X AMP

Active Reamper

Overview

The Radial Engineering X-Amp 500 Reamper Module is part of the 500 Series and lets you take a pre-recorded guitar track and send it back to amplifiers and effects so that you can tailor the sound to suit. Reamping allows the guitarist to only concentrate on the performance while recording. Working out specific sounds and optimal microphone placement can be done later. This eliminates hours of tiresome repetition, while allowing the producer to adjust the character of the track as the production evolves. The X-Amp is easy to use with its plug-n-play feature. The design begins with an XLR balanced line level input located on the 500 series rear panel that feeds the X-Amp. To ensure high fidelity, a 100% discrete class-A circuitry is employed. The X-Amp unbalances and buffers the pre-recorded signal where it then feeds two transformer-isolated hi-Z guitar level outputs. The ¼" jacks are front-mounted for desk-top convenience and equipped with ground lifts to help eliminate hum and buzz caused by ground loops. Independent level controls enable you to adjust the drive going to each amp for optimal tone. In case one of the amps are out of phase, then depressing the 180º quickly brings both in line. Separate output controls make it easy to set the guitar amplifiers to a suitable level from the control room. A 180° polarity reverse assures that both the amplifiers will play in phase. In use, the X-Amp enables the user to take a pre-recorded track and send it simultaneously to two amplifiers. This makes it easy to optimize the track to best suit the recording. The guitar cables can be extended to 50’ (15m) without noise. Reamping is often used on guitars, bass, and keyboards to create effects, thicken the tone, or simply replace poorly recorded tracks.

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Features

Reamper

General

• Designed for 500 series racks

• 100% discrete class-A electronics for clear tone

• Transformer isolated to eliminate hum and buzz

• Easy access front panel jacks & controls

Applications

• Recording a Dry Track with the X-Amp

• Plug your guitar into some pedals and send the signal to the JDX to take advantage of the advanced multistage filter. No amplifiers or microphones are required to set up.

• Reamping with the X-Amp

• Send the pre-recorded clean (dry) track to the X-Amp using the XLR input on your 500 series rack. Feed the signal from Out-1 and Out-2 to your guitar amplifiers mic them and record.

• Using the X-Amp as a Distro

• Connect your guitar to the Omniport on the Workhorse. The guitar signal can then be sent to two amplifiers using out-1 and out-2 up to 15m (50') away. The volume can be adjusted to suit.

Interface

General

• Dual outputs to drive two amps

• Individual level controls for each output

• Delivers performance with real amp tone

• Lets you adjust microphone placement for clear tone

Applications

• Re-amp pre-recorded tracks for better tone

• Layer re-amplified tracks to fatten up the sound

• Eliminate hours of repetition for the performer

• Change sounds as the recording advances

Components

• Full Enclosure: A 100% steel casing reduces magnetic interference from other nearby modules that may cause pollution.

• Output-1 Level: Lets you adjust the output level to amp-1 right from the control room. This is particularly useful for fine-tuning front end drive distortion.

• On-Off Switch: Lets you mute the output going to amp-1.

• Lift: Lifts the ground on the ¼" cable so it eliminates a potential ground loop between the 500 series rack and the guitar amp.

• Output-2 Level: Used to adjust the output level going to amp-2. This is particularly useful for fine-tuning front-end drive distortion.

• 180° Polarity: Inverts the phase going to amp-2 to time-align the amplifiers, if needed. It can also be used to create some interesting effects.

• ¼" Outputs: Two outputs let you drive two amplifiers at the same time. These are transformer-isolated to help eliminate hum and buzz caused by ground loops. This module is class-A buffered to let you drive long cables.

• Omniport: Configured as a hi-Z guitar input to allow the X-Amp to be used like an ABY box, thereby allowing a guitarist to play two amplifiers at once. It is available when used with Radial Workhorse racks.

• Gold 15-Pin Card Edge: Double-sided and gold-plated edge connector ensures good conductivity and signal transfer.

• 100% Discrete Active Buffering: Full size through-hole discrete electronics for optimal signal transfer; parts are selected and mounted by hand.

• Transformer Isolation: Helps eliminate hum and buzz caused by ground loops by isolating the output going to the amplifiers.

Specifications

Circuit Type Class-A discrete, transformer-coupled

Power Requirement 40 mA, ± 16 VDC

Frequency Response 20 Hz to 20 kHz

(adjusted for guitar signals -5 dB @ 20 kHz)

-100 K Load

Voltage Gain XLR Input to XLR Output: 0 ± 0.5 dB

Omniport to XLR Output: -3 ± 0.5 dB

XLR Input to ¼" Outputs: -0.6 ± 0.5 dB

THD + N XLR Input to XLR Output:

<0.002% @ 0 dBu (20 Hz to 20 kHz)

Omniport to XLR Output:

<0.002% @ 0 dBu (20 Hz to 20 kHz)

XLR Input to ¼" Outputs:

<0.006% @ 0 dBu (1 kHz)

Noise XLR Input to XLR Output: -114 dB below 0 dBu

Omniport to XLR Output: -95 dB below 0 dBu

XLR Input to ¼" Outputs: -98 dB below 0 dBu

Intermodulation Distortion XLR Input to XLR Output: <0.04% @ 0 dBu input

Omniport to XLR Output: <0.005% @ 0 dBu input

XLR Input to ¼" Outputs: <0.027% @ 0 dBu input

Maximum Input XLR Input to XLR Output: 26 dBu

Omniport to XLR Output: 20 dBu

XLR Input to ¼" Outputs: 19 dBu

Connector XLR Input Type: 4 dB, balanced female XLR,

AES standard, input impedance 1.2 kΩ

XLR Output Type: Parallel ‘thru-put’ with XLR input,

4 dB balanced, output impedance 600 Ω

Output-1 Type:

Instrument-level (variable), unbalanced ¼”,

transformer-isolated, impedance 3 kΩ

Output -2 Type:

Instrument-level (variable), unbalanced ¼”,

transformer-isolated, impedance 3 kΩ

Omniport Type:

Instrument-level input, unbalanced ¼”,

(on Workhorse), input impedance 220 kΩ

Size Standard 500 series rack format

Packaging Info

Package Weight 1.7 lb

Box Dimensions (LxWxH) 8.9 x 6.7 x 1.5"

What’s in the Box

-   X-AMP