Unlike other 500 series enclosures that are usually rack mounted, Radial Engineering's Workhorse Cube is designed to conveniently sit on the desktop, be carried around the studio or be recessed into the work surface. Two sets of screw-on flanges are supplied to either fully recess the Cube into the desktop or have it angled at 30 degrees for optimal viewing. For those who want to optimize signal-to-noise, a top-mounted carry handle makes it easy to move the Cube around the studio, thus allowing the engineer to position instrument and microphone preamps as close to the source as possible.
Mounting modules is easy. The Cube comes complete with Phillips screws to secure the modules as they slide into position via the 15 pin EDAC connector. This is wired following the original API standard while unused pins are used to feed the Omniport ¼ TRS connector. This innovative connection allows the 500 series manufacturer to personalize their modules by assigning the Omniport to perform a module-specific task. This could, for instance, be a key input on a gate, an instrument input on a preamp or an effects send and receive port should this be advantageous.
To add flexibility, the Cube is equipped with standard XLR i/os and is supplemented with ¼ TRS connectors. These can be used as multi outputs or for cross-patching. Once modules are inserted, an innovative feed switch replaces the old API patch cord system with an elegant solution that immediately sends the output from the first slot into the second and then to the third. And with three slots, the Cube makes it easy to create a channel strip by combining a PowerPre preamp, Q3 coil EQ and a Komit compressor-limiter. A second link switch advances the standard once again by replacing the old solder for stereo approach with a simple switch. Now any two modules that are designed to be stereo-linked can be arranged this way by simply toggling a switch.
To ensure maximum signal handling, the Cube comes complete with an 800 milliamp external power supply. This provides more than 250 milliamps per module via a pooled supply to allow high demand devices such as the Radial PowerTube to be comfortably supplied while still providing sufficient current to feed two other standard modules. Full AES compliant 48 volt phantom is of course supported and activated via the preamp’s usual phantom power on-off switch. The Cube's external switching power supply may be fed using 100V to 240V thus enabling the Cube to travel around the world by simply changing the electrical cable. And as with all Radial products, the Cube is made ultra roadworthy with a 14 gauge steel enclosure and top of the line connectors throughout.
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