®
Phazer
True to the Music
™
Owner's Manual
®
Radial Engineering Ltd.
1588 Kebet Way, Port Coquitlam BC V3C 5M5
tel: 604-942-1001 • fax: 604-942-1010
www.radialeng.com
info@radialeng.com • www.radialeng.com
True to the Music
™
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
Specications ...................................................................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, DI's and mixer revved up and get
ready for some real tonal fun!
www.radialeng.com
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 effect
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
1
™
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 cutoff point for the
low-pass lter within the selected range.
8. POWER SWITCH: Turns on the Phazer. LED illuminates when unit
is active.
Radial Engineering Ltd.
Phazer
™
2
True to the Music
109 11 12 13 14
15
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 out-
puts.
13. XLR JACKS: Input and output connections for balanced +4dB sig-
nals.
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.
™
Phazer
3
True to the Music
TRS BALANCED
1/4” UNBALANCED
XLR BALANCED LINE LEVEL
15VDC · 400mA
CE
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
CE
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.
Do not substitute with another power supply. If you need a replacement
please contact your dealer. 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
TUPTUO
TRS BALANCED
1/4” UNBALANCED
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
4
Send
Return
Tip = Send
Ring = Return
Sleeve = Common
Phazer
™
True to the Music
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 off).
2. Set the SHIFT and BLEND control fully counter-clockwise. Set the
CUT-OFF control fully clockwise.
CUT-OFF
3kHz
300Hz
38kHz
3.8kHz
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 DI 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 vol-
ume level. If no sound is heard turn your equipment off 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.
Radial Engineering Ltd.
Phazer
5
™
True to the Music
CUT-OFF
RANGE
ON
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 effect 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.
SHIFT
SHIFT BLEND
Start with the INVERT switch A in the outward position and the SHIFT control turned
full counter-clockwise. Make Sure the BLEND
D
control
Engage the PHASE ON switch
is also fully clockwise (WET).
B
, the LED will
illuminate.
Slowly rotate the SHIFT control
C
clockwise
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
ON
B A
INVERT
180º~360º
0º 180º
DRY WET
DC
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 effect switches from
maximum cancellation to maximum reinforcement. This is most effective
when tuning the effect 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
effect. It's fun!
Radial Engineering Ltd.
6
Phazer
™
True to the Music
SHIFT
0º
180º
SHIFT
SHIFT
SHIFT
0º
180º
SHIFT
0º
180º
SHIFT
0º
180º
SHIFT
0º
180º
SHIFT
+150
+100
+50
0
-50
-100
-150
-200
-250
-300
-350
+150
+100
+50
0
-50
-100
-150
-200
-250
-300
-350
Degree
+150
+100
+50
0
-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
+150
+100
+50
0
-50
-100
-150
-200
-250
-300
-350
Hz
2k 5k 10k 20k
2k 5k 10k 20k
+150
+100
+50
0
-50
-100
-150
-200
-250
-300
-350
Degree
20 50 100 200 500 1k
2k 5k 10k 20k
ADJUSTING THE PHASE (continued)
The following diagrams plot the phase response at different 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
0
-50
-100
-150
-200
-250
PHASE SHIFT IN DEGREES
-300
-350
20 50 100 200 500 1k
+150
+100
+50
0
-50
-100
-150
-200
-250
PHASE SHIFT IN DEGREES
-300
-350
20 50 100 200 500 1k
+150
+100
+50
0
-50
-100
-150
-200
-250
PHASE SHIFT IN DEGREES
-300
-350
+150
+100
+50
0
-50
-100
-150
-200
-250
PHASE SHIFT IN DEGREES
-300
-350
20 50 100 200 500 1k
FREQUENCY (Hz)
FREQUENCY (Hz)
FREQUENCY (Hz)
FREQUENCY (Hz)
Radial Engineering Ltd.
180°
2k 5k 10k 20k
2k 5k 10k 20k
2k 5k 10k 20k
7
Bypass - zero phase shift, response is linear.
0°
0º
At this setting 200Hz is shifted
by just one or two degrees
while 20kHz is shifted 180°.
0º
At this setting 200Hz is shifted by 100° while everything
above 2kHz is shifted 180°.
0º
Near maximum setting 200Hz
reaches 180°.
SHIFT
180º
SHIFT
180º
SHIFT
180º
Phazer
™
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 effect. The lter section
is designed to roll-off high frequencies above a variable cut-off point allowing the Phazer's effect 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-off point to it's highest frequency allowed by the RANGE switch.
B
A
Slowly turn the CUT-OFF control counter-clockwise while listening to
the effect. As you turn the CUT-OFF control counter-clockwise the lter
moves downward through the spectrum removing frequencies above the
cut-off point from the Phazer’s output.
The lter offers two cut-off 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 effect on most instruments.
When set to the inward position the lter affects the 300Hz to 3.8kHz
range producing a more pronounced high frequency roll-off.
C
to the maximum clockwise position. This sets
RANGE
300Hz~3.8kHz
CUT-OFF
300Hz
C
38kHz3kHz
3.8kHz
FILTER
ON
Filter Range
3kHz - 38kHz.
Subtle ltering
Filter Range
300Hz - 3.8kHz.
Extreme ltering.
Radial Engineering Ltd.
Filter Cut-off
8
Filter Cut-off
Phazer
™
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 DI 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 DI 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 DI 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 DI signal until it aligns with the mic in a way that sounds good to you.
Radial Engineering Ltd.
9
Phazer
™
True to the Music
Electric Guitar - Mic and Radial JDX Amp DI
The magic of the Phazer is fully revealed when used with the Radial JDX
amplier DI. The JDX connects between your amplier'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 reduc-
ing 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 DI 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 offset.
Bass Amp
A B
Time Difference
in Degrees
Radial Engineering Ltd.
B
FOH Engineer
10
A
PA Speakers
Phazer
™
True to the Music
The resulting comb-ltering makes mixing the sound more difcult
and the low-frequency denition 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 reections off 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), typi-
cally 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 offset 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.
B
A
Mic A - placed
close to beater
head.
Mic B - placed
outside drum
shell.
The two signals arrive
at different 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.
11
The Phazer aligns the
signals for a bigger and
tighter kick drum sound.
B
Phazer
A
™
True to the Music
Block Diagram
WET/DRY
BLEND
CONTROL
OUTPUT
VARIABLE
PHASE
LOW PASS
DUAL RANGE
INVERTER
FILTER
Radial Engineering Ltd.
12
DIFFERENTIAL
FILTER
VARIABLE
LOW PASS
CONVERTER
UNBALANCED
BALANCED TO
INPUT
AMPLIFIER
Phazer
™
True to the Music
Specications*
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: 600 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
Size: 5.8”w x 3.8”d x 1.8”h
(147mm x 96.5mm x 46mm)
Weight: 1.75 lb (0.82kg)
Warranty: Radial 3-year, transferable
Power: 15VDC (400mA), center pole positive
* Subject to change without notice.
Radial Engineering Ltd.
13
Phazer
™
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 modication 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.
®
www.radialeng.com
Radial Engineering Ltd.
1588 Kebet Way, Port Coquitlam BC V3C 5M5
tel: 604-942-1001 • fax: 604-942-1010
info@radialeng.com • www.radialeng.com
Radial® Phazer™ User Guide - Part# R870 1216 10
Specications and appearance are subject to change without notice.
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