The Radial SGI Studio Guitar Interface, an innovative 'send & receive' combo that allows a guitar signal to travel from the control room across balanced studio wiring to a distant amplifier as far as 500 feet away while retaining the natural tone of the guitar. With the Radial SGI connected, it allows the guitar player to monitor his sound in real time while recording so that he can hear what is actually going to tape without having to use headphones or be adjacent to the guitar amp.
With all of the project studios around the world, it is common for guitarists to at once perform the roles of performer, engineer and producer. The problem lies in being able to record a track and listen to it over the studio monitor loudspeakers. Formerly, one had to go into an isolated area and listen to the tracks over headphones, then go back to the control room to hear the results. Getting the right sound and feel by doing things the 'old fashion way' is both difficult and time consuming. The Radial SGI solves the problem by allowing the guitar player to connect to the SGI send module and have it play through a distant amplifier, thus allowing the guitarist to play and engineer in front of the studio monitors, greatly enhancing the recording process.
The Radial SGI is a unity gain device that is made up with a combination 'transmit & receive pair' of modules. These feature 100% discreet class-A circuitry for the very highest fidelity. Class-A circuits are known for their low zero-cross distortion, which results in lower inter-modulation distortion and absolute phase accuracy. The guitar connection is standard 1/4 in. To ensure the natural tone of the instrument is transferred correctly, Radial's unique Drag Control load correction circuit is provided that allows the guitarist to introduce a load on the pickup to emulate the direct connection of his guitar to the amplifier. A DC connection for the 15VDC supply is provided along with a power-on LED. To eliminate hum and buzz caused by ground loops, both the 'transmit and receive' modules are equipped with isolation transformers and ground lift options. A standard XLR connects the two devices allowing the signal to traverse balanced patch-bays and studio panels that are typical to most studios. The SGI receive module features an XLR input, and ground lift.
As with all Radial products, the ultra-compact SGI is made from heavy-duty 14-gauge steel and features a unique internal I-beam frame that is virtually impossible to torque. This eliminates the possibility for cold solder joints to develop, which is the prime cause of system failure. An innovative bookend outer shell provides a protective zone around the switches and connectors, thus allowing the SGI to be used in hectic environments without worry of damage due to abuse handling.
