K8 Rackmount Family User Manual
Page 5
Using Input Devices
Input devices are used to put audio onto the K8 bus while output devices are used to get audio out of the K8 bus.
Some K8 input devices have 8 input channels while others have 16 input channels. Two 8-channel devices may be stacked
up to populate all the available 16 channels on a K8 cable. For example, 16 analogue inputs are obtained by stacking
quantity (2) K8-AI8 devices.
It is also possible to combine a 16 channel input device with an 8 channel input device. When these two devices are
stacked, channels 1-8 of the 16 channel device are replaced by the 8 channel device. For example, 8 AES3 inputs on
channels 9-16 and 8 analogue inputs on channels 1-8 are obtained by stacking a K8-AESI16 with a K8-AI8.
The 4
th
CONFIG DIP switch on the K8-AESI16 is used to turn off transmission of channels 9-16, making it function like any
other 8 channel K8 input device.
Stacking two devices is accomplished using a standard Ethernet crossover cable to connect the K8 Out 2 of the first device
to the K8 Out 1 of the second device. The K8 Out 1 of the first device is then used to drive the K8 bus.
K8 Out 1
K8-AI8 Analogue Input
K8 Out 2
K8 Out 1
K8-AESI16 AES3 Input
K8 Out 2
TERM
On
Not Used
CONFIG
On
Cat 5 Crossover Cable
Out to
Distribution
K8 Channel Inputs 9-16
K8 Channel Inputs 1-8
K8 Out 1
K8-AESI16 AES3 Input
K8 Out 2
K8 Out 1
K8-AI8 Analogue Input
K8 Out 2
CONFIG
On
Not Used
TERM
On
Cat 5 Crossover Cable
Out to
Distribution
K8 Channel Inputs 9-16
K8 Channel Inputs 1-8
Termination Setting
TERMINATION RULE: The first and last device on each K8 chain must have their termination switches set. If both K8 ports
on a device are used, the switches are on. If one of the K8 ports on a device is not connected, the switches are off. The K8
terminal control protocol is able to monitor the termination switch settings remotely.
The first 3 configuration switches must all be set to “on” when the AESI16 is the first device in the K8 chain.
Both K8 output ports connected:
Termination Off
One K8 output port connected:
Termination On
Control and Monitoring
All devices on the K8 bus may be controlled and monitored through a single RS-485 connection to the device. The control
signal passes through the same cable as the audio signals and requires no special installation. The protocol is openly
published on
www.klein-hummel.com
for use by software engineers and control system programmers. The pinout of the RS-
485 port is as follows:
PIN 1
Phantom Ground
PIN 2
Phantom Power
PIN 3
Data A (+)
PIN 4
Data B (-)
PIN 5
Signal Ground
PIN 6-9 Not Used
DB9 Female Control Connector