I/O Frame

Note: This topic is for reference only. Refer to the Q-SYS Core and I/O Frame User Manual or the Type 2 Q-SYS Core and I/O Frame User Manual for installation instructions.

The I/O Frame, running a customized Linux operating system, provides the main input and output connections for the Q-SYS system. The Core connects to the I/O Frame 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 can contain up to four of the five 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. I/O Card Status - Four tricolor LEDs, 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
2. I/O Card Status - LED for each card slot letter (A, B, C, D) indicates the card status. Green = good, Red = bad, off = not present, or not in current design schematic.
3. LCD Readout

   Five pages of information

   • Status
     • Name of I/O Frame
     • Design name
     • Status
   • I/O card slot information - lists all four slots, A - D, and the type of I/O card in each
   • LAN "A" information
     • IP Address
     • Network Submask
     • GATEWAY
   • LAN "B" information - same as above.
   • About page
     • Device model
     • Firmware version
     • Copyright information
4. Page navigation button

Scrolls through the LCD readout pages

5. ID - Identify Device
• Front Panel
• Q-SYS Designer - Identifies this I/O Frame in the Q-SYS Designer design.
6. Power LED
7. Factory Reset

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.

8. 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.

I/O Frame Rear Panel

Rear Panel Connections

1. Audio I/O Cards (1)

   The I/O Frame allows for any combination of four, of the following I/O cards. Each card supports four channels.

   • DataPort card (Details: hardware, functionality/configuration)
   • Line Out card (Details: functionality/configuration, hardware)
   • Mic/Line In card High Performance Version (Details: functionality/configuration, hardware)
   • Mic/Line In card Standard Version (Details: functionality/configuration, hardware)
   • AES3 card (Details: functionality/configuration, hardware)
2. GPIO (2)
   • General Purpose Input / Output (GPIO) Controller (functionality/configuration and hardware), one DA-15 connector
3. RS-232 (3)
   • 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.
4. LAN A, and LAN B - Ethernet (4)
   • Two RJ45 connectors - primary/redundant
   • Streaming audio
   • Control information
   • Synchronization
5. Power Supply (5)
   • 90–132 or 180–264 VAC
   • 47–63 Hz Auto-configuring
   • IEC connector
   • Cord Lock

Specifications

System Hardware	I/O Frame
Description	System audio input and output device
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 Card Status: One tricolor LED per I/O card slot 240 x 64 monochrome LCD graphics display
Rear Panel Connectors	RS-232: DE-9 (male 9-pin D shell connector) GPIO A: DA-15 (female 15-pin D shell connector) Q-SYS Network LAN A: RJ45 1000 MBps only Q-SYS Network LAN B: RJ45 1000 MBps only
Capacity
I/O Capacity	Up to 16 channels. 1 Requires purchase of I/O cards1
Line Voltage Requirements	100 VAC - 240 VAC, 47 - 63 Hz
Dimensions (HWD)	1.75" x 19" x 15" (44.45 mm x 482.6 mm x 381 mm)
Accessories Included	6 ft UL/CSA/IEC line cord User Manual Optional audio I/O ship kit
1. The CAES4 card (AES3 input/output) doubles the audio channel count of any slot in which it is used.