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X-Amp Menu:
Overview | Development
History of Re-amping
Features & Functions
Specifications | FAQ's
Resources / Manuals
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Retail: $200.00, Our Price: $179.99
North American Version, 120 VAC
For other versions, see "Power Supplies" here

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.

X-Amp Features

The Radial X-Amp is a creative tool designed to advance recording and open the door to new sounds and processes. Although highly complex on the inside, the Radial X-Amp is easy to use on the outside. It is loaded with features and jam-packed with discreet components to make re-amping simple and sound great!

Inside the X-Amp

1. 14-Gauge steel welded I-beam construction makes it impossible to torque the PC board.
2. Class-A active circuit for transparency and lowest possible noise.
3. Ground lift switch is recessed to prevent accidental use.
4. Audio Transformer provides 100% isolation to eliminate hum and noise caused by ground loops.
5. Heavy duty connectors and switches provide high cycle for reliable performance.
6. Military spec PC board with full surface ground plane to reduce RF noise susceptibility.

Input and Output Panels

7. Input - Balanced Line level XLR input connector, normally connected to recorder output. A dry guitar track would be a typical source signal.
8. Input Ground Lift - Lifts pin-1 ground at the XLR-in to help eliminate ground loops that can cause buzz and hum in a sound system.
9. Power - X-Amp comes equipped with a 15VDC 400mA power supply. Optional 100V, 110V, 220V and 240V PSUs are available.
10. Full bottom rubber pad provides plenty of stay-put wherever you place the X-Amp. Also electrical isolation from amp handles etc. Hook and Loop attachment to pedalboard enhances this feature.
11. Book-cover design creates a protective zone around switches & connectors – Indestructable 14-gauge steel construction with baked enamel finish.
12. Power LED lets you know the X-amp is on and ready to use.
13. Level control adjusts the X-Amp level going to your amp or effects to match that of your guitar; get the exact sound as plugging directly in!
14. Clip LED provides visual cue of input signal overload.
15. OUT-1 - 1/4" direct feed from the X-Amp's Class-A circuit. This output should always be used to ensure proper grounding.
16. Polarity - 180° reverse on the isolated Out-2 to correct the phase with an amp or device connected on Out-1.
17. Out-2 - 1/4" isolated 2nd output to another amp or effect(s). Transformer isolation eliminates the hum and buzz caused by ground loops.
18. Output Ground Lift - Lifts ground between Out-2 and Out-1. Side mounted switch is recessed to prevent accidental use.

Like all Radial DI's, the X-Amp features a mil-spec PC board, high-use switches & connectors, 14-guage welded internal I-beam chassis wrapped in a 14-gauge 'bookend' outer shell and baked enamel finish. Virtually Indestructable!

The X-Amp is designed to withstand the rigors of high-use professional environments! Radial's innovative book-cover design provides a protective zone around the switches and connectors that makes it practically impossible to damage these components.

Stress on circuit boards causes broken and intermittant solder joints and is a common cause of failure in lesser DI's. Radial's 14-gauge welded I-beam inner chassis and 14-guage outer shell greatly reduce the possibility of torque stress being applied to the PC board.

A full-bottom no-slip rubber pad works double duty by (a) providing protection from electrical shock from (eg:) guitar amp handles which are often directly coupled to the amp chassis, and (b) assuring that the X-Amp won’t slip and slide around.

Recording the track

The most basic approach to re-amping would be to record a dry guitar using a direct box such as the Radial JDI, Radial J48 or Radial JDV and then play the pre-recorded track ‘back’ through the X-Amp, which in turn would then be connected to a guitar amplifier. The advantages of recording a track this way are many: During session work, once the original track has been recorded, the engineer-producer can try different amplifiers and sounds without tiring out the player with relentless repetition. For the player-engineer, the track can be recorded, then the player can then sit in the control room and listen to a variety of guitar effects or amplifiers before committing a final sound to the track.

When recording a distorted guitar solo track, one would usually take a slightly different approach and use the ‘thru’ output from the direct box to drive the effects pedals and amplifier. This way, the guitarist would play using his usual ‘live’ sound. This is where the X-Amp really gets interesting: Although the dry (direct) track would not record the distortion, it would however capture all of the inflections and the subtleties of playing in a distorted mode.

To truly understand this, one must understand the physics behind the guitar, distortion pedal, amplifier, and speaker relationship. For instance when the guitarist plays a distorted tone near his amp and the guitar begins to soar with controlled feedback and unlimited sustain, what is in fact happening is that the guitar resonant frequency, note and distortion all begin to work together to create a vibration that reinforces itself in the form of feedback. The string vibrates because of the distorted circuit while the recorded dry track captures the vibration. Since we have captured the vibration, with the X-Amp we can send the dry track to a different effect pedal or amplifier and retain all of the nuances of the performance. This is the real magic!

It is a good idea to also record the ‘wet’ or distorted track as you normally would so that you can then mix multiple tracks together to create thick textures. Once you have captured the performance, you can then change the effects settings to introduce alternate harmonics, more saturation or other creative tones.

Playback time with the X-Amp

Once you have recorded the track, it’s now time to start re-amping the signal and having some serious fun! Keep in mind that since guitar amps and recording devices work at different signal levels, they are not directly compatible. In essence, the X-Amp allows these devices to ‘speak’ to each other by properly matching the impedance and producing a level that will be similar to the original guitar, and thus compatible to the amplifier.

The Radial X-Amp is outfitted an XLR input that would be connected to the output of your recording system or console. Balanced lines are best as they allow long cable runs without introducing noise. On the front panel, the X-Amp is outfitted with two ¼” guitar output jacks. The 1st jack is always used as this provides a ground path from the guitar amplifier to the X-Amp. The second output is transformer isolated to eliminate hum and buzz caused by so-called ground loops.

Always make sure your amplifier and mixer levels are down before connecting equipment as this protects your gear from loud transients caused by capacitor discharges. Once connected, simply play the pre-recorded track through the X-Amp. If the overload LED illuminates, turn down the level from your recorder. You are now set to adjust the output level from the X-Amp going to your guitar amps.

The Radial X-Amp is designed to drive your guitar amp at levels compatible with normal guitar amps. For cleaner tones, you would set the X-Amp at a lower output level. For more powerful distorted tones, you could increase the volume. The best way to ‘match’ the level of your guitar would be to play your guitar into your amp and then leave the settings as is. Then, connect the X-Amp and adjust the level to suit.

The real advantage of the X-Amp is the amazing clarity and natural tone. Unlike previous re-amping devices, the Radial X-Amp is active. This ensures every subtlety and nuance is transferred to the amplifier to truly capture the essence of the performance.

Using X-Amp with other sources

The X-Amp can also be used on other instruments: Keyboard tracks can be given extra life by warming up their sound by sometimes driving them through distortion pedals or tube guitar amps. Vocal tracks can also be twisted into new sounds by introducing these fun effects. And this is just the beginning!

Using the X-Amp to extend your guitar cable

Another interesting option that is available to Radial X-Amp users is the ability to use a instrument / mic pre-amp to drive a guitar signal a long distance and then reconvert the signal back to a guitar level near the amp using the X-Amp. In large studios, you could for instance record your guitar while sitting in front of the studio reference monitors. Maybe you want to record your guitar in a very ‘live’ stairwell for crazy reverb or even set your amp outside in a field so that you get no reverb at all. The X-Amp is only limited by your imagination!

Retail: $200.00, Our Price: $179.99
North American Version, 120 VAC
For other versions, see "Power Supplies" here