PA Router
The PA Router is the hub of the Q-SYS Paging System. It performs the following tasks:
- Routes pages.
- Delays, queues and sorts delayed pages based on priority and zone availability.
- Plays and routes prerecorded messages.
- Queues and sorts message playback based on priority and zone availability.
- Mixes pages and messages with background music (BGM), including ducking.
- Routes BGM.
- Controls the Gain and Mute for Pages, Messages, and BGM.
The PA Router accepts audio files for preambles, messages and BGM. One track is supported (additional tracks are ignored). The files can be loaded onto the Core using the Q-SYS Core Manager > Audio Files page.
The files for preambles and messages are selected in the Q-SYS Administrator > Commands tab. The files for BGM are selected in the Q-SYS Designer Schematic.
Core-to-Core Paging
Refer to the Core-to-Core Paging topic for details.
Inputs
Station Audio - One input for each Page Station as defined in the PA Router property Station Count. The audio source can be the microphone or the Aux input on the physical Page Station, any audio source in Q-SYS Designer (Audio Player, Mic/Line Input card, and so on)
Station Control - One input for each Page Station as defined in the PA Router property Station Count. Connect the Station Control from the Page Station (virtual or proxy) to this input on the PA Router.
BGM Input - Connect the background music source here. The number of inputs is set in the PA Router Properties BGM Input Count.
Outputs
Zone Audio - One output for each Page Zone defined in the PA Router Properties Zone Count.
Note: You must have at least one Page Station and only one PA Router in your design to set up a Paging System. If you have more than one PA Router in your design it will not compile.
Properties
|
Property |
Function |
Choices |
|---|---|---|
|
Station Count |
Sets the number of Page Stations you have in your Q-SYS Design. The Page Stations can be the Virtual Page Station or the hardware proxy. The number of stations you define is available for configuration in the Administrator. |
1 through 256 Default = 8 |
|
Zone Count |
Sets the number of PA Zones for your paging system. The number of Zones you define, is available in the PA Router Control Panel where you can select the BGM for each Zone. The number of Zones is also available for configuration in the Administrator. |
1 through 512 Default = 8 |
|
BGM Input Count |
Sets the number of BGM inputs you want for your paging system. You can assign any one of the BGM inputs to one or more PA Zones. |
0 through 80 Default = 0 |
Controls
Name, Output
|
Control |
Function |
Default / Range |
|---|---|---|
|
Zone 1 - n |
A vertical listing of all the Zones based on the Zone Count in the Properties. Can be up to 256 Zones |
Default = 8 Range = 1 to 256 |
|
Name |
The name as specified in PA Zones (Administrator). |
N / A |
|
Mute |
Mutes all signals to the Zone. One Mute button for each Zone. |
unmuted / muted |
|
Gain (dB) |
Sets the gain for all signals to the Zone. You can enter the value using your keyboard, or change it by selecting the field and dragging the mouse. |
Default = 0 Range = -100 to 20 |
|
Squelch |
Allows you to silence pages and messages at and below the Priority level selected. You can create a Control Command and Schedule it to change the Squelch Priority to prevent pages and messages from being played in certain zones at certain times. |
One of the Priorities set in the PA Global Settings in the Administrator. |
|
Buffer |
Displays the amount of PA Router audio RAM in use. |
N / A |
Status
|
Control |
Function |
Default / Range |
|---|---|---|
|
Squelch |
LED indicating that the associated PA Zone is being squelched. |
Off / On |
|
Active |
LED indicating that the PA Zone associated with the LED is Active (illuminated) or not. |
Off / On |
|
Source |
A number indicating the PA Router Input Pin to which the source of the page is connected. |
Default = 0 Range = 0 to n |
|
Priority |
Text field giving the Priority of the current event. |
One of the Priorities set in the PA Global Settings in the Administrator. |
|
Cancel All |
Cancels all executing and queued commands. |
N / A |
|
Cancel Queued |
Cancels all queued commands. |
N / A |
Page
|
Control |
Function |
Default / Range |
|---|---|---|
|
Mute |
Mutes the Page output for the associated PA Zone. |
unmuted / muted |
|
Gain (dB) |
Sets the gain for the Page signals to the Zone. You can enter the value using your keyboard, or change it by selecting the field and dragging the mouse. |
Default = -12 Range = -100 to 20 |
Message
|
Control |
Function |
Default / Range |
|---|---|---|
|
Mute |
Mutes the Message input. One Mute button for each PA Zone. |
unmuted / muted |
|
Gain |
Controls the Gain of the Message. One Gain control for each PA Zone. This Gain is in addition to the Gain set in the Output section of the associated Zone. You can enter the value using your keyboard, or change it by selecting the field and dragging the mouse. |
Default = -12 Range = -12 to 20 |
|
Message |
Text field displaying the name of the Message file currently playing. |
N / A |
Background Music
|
Control |
Function |
Default / Range |
|---|---|---|
|
Mute (Zone) |
Mutes only the BGM signal to the PA Zone. One Mute button for each Zone. |
unmuted / muted |
|
Gain (dB) |
Adjusts only the BGM Gain for a single PA Zone. One Gain control for each PA Zone. This Gain is in addition to the Gain set in the Output section of the associated Zone. You can enter the value using your keyboard, or change it by selecting the field and dragging the mouse. |
Default = 0 Range = -100 to 20 |
|
Select |
Displays the number of the BGM Input button you have selected for the associated Zone. In addition, you can select the Select field, and type the number corresponding to the BGM Input you wish to select. |
blank (0) to 32 |
|
BGM input buttons 0 - n |
Radio button for each BGM Input defined in the BGM Input Count in the Properties. The buttons are numbered 1 - n, and the number of the one you select displays in the Select field. A set of buttons (1 - n) is available for each Zone. When you select a button, the audio source connected to that BGM Input is routed to the associated Zone. |
Default = 0 Range = 0 to 32 |
|
BGM Input Gain (dB) |
Adjusts the BGM Input Gain for all PA Zones associated with that BGM Input. One Gain control for each BGM Input. |
Default = 0 Range = -100 to 20 |
|
BGM Ducker Attack (Seconds) |
The Attack is the time it takes the BGM to fall to 63% of the Depth level when the a Page or Message is played. Use this control to provide a smooth transition from the BGM audio to the Page or Message audio. |
Default = 1.00 Range = 0 to 5 |
|
BGM Ducker Depth (dB) |
The Depth sets the amount of gain applied to the BGM Input channels when the BGM Ducker is activated. The Page or Message is mixed with the BGM, so the Depth setting controls how much of the BGM is heard in the output. Setting the Depth to 60 dB of attenuation essentially mutes all BGM channels used by the Page or Message. |
Default = 40 Range = 0 to 60 |
|
BGM Ducker Release (Seconds) |
The Release Time is the time it takes the BGM channel outputs to return to 63% of their normal level when the BGM Ducker is deactivated - the Page or Message ends. Use this control to provide a smooth transition from the Page or Message audio back to the BGM channel audio. |
Default = 5 Range = 0 to 10 |
Control Pins
The available Control Pins depend on settings in Properties.
Zone
For each Remote Destination PA Zone, the following control pins are provided.
|
Pin Name |
Value |
String |
Position |
Pins Available |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Active |
0 1 |
false true |
0 1 |
Output |
|
BGM n Select |
0 1 |
false true |
0 1 |
Input / Output |
|
BGM Gain |
-100 to 20 |
-100 dB to 20 dB |
0.000 to 1.00 |
Input / Output |
|
BGM Mute |
0 1 |
unmuted muted |
0 1 |
Input / Output |
|
BGM Select |
1 through n |
1 through n |
0 to 1 |
Input / Output |
|
Gain |
-100 to 20 |
-100 dB to 20 dB |
0.000 to 1.00 |
Input / Output |
|
Message |
Text name of the message file currently playing |
Output |
||
|
Message Gain |
-100 to 20 |
-100 dB to 20 dB |
0.000 to 1.00 |
Input / Output |
|
Message Mute |
0 1 |
unmuted muted |
0 1 |
Input / Output |
|
Mute |
0 1 |
unmuted muted |
0 1 |
Input / Output |
|
Name |
(text) |
Output |
||
|
Page Gain |
-100 to 20 |
-100 dB to 20 dB |
0.000 to 1.00 |
Input / Output |
|
Page Mute |
0 1 |
unmuted muted |
0 1 |
Input / Output |
|
Priority |
0 n |
Text names of the Priorities defined. |
0.000 to 1.00 |
Output |
|
Source |
0 n |
0 n |
0.000 to 1.00 |
Output |
|
Squelch (Squelch Priority) |
0 1 n |
Text names of the Priorities defined. |
0.000 to 1.00 |
Input / Output |
|
Squelch Active (LED) |
0 1 |
false true |
0 1 |
Output |
1. No Squelch is 0 (zero) and 1 - n are the priority levels with 1 (one) being the highest priority. |
||||
BGM Ducker
When there is at least one BGM Channel defined, the following controls are provided.
|
Pin Name |
Value |
String |
Position |
Pins Available |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Attack Time |
0.0 to 5 |
0 ms to 5 s |
0.000 to 1.00 |
Input / Output |
|
Depth |
0 to 60 |
0 dB to 60 dB |
0.000 to 1.00 |
Input / Output |
|
Release Time |
0.0 to 10 |
0.0 ms to 10 s |
0.000 to 1.00 |
Input / Output |
BGM Input
For each BGM Input the following controls are provided.
|
Pin Name |
Value |
String |
Position |
Pins Available |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Gain |
-100 to 20 |
-100 dB to 20 dB |
0.000 to 1.00 |
Input / Output |
|
Mute |
0 1 |
unmuted muted |
0 1 |
Input / Output |
General
|
Pin Name |
Value |
String |
Position |
Pins Available |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Buffer Used |
Text Field |
Output |
||
|
Cancel all Commands |
Trigger |
Input/Output |
||
|
Cancel Queued Commands |
Trigger |
Input/Output |
||
