Retail: $450.00, Our Price: $399.99
North American Version, 120 VAC

Notice for orders shipping to the EU:
This item can not be shipped into the European Union at this time due to WEEE / RoHS (environmental / hazardous materials) regulations.  This unit will be compliant in the near future, possibly by early 2007.

The JDV Mk3's 'Zones' concept.

The JDV is actually designed to be a creative tool. By providing an array of connecting options, the intent is to open the door to new sounds and spur on the creative process of making music. Now isn’t that what a good interface should be?

JDV Menu:
Overview | Development
Features & Functions
Specifications | FAQ's
Resources / Manuals
Previous Page

 

JDV Features & Functions

The purpose of the Radial JDV is to provide the user with the very best interface between the instrument and the recording or sound reinforcement system. Today, the 'instrument' is not just the guitar, bass, or contrabass, but the instrument in combination with the amplifier, effect rack and pedals.

In order to effectively capture the complete sound, the very fabric of the direct box was revisited. The artist, whether guitarist or bassist, will usually have more than one instrument and a variety of outboard effects and amplifiers that make up his or her sound. This is his environment, her comfort zone, their creative world. The engineer and producer may want to record this sound by traditionally mic’ing the amplifiers, but with today’s advanced editing equipment and re-amping tools like the Radial JD7 or Radial X-amp, simultaneously recording the clean unaltered source is now an essential part of the recording process. Thus the concept of zones was developed: An input zone for the instrument, the musician’s zone for his creative environment, and an output zone for the engineer.

1. LED Status indicators include system on, signal present and peak level overload.
2. 80Hz high-pass filter reduces excessive bass for more clarity. Eliminates run-away resonant feedback from acoustics!
3. 7kHz low-pass filter gently rolls off high end edge and reduces noise and hiss from older instruments. Very musical!
4. Vary-Z switch selects between ultra-high 3.9 Meg-Ohm input impedance and Drag control for load correction.
5. Drag Control is used to retain the natural feel of the instrument on the active auxiliary outputs by correcting the load.
6. A or B input switch selects between the two instruments inputs for fast changes.

The Radial JDV begins with an input selector for choice between two instruments. Often, when recording, the simple act of picking up another instrument will cause the musician to play a passage differently and often, this change can lead to magical results. In concert, being able to pick-up a spare or alternately tuned instrument without having to reconnect is a joy.

On the left, three LED indicators provide power-on, signal present and overload status. Two on-board filters are provided. A low-cut filter (high-pass filter) is used to reduce rumble and run-away resonant feedback from acoustic instruments. For bass, this will tighten up the bottom end without losing the fundamental. A high frequency roll-off (low-pass filter) gently rolls off noise from older equipment and helps tame overly brittle instruments.

The JDV Mk3 includes a special feature we developed called Drag Control™. This function was originally developed on the Radial JD7 Injector as a means to re-introduce the loading that is lost when the guitar pick-up no longer is coupled directly to the amplifier. Laboratory engineers have perpetuated a ‘myth’ that ‘loading the pick-up’ is a bad thing when in fact, correcting the load is critical to achieving musical results. Without proper impedance matching, the sound can become brittle and harsh. This of course is most noticeable when recording.

The JDV offers a choice of a 3.9 Meg-ohm input impedance (the highest in the industry) to properly match piezo pickups and variable loading we call Drag Control™ that combines resistance and impedance with a single dial for effective load correction.

All instrument thru-put connections are performed on the side panel thus keeping cables out of the way from the controls and LED status indicators. Inputs A and B are adjacent to the direct output. There are two Class-A active outputs termed aux-A and aux-B that can drive two amplifiers, a stereo effect device or effect pedals. A tuner out allows the instrument to be constantly monitored while ensuring the tuner circuit and load does not affect the instrument’s signal integrity.

The unique array of inputs and outputs is designed to provide the artist with a creative zone or environment. There is nothing more musically satisfying than feeling as if you are inside the instrument, completely surrounded by sound.

A speaker input pad selector switch allows a parallel connection to a speaker cabinet to get the post amplifier sound such as from a distorted guitar. The selector pad is purposely difficult to engage as a means to protect the JDV from the accidental insertion of a post amplifier signal without a speaker load.

JDV output panel

The output panel is the engineer’s zone. The XLR output provides a clean, unaffected signal to the console for future processing or doubling with the mic’ed performance. Because of the JDV’s huge internal rail voltage and exceptional dynamic handling, an output pad is provided so that it will not overload the console or pre-amp. A polarity reverse switches the XLR output from AES standard pin-2 hot to pin-3 to adapt to vintage equipment while providing another creative tool to broaden the audio landscape.

Understanding Distortion

By combining a unique Class-A design with a high operating voltage, all annoying distortions can be reduced.

Phase distortion can be explained as retaining the time relationship of one frequency with another. This causes bass to become indistinct and keyboards difficult to mix. The JDV’s phase distortion is less than half our closest competitor.

Inter-modulation distortion is tested for by simultaneously driving two different square haves into the audio circuit and measuring how the device is able to handle a form of dissonance. Think of how some pianos, when tuned properly, somehow manage to make two dissonant notes musical. Most manufacturers do not specify inter-modulation distortion as this is the most difficult test to pass. The Radial JDV has often been referred to as the most musical DI available today. This is primarily due to having the lowest inter-modulation distortion (IMD) in the business.

Harmonic distortion or total harmonic distortion is generally specified at a given frequency or range of frequencies. Most manufacturers specify distortion at the 1kHz median as this is simple to make look good. At Radial, we test extreme frequencies and design our direct box to be linear throughout the audio range. This is most noticeable in the bass starting at 20Hz and is critical with acoustic instruments and their upper harmonic signature at 20kHz and beyond. The JDV’s exceptionally low harmonic distortion and smooth linear response is achieved through the combination of the Class-A circuit and the unit’s tremendous headroom.

Radial’s near fanatical commitment to reducing all types of distortion without introducing noise truly sets the Radial JDV apart. With the JDV, your instrument will never choke or sound muddled. All you get is the full, natural sound of the instrument.

Industry guru Craig Anderton summed it up nicely when he said: “I plugged my Gibson Les Paul into the Radial JDV and to my surprise; I fell in love with it again’.

Sound Quality

The most important feature of the Radial JDV is the sound quality. At Radial, we pride ourselves in the fact that our direct boxes do not change the original sound or impose a particular EQ curve to an instrument. We do not believe it is our place to alter the sound of pre-CBS Fender or a PAF equipped Gibson. Our task is to provide the original sound of the instrument without adding color, distortion or hype. We call our sound the Un-Sound™.

To achieve this level of audio purity, every aspect of the Radial JDV’s circuit must be optimized for minimal distortion. And unlike other manufacturers, we do no just examine harmonic distortion, but zealously try to eliminate zero-cross distortion, phase distortion, inter-modulation distortion, linear response distortion, square wave distortion and headroom. By treating each of these carefully, the result is predictable: you get great sound.

The Radial JDV employs a unique Class-A feed-forward circuit design and a newly developed high-voltage, low-noise power supply. Class-A circuits although less efficient, do not suffer from zero-cross distortion. This is why Class-A circuits are ‘the choice’ for audiophiles. The JDV’s unique feed-forward design means that we have eliminated the traditional stabilizing feedback loop that is in the ‘easy circuit designer’s handbook’. This unique ‘high-wire without a net’ circuit design is amazingly adept at handling square ‘pulse’ waves without ringing or overshoot. Put the JDV up on a scope and one will see a sharp, 90 degree rendering that is unequaled in the business.

The exceptional internal 30-Volt rail voltage is of particular importance at bass frequencies. In PA systems, bass drivers are commonly driven with as much as ten times more power than the high-frequency drivers. This is because bass, with its longer wavelengths, requires significantly more power to generate. This is the same at the circuit level and is critical to achieving a tight, natural sound. Look inside the JDV and you will see huge current storage capacitors that are the size found in small power amplifiers. By providing ample impulse energy storage, dynamics are maximized thus fulfilling the capacity of today’s most advanced recording devices. The benefit of having upwards to 10 times more headroom than a traditional DI means that the JDV never chokes even with the most powerful active bass or extreme digital sample.

21. I-beam construction eliminates external stresses on PC board.
22. 42-Volt power supply input jack.
23. Cable lock strain relief prevents power loss from accidental unplugging.
24. Large, oversized capacitors for maximum headroom.
25. 100% Class-A discreet circuitry (no op-amps!).
26. Baked enamel finish for added durability.

Click the image for a enlarged view

Like all Radial products, the JDV is built to last. A unique book-end design provides easy access to switches, knobs and jacks while providing a protective barrier against abuse. Inside, the JDV employs a folded I-beam construction that makes impossible to torque the PC board. This eliminates stress on the solder joints and pretty much eliminates servicing problems. The distinctive dark-blue baked enamel finish resists scratching while also making the JDV relatively invisible under cameras and stage lights. Finally, a full-bottom no-slip rubberized pad provides both shock mounting and staying power to keep the JDV in one place.

The JDV's in-line type power supply

Strain relief  

The real fun with the JDV starts when multi-amp set-ups are created and recording the combination of direct and mic’ed signals are realized. For a full description of functions, the Radial JDV owner’s manual should be perused.

Retail: $450.00, Our Price: $399.99
North American Version, 120 VAC