USB Audio Bridge – Speakerphone / Sound Card Out

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.

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

  

Core 110f, Cinema Core 110c

4 (Any combination)

1

8

  

I/O-8 Flex Channel Expander

4 (Any combination)

1

8

  

I/O-USB Bridge

2 (Speakerphone + Sound Card)

1

2

  

TSC-7t Touch Screen Controller

2 (Speakerphone + Sound Card)

1

2

  

NV-32-H Network Video Endpoint

2 (Speakerphone + Sound Card)

1

2

  

Use a USB Type A to B cable to connect your PC or Mac to the Q-SYS device supporting audio bridging. The B side of the cable connects to the Q-SYS device's USB B connector. For the TSC-7t, use a USB Type A to Micro-B cable.

Note: You can also connect to some Windows-based tablets. Tablets require an on-the-go cable.

The USB Audio Bridge (Speakerphone or Sound Card) is a component within the inventory tree of a supported Q-SYS device.

  1. Add a Q-SYS device that supports audio bridging to your inventory.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.

  4. Run your design.
  5. 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.

Property

Function

USB Bridge Name

User-defined name given to the USB Bridge, from 1 to 24 characters.

Zoom Compatibility1

If you are using the HID Conferencing [BETA] 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).

Note: When this property is enabled, the USB Bridge Name property is disabled, and the USB Bridge uses the name of the device – for example, "Q-SYS Core 110f" or "Q-SYS NV-32-H".

USB Audio Bridge

Provides the capability of passing audio via USB.

  • 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.

USB Audio Bridge Count

You must have Advanced selected.

The number of Speakerphone and / or Sound Cards, from 0 to 4.

Type

You must have Advanced selected.

Select the type of USB Bridge: Sound Card or Speakerphone.

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 Core or I/O-8 Flex – 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) 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.

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) 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 or Non-Echo Canceling. This information is provided to the PC or Mac operating system so it can determine whether or not to use its own echo canceling.

1. Q-SYS Core 110f and NV-32-H devices only.

Note: Samples, SRC+, SRC-, and Reset controls are not applicable to the NV-32-H USB Audio Bridge.

Control

Function

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.

Note: Samples, SRC+, SRC-, and Reset controls are not applicable to the NV-32-H USB Audio Bridge.

Control

Function

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.

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
(Output only)

0

1

false

true

0

1

Output

Channel Clip Hold
(Output only)

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