QSC Q-SYS Core 500i User Manual page 8

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.
Type 2 Hardware
Q-Sys has two types of hardware currently deployed. In the Type 2 hardware, new IDC (ribbon type) connectors replaced the FCC
(fl ex type) connectors installed in earlier releases of hardware. Due to this change, the Type 2 hardware is not physically compatible
with the older hardware. You can still integrate the new I/O Frames and Cores in the same system with older hardware, but the I/O
cards are not interchangeable. Type 2 hardware can be identifi ed by a yellow label
and the bottom of the I/O cards.
Components
Q-Sys is comprised of the following dedicated components:
• Q-Sys Core (Required) — The Core is the central processing unit of Q-Sys. The Core processes and routes all audio, controls peripheral devices,
manages fi rmware updates to the peripheral devices. The Core 250i and 500i have eight slots available to add the I/O cards listed under Q-Sys I/O
Cards below. Because the Cores 250i and 500i can have up to eight I/O cards, it can operate as a stand-alone system. However, you can connect
one or more Q-Sys I/O Frames to the Q-LAN network to increase the number of I/O cards available to the Core. Refer to the Hardware User
Manual for the Cores 1000, 3000, 4000, and I/O Frame (TD 000284) for information.
• Q-Sys I/O Card(s) (One or more required) — The I/O cards, installed in the Core, are the links between the input/output devices and the Core.
The I/O cards receive audio from external equipment and send it to the Core for processing. They also receive audio from the Core and send it to
output devices. The Core houses one or more of the following: (The Core does not necessarily require any I/O cards, you can have an I/O Frame
connected to Q-LAN with I/O cards that would fi ll the requirements.)
◦ AES Card — provides the interface between digital devices such as mixing consoles, recording devices, other devices and Q-Sys.
◦ Blank Card Fills card slot when no card is needed.
◦ CobraNet Card — provides the interface between QSC Basis, DCP, or third-party CobraNet devices.
◦ DataPort Card — provides audio, telemetry, and control interface between Q-Sys and QSC DataPort amplifi ers and QSC loudspeakers.
◦ Line Out Card — provides the interface between third-party amplifi ers, recording devices, other devices and Q-Sys.
◦ Standard (Std) or High Performance (HP) Mic/Line Input Card — provides the interface between input devices (microphones, CD/DVD players,
mixers, and so on) and Q-Sys.
• Q-Sys Designer Software 3.0 or Greater (Required for designing, not required for operation) — Q-Sys Designer is the design software
application that creates the design fi le that is loaded onto a Q-Sys Core. The design fi le contains all the virtual components, their connections
and initial DSP settings. The design 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 fi nalized, 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, Windows Vista, or Windows 7.
• Gigabit Ethernet Network (Required only if an I/O Frame, I/O-22, or a Page Station is part of your system.) — 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 fl oating
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 synchronization 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 complete details refer to the Q-Sys online help. For qualifi ed
switch recommendations see
• Q-Sys I/O Frame (Optional) — Provides up to four additional I/O cards for a Q-Sys System.
• Q-Sys DataPort Amplifi er Backup Panel • DAB-801 (Optional) — Provides N+1 Amplifi er redundancy
• Q-Sys I/O-22 (Optional) — Provides microphone and line level inputs, line level outputs, and amplifi cation services for a Q-Sys audio system.
• Q-Sys Touch Screen Controllers (Optional) — Provides End-User touch-screen, wall-mounted control
• Q-Sys Page Stations (Optional) — Q-Sys Page Stations are a networked page station solution that connects to a Q-Sys system via Q-LAN.
Q-Sys is an integrated system designed to work with QSC DataPort amplifi ers and QSC loudspeakers and other QSC products to provide system-level
telemetry and control. Q-Sys can also be confi gured with generic amplifi ers and/or generic loudspeakers, but there is a loss of functionality when not
using QSC compatible hardware.
TD-000347-00-B
"Qualifi ed Ethernet Switches" on page
(Figure 6) on the back of the Core and I/O Frame,
13.
8
TYPE 2
Q-SYS I/O
COMPATIBLE
— Figure 6 —