Q-SYS 9.8.2

This topic covers release information for Q-SYS 9.8 and any maintenance releases.

Version 9.8.2 includes these new features, updates, and resolved issues.

Platform

Q-SYS 9.8.2 introduces support for the NV-21-HU, which is available from the Inventory > Video > Audio - Video I/O category.

The Q-SYS NV Series NV-21-HU is the next evolution for native video distribution on the Q-SYS Platform. The NV-21-HU is a software configurable endpoint offering a comprehensive single-cable solution for audio and video distribution, AV bridging, and device charging via USB-C.

To learn more, see the NV-21-HU topic.

The SPA-Qf Standalone Mode provides the capability to connect the inputs of an amplifier to the outputs when connection to the Core is lost. For more information, visit the GPIO (SPA-Qf Series) and Status (SPA-Qf Series) topics.

Video

The Q-SYS AV Bridging Feature License has been extended to allow the NV-21-HU. For more information, visit Licensing

The NV-32-H Status component adds a PoE=90w, 802.3bt LED. This LED glows if the NV-32-H is receiving power from a switch port that supports the required PoE++ (802.3bt Type 4) standard. For more information, visit the Status (NV-32-H) topic.

As a result of the improved bitrate performance with the new Shift AV codec changes, the network test screen has been changed to green.

Control

Additions have been made to the E-mailer Component and its documentation for integration with services utilizing SMTPS and / or two-factor authentication with application-specific passwords.

Lua functions have been made to the Loop Player supporting Start, Stop, and Cancel. For more information, visit the Loop Player topic.

Resolved Known Issues

  • Platform: An issue that may cause QIO, NL, and NM series devices to not reboot after upgrading has been resolved.
  • Platform: An issue that caused 'Packet Too Late'/'Packet Missing' errors in Q-LAN & AES67 streaming designs has been resolved.
  • Video: An issue that would cause NC-110 to not recall position when disabling privacy mode has been resolved.
  • Video: An issue that would cause video distortions when HDMI output is connected between NV-32-H and 21:9 monitor has been resolved.

Version 9.8.0 includes these new features, updates, and resolved issues.

Platform

The Core 110f now supports the ability to run in Peripheral Mode. In this mode, you add the I/O-Core 110f as an Inventory peripheral, and then configure a separate Q-SYS Core processor to run your design.

Use the Core Manager > Utilities page to switch between Core Mode and Peripheral Mode. To learn more, see the Switching Modes section within the Core 110f topic.

Note: USB routing via the USB Input and USB Output components is not supported in Peripheral Mode for the Core 110f. HID Keyboard, HID Media, and HID Conferencing are supported.

The Core 110f (v1 and v2) has a new GPIO Property selection of “Optional”. Setting GPIO to Optional allows a design to be deployed to Core 110f v1 or v2 hardware without any additional edits or reporting of Missing, Compromised, or Fault statuses related to the actual hardware presence of GPIO.

Q-SYS 9.8.0 introduces support for the SPA-Qf 60x2 and SPA-Qf 60x4, which are available from the Inventory > Amplifiers - Q-LAN category.

The Q-SYS SPA-Q Series expands and delivers rightsized amplification to a wide variety of space-types. With available GPIO for control, two flex channels (either mic/line inputs or line outputs), and 60 W per channel, the Q-SYS SPA-Qf 60x2 (two channel) and Q-SYS SPA-Qf 60x4 (four channel) provides the utility to centralize your processor’s connectivity across more spaces, all within a trusted native Q-SYS network amplifier.

To learn more, see the SPA-Qf Series Network Amplifiers topic.

Q-SYS Designer Software (QDS) no longer supports installation on Windows 8.x hosts.

When deploying a design to the Core, a pop-up message appears to provide clearer progress and error communication. You will see the progress of Q-SYS Designer Software discovering the Core, uploading new firmware (if required), deploying the design, and reporting any errors during the process.

Note: A separate progress log appears for each Core in a redundant configuration.

The Default NTP Servers have been updated to utilize NTP.org’s North America pool in an effort to reduce usage of servers in geopolitically unfavorable territories.

  • Systems with NTP Time Synchronization newly-enabled will use the newer North America pool defaults unless custom servers are entered.
  • Existing systems utilizing the previous Global pool defaults will be updated automatically to use the newer North America pool defaults.
  • Systems with existing custom, non-default, servers defined will preserve those settings.

As of Q-SYS Designer Software (QDS) v9.8, Help content is available online by default. The QDS download no longer includes an offline Help file. Help menu and F1 references to Help topics now direct to the online help at help.qsys.com for the QDS version you are running. If you need an offline option to reference without internet connectivity, click the Download Offline Help button on the Q-SYS Designer Software page at qsys.com.

Audio

The Mic Detection system for the I/O-8 Flex is improved in v9.8.

Note: For existing designs that include an I/O-8 Flex, after upgrading to v9.8, you will need to press the Set Thresholds button for each mic to recalibrate the high and low thresholds based on the mic impedance.

Enhanced functionality of Remote Mode to better address customer use cases in complex system integrations including the customization of button and LED behavior with logic in Q-SYS Designer Software.

For greater control and application flexibility, the Parametric Equalizer component includes these enhancements:

  • A new “High Precision Display” property expands its frequency display precision to show tenths of Hz below 1 kHz and whole Hz above 1 kHz.
  • The bandwidth range (Q) has been expanded to 4 octaves (formerly 3).

Video

v9.8 has a new drop-down property to control the level of Fault status reports for AV Source components. This is particularly useful for scenarios where devices go to sleep or reboot nightly.

For more information, see the Generic AV Source topic.

Control

It is no longer possible to inadvertently wire a Call System component directly to an Endpoint component.

The Variables tab allows you to set certain variables that you can later reference in your UCI Script.

For more information, see Working with UCI Variables.

Search and Replace allows you to search for and replace specific text in inventory names, schematic pages, blocks, labels, code names, pin names, names of UCIs, elements within UCIs, and UCI Toolbox Controls. This feature is beneficial when using design templates or duplicating programming in larger designs.

For more information, see the Search and Replace topic.

A "Reflect Enabled" badge was added in Asset Manager that shows all plugins that include native integration with Q-SYS Reflect Enterprise Manager.

Note: This is enabled via the Is Managed property for the plugin.

A new filter option has been added to Asset Manager that allows you to filter by utility plugins that are logic only and device agnostic.

The WebSocket Protocol enables two-way communication between a client running code in a controlled environment to a remote host that has opted-in to communications from that code.

For more information, see WebSocket Protocol.

All User Control Interface tools are now consolidated under Tools > UCI Operations.

For additional information on each topic, see Getting Started with Q-SYS Designer.

Management

On the System > Status page, you can now add descriptive notes about a System, as well as attach reference files (up to 50 MB total). Attachments might include System drawings, images, documentation, etc. Easily view notes and attachments from the Systems page.

To learn more, see the Enterprise Manager Help > Status topic.

Presets now support System synchronization of Access Control settings, which include the ability to set an Administrator role username and password.

To learn more about configuring Presets, see the Enterprise Manager Help > Presets topic.

  • The "Enable Alerts" option has been removed so that all alerts are now available to the user.
  • You can now filter email notifications by severity – Error, Warning, Normal, Fault.
  • You can now suppress email notifications for alerts.

To learn more, see the Enterprise Manager Help > Alerts & Notifications topic.

Resolved Known Issues

  • Audio: An issue that would cause AES67 audio from a third-party Dante to show error "Compromised - Packet Missing" has been resolved.
  • Audio: An issue that would cause the NM-T1 Status component to output errors in a Compromised or Missing state has been resolved.
  • Amplifiers: An issue that could cause CX-Q amplifiers to stop passing audio while Status is "OK" has been resolved.
  • Loudspeakers: Updating a loudspeaker component's Model to AD-P.SUB in the schematic no longer causes an error.
  • Loudspeakers: Designs that have an NL-SB42 no longer cause an error when choosing to Save to Core & Run.
  • Video: An issue that could cause the USB Video Bridge component to not re-populate in the inventory list after being deleted / removed has been resolved.
  • Video: An issue that could cause NV-32-H to no longer receive embedded audio from HDMI has been resolved.
  • Control: An issue that could cause TSC and TSC-G2 Series touch screen controllers to show "no link" when connected to certain network switches has been resolved.
  • Control: An issue that could cause Trigger State button presses to not respond to left mouse clicks within UCI Viewer has been resolved.
  • Control: An issue that could cause SNMP read values to truncate over 100 characters has been resolved.
  • Platform: An issue that could cause Non-Redundant Dante endpoints to not be discoverable in a Redundant CDN64 Receiver has been resolved.
  • Platform: An issue that could cause all input sources to play through a Virtual Page Station message has been resolved.

To support ongoing developments, Q-SYS’ licensing infrastructure provider is deprecating support for older versions of their platform. This deprecation affects the on-line activation of perpetual (node-locked) Q-SYS feature licenses on systems running Q-SYS Designer v9.4.3 and earlier, as well as Q-SYS Designer v9.5.x and v9.6.x. Examples include Q-SYS Scripting Engine, Software-based Dante, Multi-track Playback, and others.

Cloud-managed licenses (vCore and Reflect Enterprise Manager) are unaffected, regardless of version.

After March 31, 2023, Q-SYS perpetual (node-locked) feature licenses can no longer be activated using the on-line method while running affected versions.

Customers wishing to add feature licenses to systems running affected versions will either need to upgrade to v9.4.4 or higher, if using the LTS branch, or upgrade to v9.7 or higher of the mainline branch.

Note: Systems running affected versions will still be able to add feature licenses using the offline activation method. For instructions, see the Offline Activation section in the Licensing topic.

Q-SYS Version / Product Functionality Affected after March 31, 2023 Resolution

v9.4.3 and earlier

On-line activation of perpetual feature licenses will no longer work.

Upgrade to v9.4.4 LTS or later

– or –

Utilize offline activation method

v9.4.4 LTS and later LTS releases

Unaffected

  

v9.5.x through v9.6.x

On-line activation of perpetual feature licenses will no longer work.

Upgrade to v9.7 or later

– or –

Utilize offline activation method

v9.7 and later

Unaffected

  

vCore and Reflect

Unaffected

  

Note these requirements when upgrading the Q-SYS Core processor and Q-SYS peripherals.

  • If you are upgrading from version 9.1.x or later, no additional steps are necessary.
  • If you are upgrading from version 9.0.x:
    1. Upgrade to version 9.1.x.
    2. Upgrade to version 9.8.x.

If you are upgrading from any Version 8 release:

  1. Upgrade to version 9.1.x.
  2. Upgrade to version 9.8.x.
  • If you are upgrading from version 7.2.1:
    1. Upgrade to version 9.1.x.
    2. Upgrade to version 9.8.x.
  • If you are upgrading from version 7.2.0, 7.1.x, or 7.0.x:
    1. Upgrade to version 7.2.1.
    2. Upgrade to version 9.1.x.
    3. Upgrade to version 9.8.x.

If you are upgrading from version 6.2.x or 6.1.x:

  1. Upgrade to version 7.2.1.
  2. Save the design in QDS version 9.0.0 to upgrade the file format. (There is no need to upgrade the Core and peripherals to 9.0.0.)
  3. Upgrade to version 9.1.x.
  4. Upgrade to version 9.8.x.

If you are upgrading from version 5.4.x, 5.3.x, 5.2.x, 5.1.x, or 5.0.x:

  1. Upgrade to version 6.0.0. See the version 6.0.0 Release Notes for upgrade requirements for that version. (There is no need to update peripherals to version 6.0.0 in advance of updating to 7.2.1. Once the Q-SYS Core is running 7.2.1, it will update connected peripherals running version 5.x to version 7.2.1.)
  2. Upgrade to version 7.2.1.
  3. Save the design in QDS version 9.0.0 to upgrade the file format. (There is no need to upgrade the Core and peripherals to 9.0.0.)
  4. Upgrade to version 9.1.x.
  5. Upgrade to version 9.8.x.

If you are upgrading from a version earlier than 4.2:

  1. Upgrade to version 4.2. See the version 4.2 Release Notes for upgrade requirements for that version.
  2. Upgrade to version 6.0.0. See the version 6.0.0 Release Notes for upgrade requirements for that version.
  3. Upgrade to version 7.2.1.
  4. Save the design in QDS version 9.0.0 to upgrade the file format. (There is no need to upgrade the Core and peripherals to 9.0.0.)
  5. Upgrade to version 9.1.x.
  6. Upgrade to version 9.8.x.

CAUTION: Designs you create or update with a newer QDS version and then open in an older version are likely to be incompatible and unusable with the older version of software. Before upgrading, create backup copies of your Q-SYS design files for both the current version and older versions, and back up all media on your Q-SYS Core processor. To avoid overwriting design file backups, do not open backup files with newer versions of QDS.

For software and firmware updates, see the QSC Software and Firmware page.

  • Windows 10 Pro x64
  • Windows 11 Pro

If you are using a high DPI monitor resolution, such as 4K60, you might need to adjust the Windows Compatibility settings so that Q-SYS Designer Software displays properly:

  1. Right-click the Designer shortcut on the desktop and select Properties.
  2. In the Compatibility tab, click the "Change high DPI settings" button.
  3. In the DPI settings window, select the following:
    • Select "Use this setting to fix scaling problems...".
    • In the "Use the DPI..." drop-down menu, select "I open this program".
    • Select "Override high DPI scaling behavior".
    • In the "Scaling performed by" drop-down menu, select "Application".

Q-SYS Designer Software has been tested to work when running in a virtual Windows 10 environment via Parallels Desktop for Mac. Use the following test environment and settings as a guideline for your setup.

Mac Hardware

  • Mac Mini
  • 3.2 GHz 6 Core Intel I7 processor
  • 16 GB RAM

MacOS

  • Version: Catalina 10.15.7
  • To preserve RDP access, disable Energy Saver.

Parallels

  • Version: Parallels Desktop 16 for Mac
  • To preserve RDP access, deselect Pause Windows.
  • Make sure that Devices > Network > Bridged Network (Ethernet) > Ethernet is selected.
  • Reserved RAM space for Windows 10: 8 GB

Windows 10 Virtual Environment

  • Version: Windows 10 Enterprise
  • To preserve RDP access, disable sleep settings.

Other Notes

  • If you have no intent of using Remote Desktop (RDP), you can leave the sleep / Energy Saver settings for all three layers at their defaults.
  • If you change any network settings (for example, switching network NICs), you must restart Parallels.
  • Hard Links have not yet been tested in a virtual Windows installation.
  • Big Sur (MacOS 11.1) has not yet been tested by QSC as a host MacOS version for a virtual Windows installation.

The Q-SYS Designer and Q-SYS Administrator installation programs automatically install the following components if not currently installed on the Windows PC. Internet access is required to download these dependencies.

  • Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 SP1 (includes 2.0 SP2, 3.0, and 3.0 SP2)
  • Microsoft .NET Framework 4.6 SP2
  • Microsoft .NET Framework 4.8
  • Microsoft Visual C++ Runtime 14.16 (2017)
  • Microsoft Windows Installer 3.1
  • Microsoft XML Parser 6.0

These web browsers are tested to work with Q-SYS Core Manager and Q-SYS Reflect Enterprise Manager on Windows, MacOS, and Linux:

  • Microsoft Edge
  • Mozilla Firefox
  • Google Chrome
  • Apple Safari

Note: Internet Explorer is not supported.

Q-LAN relies on the performance of modern network switches to ensure real-time delivery and synchronicity of media streams across all connected Q-SYS devices. Read these topics to understand the requirements and recommendations for implementing the Q-SYS Ecosystem on an isolated or converged Ethernet network environment:

Clocking, Audio, Video, & Control

Learn about the Q-LAN protocols, network consumption, and other parameters involved with clocking, Q-SYS Audio, Video, and Control.

Network Switches & Infrastructure

Learn about QSC's networking options for the Q-SYS platform, the requirements for selecting and manually configuring network switches for compatibility with Q-SYS, and the requirements and limitations for cabling, hop count, network diameter, and backbone bandwidth.

Network Interfaces, Services, & Protocols

Learn about the network interfaces (NICs), services, and protocols involved with Q-SYS networks.

Addressing & Routing

Learn about IP addressing and redundant routed network requirements.

Quality of Service (QoS)

Learn how to configure QoS DSCP values to prioritize for Q-LAN traffic only or Audinate (Dante) traffic.

Multicast Traffic

Learn about Q-LAN multicasting protocols, Q-SYS devices that support multicasting, and requirements for IGMP and PIM-SM.

Dante Audio

Learn about using Q-LAN with Dante hardware and the Software Dante components in Q-SYS Designer, including clocking, QoS, and redundancy requirements.

Other Networked Audio

Learn about the requirements for using Q-LAN with other networked audio protocols and applications, including AES67, AVB, SIP Softphone, and POTS (Analog Telephone).

Remote Connectivity

Learn about the requirements for connecting to the Q-SYS Core from a remote location.

Initial Discovery and Configuration

Learn about how to initially discover a Q-SYS Core processor, configure its IP settings, and configure the Q-SYS Designer design file to communicate with the Core.

Q-SYS Designer Software (QDS) releases follow a three-level numbering convention – major release.minor release.maintenance release (for example, 9.4.2). Additionally, you can view the specific build number of the release by clicking Help > About. Note that:

  • If you open a design file saved in a newer version of QDS than the one you are currently running (for example, a 9.5.0 design in version 9.4.2), you are warned that certain functionality within the design might not function. This is not recommended. Instead, install the version of QDS that matches the version of the design.
  • If you open an older design file in a newer version of QDS (for example, a 9.4.2 design in QDS 9.5.0) and then attempt to save it, you are warned that doing so might make the design not load correctly in the previous version.

CAUTION: Make sure your design files are backed up using your current release before starting the upgrade to a newer release.

Releases of Q-SYS Designer Software (QDS) sometimes add support for new hardware and remove support for EOL hardware, including Q-SYS Core processors, peripherals, loudspeakers, accessories, and other devices. This table provides a list of QDS releases, the hardware introduced with each release, and the hardware no longer supported with each release, as applicable. As a rule:

  • Hardware introduced in a release is compatible with future QDS releases until the hardware is deprecated and no longer supported.
  • Hardware introduced in a release is not backward-compatible with previous releases.
QDS Version Added Hardware Support Removed Hardware Support

9.8.2

NV-21-HU

No changes

9.8

SPA-Qf Series

No changes

9.7

Core 6000 CXR

NM-T1

No changes

9.6

Core 110f v2

Core 610

vCore

Core 250i

Core 500i

I/O Frame 8s

PS-400

PS-800

CSM-12

CSM-15

PowerLight 1.0, 1.0HV, 1.4, 1.8

PowerLight 2 PL218(A), PL224(A), PL230(A), PL236(A)

PowerLight 2.0HV

PowerLight 3.4

PowerLight 4.0

PowerLight 6.0 and 6.0 II

PowerLight 9.0

9.5

NL-SB42

QIO-S4

QIO-IR1x4

No changes

9.4

CX-Q models shipped starting in the September 2022 time frame require v9.4 or newer, as indicated by a sticker on the front panel of applicable units.

NL-C4

NL-P4

QIO-ML4i

QIO-ML2x2

QIO-L4o

QIO-GP8x8

TSC-50-G3

TSC-70-G3

TSC-101-G3

No changes

9.3

NC-110

NC-12x80

NC-20x60

No changes

9.2

No changes

No changes

9.1

TSC-G2 models shipped after August 1, 2021, require v9.1.2 or newer.

No changes

9.0

Core Nano

Core 8 Flex

NV-32-H (Core Capable)

AD-S5T

No changes

8.4

No changes

TSC-3

8.3

AD-P.HALO

DPA-2K4Q

DPA-2K4Qn

DPA-4K4Q

DPA-4K4Qn

DPA-4K8Q

DPA-4K8Qn

DPA-8K4Q

DPA-8K4Qn

DPA-8K8Q

DPA-8K8Qn

No changes

8.2

No changes

TSC-8

8.1

NV-32-H

CX-Q 2K4

CX-Q 4K4

CX-Q 4K8

CX-Q 8K4

CX-Q 8K8

CX-Qn 2K4

CX-Qn 4K4

CX-Qn 4K8

CX-Qn 8K4

CX-Qn 8K8

No changes

8.0

No changes

No changes

7.2

CTEL4

No changes

7.1

No changes

No changes

7.0

Core 110c

DCIO

DCIO-H

TSC-55-G2

TSC-80-G2

TSC-116-G2

AD-S802T

AD-S162T

E215

Core 1000

Core 3000

Core 4000