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.

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

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 Nano

4 (Any combination)

1

8

Core 8 Flex

4 (Any combination)

1

8

NV-32-H (Core Capable)

2 (Speakerphone + Sound Card)

1

2

Core 110f, Core 110c

4 (Any combination)

1

8

I/O-8 Flex

4 (Any combination)

1

8

I/O-USB Bridge

2 (Speakerphone + Sound Card)

1

2

TSC-7t

2 (Speakerphone + Sound Card)

1

2
  • 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.
  • 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.

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.

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) 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) 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.

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.

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.

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.

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

"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.