Linking Two KHE ACS 4x4FX
This guide explains all details how to link two KHE ACS 4x4FX. It is possible to fully link two ACS 4x4FX and use it as an 8x8FX system and also control it by MIDI. It requires two special adapter cables and a connection box:
Master-FX-Loop Linking
The Master-FX-Loops of the two ACS 4x4FX can be fully linked, which enables to share a single effect pedal chain with both amp switchers.
To link the fx-loops, it requires two special Y-Adapter Cables: One 1/4” TS Female Jack to two 1/4” TS Male Plugs (mono wiring, parallel connection) such as the Cordial CFY 0,3 GPP or similar.
The first y-adapter connects the two KHE FX-Input jacks to the effect pedal input. The second y-adapter links the effect pedal output to the the KHE FX-Output jacks. The y-adapters are only required with two linked ACS4x4FX (the AFX8 has two additional link jacks for normal cables). It is not recommended to link 3 or more ACS4x4FX by daisy-chaining y-adapters. Alternatively, it is also possible to use the fx-loop section of each switcher individually.
The Y-Adapter Cables can be purchased in the KHE Online Shop: KHE FX-Loop Linking Y-Cables (only available for new & existing KHE customers).
Learn more about the KHE’s Master-FX-Loop switching: KHE Master-FX-Loop Switching Guide (coming soon)
Attenuator Linking
The Attenuator Insert Loops of the two ACS 4x4FX can be fully linked, which enables to share a single power attenuator with both amp switchers.
To link the white S-Line jacks, it requires a special KHE connection box and some more speaker cables. This box links the S-Line jacks from the amp switchers to a single insert point for the attenuator input and output. It’s a small, stompbox-sized passive connection box for speaker-level signal.
Connect all ACS4x4FX S-LINE SEND jacks to the S-LINE SEND jack of the connection box. Connect all ACS4x4FX S-LINE RETURN jacks to the S-LINE RETURN jack of the connection box. Connect the amp input of the attenuator to the ATTENUATOR INPUT of the connection box. Connect the speaker output of the attenuator to the ATTENUATOR OUTPUT jack of the connection box. Use speaker cables for all connections.
Note that the KHE Attenuator Insert Loop must be activated in both switcher’s System Menu. Learn more: KHE Attenuator Insert Loop Guide (coming soon)
The connection box can be purchased in the KHE Online Shop: KHE Attenuator Connection Box (only available for new & existing KHE customers).
If no global attenuator is used, the link wiring of the S-LINE jacks requires just one single speaker cable. Connect the white S-LINE RETURN to the S-LINE RETURN of the second switcher. Since the Attenuator Loop is deactivated in this configuration, the S-Line Send / Return jacks are connected in parallel, so they have the same signal and function.
Full Linking Diagram & Setup
Here’s the full connection diagram for two linked ACS 4x4FX with global attenuator and linked master-fx-loop:
Note that in all linked KHE setups, the switchers are also connected at the CTRL IN/OUT jacks by 5-pin MIDI cable. This connection is a must! This is the KHE’s communication network port, which enables the switchers to talk together to exchange status and switching commands. While this connection uses standard MIDI cable, it does not use MIDI communication but a more robust and bi-directional CAN bus. In addition to the 5-pin cable, each switcher must be set to a specific MIDI channel number which functions as a device identifier in the KHE network. If the network is not set-up correctly (wrong CTRL wiring or wrong midi channel), the CTRL lights of the switchers will blink red/green and the switching operation will be blocked.
Learn more:
KHE Linking Guide - A detailed overview about the KHE’s linking feature (coming soon)
Linked Setup Procedure - A step-by-step guide on how to setup & program the linked switchers (coming soon)
Linked MIDI Guide - How to remotely control the linked KHE switchers by MIDI (coming soon)
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