Soundcraft K2 BROCHURE

Experience Counts

S

ometimes there’s just no
substitute for experience. Live

sound puts special demands on
both equipment and personnel, because
there’s no second take, and because
anything less than total reliability can
mean disaster. Then there’s the physical

punishment of touring, the need to work
in a wide variety of environments.
After 23 years of designing and building
mixers for professional live sound,
Soundcraft has earned a reputation that’s
second to none, because we listen to

engineers at the cutting

edge, and take notice.

The K2 is our most

cost-effective fully-

featured 8-bus live

console ever, taking

advantage of Soundcraft’s

long experience in live sound to deliver,
in a straightforward package, all the
facilities you need for a first-rate
production.
The K2 includes many features that you’d
expect only on a much bigger console –
like an advanced solo system, true left­centre-right busing, a built-in matrix, and
full 4-band EQ – equipping it for a range
of applications from touring with bands,
to fixed installations in theatres, clubs, or
places of worship. The desk is available in
a choice of four frame sizes from 24 to
48 mono input channels, with an
additional eight stereo input channels. Its
specially designed steel monocoque frame
provides excellent physical protection for
all audio circuitry, based around discrete
vertical PCBs.
Sound quality is assured through the use

of circuits based on classic Soundcraft
designs such as the award-winning
Europa and Vienna. The advanced pre­amp delivers superb low-noise
performance no matter what
you throw at it. The
sweepable high-pass filter
offers more control over
low frequency problem
signals than any other
comparable design. The 4-band
EQ offers the precision required to correct
problems in the mix, and the gentle tonal
control required in sweetening.
A built-in VU meterbridge provides clear
metering of output levels in all lighting
conditions, and there are pre-fade input
meters next to each fader. The channel
muting provides the flexibility of both
mute groups and snapshot automation, as

well as MIDI-controlled muting.
Despite all this, however, the K2 is
thoroughly straightforward in use. We
know all too well that, even in low light,

it must be immediately clear

how to adjust channel EQ

or FX send levels, or solo

a particular channel. The

channel layout, the
colour and size of rotary pots,
and the facia graphics have

all been designed with this in mind. So,
whether you’re familiar with Soundcraft
desks or not, the clear layout and
attention to ergonomic detail ensures
that you’ll be confident and fully in
control.
When you choose an 8-bus live console,
choose one that’s been designed by
someone who knows what they’re doing.

Take control of your mix

T

he K2 offers facilities and quality
demanded by top engineers and

productions, yet makes it as
simple as possible to use. Functionality,
simplicity and quality are to be found
throughout the K2.

SOUND QUALITY

As soon as you plug your first input into
the K2, you know you’re dealing with
something special. All mono inputs have
the same high-quality input stage as the
Soundcraft Vienna and Europa, an
advanced low noise circuit that can
handle mic or line level signals without
using a signal-degrading ‘pad’. The Range
switch removes a gain stage when

dealing with line level signals. This

reduces noise

by keeping

the signal

path as

direct as

possible whilst
setting the appropriate input sensitivity.
An 8-segment LED meter next to the
fader provides simple input level
monitoring so that gain can be correctly
set. Inputs are via high-quality XLRs and
jacks, mounted securely on the steel
monocoque for reliability.

SOUND CONTROL

Soundcraft has always been
well known for quality
filter and EQ
facilities, and
the K2 breaks
new ground
by including a
swept 20­400Hz high­pass filter,
previously only
found on top­end live
consoles. Perhaps
one of the most
underrated facilities on a live
mixer, a good HPF allows problem
low frequency signals to be easily
removed without using up a valuable EQ
band. The main EQ section features a
development of Soundcraft’s classic 4­band EQ, with two swept mids and
shelving high and low bands. Thanks to
switchable Q on the mid bands, plus
carefully chosen frequency ranges and
filter shapes, this provides the perfect
balance of corrective ability and creative
control – whether you’re mixing
rock’n’roll, or speech and effects in a
theatre.

On
both stereo
input channels
and stereo FX returns, you
can vary the stereo width from
mono through standard stereo to phase­enhanced ‘super wide’ stereo, opening up
more creative possibilities in mixing.

EASE OF USE

The K2’s advanced solo system means you
can troubleshoot a mix quickly and