True to the Music

®

3

OVERVIEW

The Radial JDV is more than a direct box. It is a dual input DI box, mic preamp, two-channel
mixer and phase adjustment tool all in one. This means it can be used for all types of instru­ments including:

What is particularly cool about the JDV is that it packs all of this in a relatively small box.
This means that you have to start by understanding the many features and then apply them
according to how you intend to use it.

There are two inputs and one output. You can set each input to suit a particular instrument
and then send the unbalanced output to a stage amp, while sending the balanced signal to a

recording workstation or PA system. You can switch between the inputs using the front panel

switch or via an optional remote footswitch. You also have the option of blending both chan­nels together so that they play simultaneously.

• Passive electric bass with magnetic pickup

• Active electric bass with built-in preamp

• Acoustic guitar with built-in preamp

• Piezo equipped upright bass

• As a microphone preamp for an instrument mounted mic

• For direct recording or live performance

• Any combination thereof