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Introduction
Overview
Q-Sys™ is an integrated system audio solution. The DSP is centralized to allow faster development and deployment of new features, and requires
fewer hardware changes as well. Q-Sys has been designed around four major criteria: Sonic Quality, Reliability, Power and Flexibility.
Components
Q-Sys is comprised of the following dedicated components:
Q-Sys Core
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(Required) – The Core is the central processing unit of Q-Sys. The Core processes and routes all audio, controls peripheral devices,
manages firmware updates to the peripheral devices, all via a gigabit Ethernet network. The Core has one slot available to add one of the I/O cards
listed under Q-Sys I/O Frame below.
Q-Sys I/O Frame
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(Recommended) – The I/O Frame is the link between the input/output devices and the Core. The I/O Frame converts analog
input signals to digital and passes them over the network to the Core. It also receives the processed digital audio signal from the Core, converts it to
analog and sends it to the output devices. The I/O Frame houses one or more of the following:
»
DataPort Card (Optional) – provides the audio, telemetry, and control interface between Q-Sys and QSC DataPort amplifiers and
QSC loudspeakers.
» Mic/Line Input Card (Optional) – provides the interface between input devices (microphones, CD/DVD players, mixing consoles, etc.) and Q-Sys.
» Line Out Card (Optional) – provides the interface between third-party amplifiers, recording devices, etc. and Q-Sys.
» AES Card (Optional) – provides the interface between digital devices such as mixing consoles, recording devices, etc. and Q-Sys.
» Blank Card (Optional) – fills card slot when no card is needed.
Q-Sys Designer Software
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(Required for designing, not required for operation) – Q-Sys Designer is the design software application that creates the
design file that is loaded onto a Q-Sys Core. The design file contains all the virtual components, their connections and initial DSP settings. The de-
sign is initially created on a PC running Q-Sys Designer. When the design is complete, it is loaded on the Core and tested, and adjustments made.
When all adjustments are finalized, the design is saved to the Core. Q-Sys Designer is not required to operate the Q-Sys system. Q-Sys Designer
requires a Windows-based PC running Windows XP or Windows Vista.
Gigabit Ethernet Network
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(Required) – The Q-Sys solution is designed around a high performance network implementation called Q-LAN that
offers gigabit data rates, device and network redundancy, 32-bit floating point audio data transfers, end node discovery and low-latency support
on local area network deployments. Additionally, Q-LAN offers long-haul IP streaming of audio over wide area network deployments. Accurate syn-
chronization of end nodes and high-quality clock distribution are built-in to the solution using the IEEE-1588 Precision Time Protocol. All devices
are connected to a managed 1000 Mbps Ethernet switch with appropriate QoS (Quality of Service) enabled suitable for a high-performance gigabit
network. For switch recommendations see Page 12.
» 1 Gigabit Ethernet
» Latency – 0.66 ms across network
» 32-bit floating point format
» Redundancy (Optional)
» 1 to 16 channels per audio stream (managed by the Core)
» 1.65 to 3.31 Mb bandwidth per channel (dependent on the number of channels per stream)
Q-Sys DataPort Amplifier Backup Panel
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DAB-801
(Optional) – Provides N+1 Amplifier redundancy
Q-Sys Touch Screen Controller
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(Optional) – Provides End-User wall mounted control
» Power over Ethernet
» Touch-Panel Interface
» Design Control Pages in Q-Sys Designer
» Core is the server for the saved Control Pages
» Built-in Navigation and Security
Integrated System
Q-Sys is an integrated system designed to work with QSC DataPort amplifiers and QSC loudspeakers and other QSC products to provide system-level
telemetry and control. Q-Sys can also be configured with generic amplifiers and/or generic loudspeakers, but there is a loss of functionality when not
using QSC compatible hardware.
QSC DataPort Amplifiers
QSC DataPort amplifiers (PowerLight™, CX, PL2, DCA, and PL3) can be used in a Q-Sys system to communicate with the Q-Sys DataPort card and
provides critical telemetry information and protection for both the amplifier and any QSC loudspeaker. Generic amplifiers can be used in a Q-Sys
system by connecting the amplifier to a Line Out connection; however, there is no telemetry or control of either the amplifier or loudspeakers (even
QSC loudspeakers) if Line Out cards are used.
Loudspeakers
Q-Sys, QSC DataPort amplifiers, and QSC loudspeakers work together to form an integrated system that provides specific loudspeaker processing
(Intrinsic Correction™), telemetry, and protection for the loudspeaker. You can use generic loudspeakers in a Q-Sys system, however there is no
Intrinsic Correction provided.
Redundancy
Q-Sys is capable of several redundant configurations to ensure a high level of overall system reliability.
2N Core redundancy
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– Two Cores, primary and redundant, communicating with each other and peripherals to verify system health, and to
synchronize control settings.
2N Network redundancy
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– Two separate networks - In this configuration, you can have each Q-Sys Core and/or I/O Frame connected to
both networks.
2N I/O redundancy
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– For each I/O Frame, you can have a backup I/O Frame.
N+1 Amplifier redundancy
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– One amplifier can back up from one to eight amplifiers with the Q-Sys DAB-801 (DataPort Amplifier Backup) panel.
Network Redundancy
Both the Core and the I/O Frame have two network ports, LAN A (primary), and LAN B (backup). The LAN B port on I/O Frame becomes active when
it is configured in Q-Sys Designer as “Is Network Redundant” and connected. Because the I/O Frame is configured in the design file, the Core recog-
nizes it as being on LAN B as well as LAN A. During operation, the Core routes audio and control signals to both ports, so if LAN A, or a part of LAN A
fails, the Core switches to LAN B with no failover time.
Q-Sys Hardware Redundancy
The Core and I/O Frame can have backups connected to the network. Both are identified in Q-Sys Designer as being redundant. The backup Core
communicates with the primary to ensure it is up to date with any changes made on the primary, and to monitor the primary Core’s health. The Core
monitors the I/O Frames, if there is a problem detected with the primary I/O Frame, the Core switches to the backup. The audio inputs and outputs of
the primary and backup I/O Frames are wired in parallel, meaning that the audio source drives two inputs. The audio outputs of an offline I/O Frame
are disconnected by relays, so only the active I/O Frame, in a redundant pair, drives the outputs.
