USB Audio Bridge
The USB Audio Bridge allows you to send and receive 48 kHz, 16-bit PCM audio between a computer and Q-SYS using a UAC-compliant (driverless) USB connection. You can configure the USB Audio Bridge to behave as an AEC speakerphone or multi-channel soundcard, enabling the Q-SYS device to act as an endpoint for web conferencing and music playback to and from a computer.
Tip: You can also connect to some Windows-based tablets. Tablets require an on-the-go cable.
Q-SYS Devices that Support Audio Bridging
These devices support USB audio bridging from Q-SYS to a connected PC:
| Q-SYS Device | Max Audio Bridges | Max Speakerphone Inputs/Outputs per Bridge | Max Sound Card Inputs/Outputs per Bridge |
|---|---|---|---|
|
4 (Any combination) |
1 |
8 |
|
|
4 (Any combination) |
1 |
8 |
|
|
2 (Speakerphone + Sound Card) |
1 |
2 |
|
|
2 (Speakerphone + Sound Card) |
1 |
2 |
|
|
4 (Any combination)1 |
1 |
8 |
|
|
4 (Any combination) |
1 |
8 |
|
|
2 (Speakerphone + Sound Card) |
1 |
2 |
|
|
2 (Speakerphone + Sound Card) |
1 |
2 |
|
|
2 (Speakerphone + Sound Card) |
1 |
2 |
|
|
2 (Speakerphone + Sound Card) |
1 |
2 |
1. Core 110f supports up to 16x16 USB audio channels total, configurable across a maximum of 4 USB audio devices, each having a maximum of 8x8 USB audio channels.
USB Connection Requirements
- For most Q-SYS hardware, connect your PC or Mac host to the Q-SYS Core or peripheral's USB-B port or, if supported, the USB-C port.
- A USB 3.0 or USB-C cable must be 6 feet in length or less. Cables longer than 6 feet may have undetermined results.
- For the TSC-7t touch screen only, connect your PC or Mac to the TSC-7t's Micro-B port.
- If the Q-SYS device has both USB-B and USB-C ports, only one can be used at a time to connect to a PC or Mac host. If both are connected to hosts, the USB-B port takes priority.
- QSC has not tested third-party USB extension products. For the best experience, only direct USB connections are supported. If a long distance USB bridging solution is required, we recommend the I/O-USB Bridge, which can easily be extended to the desired location via network cabling.
Configuration Overview
The USB Audio Bridge (Speakerphone or Sound Card) is a component within the inventory tree of a supported Q-SYS device.
- Add a Q-SYS device that supports audio bridging to your inventory.
- From the Q-SYS device's properties, set the USB Audio Bridge property to Speakerphone or Sound Card (or both). Some devices support 'Advanced' mode – for more information on all modes, see Properties.
- Drag the USB In and Out components into your schematic, and then wire them to other Q-SYS audio components.
Note: If you are using Speakerphone type, be sure to include the Acoustic Echo Canceler component in your design.
- Run your design.
- Your computer detects the Q-SYS device as a playback and/or recording audio device. In your computer's audio setup, configure the settings to enable these devices – for example, "Set Default" in Windows.
- The USB In component receives audio from your computer (for example, from a music player or conferencing software) and sends it to Q-SYS for processing. The USB In component is viewed as an audio output device (Playback' tab in Windows) by your computer.
- The USB Out component sends audio from Q-SYS to your computer (for example, to conferencing software). The USB Out component is viewed as an audio input device ('Recording' tab in Windows) by your computer.
Example
In this example, a PC is connected to the USB B port on an I/O USB Bridge. The I/O USB Bridge's USB Audio Bridge is configured as a Sound Card (2 input channels, 2 output channels). Audio from the computer is sent to a Q-SYS network amplifier and speakers. Audio from Q-SYS (in this case, an Audio Player) is sent to the computer for playback.
Properties
Core Properties
See the Properties for Core-specific Properties.
USB Bridging – Common Properties
These properties appear based on the USB bridging capabilities of the Q-SYS device. Refer to the USB Video Bridge and USB Audio Bridge topics to see what Q-SYS Core processors and peripherals support USB bridging.
USB Bridge Name
User-defined name given to the USB Bridge, from 1 to 24 characters. 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.
Zoom Compatibility
If you are using the HID Conferencing component to control a remote computer running Zoom, set this property to 'Enabled.' Otherwise, when controlling another conferencing app such as Skype for Business, set to 'Disabled' (default). When this property is enabled, the USB Bridge Name property is disabled, and the USB Bridge automatically uses the name of the device for compatibility with Zoom's allowed device list – for example, "Q-SYS Core 110f" or "Q-SYS NV-32-H".
Tip: Enabling Zoom Compatibility may improve the user experience with macOS conferencing solutions.
USB Video Bridge
Enable the USB Video Bridge to bridge Q-SYS Mediacast streams to USB, enabling you to view Mediacast video on a connected computer. This exposes the USB Video Bridge component in the I/O-USB Bridge Inventory tree. To see what Properties are available when the USB Video Bridge is enabled, see USB Video Bridge.
USB Audio Bridge
Provides the capability of passing audio via USB. When this is set to anything except 'Disabled', you can drag the Speakerphone and/or Sound Card components from the device's Inventory tree into your design. To see what Properties are available when the USB Audio Bridge is enabled, see USB Audio Bridge.
- Disabled: (Default)
- Speakerphone (1 x 1): Provides a speakerphone with an input and output component, each having 1 audio connection.
- Sound Card (2 x 2): Provides a sound card with an input and output component, each having two (stereo) audio connections.
- Speakerphone and Sound Card: Provides one speakerphone and one sound card with the same capabilities as described above.
- Advanced – If supported, allows up to any combination of four speakerphone / sound cards.
Speakerphone Mode
This selection is available only when Speakerphone or Speakerphone and Sound Card is selected in the USB Audio Bridge property. Indicates if the Q-SYS design has Echo Canceling (EC) or Non-Echo Canceling (NEC). This information is provided to the PC or Mac operating system so it can determine whether or not to use its own echo canceling.
USB Bridging – Audio Bridge Properties
These properties are available when the USB Audio Bridge property is set to anything except 'Disabled'.
USB Audio Bridge Count
You must have Advanced selected. The number of Speakerphone and / or Sound Cards, from 0 to 4.(Default is 2)
Type
You must have Advanced selected. Select the type of USB Bridge: Sound Card or Speakerphone. (Default is Sound Card)
Input Mode
Configures the input as a Speaker configuration (stereo, 7.1, etc.) or Line input providing up to 8 channels in pairs.
Input Count
Available only when the Input Mode is set to Line. USB Sound Card In is the input to the Q-SYS device, which is the output from your computer. In the Windows Sound dialog > Playback tab, "CoreName Sound Card" displays as Line Out.
You can select up to 8 input channels (in pairs) for each USB Sound Card In component, with a maximum of 16 input channels (Core 110f) or 8 input channels (I/O-8 Flex, Core 8 Flex, Core Nano) in a design.
In the Line mode, Windows uses only the first two channels.
You can use the ASIO4ALL driver to access all channels by ASIO-enabled applications.
Speaker Mode
Available only with the Input Mode set to Speaker. Select the speaker configuration: Stereo, Quadraphonic, 5.1, or 7.1. (Default is Stereo)
When you select the speaker mode your computer views the Core as a device having the selected configuration. The outputs are labeled accordingly - left, right, center, and so on. When the media coming into the Core is matches the speaker configuration, the media is played in the correct format.
Output Count
The USB Sound Card Out is the output from the Core or I/O-8 Flex – the input to your computer. In the Windows Sound dialog > Recording tab, "CoreName Sound Card" displays as Line In.
You can select up to 8 output channels (in pairs) for each USB Sound Card Out component, with a maximum of 16 input channels (Core 110f) or 8 input channels (I/O-8 Flex, Core 8 Flex, Core Nano) in a design.
Speakerphone Mode
This selection is available only when Speakerphone or Speakerphone and Sound Card is selected in the USB Audio Bridge property. Indicates if the Q-SYS design has Echo Canceling (EC) or Non-Echo Canceling (NEC). This information is provided to the PC or Mac operating system so it can determine whether or not to use its own echo canceling.
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.
Controls
USB Input
Note: Samples, SRC+, SRC-, and Reset controls are not applicable to the NV-32-H USB Audio Bridge.
Peak Level (dBFS)
Meter displaying the Peak Input Level.
Invert
Button to invert the input audio signal.
Mute
LED indicates whether the input audio signal is muted.
Gain (dB)
Indicates the input gain.
Connected
LED indicates whether the USB In component is connected to a computer.
Active
LED indicates whether the signal is streaming.
Samples
Total number of samples since the audio started, or since the count has been reset.
SRC+
The number of samples added in order to match the USB clock with the Q-SYS PTP clock
SRC-
The number of samples removed in order to match the USB clock with the Q-SYS PTP clock
Reset
Resets the Sample count for the associated audio device.
USB Output
Note: Samples, SRC+, SRC-, and Reset controls are not applicable to the NV-32-H USB Audio Bridge.
Peak Level (dBFS)
Meter displaying the Peak Output Level.
Clip
Red LED indicating if the audio signal is being clipped.
Clip Hold
Button to hold the Clip LED on until released.
Invert
Button to invert the output audio signal.
Mute
Indicates whether the output audio signal is muted.
Gain (dB)
Indicates the output gain.
Connected
Green LED indicating that the USB Out component is connected to a computer.
Active
Green LED indicating that signal is streaming.
Samples
Total number of samples since the audio started, or since the count has been reset.
SRC+
The number of samples added in order to match the USB clock with the Q-SYS PTP clock.
SRC-
The number of samples removed in order to match the USB clock with the Q-SYS PTP clock.
Reset
Resets the Sample count for the associated audio device.
Control Pins
Note: Reset Counters, SRC-, SRC+, and Total Samples control pins are not applicable to the NV-32-H USB Audio Bridge.
|
Pin Name |
Value |
String |
Position |
Pins Available |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Channel n |
||||
|
Clip |
0 1 |
false true |
0 1 |
Output |
|
Channel Clip Hold |
0 1 |
false true |
0 1 |
Input / Output |
|
Gain |
-100 to 20 |
-100 dB to 20 dB |
0 1 |
Output |
|
Invert |
0 1 |
normal invert |
0 1 |
Input / Output |
|
Mute |
0 1 |
unmute mute |
0 1 |
Output |
|
Peak Level |
-120 to 43 |
-120 dB to 43 dB |
0 1 |
Output |
|
Active |
0 1 |
Off On |
0 1 |
Output |
|
Connected |
0 1 |
Off On |
0 1 |
Output |
|
Reset Counters |
Trigger button |
Input / Output | ||
|
SRC- |
0 and up |
0 and up |
0.00 to 1.00 |
Output |
|
SRC+ |
0 and up |
0 and up |
0.00 to 1.00 |
Output |
|
Total Samples |
0 and up |
0 and up |
0.00 to 1.00 |
Output |
Troubleshooting
"USB Device Not Recognized"
If you see this Windows pop-up message, it means that you've connected a TSC-G3 Series touch screen to the host PC but do not have the TSC-G3 USB Video Bridge or USB Audio Bridge enabled and included in a running design. To resolve, follow the steps in the Configuration Overview section.
