True to the Music
®
Radial Engineering Ltd.
EXTC 500 Module
3
GETTING STARTED
Before making any connections, start by turning off your audio system and turning all
volume levels down. This helps protect equipment from turn-on transients that could damage
loudspeakers and other sensitive equipment. We recommend using a power bar with an on-
off switch as this makes it easy to turn on and off the 500 series rack, monitors and so on,
using a single switch. Carefully plug the EXTC into your 500 series rack to avoid stress on the
card-edge connector. Screw the module in to ensure it does not accidentally get dislodged.
Connections between the EXTC and your pedals are made on the front panel while
connections to the recording system are done on the rear panel. Most 500 series racks
are equipped with XLR connectors. When you plug the EXTC into your 500 series rack,
it will automatically route the input and output to the module. With the Workhorse, this is
augmented with ¼" TRS connectors, D-Subs and a signal to feed the Workhorse mixer. It
also activates the Omniport which in this instance (with EXTC) turns the Omniport into a
second effects loop.
Start by setting up the X-amp panel controls as follows:
1. Set the blend control to the wet position (fully-clockwise).
2. Make sure the 180º is off (switch outward) so that everything is in phase.
3. Set the Omniport insert switch to off (switch outward).
4. Set the send and receive level controls at mid-way (12 o’clock).
Connect the output from your recorder to the XLR input on the rear panel. To connect your
pedals, simply plug the ¼" send to your pedal chain and the output of the pedal chain back
to the EXTC receive input. We suggest you start with one pedal first before using a complete
chain. This will make it easier to trouble shoot when setting up the EXTC in your system.
Turn on the effects and play the desired track. You should be able to monitor the return path
in your recording system and hear the effect. Separate send & receive controls make it easy
to adjust the levels to suit. Now, try varying the blend control by rotating it counter-clockwise
towards the dry setting to hear how the effect mixes in with the original track. If you notice
that the signal is ‘thinning out’ when you are adjusting the mix, the wet and dry signals may
be out-of-phase with each other, thus causing cancellation. Try depressing the 180º polarity
reverse to fix the problem. If all is well, try adding more pedals.
One of the most common applications for the EXTC is using it to add grit to a vocal track.
This can easily be done with a distortion or overdrive pedal. You will find that the most
realistic effects are created by introducing slight distortion. But you can also have loads of fun
creating Nine Inch Nails type of tones by going crazy. There are no rules, only guidelines.
Adding A Second Loop
If you have a Workhorse, you can use the Omniport to add a second effects loop in series after
the front panel pedal chain. This is ideally suited for studio effects or to connect to a studio
patchbay. The Workhorse TRS jack is wired tip-send, ring-receive following convention. To
turn on, depress the OMNI INSERT switch on the front panel.
EXTC
INPUT
LOOP-1
FRONT PANEL
LOOP-2
OMNIPORT INSERT
OUTPUT
STUDIO EFFECT
PEDAL
