www.radialeng.com True to the Music SW8 Owner’s Manual Eight Channel Auto Switcher • Transformer Isolated Order No. R800 8100 Radial Engineering Ltd. 1638 Kebet Way, Port Coquitlam BC V3C 5W9 tel: 604-942-1001 • fax: 604-942-1010 email: info@radialeng.com • web: www.radialeng.com Specifications and appearance are subject to change without notice. Copyright © 2007 Radial Engineering Ltd. www.radialeng.
Radial SW8 Auto-Switcher Combination Eight Channel Auto Switcher & Transformer Isolated Direct Box Owner’s Manual Table of Contents Page SW8 Overview........................................................ 1 Features and Functions.......................................... 2 Audio Connections ................................................. 3 Control Connections ............................................... 5 Grounding Options ................................................. 6 Operation..............
True to the Music 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. Playback A Playback B (Backup) The SW8 lets you select between two groups of eight audio inputs and route either group to eight discrete outputs.
True to the Music FEATURES AND FUNCTIONS 1 2 3 4 5 14 a 6 7 8 9 10 b 11 c 12 13 15 18 16 19 17 20 Front Panel 1. A and B INPUT SELECT with LED - Toggles between the A and B input groups. Two status LED lights indicate which input group is active. 2. ALARM LED - Indicates the loss of Tone Track at either the AUTO SWITCH INPUT or ALT TONE TRACK (channel-1, group-A) inputs. 3. TONE LED - Indicates the machine tone is present at either the AUTO SWITCH INPUT or ALT TONE TRACK input. 4.
True to the Music AUDIO CONNECTIONS The SW8 is designed to receive line-level signals from two multi-track playback systems. Connection from each multi-track machine is made with either eight ¼” phone jacks or DB25 D-SUB connectors. Input signals may be +4dB / -10dB, balanced or unbalanced. ¼” Phone Jacks - + Ground Playback B (Backup) Playback A DB25 D-SUB Pin Out The DB25 connectors use the TASCAM pin-out configuration for eight channel analog audio. See the pin-out chart for reference.
True to the Music Audio Outputs The SW8 offers two audio outputs; the line-level DB25 output connector and the front panel mic-level XLR jacks. Which output you choose to use will depend on where the SW8 is set up. For instance, the DB25 output will typically be used at the FOH mix position to feed line-level signals to the console while the XLR outputs would feed mic-level signals to the on-stage mic snake.
True to the Music CONTROL CONNECTIONS The SW8 may be toggled three different ways; manually via the front panel controls, remotely through a contact closure system or latching footswitch, or automatically with a Tone Track signal from a multi-track or synchronizer. This section describes the process for each method. Manual Switching No control connections are needed if you plan to manually toggle the SW8 from the front panel INPUT SELECT A/B switch.
True to the Music Contact Closure Output This jack accesses an internal relay that acts as an ON/OFF switch for an external circuit. The relay is linked to the front panel ALARM LED. Normally, the CONTACT CLOSURE OUTPUT relay is in an “open” state preventing current from flowing through the external circuit. When the SW8 detects a loss of Tone Track signal the front panel ALARM LED illuminates and the CONTACT CLOSURE OUTPUT relay closes allowing current to flow through the external circuit.
True to the Music OPERATION Manual Mode In this mode the SW8 may be toggled with the front panel INPUT SELECT switch or with an external latching footswitch connected to the CONTACT INPUT jack. If the SW8 does not toggle when either the front panel AB SELECT switch or external footswitch is depressed ensure the AUTO ON switch is in the outward position and its LED is not illuminated.
True to the Music BLOCK DIAGRAM SW8 Specifications Input-A & B 1/4” phone: D-Sub: Input impedance: 8 Radial Engineering Ltd. TRS balanced +4dB / unbalanced -10dB DB25 balanced +4dB / unbalanced -10dB 140K ohms typical (without Global PAD) 10k ohms typical (with Global PAD) Direct Output Type: Switching Time: Passive balanced signal path 3ms maximum @ 20°C XLR Output Frequency response: Total harmonic distortion: Output impedance: Output: PAD: 20Hz to 20kHz +/- 2.5dB 0.
True to the Music FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS Q: What testing procedures are recommended? A: It will greatly depend on the system as a whole. The SW8 can be interfaced in several ways so the best recommendation is to devise your own testing procedure that takes into account all the pieces of the system that will affect playback should one component fail. Q: Can I use the SW8 to switch other audio gear? A: You can use the SW8 to switch any line-level audio application.
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 finish and wear and tear on components under normal use) for a period of three (3) years from the original date of purchase.
