I/O Frame 8s (Discontinued)

Note: This topic is for reference only. Refer to the I/O Frame 8s User Manual for installation instructions.

The I/O Frame 8s, running a customized Linux operating system, provides one of the main input and output connection devices for the Q-SYS system. The Core connects to the I/O Frame 8s via the Q-SYS network, limiting the number of I/O Frames only to the size of your Core, and network bandwidth. An I/O Frame 8s can contain up to eight of the available Audio I/O cards.

This topic covers the hardware aspect of the I/O Frame. For configuration details in Q-SYS Designer, refer to the I/O Frame configuration topic.

Note: When an I/O Frame is shipped, the I/O cards that are installed in the I/O Frame at shipping, are noted on the shipping label.

Type 2 Hardware

Type 2 hardware provides new cables and connectors between the I/O cards and main boards in Cores and I/O Frames. Due to this change, the Type 2 hardware is not physically compatible with the older hardware. You can still integrate the new I/O Frames and Cores in the same system with older hardware, but the I/O cards are not interchangeable. Type 2 hardware can be identified by a yellow label on the back of the Core and I/O Frame, and the bottom of the I/O cards.

I/O Frame Front Panel

Front Panel Indicators and Controls

  1. Air Vents
  2. Audio Signal - Four tricolor LEDs, one for each channel, representing the digital audio level. Green = good, orange = 3 dB before clipping, red = clipping, off = no audio.
    • The AES3 card has four inputs, and four outputs. If you are using both inputs and outputs of an AES3 card, the LEDs display the input signal level. In order to display the output signal level, you must remove the AES3 Input component from the design.
    • The CobraNet card
      • LED 1: activity (green) / fault (red) for primary port
      • LED 2: in use (green) / conductor (yellow) primary port
      • LED 3: activity (green) / fault (red) for secondary port
      • LED 4: in use (green) / conductor (yellow) secondary port
  3. I/O Card Status - LED for each card slot letter (A, through H) indicates the card status. Green = good, Red = bad, off = not present, or not in current design schematic.
  4. LCD Readout

    Five pages of information

    • Status
      • Name of I/O Frame
      • Design name
      • Status
    • I/O card slot information - two pages listing all eight slots A - D / E - H and the type of I/O card in each slot
    • LAN "A" information
      • IP Address
      • Network Submask
      • Gateway
    • LAN "B" information - same as above.
    • About page
      • Device model
      • Firmware version
      • Copyright information
  5. Page navigation button

    6. Scrolls through the LCD readout pages

  6. ID - Identify Device
  7. Device Status
    • off - idle (not running a design)
    • green - running
    • amber - starting or stopping a design
    • red - error

      • VIDEO TUTORIAL: For a comparison of the Front and Back Panel with a Core, watch the video presentation of the Core and I/O Frame.

  8. Factory Reset

    9. Insert a paperclip or similar device into the reset hole and hold for 10 seconds. A timer displays on the LCD. This resets all network settings to their factory defaults: IP Addresses, hostname, etc.

  9. Power LED

I/O Frame Rear Panel

Rear Panel Connections

  1. Audio I/O Cards (1)

    The I/O Frame allows for combinations of eight, of the following I/O cards.

    Note: The types of cards shown in the example above are for illustration purposes only.

  2. GPIO (x2)
  3. USB Type A (x4) – auxiliary ports
  4. LAN A – Primary Q-LAN Ethernet connection
    • RJ45 connector
    • Streaming audio
    • Control information
    • Synchronization
  5. VGA video out – For future use
    • HD-15 female connector
  6. DVI digital video out – for future use
    • DVI female connector
  7. RS-232
    • Serial Control for External Devices (CD / DVD Player, etc.) using a Lua Script. This is used in conjunction with the RS-232 Serial Port component, which is part of the I/O Frame in Q-SYS Designer.
  8. LAN B – Backup (redundant) Q-LAN Ethernet connection
  9. Power Supply (5)
    • 90–132 or 180–264 VAC
    • 47–63 Hz Auto-configuring
    • IEC connector
    • Cord Lock
  10. Power Switch – AC Mains disconnect
  11. Serial Number

Specifications

System Hardware

I/O Frame

Description

System audio input and output device – eight I/O card slots.

Front Panel Controls
  • LCD page forward momentary switch
  • Unit ID button momentary switch
  • Clear settings momentary switch

Front Panel Indicators
  • Power On: Blue LED
  • Device Status: Tricolor LED
  • Audio Signal: Four tricolor LEDs per I/O card slot (32 total)
  • Card Status: One tricolor LED per I/O card slot
  • 240 x 64 monochrome LCD graphics display

Rear Panel Controls
  • AC Power switch – AC Mains disconnect, must remain accessible after installation.
    		•

    Rear Panel Connectors
    • RS-232: DE-9 (male 9-pin D shell connector)
    • Video Out: VGA HD-15 female connector (future use)
    • Video Out: DVI-D Digital Video Out, DVI female connector
    • Auxiliary USB Ports, Four: USB Host (type A)
    • GPIO A & B: DA-15 (female 15-pin D shell connectors)
    • Auxiliary Network Port: RJ45 10/100/1000 Mbps (switchable between Q-SYS LAN B or Aux Network Port)
    • Q-SYS Network LAN A: RJ45 1000 MBps only
    • Q-SYS Network LAN B: RJ45 1000 MBps only Aux network port: RJ45 10/100/1000 Mbps (switchable between Q-SYS LAN B or Auxiliary Network Port)
    • AC Mains inlet – IEC male connector with cord retainer

    Capacity

    Local Audio Channels

    128 x 128

    Network Audio Channels In

    		 128

    Network Audio Channels Out

    		 128

    Audio I/O Capacity

    Eight I/O Card Slots, Supporting:

    up to 32 analog I/O channels or

    up to 128 x 128 local digital I/O channels;

    Requires purchase of Q-SYS Type 2 audio I/O cards: CB, CIML4, CIML4-HP, COL4, CODP4, CAES4, CCN32, CDN64, CAN32.

    Line Voltage Requirements

    100 VAC - 240 VAC, 47 - 63 Hz
    Current Draw

    Max 4.8 A @ 100 VAC

    Typical 1.9 A @ 100 VAC
    Thermal 650 BTU/h (typical)

    Dimensions (HWD)

    3.5" × 149" × 16.13" (88.9 mm × 482.6 mm × 425.7 mm) / 2RU

    Accessories Included
    • 6 ft UL/CSA/IEC line cord
    • User Manual
    • Optional audio I/O ship kit