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1
. How old is 'Radel ?
Radel was established in 1979 in a small garage. It has now grown into a professionally managed establishment located in the 'Silicon valley' of India.
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2
. What is the life-span of these products ?
The life span of any well-manufactured electronic equipment is easily several decades. So also with Radel products. We have many customers still using our 20-year old tambura-s which are still functioning perfectly. However, consequent to rapid changes in electronic technology, newer models with far superior features render the older ones obsolete in about 10 years.
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3
. How often does Radel update its designs ?
Radel updates its designs almost every six months. As new technology emerges, Radel immediately starts working on ways to incorporate the latest technology, so that the customer may benefit by way of power savings, additional features, miniaturisation, etc.
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4
. What kind of after-sales service does Radel provide ?
Radel provides not only a one year warranty on all its instruments, but also supports them with excellent after-sales service. Radel has branch offices in CHennai and Pune and has service facilities in Delhi and Kolkata besides the head office at Bangalore. Our technicians also visit the major cities regularly to provide service facilities. We also offer technical advice by mail, fax and e-mail for minor problems.
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5
. What does Radel mean by 'state of the art' technology in its products ?
Radel uses the latest microprocessors and components to continuously upgrade its products for improved performance, lower battery consumption, better features such as provision of memory for personalised settings, sampled tones, etc., as well as updated production processes that yield uniform performance and high reliability. Some of these may not be transparent to the user since the external appearance of the instrument may not have changed.
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6
. Do all Radel products operate on batteries as well as AC Power ?
Yes, all Radel products operate on AC Mains 220V / 110V, as well as on a set of batteries that fit conveniently into a compartment provided within the instrument. Further, all the latest models automatically operate on any voltage from 90 - 260V Ac as well as automatically switch over to battery operation in case of power failure.
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7
. How does a user in a foreign country such as the USA, obtain help from Radel ?
Just e-mail or write to us. Since in most cases the problem relates to non-familiarity with the correct operating procedures, they can be resolved through communication. In rare cases of hardware problems, Radel has helped users in foreign countries overcome them by means of advice over mail, fax, or e-mail. Many customers have gone on record appreciating our prompt response and sincere efforts to help solve their problem and support the product.
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8
. What kind of R&D does Radel perform ?
R&D at Radel involves not only inventing new instruments, but also improving the existing models, providing better features, making them easy for customers to use, and making them more efficient in operation.
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9
. Why does Radel use the western system of representing pitch instead of the Indian system?
Indian classical music has two systems, each with different ways of referring to the pitch. (eg., C# is referred to as 1 1/2 in Carnatic music whereas it is referred to as Black 1 in Hindustani music). Radel's customers are from not only the entire country, but from all over the world. Since the Western system of representing pitch is what is seen on pitch-pipes, we have used this system on our instruments. Along with every instrument, a reference chart is provided (usually on the bottom side of the instrument) to relate the Hindustani and Carnatic systems of pitch to the western system of reference.
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10
. Why has Radel invented an electronic tabla, but not an electronic mridangam ?
The tabla is used in Hindustani music as a taal reference, in the same way as the marking of taala by hand is used in Carnatic music. Each tabla 'bol' or sound has a meaning as to the position of the taala cycle. By listening to the tabla, a Hindustani musician can precisely know the point of the taala cycle at which he is, at the moment. Therefore, the tabla 'bols' cannot vary. They have to be repeated again and again monotonously in the same way. This is known as a 'theka'. This monotonous repetition can be easily performed by a machine, which is why the Taalmala electronic tabla was invented. The mridangam, on the other hand, provides a 'live' accompaniment with creative drumming, improvised on the spot by the artiste to suit the composition. Thus it cannot be reproduced by a machine playing automatically by itself.
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