Radial Engineering SW8 User's Guide
SW8™ MK2
Eight Channel Auto-Switcher
Part No. R800 8100 00
True to the Music
User Guide
Radial Engineering Ltd.
1588 Kebet Way, Port Coquitlam BC V3C 5M5
www.radialeng.com
tel: 604-942-1001 • fax: 604-942-1010
email: info@radialeng.com • web: www.radialeng.com
www.radialeng.com
SW8™ MK2 Auto-Switcher User Guide
Combination Eight Channel Auto Switcher &
Transformer Isolated Direct Box
Table of Contents Page
SW8 Overview .........................................................1
Features and Functions ...........................................2
Getting Started ........................................................3
Making Connections ................................................4
Remote Switching....................................................5
Auto-Switching.........................................................6
Linking SW8 Units Together ....................................7
Reconfi guring XLR Outputs .....................................8
Grounding Options ..................................................8
Signal Flow Block Diagram......................................9
Specifi cations ..........................................................9
Warranty .................................................Back Cover
INTRODUCTION
Congratulations on your purchase of a Radial SW8™ Auto-Switcher. The SW8 is designed to provide
redundant backup for a multi-track playback system and is equally functional as part of a safety backup
system to switch announcements or other messaging. This manual covers the setup and operation of
the SW8 in a typical concert setting. Please take a few minutes to read through this manual in order to
familiarize yourself with the many innovative features incorporated into the SW8. Inside you will fi nd
important safety features along with tips on how to get the most out of your SW8.
Should you have any questions on an application not covered in this manual, we invite you to log onto
the Radial web site at radialeng.com to check the SW8’s FAQ section for the latest updates. This is also
where we post questions from users. If after this you still do not fi nd what you are looking for, feel free to
send us an email at info@radialeng.com and we will do our best to reply in short order.
Now get ready to seamlessly switch backing tracks with total confi dence!
PERFORMANCE DISCLAIMER
!
The Radial SW8 is an electronic device designed to provide the means to backup other electronic
devices. However, like all electronics, the SW8 itself is not totally immune to malfunction.
Because the SW8 is designed to integrate with other devices to form a complete system, a
critical malfunction may not be obvious until the system is asked to perform. This makes it very
important to test your complete playback system before each performance to ensure your system
is working as expected.
Radial Engineering Ltd. will not be held liable for any consequential or inconsequential costs
or damages associated with the use of the SW8. It is understood that connecting, testing and
operating the SW8, along with the application or misapplication, is the sole responsibility of the
end user. For more details refer to the Radial limited warranty.
OVERVIEW
The Radial SW8 is an eight channel redundant switcher designed primarily for live concerts where backing tracks are used to reinforce
the performance. Should the primary playback machine suffer a failure, the SW8 can switch to a backup machine either automatically,
manually, or by remote control.
The SW8 lets you select between two groups of eight audio inputs and route either group to eight discrete outputs. Input connections are
made with your choice of standard eight channel 25-pin D-Sub connectors or individual ¼” TRS phone jacks for easy interface with a variety
of audio playback systems. Choice of outputs include an eight channel balanced line-level 25-pin D-Sub or eight transformer isolated miclevel XLR outputs. Most system techs employ the D-Sub output to feed their personal payback system for monitoring and use the front
panel XLR outputs to connect to the mic splitter and snake system for the PA.
PAD AUTO
GLOBAL
BACKUP-B
MULTI-TRACK
®
CONTROL MONITOR
INPUT SELECT
STANDBY
MUTE
THRESHOLD
ON
TONE
BA
BA
THRESHOLD
LIFT
ALARM
TONE
BELOW
PIN-1
LIFT
LIFT
PIN-1
PIN-1
LIFT
LIFT
PIN-1
PIN-1
PRIMARY-A
MULTI-TRACK
LIFT
LIFT
PIN-1
PIN-1
8-CH AUTO
LIFT
BACK-UP
SWITCHER
PIN-1
PLAYBACK SYSTEM
CONTROL
SOUND REINFORCEMENT
SYSTEM
The SW8 can operate in three modes; manual, remote and auto-switch. Depending on your personal preference, experience and confi dence
with your setup, you will likely choose one of these approaches and stick with it. Some techs prefer a hands-on approach where they run
two computers completely separately so that should one fail, the other is autonomous. They will typically start both laptops at the same time
and then manually switch between them if a problem is encountered. Others prefer to automate the process whereby they will lock both
devices together with time code. Should the master playback system fail the SW8 will automatically switch to the backup.
Manual switching is accomplished using the front panel AB select switch. In situations where the SW8 may be remotely stationed, a remote
switch may be connected. This can be done using a simple latching footswitch such as the type used on a guitar amp to change channels
or turn on a reverb, or by using the optional Radial JR2 remote. This dual-function footswitch gives you control over AB select and standby
functions along with LED status indicators. When set to auto-switch mode, the SW8 can detect a machine malfunction and switch to a
backup player to ensure a seamless performance. You merely record a 1kHz tone onto the primary recorder (drone track) and send the
signal into the SW8’s auto-switch gate input on the rear panel. As soon as the drone track disappears, the SW8 diverts the inputs to the
backup system. For larger playback system requirements, several SW8 units may be linked together to create 16, 24 or 32 track systems.
You simply designate the fi rst SW8 as a master unit and link as many slaves as you like using the JR2 link jacks.
The Radial SW8 has gained international notoriety as is used on stage every day with artists as diverse as U2, Lady Gaga, The Eagles,
Radiohead and Cirque Du Soleil.
Radial Engineering Ltd.
1
™
SW8
MK2 User Guide
FEATURES AND FUNCTIONS
Front Panel
1. GLOBAL PAD: Attenuates the signal going to the XLR direct box
outputs by -20dB to prevent transformer saturation.
2. AUTO ON: Activates the auto-switching mode. When active
it monitors the gate input (channels 1, 8 or direct) for a drone
signal and switches from inputs-A to inputs-B if the signal
disappears.
3. THRESHOLD: Sets the gate input sensitivity. If the drone signal
drops below the set threshold the SW8 will switch from inputs-A
to inputs-B. Two level sensing LED’s illuminate when signal is
detected.
4. MUTE: Turns off the balanced XLR outputs, leaving the
balanced D-Sub output on for local monitoring.
®
PAD AUTO
GLOBAL
ON
THRESHOLD
TONE
BA
MUTE
CONTROL MONITOR
INPUT SELECT
STANDBY
ALARM
TONE
BELOW
BA
THRESHOLD
LIFT
PIN-1
LIFT
PIN-1
5. STANDBY: Holds the auto-switching on inputs-A so that the
SW8 does not switch to inputs-B while waiting for drone signal.
6. A-B SELECT: Front panel selector used to manually switch from
inputs-A to inputs-B.
7. ALARM LED: Illuminates when the drone signal falls below the
set threshold level.
8. XLR OUT: Balanced, low-Z mic-level direct box outputs connect
to the PA system and are transformer isolated to help eliminate
hum and buzz caused by ground loops.
9. LIFT: Disconnects pin-1 on the XLR output to further assist in
reducing noise caused by ground loops.
10. LABEL STRIP: Easy to read, wax pencil label strip for channel
identifi cation and assigment.
8-CH AUTO
LIFT
PIN-1
LIFT
PIN-1
LIFT
PIN-1
LIFT
PIN-1
LIFT
PIN-1
LIFT
PIN-1
BACK-UP
SWITCHER
1 2 3 4 7
65
8
11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22
Rear Panel
11. TRS ¼” INPUTS-A & B: Two sets of eight balanced or unbalanced
line-level inputs for your primary and backup multi-track units.
12. D-Sub OUTPUT: Balanced line-level output is used to send the
active input set (A or B) to the PA or local monitor system.
13. D-Sub INPUTS: Balanced line-level A and B inputs are used to
connect two multi-track playback units to the SW8.
14. ALT 1/8: Selects between channel 1 or channel 8 to receive the
drone track for auto-switching.
15. FILTER: Lets you use a binary audio signal such as SMPTE
time code as a drone track by smoothing out the signal for better
detection.
16. AUTO-SWITCH GATE INPUT and MONITOR OUTPUT: The ¼”
TRS input lets you connect directly to the auto-switching gate.
Used as an alternate to channels 1 or 8, so that all eight channels
are available for playback tracks. The ¼” monitor output lets you
listen to the drone track to ensure it is being received.
17. ON A/B (JR2 FOOTSWITCH): Turns on remote A/B switching
when using the optional JR2 footswitch and disables the front
panel A/B select switch.
18. JR2 FOOTSWITCH XLR: Connection for the optional JR2
remote footswitch. Lets you remotely switch between A & B
inputs and engage the standby mode.
19. JR2-IN and LINK-OUT: ¼” TRS input may be used with the JR2
instead of the XLR. Also used to link multiple SW8’s together for
larger 16 and 24 channel playback systems.
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10
2324
20. CONTACT ALARM: Tip-sleeve ¼” connection from an i
nternal
relay can turn on a siren or beacon when the drone signal
drops below the set threshold.
21. CONTACT INPUT: Tip-sleeve ¼” latching contact closure is
used to switch the SW8 with a remote footswitch or contact.
22. 15 VDC SUPPLY: Provides power to the SW8. Handy cable lock
ensures supply will not be accidentaly disconnected.
Top Panel Switches
23. REMOTE LINK OUTPUT MODE: Used when linking the
SW8mk2 to an older SW8(mk1) through ¼” LINK-OUT jack.
24. STANDBY SWITCH CONTROL MODE: Assigns the standby
function to either the local front panel switch or the MUTE
footswitch on the optional JR2.
23 24
Radial Engineering Ltd.
™
SW8
2
MK2 User Guide
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