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Revision A—12 September 2017 

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trademarks in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and other countries. #44 V.6

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Q-SYS™ Accessory 

Technical Notes

  

I/O-8 FLEX

Type

Conceptual schematic

Control pins

Notes

Input

Potentiometer (2-wire)

In this setting, 

the external potentiometer is connected merely as a 
rheostat—a variable resistor. The internal pullup resistor 
is enabled, so the variable resistor delivers a variable 
voltage to the GPIO input; the GPIO circuitry interprets the 
voltage as a proportion between minimum and maximum. 
This configuration also requires calibration of the pot’s 
minimum and maximum positions.

•  Calibrate Maximum
•  Calibrate Minimum
•  Maximum Position
•  Minimum Position

Calibrate the minimum and 
maximum positions of the 
pot.

Analog Input (0–24 V, low Z)

In this setting 

the GPIO reads the positive analog voltage presented to its 
input terminal.

Raw

Combines features of both analog and digital 

inputs.

Pullup enable

See the tech note pertaining 
to the 

Raw

 input.

Output

Digital Output (TTL 3.3 V)

The output feeds 

a 3.3 V TTL digital input or its equivalent. The two states 
are logic high (1) and logic low (0).

Open Collector (100 mA)

In this setting 

each output can sink up to 100 mA of current, making it 
suitable to actuate the low side of a relay (shown), LED, or 
other device. A relay, for example, can be used to switch 
higher levels of voltage or current.
CAUTION: The GPIO output is not fused. Current greater 
than 100 mA can damage it.

For 12 V relays or other 
loads, use the +12 V source 
provided. For higher-voltage 
relays or loads, use an 
external DC supply (up to 
24 V).

Raw

Similar to the Digital Output setting, except it 

offers an “invert” option.

Invert

See the tech note pertaining 
to the 

Raw

 output.

Application Examples

Shure MC396 Microphone Button/Light

Clockaudio CH32 Touch Sensitive Switch

Purpose: To convey switch actuations to the Core and turn the mic’s status light either 
red or green (the LED cannot be turned off), as directed by the Core’s GPIO output.
The mic receives phantom power from the I/O-8 Flex. The I/O-8 Flex can accommodate 
as many as eight MC396 mics.
Set the GPIO input and output both to 

Digital

.

Mic DIP switch settings: 
1  Down 
2  Either (does not matter) 
3  Up

red

black

bare

GPIO Input

GPIO Output

Ground

to mic

I/O-8 FLEX

Purpose: To convey switch actuations to the Core and turn the LED ring of the 
Clockaudio CH32 touch sensitive switch either red or green.
As many as three CH32 switches can share the same +12 V and GND pins. A I/O-8 Flex 
can power no more than three CH32 switches; a suitable external 12 V power supply, 
though, may allow four switches.
Set GPIO input to 

Contact Closure

. Set both GPIO outputs to 

Digital

.

pin 2

pin 3

pin 4

GPIO Output (Red LED)

Ground

+12 V

to mic

RJ45

I/O-8 FLEX

GPIO Input (Button)

GPIO Output (Green LED)

pin 5

pin 6

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