Related Manuals for Red Panda RADIUS
Summary of Contents for Red Panda RADIUS
- Page 1 RADIUS Ring Modulator / Frequency Shifter Owner’s Manual Firmware version 1.0 February, 2024 Copyright 2024 Red Panda LLC www.redpandalab.com...
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Page 2: Table Of Contents
LED status indicator Inputs and outputs Power Bypass mode ON footswitch AUX footswitch Presets Ring modulation Frequency shifting Pitch tracking Modulation Sound design with the Radius Web Editor Control Input Reset to factory defaults Using MIDI Pitch vs frequency shifting Specifications Credits... -
Page 3: Introduction
The Radius is not a model of an analog ring modulator. The algorithms are informed by both analog and digital ring modulator and frequency shifter designs, then tweaked to keep the desirable artifacts while suppressing the undesirable artifacts. -
Page 4: Front Panel
Front panel CTRL RING MODULATOR | FREQUENCY SHIFTER 1. AUX switch (default push-to-tune): configurable using the web editor. 2. SHIFT 2X (lower/off/upper): doubles frequency ratio of upper or lower sidebands. 3. PRESET select, hold to save preset. 4. Preset indicator. 5. -
Page 5: Led Status Indicator
Inputs and outputs The Radius has stereo (TRS) inputs and outputs with the left channel on the tip and right channel on the ring. The input/output configuration can be configured using the web editor: Mono in / mono out Mono in / stereo out Stereo in / stereo out (default). -
Page 6: Bypass Mode
Bypass mode Radius supports buffered analog or DSP bypass. DSP bypass gives a smooth fade in and out. With buffered analog bypass, your signal does not go through A/D or D/A conversion when the effect is off. The bypass signal turns on/off using low-distortion analog switches, which may cause a click if the input signal is loud (but less noisy than a 3PDT switch or relay). - Page 7 Push-To-Tune On/Off Press the AUX footswitch to turn push-to-tune mode on or off. Preset Pressing the AUX footswitch cycles through the presets, from 1-4 and the live knob settings. Preset Shift Pressing the AUX footswitch will momentarily jump to the next preset (1-4), jumping back when you release the switch.
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Page 8: Presets
Presets The Radius stores 100 presets. Presets 1-4 are selectable via the PRESET button, and all are available via MIDI. Preset 101 will revert to the pedal’s current knob and switch settings. Saving presets To save a preset: 1. press the PRESET button until the desired preset (1-4) is selected 2. -
Page 9: Ring Modulation
Diode ring modulators have a lot of distortion (think Daleks), which is not ideal for communications. Analog ring modulators use either matched transistors, or more commonly, special balanced modulator integrated circuits. The Radius uses DSP algorithms, but it is more complex than simply multiplying the carrier and modulator signals. -
Page 10: Frequency Shifting
90˚ phase-shifted version of the input signal. The Radius generates the phase-shifted input signal in a way that enables phase-shifted sounds at low carrier frequencies, while providing strong carrier suppression for larger shifts. -
Page 11: Pitch Tracking
Or, connect a MIDI controller to your synth and a Radius. Use MIDI routing software or a plugin to transpose the note sent to the radius up a fourth, or some other interval. Or simply send a synth’s audio and MIDI output to the Radius and transpose the synth’s oscillator up or down. -
Page 12: Modulation
Modulation The Radius’ modulation section has 4 LFO waveforms, 2 x-modulators, and an envelope follower. The RATE control adjusts the LFO speed (or modulation rate). The modulation wave LED will blink at the modulation rate if modulation is active. The AMOUNT control adjusts the range of carrier frequency changes. - Page 13 membered when power is off. Note that it is a step modulator, it is not a sequencer and does not replay knob movements. You can scale the modulation amount and change the base frequency. You can dynamically change the last step by assigning it to the expression pedal. X-mod (X- / X+) The x-mod settings use multiple carrier oscillators that fade in and out while sweeping down (X-) or up (X+).
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Page 14: Sound Design With The Radius
Sound design with the Radius Endless glissando Endless glissando creates tones that seem to rise or fall infinitely. Start with these settings: MIX 5:00 TRACK: 12:00 FREQ: 11:30 RM/FS: 3:00 RATE: 7:00 AMOUNT: 5:00 MOD WAVE: X+ The slow RATE and wide AMOUNT give multiple octaves of sidebands that fade in and out. The FREQ control sets the center of the sweep. - Page 15 (input gain) control on some ring mods Ring mod into fuzz Ring modulation and frequency shifting create new frequencies that are not harmonically related to the input signal. Placing the Radius in front of a fuzz will create new frequencies for the fuzz to work with.
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Page 16: Web Editor
MIDI hardware or software and MIDI control change messages. Connect your pedal to a computer using a USB cable and go to the web editor URL using Chrome: https://www.redpandalab.com/content/apps/radius-editor/index.html Note the https in the URL. http will not allow the browser to acess your MIDI devices. - Page 17 The expression pedal can be assigned to up to 6 parameters, with a minimum/maximum range for each. Preset The Preset tab allows you to send MIDI program change messages and save presets to the pedal’s on- board memory. Presets 1-4 are also available via the pedal’s PRESET footswitch. Prests can be named, copied, and transferred to/from a computer.
- Page 18 Receive MIDI Clock Turns MIDI clock reception on/off. To disable MIDI clock sync for specific presets, set their note division parameters to “Off”. Lock Presets Locks preset data to avoid accidental changes. Help The Help tab provides links to our knowledge base, user manual, and firmware updates. Show MIDI Devices This button shows all USB MIDI input and output devices.
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Page 19: Control Input
Control Input The CTRL (control) input supports different methods of remotely controlling the pedal: Expression pedal Control voltage (CV) with 0-3.3V range Tap Tempo TRS MIDI in (tip active) Remote switch To configure a expression pedal or remote switch, hold down the right footswitch while plugging it in. The pedal will detect which device is connected using the steps below. - Page 20 Control Voltage Control voltage input is configured the same way as an expression pedal. CV Range: 0-3.3V (with over/under-voltage protection) Tip: 0-3.3V input Ring: 3.3V output (with current limiting) Sleeve: ground The expression input has current limiting in case you use a TS cable, but it is preferable to use a 1/4” TRS cable with the ring unconnected.
- Page 21 Remote Modes Mode Switch Function LED Indication Preset 1 Blinks green when saved Double tap: manual settings Hold (4 sec): save Preset 2 Blinks green when saved Double tap: manual settings Hold (4 sec): save Preset 3 Blinks green when saved Double tap: manual settings Hold (4 sec): save Preset 4...
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Page 22: Reset To Factory Defaults
Reset to factory defaults Use the following procedure to reset the Radius’ configuration data to factory default settings. This will erase any advanced configuration and control port settings, but presets will not be affected. Note that this is rarely useful for troubleshooting problems with your pedal. -
Page 23: Using Midi
Using MIDI Your pedal supports USB MIDI (in/out) and 1/4" TRS MIDI (input only). USB MIDI Your pedal is a class-compliant USB device, which allows you to: Control all parameters Access additional hidden parameters The pedal can work with any USB MIDI host, including: Macintosh and Windows computers. - Page 24 MIDI Continuous Controller Messages CC Num Destination Notes Expression Sending CC 4 is the same as having an expression pedal connected to the CTRL input (which does not have to be configured for “expression”). Ring mod/freq shift mix Carrier frequency Carrier pitch tracking -100% +100%...
- Page 25 CC Num Destination Notes Shift 2X Down Shift range High Stepped Bypass 0-63 Bypass (receive only) 64-127 Effect on 64-127 (receive only) Modulation note division See “Note Divisions” table Receive MIDI clock 0-63 (global) 64-127 Receive MIDI clock Play carrier by MIDI note 0 Use global setting...
- Page 26 Note division continuous controller values CC Value Note Division Off (tap tempo disabled) 8 measure 7 measures 6 measures 5 measures 4 measures 3 measures 2 measures 2 measure triplet Dotted whole note Whole note Whole note triplet Dotted half note Half note Half note triplet Dotted quarter note...
- Page 27 MIDI Timing Clock MIDI timing clock messages are used to synchronize multiple MIDI devices to a single clock transmitter. The clock is typically provided by a DAW in computer-based setups and a sequencer or drum machine in hardware-only setups. Dedicated MIDI clock generators are available for more complicated setups that need tight synchronization, and some devices can convert between MIDI clock, DIN sync, and taps.
- Page 28 the best possible syncronization timing. However, the accuracy of the clock depends on the transmit- ter and any devices it passes through. It is common to have +/-1 milliseconds of jitter, with is irregular timing due to individual clock ticks arriving too early or too late. All equipment that receives MIDI clock needs to smooth out the timing to maintain a stable tempo.
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Page 29: Pitch Vs Frequency Shifting
Pitch vs frequency shifting To understand why ring mod sounds atonal and how you can use it musically, it might help to think about the difference between frequency and pitch. To play a ring mod or frequency shifter musically, you need to map between linear frequency and exponential pitch. -
Page 30: Specifications
Specifications Carrier frequency: 0.65 - 4,000 Hz LFO frequency: 0.1 - 55 Hz Input impedance: 1 MΩ Output impedance: 470 Ω Max. input: +8 dBu Power: 9V DC, center negative Current: 200 mA Dimensions: 3.1” x 4.75” x 2.5” Weight: 0.73 lbs. -
Page 31: Credits
A number of musicians generously provided help, feedback, encouragement, and inspiration during the development of the Radius. Many thanks to Juan Alderete, Scott Amendola, Mike Baggetta, Stu Brooks, Bobb Bruno, Dan Elkan, Jonathan Huber, Henry Kaiser, Josh Klinghoffer, Kid Koala, Lealani, Vernon Reid,...