True to the Music
Radial Engineering Ltd.
KL-8™ Owner’s Manual
2
OVERVIEW
The KL-8 is a powerful mixing station created with pro keyboard players in mind, with a number of features designed
specifically to streamline and enhance any keyboard setup.
You can connect up to four keyboards in mono or stereo, each with their own with level controls and LED indicators,
along with the ability to bring them in and out of the signal path to keep noisy keyboards muted until they are needed.
A stereo aux send/receive channel is available to feed rackmount reverbs and delays or effects pedals. It can also
be used as an additional input for a fifth keyboard, or reconfigured to allow an alternative audio source such as a
click track to feed the headphones and stage monitors.
Both the Main outputs and Monitor outputs are provided over transformer-isolated balanced XLRs, with ground lift
switches to eliminate hum and buzz from ground loops. The Main outputs are also transformer-isolated to further
reduce noise. Both sets of outputs can also be summed to mono for use with systems that have limited channel
availability.
Dual 1/4” headphone outputs are also included for local monitoring and testing. A cue system allows any keyboard
input to be muted from the overall mix and fed directly to the headphones to silently check patch settings without
feeding signal to the audience.
The KL-8 is also a powerful digital interface, with MIDI and USB connections that make it easy to control a laptop
soft-synth, utilizing high quality 24bit/192kHz digital audio converters. Redundant USB connections mean that you
can have a backup laptop plugged in and ready to go should your primary source fail; this is especially helpful for
keyboard players who are also controlling playback for backing tracks during the performance. An optional JR1-L
remote footswitch can be employed to switch between the USB inputs at a moments notice.
Finally, stereo insert points on the KL-8 allow a single volume pedal to control all of your keyboard outputs, and
a link feature can be used to connect multiple units together and expand the KL-8 inputs to suit even the largest
keyboard rigs.
Utilizing the many connectivity options available on the KL-8
