ALLEN & HEATH Xone:K2 - MIDI Controller Manual

ALLEN & HEATH Xone:K2 - MIDI Controller Manual

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ALLEN & HEATH Xone:K2 - MIDI Controller Manual

PACKED ITEMS

INTRODUCTION

To ensure that you get the maximum benefit from the unit please spare a few minutes familiarizing yourself with the controls and setup procedures outlined in this user guide. For further information please refer to the additional information available on our web site, or contact our technical support team.
To register your Xone product please visit www.allen-heath.co.uk and, in the 'Support' tab, follow the 'Register Your Product' link.

PRODUCT OVERVIEW

The XONE:K2 is a software controller and audio interface designed to work with all DAW applications that implement MIDI. The main features of the Xone: K2 are:

  • 52 hardware controls providing up to 171 MIDI control commands across three layers
  • Customisable Latching Layers system
  • Back lit switches with individually accessible tri-colour LED illumination
  • Four-channel 48kHz 16-bit internal soundcard
  • Carry case that doubles as a stand is included with the product
  • USB Bus Powered
  • X:LINK
  • Light plastic base with steel front panel
  • Flat board construction but still employing A&H 'nutted pots' construction principle

MIDI Interface
The MIDI interface of the Xone: K2 can be customised by the user. The unit can be left in 'Open Architecture (Latching Layers Off) Mode' or set to 'Latching Layers Mode'. The blocks of control surface components that are linked to the Latching Layers can be configured by the user.

Audio Interface
The Xone: K2 has an internal four-channel16-bit soundcard that can operate at 44.1 and 48kHz. All four channels run from the PC to the Xone: K2 and are configured as follows (the labelling is from the perspective of a DAW):
Soundcard Output 1 - Headphones Left
Soundcard Output 2 - Headphones Right
Soundcard Output 3 - Master Out Left
Soundcard Output 4 - Master Out Right

X:LINK
It is possible to link two Xone: K2 units together using the X:LINK protocol. The provided RJ45 cable is used for power and data transfer from one unit to another—this releases one USB port if a second Xone: K2 is being used for control only.
X:LINK does not transfer audio between the units, so if units are to have their audio aggregated then two USB ports will be necessary.

SOFTWARE INSTALLATION MAC

The Xone: K2 is class compliant and enumerates as a MIDI device and four-channel audio device on a Mac.
SOFTWARE INSTALLATION MAC

AGGREGATE AUDIO
To aggregate two Xone: K2 units together, click the '+' button in the bottom left of the audio devices window to create a new aggregate audio device. Next, in the right hand side of the window, select both instances of the K2 and you will essentially create one device with eight outputs.
AGGREGATE AUDIO

SOFTWARE INSTALLATION PC

The Xone: K2 is class compliant and enumerates as a MIDI device and two-channel audio device on a PC. To benefit from the full four-channels of audio provided, the Xone: K2 ASIO* compatible USB audio and MIDI Device Drivers must be installed.

Software Installation (Microsoft Windows PC Windows7, Windows8, Windows10)
Follow the procedure described below to install ASIO* compatible Device Drivers:

  1. Open the Drivers folder and run Setup.exe
    SOFTWARE INSTALLATION PC - Step 1
  2. Select your preferred language
    SOFTWARE INSTALLATION PC - Step 2
  3. Select Install the driver
    SOFTWARE INSTALLATION PC - Step 3
  4. When prompted, connect the Xone: K2 to the PC with the USB lead.
    SOFTWARE INSTALLATION PC - Step 4
    The Xone: K2 will now initialise.
    SOFTWARE INSTALLATION PC - Step 5
    The USB drivers will now initialise.
    SOFTWARE INSTALLATION PC - Step 6
  5. Once the driver installation is complete you will be prompted to reboot your computer.
    SOFTWARE INSTALLATION PC - Step 7

MIDI CONTROLS

MIDI CONTROLS

  1. Rotary Encoders
    Turning an encoder produces MIDI CC (continuous controller) messages with a unique controller number in two's compliment binary encoding
    These encoders feature a built in momentary push switch. Pressing down on the encoder knob activates the switch and sends a "Note On" MIDI message, releasing the switch sends a corresponding "Note Off" message.
    The window below the top row of encoders can be used to display the state of the encoder switch in the same manner as the other switches.
  2. Rotary Potentiometers
    These controls are standard potentiometers with end stops. Turning a pot from left to right will send MIDI messages with a unique CC number and a control value from 0 to 127.
  3. Pot Switches
    Each rotary potentiometer has a switch with tri-colour illumination below it.
  4. Linear Faders
    Moving a linear fader will send a MIDI message with a unique CC number and a control value from 0 (bottom) to 127 (top).
  5. Switch Matrix
    The switch matrix consists of 16 back-lit tri-colour switches.
  6. Layer Button
    The Layer button is completely user assignable but can also function as an embedded layer button.

FRONT AND REAR PANEL CONNECTORS

FRONT AND REAR PANEL CONNECTORS - Part 1

  1. Headphones Output
    Stereo 3.5mm mini-jack. Plug in good quality stereo headphones intended for DJ monitoring. Use closed-ear headphones that provide maximum acoustic isolation when cueing your sources. We recommend that you use high quality headphones rated between 30 to 100 ohms impedance. 8 ohm headphones are not recommended.

    To avoid damage to your hearing do not operate the headphones or sound system at excessively high volume. Continued exposure to high volume sound can cause frequency selective or wide range hearing loss.
    Ensure that the headphone level in your DAW is turned to an appropriately low level before connecting headphones.

FRONT AND REAR PANEL CONNECTORS - Part 2

  1. Audio Connectors
    RCA Phono connectors for connecting to an external device such as a mixer or amplifier.
  2. X:LINK In Socket
    RJ45 socket for proprietary connection to another X:LINK enabled Xone device.
  3. X:LINK Out Socket
    RJ45 socket for proprietary connection to another X:LINK enabled Xone device.
  4. USB Connector
    Socket for connecting the Xone: K2 to the PC/Mac.

MIDI CHANNEL NUMBER

By default the MIDI Channel number is set to 15 to prevent control interaction with Xone DB series mixers which default to channel 16.
To change the MIDI channel number on your XONE:K2, you must first enter setup mode.
MIDI CHANNEL NUMBER

Setup Mode
To enter setup mode, press and hold down the encoder [1] then power up by plugging the USB cable to your PC/Mac, (or RJ45 lead if powered from X-LINK). The switch matrix LED's will flash RED three times to indicate that the K2 has entered setup mode.

The display will default as above, with Switch 'A' (the MIDI CHANNEL setup option) being illuminated.
Press the setup encoder [1] to display the current MIDI channel number; see below.

Setting MIDI Channel Number

The channel number is represented by the number of illuminated switches; in this case MIDI Channel 14.
To change the MIDI Channel number, rotate the Setup encoder.
Once the desired MIDI Channel Number has been chosen, press the Setup Encoder [1] to store it and return to the setup mode.
Press the amber switch to exit setup mode and the switch matrix LED's will flash RED three times.

LATCHING LAYERS

Latching Layers' provide embedded layer control via the 'LAYER' button on the Xone: K2. If Latching Layers are on, the LAYER switch is used to toggle between the RED, AMBER then GREEN layers. From this, if the LAYER switch is RED, any switch used on this layer will illuminate RED; if the layer switch is AMBER, then any switch used on this layer will illuminate AMBER etc.
To change the Latching Layers system on your XONE:K2, you must first enter setup mode.
LATCHING LAYERS

Setup Mode
To enter setup mode, press and hold down the encoder [1] then power up by plugging the USB cable to your PC/Mac, (or RJ45 lead if powered from X-LINK). The switch matrix LED's will flash RED three times to indicate that the K2 has entered setup mode.
The display will default as above, with switch 'A' (the MIDI CHANNEL setup option) being illuminated.
Rotate the setup encoder [1] clockwise to illuminate switch 'B'; see below.


Once switch 'B' (the LATCHING LAYERS setup option) is illuminated, press the setup encoder [1] to display which components are attached to the latching layers; see overleaf.

LATCHING LAYERS
If Latching Layers are 'on' (states [2], [3], [4] and [5]), the LAYER switch is used to toggle between the three layers.

LATCHING LAYER OPTIONS
Use the rotary action of the Setup encoder to select between the Latching Layer options. The Latching Layer states shown above are described as follows:

  1. LATCHING LAYERS OFF - In this state, Latching Layers are disabled and the 'Layer' button is available for user configuration.
  2. SWITCH MATRIX - In this state, the 16 switches in the Switch Matrix are linked to Latching Layers.
  3. POT SWITCHES - In this state, the switches under the pots and the top row encoder switches are linked to Latching layers.
  4. ALL SWITCHES - In this state, all switches on the surface are linked to Latching Layers.
  5. ALL CONTROLS - In this state, all controls on the surface are linked to Latching Layers. The faders and pots have an embedded soft pick up algorithm to provide seamless integration across layers.

Once the desired controls are linked to the Latching Layers, press the setup encoder to store and return to the setup mode. Press the amber switch to exit setup mode and the switch matrix LED's will flash RED three times.
If controls have been added to the latching layers system, the LAYER switch will be illuminated RED (layer 1) once the unit has exited setup mode.

MIDI IMPLEMENTATION SEND

MIDI IMPLEMENTATION SEND - Part 1
MIDI IMPLEMENTATION SEND - Part 2
MIDI IMPLEMENTATION SEND - Part 3

MIDI IMPLEMENTATION RETURN

MIDI IMPLEMENTATION RETURN - Part 1
MIDI IMPLEMENTATION RETURN - Part 2

MIDI NOTE IMPLEMENTATION TABLE

MIDI NOTE IMPLEMENTATION - TABLE 1
MIDI NOTE IMPLEMENTATION - TABLE 2


The X:LINK protocol is a proprietary Allen and Heath protocol for connection between X:LINK enabled products.

XONE:K2 X:LINK
In the case of the XONE:K2, X:LINK provides power and MIDI data transfer between two units.
NOTE: X:LINK does not include the transfer of audio.
Use the provided RJ45 cable to link the OUT connection on one unit to the IN connection of the other. The unit wired to the IN connection should be the unit that is connected to the PC/Mac (see below).
LINK
In order for the units to work independently of each other, the MIDI channel numbers must be different. For information on setting the MIDI channel number.

APPLICATION EXAMPLES

SINGLE SETUP (PHONES ONLY)
SINGLE SETUP (PHONES ONLY)
The above diagram shows a basic setup using one Xone: K2 (front and rear panels are both shown). In this application the XONE:K2 is being used with headphones only.

PC DRIVER TYPE
In this particular application, as only the headphones are in use, it is possible to use the WDM (Windows Device Manager) driver or the supplied ASIO driver. The WDM driver will default to Soundcard Output 1-2 which feeds the headphones.

MAC
The XONE:K2 will appear as a device with four outputs. iTunes will default to Soundcard Outputs 1-2 which feeds the headphones.

SOUNDCARD MAPPING

PC WDM: In DAW application, set Master Output to Soundcard Output 1-2
PC ASIO: In DAW application, set Master Output to Soundcard Output 1-2
MAC: In DAW application, set Master Output to Soundcard Output 1-2

SINGLE SETUP (PHONES AND MIX)
SINGLE SETUP (PHONES AND MIX)
The above diagram shows a basic setup using one Xone: K2 (front and rear panels are both shown). In this application, the XONE:K2 Master output is wired to a speaker system.

PC DRIVER TYPE
In this particular application, as the Master Output and the headphones are in use, the ASIO driver must be employed.

MAC
The XONE:K2 is Class Compliant and does not need a specific driver.

SOUNDCARD MAPPING

PC ASIO: In DAW application, set Monitor (or Cue) Output to Soundcard Output 1-2 and Master (Mix) Output to Soundcard Output 3-4
MAC: In DAW application, set Monitor (or Cue) Output to Soundcard Output 1-2 and Master

SINGLE SETUP (EXTERNAL MIXER)

The diagram shows a setup using one XONE:K2 and a twochannel analogue mixer. The front and rear panels of the XONE:K2 are shown, joined by the dashed line.
In this configuration, the XONE:K2 Master Output is connected to one channel on the mixer using RCA cables.
The XONE:K2 Headphone Output is connected to the other channel on the mixer using a 3.5mm jack to dual RCA lead.

PC DRIVER TYPE
In this particular application both Master and Headphone outputs are required so the ASIO driver must be used.

MAC
The XONE:K2 is Class Compliant and does not need a specific driver.

SOUNDCARD MAPPING
Your chosen DAW needs to be set to External Mixing Mode to allow for individual deck outputs. Selection of this mode will differ depending upon the DAW used. Please refer to the Help files within your DAW for setup information.

PC ASIO: In DAW application, set one Deck Output to Soundcard Output 1-2 and the other Deck Output to Soundcard Output 3-4
MAC: In DAW application, set one Deck Output to Soundcard Output 1-2 and the other Deck Output to Soundcard Output 3-4

MIXER CONNECTIONS
The mixer will drive the main PA system and headphones.

DUAL SETUP (PHONES ONLY)
DUAL SETUP (PHONES ONLY)
The above diagram shows a setup using two Xone: K2s. The front and rear panels are shown on the 'Master' unit, joined by the dashed line.
In this configuration, the XONE:K2's are linked together using the X:LINK bus. This gives twice the amount of control but still only utilises one USB port.
For more information on the X:LINK setup see THE X:LINK PROTOCOL.

PC DRIVER TYPE
In this particular application, as only the headphones are in use, it is possible to use the WDM (Windows Device Manager) driver or the supplied ASIO driver. The WDM driver will default to Soundcard Output 1-2 which feeds the headphones.

MAC
The XONE:K2 will appear as a device with four outputs. iTunes will default to Soundcard Outputs 1-2 which feeds the headphones.

SOUNDCARD MAPPING

PC WDM: In DAW application, set Master Output to Soundcard Output 1-2
PC ASIO: In DAW application, set Master Output to Soundcard Output 1-2
MAC: In DAW application, set Master Output to Soundcard Output 1-2

DUAL SETUP (PHONES AND MIX)
DUAL SETUP (PHONES AND MIX)
The above diagram shows a setup using two Xone: K2s. The front and rear panels are shown on the 'Master' unit, joined by the dashed line.
In this configuration, the XONE:K2's are linked together using the X:LINK bus. This gives twice the amount of control but still only utilises one USB port.
The XONE:K2 Master output is wired to a speaker system.
For more information on the X:LINK setup see THE X:LINK PROTOCOL.

PC DRIVER TYPE
In this particular application, as the Master Output and the headphones are in use, the ASIO driver must be used.

MAC
The XONE:K2 is Class Compliant and does not need a specific driver.

SOUNDCARD MAPPING

PC ASIO: In DAW application, set Monitor (or Cue) Output to Soundcard Output 1-2 and Master (Mix) Output to Soundcard Output 3-4
MAC: In DAW application, set Monitor (or Cue) Output to Soundcard Output 1-2 and Master (Mix) Output to Soundcard Output 3-4

DUAL SETUP (EXTERNAL MIXER)
DUAL SETUP (EXTERNAL MIXER)
The diagram shows a setup using two Xone: K2s and a fourchannel analogue mixer. The front and rear panels of the XONE:K2's are shown, joined by the dashed line.
In this configuration, the first XONE:K2 Headphone Output is connected to channel one on the mixer using a 3.5mm jack to dual RCA lead. The Master Output of this XONE:K2 is connected to channel two on the mixer using RCA cables.
The Master Output on the second XONE:K2 is connected to channel three on the mixer using RCA cables. The Headphone Output of this XONE:K2 is connected to channel four on the mixer using a 3.5mm jack to dual RCA lead.

PC DRIVER TYPE
In this particular application both Master and Headphone outputs are required so the ASIO driver must be used.

MAC
The XONE:K2 is Class Compliant and does not need a specific driver.

AGGRERATING AUDIO DEVICES
This application uses two XONE:K2's which BOTH need to be plugged to the Mac/PC via USB. In order for the DAW application to see 8 (four stereo) outputs, the soundcards of the two XONE:K2's must be 'joined' together.
PC: To do this on a PC, a third-party application must be used.
MAC: The joining of the two XONE:K2's on a Mac can be achieved by using the in-built Aggregate Device Editor.

SOUNDCARD MAPPING
Your chosen DAW needs to be set to External Mixing Mode to allow for individual deck outputs. In the DAW application route Deck Outputs to Soundcard Outputs accordingly. This may involve some trial and error to determine which outputs are coming from which XONE:K2.

CONNECTING TO A DB SERIES MIXER
CONNECTING TO A DB SERIES MIXER
The diagram shows a setup using two Xone: K2s and a XONE DB Series mixer.
In this configuration, the XONE:K2 units are connected via their X:LINK sockets. The OUT connection of the K2 on the left is connected to the IN connection of the K2 on the right. The OUT connection of the K2 on the right is connected to the X:LINK socket on the XONE DB Series mixer.
In this configuration, power to the two Xone K2 units is supplied over X:LINK. The DB Series mixer acts as a MIDI hub for the two Xone K2 units and hence their MIDI Channel numbers must be different to each other AND the mixer.
The Xone K2 units will not be seen in software as MIDI devices in their own right, and so they will need to be addressed through the DM mixer using channel numbers to separate the messages they send and receive.

SPECIFICATIONS

Dimensions and Weights

Width Height Depth Weight
Xone: K2 135 mm(5.3") 30 mm(1.2") 358 mm(14") 1.0kg (2.2lbs)
Carry Case 170 mm(6.7") 70 mm(2.8") 392 mm(15.4") 0.4kg (0.9lbs)
Packed 185 mm(7.3") 78 mm(3") 426 mm(16.8") 1.5kg (3.3lbs)
Frequency Response 44.1kHz 20Hz to 20kHz +0/–0.4 dB
THD + N 0.01% typical
Maximum Output Level +6 dBu
Dynamic Range Output 96 dB

Registering your product
We hope that you are happy with it and that you enjoy many years of faithful service with it.
Please register your product with Allen&Heath online at:
http://www.allen-heath.com/support/register-product/

Documents / Resources

References

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