Q-Sys™ Integrated system platform – a new approach that will change your thinking about audio system design.

Q-Sys™ is a complete integrated system platform that encompasses everything from the audio input to loudspeakers. Q-Sys provides all the audio routing, processing, control and monitoring necessary for any facility while maintaining the audio quality and reliability QSC has come to be known for.

Designed specifically for the rigorous requirements of large-scale applications, the power of Q-Sys is a logical choice for stadiums and arenas, attractions and theme parks, performing arts venues, transportation hubs, legislative and judicial chambers, hotels and casinos, houses of worship, corporate campuses, educational facilities or anywhere else the need exists for a powerful system-wide audio solution.

Components

The primary elements of a Q-Sys system are the Core and I/O Frame.

The Core is the brain of the system; it performs all the audio routing and processing and handles all control functions. The Q-Sys Core is available in three sizes, Core 1000, 3000, and 4000, and features a centralized processing architecture.

Having all processing take place in one unit gives the designer complete flexibility while enabling simplified system redundancy. With a centralized architecture any input can be routed to any output without convoluted signal paths.

Although Q-Sys employs a centralized structure, it retains the ability to physically locate the input and output connections near their sources and destinations using I/O Frames.

Each I/O Frame can house up to four I/O cards enabling up to 16 channels of input and/or output in a single unit. Available cards include: a 4-input standard and a 4-input premium-quality mic/line input card, 4-channel line output card, an AES card with 4-channels of input and output, and a 4-channel card for connection to QSC DataPort amplifiers. Additional cards will be added so check the QSC website for the latest information.

Redundancy

QSC products are renowned for reliability. But sometimes, redundancy is a requirement. Q-Sys supports these multiple levels of redundancy:

• Network redundancy may be implemented by simply adding additional network switches and cabling. In the event of a network failure, the Q-Sys components switch over instantly to the back-up network.
• Core redundancy allows a second core to be connected to the network. Should the primary core fail, the secondary core takes over.
• I/O Frame redundancy gives the designer the option of adding redundant I/O Frames for high-priority areas.
• Amplifier redundancy is also possible with the use of the QSC DAB-801 (DataPort Amplifier Backup panel). This accessory connects to the inputs and outputs of five QSC DataPort amplifiers with one amp serving as a backup for the other four (4 + 1 redundancy, using 2-channel amplifiers). A second DAB-801 may be added for 8 + 1 redundancy.

Network

Q-Sys relies on Q-LAN, a standards-based, low-latency Gigabit Ethernet network implementation. Q-LAN is responsible for audio routing between devices and ensures that all signals are transmitted from source to destination in less than 1/3rd of a millisecond. Q-Sys combines Q-LAN with audiophile quality, 32-bit floating point distribution and high performance A/D and D/A converters resulting in outstanding fidelity and a total system latency – any input to any output with up to 10 network switch hops – of less than 2.5 milliseconds. In addition to low latency distribution, Q-Sys also supports long-haul IP streaming of audio over Wide Area Networks (WAN) as well as auto-discovery and configuration of end nodes.

Learn more about Q-Sys Networking (PDF 290K)

Design and Set-Up

The system design environment was created specifically to be intuitive and easy to use. It is laid out without clutter or complicated, multi-level menus. You'll be able to apply your skills to designing the system – not figuring out the software.

Q-Sys also saves time during system set-up and commissioning. While many existing systems are agonizingly slow to assemble a new configuration, Q-Sys designs can be compiled and deployed in seconds. Once the system is designed, you will find that Q-Sys also offers a useful suite of trouble shooting and measurement tools. A test probe provides an RTA display of the signal at any point in the design. FFT-based real-time analysis and impulse response are also provided for on-site acoustical measurements. All you need to bring is a measurement microphone.

Processing

One of the primary development goals was to create a platform that had nearly unlimited resources, and Q-Sys truly lives up to that goal with unrivalled processing breadth and depth.

In the Q-Sys Cores the internal processing is 64-bit providing incredible headroom and ensuring high performance. Even the smallest Core, the Core 1000, has tremendous DSP resources that are unlikely to be fully utilized in any real-world application. In addition to huge processing capacity Q-Sys offers an extensive selection of processing and control functions, including:

Crossovers

• Up to 6-way crossovers available
• Butterworth, Linkwitz-Riley, Bessel-Thompson, and Chebyshev Topologies

Delay

• Up to 32 taps, each tap up to 60 sec.

Dynamics

• Ambient Noise Compensator
• Automatic Gain Control
• Compressor
• Expander
• Noise Gate
• Peak Limiter
• Priority Ducker

Meters

• RMS/Peak Bar Meter
• Signal Presence Meter

Filters & Equalizers

• All-Pass Filter
• Band-Pass Filter
• High-Pass Filter
• Low-Pass Filter
• Notch Filter
• Dual-Shelf Equalizer
• Graphic Equalizer
• High-Shelf Equalizer
• Low-Shelf Equalizer
• Parametric Equalizer

Mixers & Routers

• Gain-Sharing Automatic Mixer
• Gated Automatic Mixer
• Matrix Mixer
• Room Combining Mixer
• Router

Other

• Amplifier Load Monitoring
• Audio File Player – Q-Sys will play .wav and .mp3 files directly from the Core
• Loudspeaker Supervision
• System Mute – Emergency Mute

Test & Measurement

• DC Generator
• Pink Noise Generator
• White Noise Generator
• Sine Wave Generator
• Signal Injector – Allows injecting a signal anywhere in the audio path
• Signal Probe – Allows probing any signal in the audio path
• Real Time Analyzer
• Responsalyzer – This is an FFT based • tool allowing 2-channel measurement of Magnitude, Phase, Impulse Response, and Real Time Analysis

Control

In addition to its powerful processing capabilities, Q-Sys provides extensive levels of system control which can be as simple or sophisticated as the application requires. Nearly every audio processing parameter can be a command source or destination, as can switch closures or potentiometers via the on-board GPIO (General Purpose I/O). Control specific operators like the Boolean Logic or Arithmetic functions can then be utilized to enhance the management capabilities based on operator or system control input.

Additionally, Snapshots of any or all functions can be created and recalled using the snapshot tool. When a richer user interface is needed, control panels with a custom look and feel are easily created using the User Control Interface tool. These panels can be designed by pulling elements directly from the schematic allowing pre-defined end-user control from panels that can be viewed and operated from a network computer or other web-capable devices. IP-based external control protocol ensures that Q-Sys can connect with 3rd party controllers for truly limitless control capabilities.

Integration

Of course, Q-Sys can be used with any amplifiers or loudspeakers, but the system's power increases exponentially when integrated with QSC loudspeakers and DataPort amplifiers.

Using the DataPort output card in conjunction with PowerLight™, PL2, PL3, CX, or DCA amplifiers enables complete end-to-end system-level telemetry and supervision.

Adding QSC loudspeakers to the mix opens opportunities for greater control and system reliability by enabling functions such as driver excursion limiting and speaker fault detection. For example, bringing a QSC line array powered by QSC amplifiers into the design and connecting via a DataPort card will automatically invoke the proper Intrinsic Correction™ tuning optimizing its acoustic performance. Simply set the properties for the number of speakers and the coverage angle of the array and Q-Sys handles the rest.

Q-Sys™ is the Solution

Q-Sys is a complete routing, processing and control solution. While it may be possible to create systems by combining products from other manufacturers, Q-Sys provides this capability in an elegant hardware/software platform from a single supplier ensuring that the integration process goes smoothly and operation is flawless. It is fast, incredibly powerful, reliable, and features rock-solid performance backed by the unrivaled service and support QSC has built its reputation on.

If you are designing a theme park or attraction, airport or transportation hub, hotel, casino, convention center, sports facility, church, educational campus, legislative or judicial chamber, theater, or corporate facility, Q-Sys is for you.