True to the Music
Radial Engineering Ltd.
Workhorse User Guide
13
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q: How do I turn the Workhorse phantom power off?
A: There is no reason to turn the phantom power off. Only modules
such as mic preamps will connect to the phantom power supply
on the edge card connector pins. Turning on or off phantom is
usually done on the mic preamp module.
Q: How do I know that there is suffi cient power for all my
modules?
A: Most manufacturers specify the draw required to properly run
their modules. The Workhorse has 1200mA of current available.
Simply add up the draw and make sure you do not exceed
1200mA.
Q: What happens if I exceed 1200mA?
A: Sometimes nothing will happen as most times you will not be
running the modules to their fullest. But when they are run hard,
starving the module will result in distortion and reduced signal
handling.
Q: Can I damage a module due to under-powering?
A: No. It just won’t sound as good.
Q: Why is there no power switch on the Workhorse?
A: Mostly because there is no more space. We recommend that all
studio equipment be routed to a central power strip. These are
usually equipped with an on-off switch that would enable you to
turn on or off all your gear at one time. For safety, always turn
the speakers on after other equipment. This will avoid turn-on
transients from damaging your speakers.
Q: I fi nd that putting in and pulling modules is diffi cult. Is this
normal?
A: Yes. Most modules are designed to fi t snugly. Just patiently
wiggle them in and out. Be careful when putting them in so that
they align properly with the card edge connector. Once you
have done this a few times it will become easier.
Q: I fi nd some non-Radial modules very tight. Is this normal?
A: Unfortunately, due to lack of standards, you may fi nd this to
be the case. You can usually wiggle them in. In some cases,
you will have to remove the bottom tray. This is why we have
created the Workhorse Open Source Document. Hopefully most
manufacturers will adopt this standard as we move forth.
Q: Can I hurt myself by touching the back plane PC board?
A: This is a low power device so getting a shock is unlikely. Due
to legal liability, we cannot recommend the practice. This is why
the Workhorse comes with a protective plastic cover that can be
cut as needed to keep dust and roaming hands out.
Q: Can I damage the card edge connector?
A: Although unlikely, you can damage anything if you are not
careful. The Workhorse employs high-quality EDAC connectors
that are designed for many insertions. Just take it easy when
plugging in or out. Always disconnect the power before inserting
or removing modules.
Q: What happens if I use a 1/4” mono connector instead of a
1/4” TRS?
A: You will unbalance the signal and the level will drop by around
6dB. This means it will not be as loud and, if you are running
cables beyond 20 feet, you are more likely to pick up noise.
Otherwise, it should work fi ne.
Q: The headphone out is very loud. Can this damage some
headphones?
A: Yes. Always set the headphone level down low and increase
until comfortable. The extra loud headphone out is designed
to accommodate all types of headphones and enable the
Workhorse to be used in very loud environments such as in
night clubs. Read the warnings in the manual for safe use.
Q: Do I need to worry about the red and black ground lugs on
the back panel?
A: No. These are coupled together from the factory. These are
only made available for professional studios that have special
grounding requirements.
Q: What is the difference between the XLR and 1/4” TRS
jacks?
A: There is no difference. They are wired in parallel and there for
convenience.
Q: I notice that there are air vents on the top. Will covering
these pose a problem?
A: Air vents are designed to allow modules to cool down. Try to
leave a space above for ventilation. Most modules will not run
so hot as to be a concern. Simply touch the module to see if it
runs hot.
Q: Can I plug a keyboard directly into the Workhorse summing
mixer?
A: Yes. There is plenty of gain in the mixer to handle most buffered
instruments.
Q: Why is the power supply external?
A: The main reason for an external power supply is to free up
space inside the chassis for the Workhorse mixer section.
Additional benefi ts include reduced electromagnetic
interference (EMI) and easy adaptability to international AC
power standards.
Q: Will the FEED function work on old API modules?
A: Yes, the FEED switch connects the card slot’s output jack to the
input of the next card slot.
