Radial Engineering Shipping Space Heater 500-Series Tube Overdrive
Radial Engineering has released a 500 series module based off of their original 8-channel rack-mount Space Heater (originally covered by SonicScoop here) to cater to the growing 500 community.
The Space Heater 500’s fully enclosed exterior prevents additional hum from emanating out of the high voltage tube.
The 500-series module is a single-wide unit made for Radial’s own Work Horse rack, and other 500-series racks. The Space Heater 500 is tube-driven, with a 3-position ‘HEAT’ switch. The switch allows users to select between 30, 70, and 140 volts of tube saturation. Tube distortion can be further adjusted with the drive, and make-up gain controls. Additional controls include high- and low-pass filters for honing in on the desired frequency range to crunch.
The Speace Heater 500 is available now for $699.99 MSRP. Here are complete details from Radial:
- Studio grade 12AX7 tube overdrive
- 35, 70 & 140 volt Heat switch to set plate B+ voltage
- Transformer coupled output for vintage tone
- Variable HPF & LPF filters to focus distortion
The Radial Space Heater 500™ is a studio-grade tube distortion for the 500 series format. Built to provide anything from subtle warmth to thick and heavy harmonic distortion, the Space Heater 500 is both useful and fun!
Designed for use in the Radial Workhorse or any other 500 series rack, the Space Heater is built around a 12AX7 tube. First, a drive control lets you determine the amount of signal passing through the tube. Next, a 3-position heat switch allows you to apply 35, 70 or 140 volts at the plate to change how the tube reacts to the signal. At the low 35V setting the tube is starved for voltage which causes the tube to break up at a very low volume. The middle 70V setting is a great starting point and allows the tube to handle more level before breaking up to a moderate distortion. At 140 volts, maximum voltage is applied to the tube producing slight saturation and warmth. Sweepable high-pass and low-pass filters can be assigned ‘pre or post’ tube, allowing you to focus the tube effect on a particular frequency band or cause the tube to react in a different way. Finally, an output level control provides attenuation or boost through an oversized Jensen transformer specially selected for its big bottom end and vintage character.
Enhancing a snare with a touch of distortion can increase presence without losing dynamic range. Blending in some overdrive to a bass track can add clarity without overpowering. Adding distortion to a vocal track can add character and sizzle to cut through the mix without over-compression. The Space Heater 500’s amazing ‘adjustability’ allows it to be used as a subtle effect or as a high gain monster. And no matter your approach, it is sure to find its way on nearly everything you record!
The Space Heater 500… to infinity and beyond!
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