I/O Frame

The I/O Frame, running a customized Linux operating system, provides the main input and output connections for the Q-SYS system. The Core connects to the I/O Frame via the Q-SYS network, limiting the number of I/O Frames only to the size of your Core, and network bandwidth. An I/O Frame can contain up to four of the five available Audio I/O cards.

This topic covers the hardware aspect of the I/O Frame. For configuration details in Q-SYS Designer, refer to the I/O Frame configuration topic.

Note: For installation and other documentation, see the I/O Frame product page.

Type 2 Hardware

Type 2 hardware provides new cables and connectors between the I/O cards and main boards in Cores and I/O Frames. 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 identified by a yellow label on the back of the Core and I/O Frame, and the bottom of the I/O cards.

I/O Frame Front Panel

Front Panel Indicators and Controls

  1. I/O Card Status - Four tricolor LEDs, for each channel, representing the digital audio level. Green = good, orange = 3 dB before clipping, red = clipping, off = no audio.
    • The AES3 card has four inputs, and four outputs. If you are using both inputs and outputs of an AES3 card, the LEDs display the input signal level. In order to display the output signal level, you must remove the AES3 Input component from the design.
    • The CobraNet card
      • LED 1: activity (green) / fault (red) for primary port
      • LED 2: in use (green) / conductor (yellow) primary port
      • LED 3: activity (green) / fault (red) for secondary port
      • LED 4: in use (green) / conductor (yellow) secondary port
  2. I/O Card Status - LED for each card slot letter (A, B, C, D) indicates the card status. Green = good, Red = bad, off = not present, or not in current design schematic.
  3. LCD Readout

    Five pages of information

    • Status
      • Name of I/O Frame
      • Design name
      • Status
    • I/O card slot information - lists all four slots, A - D, and the type of I/O card in each
    • LAN "A" information
      • IP Address
      • Network Submask
      • GATEWAY
    • LAN "B" information - same as above.
    • About page
      • Device model
      • Firmware version
      • Copyright information
  4. Page navigation button

    5. Scrolls through the LCD readout pages

  5. ID - Identify Device
  6. Power LED
  7. Factory Reset

    8. Insert a paperclip or similar device into the reset hole and hold for 10 seconds. A timer displays on the LCD. This resets all network settings to their factory defaults: IP Addresses, hostname, etc.

  8. Device Status
    • off - idle (not running a design)
    • green - running
    • amber - starting or stopping a design
    • red - error

      • VIDEO TUTORIAL: For a comparison of the Front and Back Panel with a Core, watch the video presentation of the Core and I/O Frame.

I/O Frame Rear Panel

Rear Panel Connections

  1. Audio I/O Cards (1)

    The I/O Frame allows for any combination of four, of the following I/O cards. Each card supports four channels.

  2. GPIO (2)
  3. RS-232 (3)
    • Serial Control for External Devices (CD / DVD Player, etc.) using a Lua Script. This is used in conjunction with the RS-232 Serial Port component, which is part of the I/O Frame in Q-SYS Designer.
  4. LAN A, and LAN B - Ethernet (4)
    • Two RJ45 connectors - primary/redundant
    • Streaming audio
    • Control information
    • Synchronization
  5. Power Supply (5)
    • 90–132 or 180–264 VAC
    • 47–63 Hz Auto-configuring
    • IEC connector
    • Cord Lock

Specifications

System Hardware

I/O Frame

Description

System audio input and output device

Front Panel Controls

LCD page forward momentary switch

Unit ID button momentary switch

Clear settings momentary switch

Front Panel Indicators

Power On: Blue LED

Device Status: Tricolor LED

Audio Signal: Four tricolor LEDs/per I/O card slot

Card Status: One tricolor LED per I/O card slot

240 x 64 monochrome LCD graphics display

Rear Panel Connectors

RS-232: DE-9 (male 9-pin D shell connector)

GPIO A: DA-15 (female 15-pin D shell connector)

Q-SYS Network LAN A: RJ45 1000 MBps only

Q-SYS Network LAN B: RJ45 1000 MBps only

Capacity

I/O Capacity

Up to 16 channels. 1 Requires purchase of I/O cards1

Line Voltage Requirements

100 VAC - 240 VAC, 47 - 63 Hz

Dimensions (HWD)

1.75" x 19" x 15" (44.45 mm x 482.6 mm x 381 mm)

Accessories Included

6 ft UL/CSA/IEC line cord

User Manual

Optional audio I/O ship kit
1. The CAES4 card (AES3 input/output) doubles the audio channel count of any slot in which it is used.