Radial Engineering SW8 User Manual

True to the Music
Radial Engineering Ltd. SW8 Owner’s Manual
5
Connection of the Tone Track signal into the SW8 can be made in three ways:
Channel-1 DB25 (Group-A): If the Tone Track signal is recorded onto track-1 it may be connected to channel-1 of group-A at the
DB25 connector.
Channel-1 ¼” Phone (Group-A): The Tone Track signal may also be connected to channel-1 at the ¼” phone jack.
Channel-1 is internally routed to the THRESHOLD detection circuit. This is true for both the 1/4” phone and D-SUB inputs and is
intended to be a convenient way to connect the Tone Track when it is recorded on track-1 of the master multi-track. The internal
routing of channel-1 to the detection circuit is interrupted when a plug is inserted into the dedicated AUTO SWITCH INPUT
allowing channel-1 to be used for program audio instead of Tone Track.
Auto Switch ¼” Phone Jack: If the Tone Track signal is coming from another device other than the master playback machine it can
be connected to the dedicated AUTO SWITCH ¼” phone jack. The advantage to using the dedicated AUTO SWITCH input is that
it frees up channel-1 for use as an audio channel giving you a full eight channels of A/B switching.
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. The SW8 will toggle to input group-B when the switch is depressed.
Remote Switching
The FOOT-SW ¼” phone jack on the rear panel allows the SW8 to be controlled with a remote contact closure system or latching
footswitch. Closing the circuit connected to the FOOT-SW jack produces the same result as depressing the SELECT A/B switch on the
front panel. Because the FOOT-SW jack is a common contact closure type input it can be connected to an automation system or MIDI
contact closure device. The front panel SELECT A/B switch is defeated when a plug is inserted into the FOOT-SW jack. The status
LED indicators on the front panel will help you to keep track of the active input group when the SW8 is controlled remotely.
Automatic Switching
In order for the SW8 to automatically switch to a backup machine, an audio signal
must be sent to the THRESHOLD detection circuit. One way this can be accomplished
is by recording a Tone Track onto the master multi-track connected to input group-A.
Alternatively, the tone track can originate from a dedicated synchronizer or automation
system.
If the Tone Track signal should drop below a preset threshold level, indicating a machine
failure, the SW8 will automatically switch to the backup machine connected to the input
group-B. The Tone Track signal can be any constant signal. We have tested the SW8
with a 1kHz. sinewave tone and SMPTE time code with excellent results. Note that the
SW8 does not “read” SMPTE time code but the audio carrier signal SMPTE generates
is suitable as a Tone Track for the THRESHOLD detection circuit. The THRESHOLD
level control is used to set the point where the SW8 toggles to input group-B and may be
adjusted to suit a wide range of track levels.
SPST
Latching Switch
1
2
3
1 2 3
1
-
+
G
-
+
G
2
3
-
+
G
-
+
G
4
5
-
+
G
-
+
G
6
7
-
+
G
-
+
G
88
13
Threshold
Level
Select Toggle
In-A / In-B
1
2
3
DB25 Input Group-A
Threshold
Tone Track
Switch Point

Radial Engineering SW8 Specifications

General

Brand	Radial Engineering
Model	SW8
Category	Switch
Language	English