Radial Engineering WORKHORSE 500 SERIES User Manual
WORKHORSE
500 Series Rack & Mixer
True to the Music
™
Order No. R700 0100
USER GUIDE
Radial Engineering Ltd.
1588 Kebet Way, Port Coquitlam BC V3C 5M5
tel: 604-942-1001 • fax: 604-942-1010
www.radialeng.com
email: info@radialeng.com • web: www.radialeng.com
Specifi cations and appearance are subject to change without notice.
Copyright © 2011 Radial Engineering Ltd.
www.radialeng.com
THIS PAGE INTENTIONALY LEFT BLANK
Radial Workhorse
™
500 Series Rack and Mixer
Congratulations and thank you for purchasing the Radial Workhorse, an innovative eight channel card frame
and mixer designed to take full advantage of 500 series modules. This manual covers installation and operation
of the Workhorse. 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 Workhorse. Inside, you will fi nd important safety
features along with tips on how to get the most out of your 500 modules while using the Radial Workhorse.
To make the manual as easy to understand as possible, we have divided it into several sections. It begins with
on overview, then descriptions of each function, ending with some real world applications. Should you have any
questions, comments or concerns not covered in these pages, we invite you to log onto the Radial web site at
www.radialeng.com and visit the Workhorse FAQ section. This is where we post the latest details and applications. If you do not fi nd what you need, feel free to send us an email at info@radialeng.com and we will do our
best to answer your question as quickly as possible. Get ready to Plug in, Turn on and Tune in your 500 modules
with the Radial Workhorse.
Table of Contents Page
Front Panel Feature Set Overview ...............................................................................1
Rear Panel Feature Set Overview ................................................................................2
Introduction To The Workhorse ....................................................................................3
Feature Set Overview ...................................................................................................4
Power Supply Capacity ................................................................................................7
Installing The Workhorse ..............................................................................................7
Slide-in Card Slot Tray and Removal ...........................................................................8
Workhorse Signal Flow and Levels ..............................................................................8
Using The Workhorse ...................................................................................................9
Workhorse Applications ................................................................................................11
Frequently Asked Questions ........................................................................................14
Specifi cations and Block Diagram ................................................................................15
Connector Pin-out ........................................................................................................16
Card Edge Connector Specifi cations ...........................................................................16
Radial Limited Warranty ................................................................................ Back Cover
IMPORTANT SAFETY & USER NOTICE - FOR PROFESSIONAL USE ONLY
!
The Radial Workhorse is specifi cally designed for use by qualifi ed professional audio engineers. The
open frame design is not intended for use by consumers or those unfamiliar with this format. Even
though the current and voltage levels are relatively low, we recommend that all slots be fi lled with a
module or covers be placed over unfi lled slots. This will help protect you from electrical shock.
The Workhorse™ rack frame and mixer is designed to be used with 500 series or what are commonly
known as Lunchbox™ modules. The Workhorse has been designed following the framework as
outlined by the VPR Alliance as described on the API™ website. Although some manufacturers
build modules that are not VPR compliant, they may in fact work with the Workhorse. Please consult
those specifi c manufacturers for details regarding their compatibility. The Radial Workhorse Open
Source Document outlines the required technical specifi cations for manufacturers that intend to
have their modules used in the Workhorse. Compatibility of any modules other than a module made
by Radial Engineering Ltd. is the sole responsibility of the user. Please read the Limited Radial
Warranty for details. There are no replacement or user serviceable parts inside.
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
Specifi cations and appearance are subject to change without notice.
Copyright © 2011 Radial Engineering Ltd.
www.radialeng.com
OUTPUT SECTION: Separate
stereo controls for main,
monitors and headphones
make it easy to adjust levels
or mute signals when needed.
True to the Music
LED INDICATORS: Provide
visual power status for the
+/- 16 volt module rails and
48V phantom power.
MIXER CHANNEL INPUTS:
Each Workhorse channel is
equipped with volume control,
left-right pan, LED overload
indicator and channel on-off
for muting.
MIXER SECTION: Ultra quiet
built-in mixer lets you tap
signals from each module and
mix them to the main, monitor
or headphones.
EIGHT CARD SLOTS: Up to
eight 500 series compatible
modules may be loaded into
the Workhorse and connected
via standard card edge
receptacle.
DUAL HEADPHONES: Super
high output dual headphone
amp with level control to
ensure you can mix in any
environment. Mono check
switch.
FITS ALL MODULE SIZES:
Both single and double
wide modules will fi t in the
Workhorse. Removable tray
for non-standard modules.
EASY-GLIDE TRAY: Slide-in
platform for modules makes
connecting to back plane
easy by properly aligning
card edge height.
FRONT PANEL FEATURE SET
1
Radial Engineering Ltd.
STEEL CASE: The
Workhorse chassis is made
from heavy steel to provide
extra shielding against stray
magnetic fi elds and RF.
DEEP CURRENT POOL:
Modules can draw as much
current as they need from a
shared pool. Up to 1200mA
total current is available.
Workhorse User Guide
True to the Music
CARD SLOT CONNECTORS:
Follows original XLR I/O
format and adds parallel
1/4” TRS jacks for easy
connectivity to workstations.
OMNIPORT™: 1/4” TRS
connector add functionality
to enhance each module’s
capability as set by the
manufacturer.
BALANCED 25-PIN D-SUBS:
Eight channel D-Subs follow
ProTools standard for easy
connectivity to workstations.
Wired in parallel to XLR inputs
and outputs.
STEREO LINK: Makes it easy
to pair up modules equipped
with a stereo link function in
standard API master slave
confi guration.
FEED FUNCTION: Lets you
connect one module into
the next to set up elaborate
channel strips without having
to hard patch with cables.
MAIN OUTPUTS: Jensen
transformer isolated to
eliminate noise and add
warmth. Equipped with TRS
insert jacks for effects.
SUMMING MIXER: Built-in
eight channel summing mixer
lets you mix ‘outside the box’
in the analogue domain for
added warmth and character.
STUDIO GROUNDING:
External grounding lugs
makes it easy to set up star
grounding schemes for high-
end studio wiring.
EXTERNAL POWER: High
current external switching
supply delivers 1600mA to
the Workhorse plus separate
48V phantom feed for mic
preamps.
REAR PANEL FEATURE SET
Radial Engineering Ltd. Workhorse User Guide
MONITOR OUTPUTS: Used
to send signal to your nearfi eld
monitors with choice of XLR
and 1/4” TRS jacks. Features
independent level control.
EXPANSION BUSS: Expand
the workhorse to 16x2 or
larger by connecting one
Workhorse into another.
Simple 1/4” connections
makes it easy.
2
INTRODUCTION
True to the Music
The Workhorse is an eight channel card frame and mixer designed
for 500 series modules. Up to eight modules may be used at any
one time. Once ‘plugged in’, the Workhorse automatically routes
the module’s signal to the XLR, ¼” and D-sub connectors on the
rear panel via a 15-pin card-edge connector and receptacle. Radial
modules and those that have been designed by other manufacturers
OUTPUTS 1~8INPUTS 1~8
INPUT
OUTPUT
OMNIPORT
OUT
-10dB
CARD SLOT 1
CARD SLOT 2
IN
CARD SLOT 3
CARD SLOT 4
CARD SLOT 5
CARD SLOT 6
Mix Buss
Mixer Control Section
LEVEL PAN
LEVEL PAN
LEVEL PAN
LEVEL PAN
LEVEL PAN
LEVEL PAN
to take advantage of the Workhorse’s extra features will enjoy the
added convenience of having the signal sent to the internal mix buss
and the built-in 8x2 stereo summing mixer. For older generation
modules, the individual channel outputs can be routed to the
summing mixer using a D-sub cable affording them much the same
functionality as newer Radial designs.
LEFT IN RIGHT IN
EXPANSION
BUSS
Master Stereo Buss
MONITOR
LEVEL
CLIP
CLIP
CLIP
CLIP
CLIP
CLIP
1/4” TRS - TIP SEND / RING RETURN
INSERT
INSERT
MAIN
LEVEL
JENSEN
TRANSFORMERS
LEFT RIGHT
MON
LEFT RIGHT
OUT
MAIN
OUT
+4dB
+4dB
LEVEL PAN
CARD SLOT 7
LEVEL PAN
CARD SLOT 8
SUMMING MIXER INPUTS
SIGNAL FLOW
The signal fl ow chart above shows the basic signal routing that the
Workhorse provides. Flowing from left to right, the signal comes into
the Workhorse via the rear panel XLR female and ¼” TRS connector.
Once the signal goes into a module, it is then sent back out after it is
processed to the male XLR and ¼” TRS. This of course happens on
all eight channels. Simultaneously, Radial modules send the signal
to the internal mix buss which feeds the mixer.
CLIP
CLIP
LEFT OUT RIGHT OUT
EXPANSION
BUSS
After the signal has been panned left or right, it can go to the
expansion buss if feeding a second Workhorse. It is then fed into the
master output stage where it is once again buffered and sent to the
main, monitors and headphones. Note the main outputs are Jensen
transformer isolated. The next section in this manual discusses
each feature in detail following the signal fl ow.
HEADPHONE
MONO
3
Radial Engineering Ltd.
Workhorse User Guide
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