Flex Out (SPA-Qf Series)

Inputs

Channels 1-2

By default, the Flex In component offers 2 Audio Inputs represented by a circle, and traditional wiring is represented by a thin black line.

Output

This component does not have any output pins available.

SPA-Qf Amplifier Properties

Name

The Name may contain ASCII letters 'a' through 'z' (case-insensitive), the digits '0' through '9', and the hyphen. Names cannot begin or end with a hyphen. No other symbols, punctuation characters, or blank spaces are permitted.

Note: This name must match the Hostname for the device as defined in Core Manager or Peripheral Manager.

Location

User-defined name that groups the component with other components in the same physical location – for example, "Rack 1" – or in the same organizational scheme.

Is Required

When enabled, and the device is not found on the network, the device is reported as 'Missing', which is an error condition. This is the default behavior. When disabled, and the device is not found on the network, the device is reported as 'Not Present', which is not an error condition.

Dynamically Paired

Indicates that this virtual component can be paired with the same type of hardware without changing the network ID of the hardware or the name of this component. Refer to the Q-SYS Core Manager Dynamic Pairing topic for more information. The default is 'No'.

Identification

Name

The Name may contain ASCII letters 'a' through 'z' (case-insensitive), the digits '0' through '9', and the hyphen. Names cannot begin or end with a hyphen. No other symbols, punctuation characters, or blank spaces are permitted.

Note: This name must match the Hostname for the device as defined in Core Manager or Peripheral Manager.

Model

Select the hardware model from the drop-down list.

Channel Configuration

Select the configuration needed for your venue.

Note: Eight-channel models have two sets of four channels for configuration.

• 4 Channel, A B C D
• 3 Channel, A+B C D | A B Bridged
• 2 Channel, A+B+C+D | A B Bridged C D Bridged

Channel configurations are as follows: 

• Space between letters (A B C D) = single channels,
• "+" between letters (A+B) = bridged,
• no space between letters (ABCD) = parallel.

When you make your selection, then run the design, the configuration is made available to the amplifier. Follow the instructions on the amplifier display.

Graphic Properties

Label

Use the Label property to change the name of the component in the schematic. The Label property defaults to the component name. To learn more about renaming schematic elements, see Organizing Your Design.

Position

The coordinates reference a specific place in the schematic - for example,"100,100" (horizontal, vertical). 0,0 is the upper left corner of the schematic.

Fill

Sets the fill color of the component in the schematic.

Script Access Properties

Code Name

Displays the currently assign name for control access. You can use the auto-assigned name or customize it. Q-SYS will automatically check all Code Names in the design to ensure name is unique.

Script Access

Defines whether the component will be accessible by script and/or externally, or not at all. Choices include All, External, None (default), and Script.

• None (default) - Not accessible by any script, plugin, or by Q-SYS Remote Control Protocol (QRC).
• Script - Can be accessed by scripts, such as Text Controller, Block Controllers, and plugins only.
• External - Can only be accessed by 3rd party controls systems using component commands from the Q-SYS Remote Control Protocol (QRC).
• All - No restrictions, can be accessed by 3rd party control systems via Q-SYS Remote Control Protocol (QRC), or script objects or plugin objects.

Tip: Use Script Programmer Mode to quickly view the Script Access setting directly on the component in the design schematic without the need to disconnect from the Q-SYS Core processor.

Flex I/O

Output

Changes the associated channel to a Flex Output channel.

To switch back to a Flex Input channel, you must enable the channel in the Flex Input component.

Analog

Peak Input Level (dB)

Measures Peak Output level to the output device.

Output Mode

Mutes the output after the D-A converter and before the output.

Max RMS Output Level (dBu)

Controls the analog RMS output level after the D/A converter. This level is typically set slightly lower than the destination's sensitivity or maximum input level in order to avoid clipping the signal of a power amplifier. Varies in direct proportion with Output Gain.

Output Gain (dB)

The amount of gain applied to the outgoing analog signal. Varies in direct proportion with the Max RMS Output Level.

Digital

Peak Output Level (dBFS)

Measures the Digital Signal level prior to the D/A converter.

Clip

Red LED indicating if the signal is being clipped.

Clip Hold

Holds the clip indication until manually cleared.

Invert

Inverts the audio signal.

Mute

Mutes the digital audio signal.

Gain (dB)

Controls the gain of the digital audio signal prior to the D/A converter

Status

Component status is conveyed with the Status LED and Status box, which uses both color and text to indicate the current condition:

• OK: The device is functioning normally.
• Initializing: The device is in the process of a firmware or configuration update, or the design is starting.
• Compromised: The device is functioning, but a non-fatal problem exists. Refer to the Status box for details.
• Missing: The device cannot be discovered.
• Fault: The device is malfunctioning or is not properly configured. Refer to the Status box for details.
• Unknown: This status appears during a Core reboot (for example, during a firmware update), or when a design is being uploaded to the Core and before it has started running.
• Not Present: If applicable to the device, this status appears when the device is not connected to the network and its Is Required component property is set to 'No'. This status also appears if the device component's Dynamically Paired property is set to 'Yes', pairing has not been assigned in Core Manager, and the device component's Is Required property is set to 'Yes'. See Dynamic Pairing.

Pin Name	Value	String	Position	Pins Available
Channel 1-2
Clip	0 1	false true	0 1	Output
Clip Hold	0 1	false true	0 1	Input / Output
Flex Output Enable	0 1	false true	0 1	Input / Output
Gain	-100 to 20	-100 dB to 20 dB	0.000 to 1.00	Input / Output
Invert	0 1	normal invert	0 1	Input / Output
Level (dBFS)	-100 to 20	-100 dB to 20 dB	0.000 to 1.00	Output
Level (dBu)	-120 to 23	-120 dB to 23 dB	0.000 to 1.00	Output
Max Level (dBu)	-40 to 20	-40.0 to 20	0 to .988	Input / Output
Mute	0 1	unmute mute	0 1	Input / Output
Output Gain	-31 to 0	-31 dB to 0 dB	0.000 to 1.00	Input / Output
Output Mute	0 1	unmute mute	0 1	Input / Output
Status	0 1 2 3 4	OK (green) Compromised (orange) Fault (red) Unknown (red) Updating (blue)	0 0.250 0.500 0.750 1.00	Output

Standalone Mode provides the capability to connect the inputs of an amplifier to the outputs when connection to the Core is lost. In addition you can boot the amplifier without a connection to the Core.

Two ways to engage the Standalone Mode. For either way you must enable the Standalone Mode in the Q-SYS Designer Properties for the amplifier.

1. Amplifier Loses Network Connection to the Core:
   1. When connection to the Core is lost, audio is interrupted, and the amplifier counts down the number of seconds (15-60) specified in the amplifier's Properties in the Q-SYS design.
   2. After the timeout period, the inputs of the amplifier are sent directly to the outputs either one-to-one (each input goes to its corresponding output), or one-to-all (one input goes to all the outputs). While in Standalone mode, the front panel display of the amplifier displays OK in the Status field.
   3. When the connection to the Core is restored, the original audio streams are restored. There will be a short drop in audio while the amplifier is re-initialized.
2. Boot the Amplifier Without a Connection to the Core
   1. The amplifier waits 10 seconds to determine if the connection to the Core can be made.
   2. The amplifier then launches the last design run if it had the Standalone Mode enabled. During this time, the amplifier front-panel Status field displays OK, and the Design field displays "Stand-alone".
   3. When the amplifier re-connects to the Core, the Core pushes the design to the amplifier and the original audio is restored. There is a short loss of audio while the amplifier is initialized.

Note: Standalone Mode is not supported by CXD-Qn, CX-Qn, and DPA-Qn series amplifiers. Qn series amplifiers only support network connectivity and do not have line inputs.