Radial Engineering Headload Prodigy Manuel utilisateur
True to the Music
www.radialeng.com
®
True to the Music
®
User Guide
Headload Prodigy
Load Box and Amp DI
www.radialeng.com
Radial Engineering Ltd.
1588 Kebet Way, Port Coquitlam
British Columbia, Canada, V3C 5M5
tel: 604-942-1001 • fax: 604-942-1010
email: [email protected]
™
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CAUTION!
The Headload Prodigy is a load box that is designed to safely handle and attenuate up
to 120 watts RMS of power from a guitar or bass amplier. The Headload Prodigy is
intended for 8 Ohm. For best performance and proper power transfer, NEVER EXCEED
THE PRODIGY’S 120 WATT POWER RATING and always match the impedance. Ex-
ceeding this power can cause the Headload prodigy to overheat which could damage
the unit. The Headload Prodigy speaker connections employ switching jacks that reroute
the signal to the amp and/or internal load resisters. DO NOT DISCONNECT CABLE AT
SPEAKER BOX END AND LEAVE IT CONNECTED TO THE HEADLOAD PRODIGY.
! !
Headload Prodigy™ Load Box
True to the Music
®
Radial Engineering Ltd.
Radial®Headload ProdigyTM
Load Box and Amp DI
Table of Contents Page
Feature set ..............................................................................................................1-2
Making Connections ...................................................................................................3
How to Use ..............................................................................................................4-5
JDX Balanced Output .................................................................................................6
JDX Unbalanced Output .............................................................................................7
Using the Features ..................................................................................................8-9
Rack Mounting and Cable Length ............................................................................ 10
Block Diagram .......................................................................................................... 11
Specications ...........................................................................................................12
Warranty .................................................................................................... Back Cover
Thank you for purchasing the Headload Prodigy. The Prodigy is a multi-purpose load box
that enables you to reduce the output of your speaker cabinet and to send your guitar amp
and cabinet sound to the PA or recording system using the built-in JDX direct box output.
You can simultaneously set your amp to full output, half volume, or turn it completely off for
quiet on-stage performance or late night recording.
Best of all, the Prodigy has been designed to be straight forward and easy to use. However,
as with all products, making sure you understand the features will not only improve your
musical experience, it will ensure your equipment is safe from damage due to misuse. So
please take a few minutes to read through this manual to familiarize yourself with all of the
built-in features.
If after reading, you nd yourself looking for more answers, please visit the Prodigy FAQ
page on the Radial web site. This is where we post updates and questions from users like
yourself. If you still do not nd what you are looking for, feel free to send us an email at
[email protected] and we will do our best to reply in short order.
Now get ready to rock out at full, half or no volume at all.
Radial Engineering Ltd. Headload Prodigy™ Load Box
True to the Music
®
FRONT PANEL FEATURE SET
1
1. HEADPHONE: ¼” TRS mono summed output for headphones lets you quietly practice
while your amp is being driven hard.
2. PHONES: Variable control used to adjust headphone level to suit.
3. LINE OUT: Variable control to adjust the level going to the unbalanced ¼" JDX outputs.
4. EQ: Lets you ne tune the tone of the JDX output to optimize your wedge monitors or
in-ears.
5. POL 180: Inverts phase by toggling pin-2 and pin-3 at the XLR out to correct acoustic
resonance or to help phase-align the direct out with a microphone.
6. POWER: LED indicator lets you know the Prodigy is activated.
7. HANDLE: Makes it easy to carry your Prodigy around the studio – may be removed for
rack mounting.
8. STEEL CASE: Solid 14-gauge steel outer shell shields the inner electronics from
disruptive magnetic elds generated by the amplier’s power transformer.
9. VENTS: Top access ventilation slots allow excess heat to be dissipated without the
need of a fan.
10. BOOK-END DESIGN: Creates protective zone around the switches and potentiometer
to keep them out of harm’s way.
1 2 3 4 5 6
8 9 10
7
Headload Prodigy™ Load Box
True to the Music
®
Radial Engineering Ltd.
REAR PANEL FEATURE SET
2
11. BALANCED OUT: JDX lo-Z balanced mic level output used to feed the PA system,
monitors or recorder.
12. GND LIFT: Lifts pin-1 on the XLR output to help eliminate hum and buzz caused by
ground loops.
13. POST-EQ: Presents a post JDX and post (wet) EQ output to feed a second direct box
for recording or external effects processor.
14. PRE-EQ: Pre-JDX direct output sends the unaffected (dry) direct signal from your amp
to feed another stage amp or effects.
15. 100% OUTPUT: ¼” output delivers full output of your amp to the speaker cabinet.
16. FROM AMP: ¼” input connects signal from your amp head output to the Prodigy.
17. 50% OUTPUT: ¼” output is used to attenuate the volume for quiet on-stage
performance.
18. POWER: Connection for the external 15VDC 400mA power supply.
19. CABLE CLAMP: Secures the DC adapter cable to prevent accidental power
disconnect.
11 12
13
14 15 16 17 18
19
Radial Engineering Ltd. Headload Prodigy™ Load Box
True to the Music
®
3
MAKING CONNECTIONS
Before making any connections, make sure your guitar amp is turned off and the audio system
is either turned down or volume levels turned off. This will protect sensitive components such
as tweeters and speakers from turn-on or connection transients. If you are connecting to a
preamp or mixer, make sure the 48V phantom power is turned off as it is not required. Always
use heavy 14-gauge speaker wires (or heavier if possible) between the Headload Prodigy and
your amplier to ensure optimal signal ow from the head to the speaker cabinet.
The Prodigy does not have a power switch. As soon as you connect the power supply, it will
automatically turn on and the front panel power LED will illuminate. A handy cable clamp is
provided that can be used to secure the power supply if needed. Simply loosen with a hex
key, slip the power supply cable into the cavity and tighten.
Set the Prodigy controls to the start position with the tone controls to 12 o’clock, the two level
controls to off (7 o’clock), and the ground lift and polarity reverse switches in the outward
position. The rear panel ground lift switch is recessed to prevent accidental changes during
a show. To activate, use a small screwdriver.
Use a hex driver to
loosen the cable lock.
Pass the cable through
and re-tighten.
GND LFT in 'out' position
Headload Prodigy™ Load Box
True to the Music
®
Radial Engineering Ltd.
HOW TO USE THE PRODIGY
As the Prodigy may be used in three different ways, it is important that you rst determine
how you plan to use it before making connections.
1. As a simple direct box
2. For 50% attenuation
3. For silent performance
1. Using the Prodigy as a Simple Direct Box
Used this way, the Prodigy acts as an interface that lets you send the sound of your amp using
the built-in Radial JDX™ balanced output to the PA or recording system. This takes advantage
of the reactive load that captures both the sound of your amp head and the back-electromotive
impulse from the loudspeaker. It has no audible effect to your amp sound.
a. Connect the output from your amp to the Prodigy FROM AMP ¼” input
b. Connect the 100% output from the Prodigy to your speaker cabinet
c. Connect the XLR output from the Prodigy to the PA mixer or recording preamp
d. Connect the power adaptor to the Prodigy to turn it on – there is no power switch
e. Power up your amp and slowly increase the volume
4
FOOTPEDAL
WARNING!:RISK OF HAZARDOUS ENERGY
AVIS!:ENERGIE ELECTRIQUE DANGEREUSE!
!
SPEAKERS
Speaker Input
Back view of amp
FOOTPEDAL
WARNING!:RISK OF HAZARDOUS ENERGY
AVIS!:ENERGIE ELECTRIQUE DANGEREUSE!
!
SPEAKERS
Speaker Input
Back view of amp
Radial Engineering Ltd. Headload Prodigy™ Load Box
True to the Music
®
5
3. Using the Headload Prodigy to silence your amp
This setting turns off your guitar amp’s speaker cabinet completely for silent performance.
This works great for gigs where you do not want to haul a speaker cabinet to the show or for
quiet late-night recording in the studio. This takes full advantage of the built-in JDX speaker
simulator to capture your amplier’s tone and the load box to keep your amp safe and quiet.
a. Connect the output from your amp to the Prodigy FROM AMP ¼” input
b. Do not connect the output from the Prodigy to your speaker cabinet
c. Connect the XLR output from the prodigy to the PA mixer or recording preamp
d. Connect the power adaptor to the Prodigy to turn it on – there is no power switch
e. Power up your amp and slowly increase the volume
When testing, it is good practice to keep the volume level down low to ensure proper connec-
tions have been made before turning up. This can prevent connection spikes from damaging
sensitive components.
AMP
MIXER
AMP
CAB
MIXER
2. Using the Prodigy to attenuate your amp by 50%
Here, the Prodigy reduces the output level on your amp so that it sounds about half as loud
as usual. This lets you drive the power amp section of your amp harder to optimize the tone
while lowering the volume level on stage or in the studio. Engineers will sometimes combine
the JDX output with a mic in front of the cabinet and mix the two sounds.
a. Connect the output from your amp to the Prodigy FROM AMP ¼” input
b. Connect the 50% output from the Prodigy to your speaker cabinet
c. Connect the XLR output from the prodigy to the PA mixer or recording preamp
d. Connect the power adaptor to the Prodigy to turn it on – there is no power switch
e. Power up your amp and slowly increase the volume
Headload Prodigy™ Load Box
True to the Music
®
Radial Engineering Ltd.
THE JDX BALANCED OUTPUT
The Headload Prodigy’s JDX balanced output is designed to simulate the sound of a 4 x 12
half stack. This lets you capture your sound ‘direct’ without having to use a microphone. The
benets to performing and recording this way are numerous. Moving a microphone ever so
slightly will change the sound, so getting it exactly the same every night or for every session
is practically impossible. Further, each time you change venues, resonant frequencies caused
by the stage and room acoustics vary, which means that EQ’ing the tone to get it right has
to be redone every show. Finally, noise pollution from the other instruments on stage, such
as bass or drums, entering the mic makes it difcult to solo the instrument. With the Prodigy
direct out, all of these problems simply go away. You get consistency night after night, gig
after gig, and from one recording to the next.
The JDX output is set to mic level in order to match up with other mics on stage. This makes
it possible to feed a traditional snake or mic splitter, which in turn can feed the PA, wedge
monitors and in-ear monitors.
In the studio you can record as usual with a mic and record a second channel using the JDX
output. This lets you compare or combine the two signals to create richer and more consis-
tent tones. You can take things further by introducing a Radial Phazer™ into the equation by
phase correcting the direct JDX signal so that it is time-aligned with the mic. The Prodigy is
a creative tool that should be used to experiment.
6
PHAZER
DIRECT SIGNAL DIRECT SIGNAL
TIME ALIGNED
MIC SIGNAL
Radial Engineering Ltd. Headload Prodigy™ Load Box
True to the Music
®
7
USING THE JDX AUX OUTPUTS
There are two additional ¼” unbalanced outputs on the rear panel. These provide connectivity
options that can open the door to new sounds or creative ideas. A dedicated front panel level
control lets you adjust the signal for both outputs to suit.
• Direct Output (pre-JDX)
This takes the original 'dry' sound from your guitar amp head and attenuates it so that it
can be used to drive another guitar amp, digital modeling device, effects pedals, or maybe
a JDI direct box so that you can then process the sound in your digital workstation or
reamp it in the future.
• Wet Output (post-JDX)
This parallel output produces the same processed or 'wet’ signal as the JDX – only here
it is unbalanced. This means that the front panel EQ will also affect this output. It can be
used to feed effects pedals, digital modeler or maybe some other innovative studio device.
AMP
POST EQ
PRE EQ
CAB
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