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 Power Amplifiers Is it ok to run only one channel on my amplifier and can I mismatch loads? What is the difference between parallel and bridged mono modes? How do I set my amplifier into the Bridge-Mono mode? What is the warranty on my QSC amplifiers? Where should the gain controls of my amplifier be set? Why does QSC use tip negative and ring positive 1/4" TRS connections on most amplifiers? What is the difference between Class AB, Class G, and Class H technology? Why use SMTs? Why don't you use an air filter for your fans? Is it possible to change the input sensitivity within your amplifiers? The power up synchronization between channels is off. Is this ok? What is the difference between the MX3000a and EX4000? The clip LEDs on my amplifier flash upon power up before the muting cycle ends. Is this normal? Should the fan in my QSC amplifier run all the time? Can I drive a 2 ohm load with my QSC amplifier in bridge-mode? Does your clip indicator represent true output clipping? The output voltage on my amplifier measures from 0Vdc to 0.3Vdc. Is this normal? I am getting a lot of hum and hiss from my system. Is there a quick way to tell if the amplifier is making the noise, or is it a problem with my system? I would like to know the age of my amplifier. Can you tell me when the amplifier was built? AcousticDesign Series Loudspeakers Can a pole mount cup be added to the AD-s282H? Can I suspend an AD-s82 or 82H using the brass inserts eyebolt? AcousticDesign Ceiling Speakers Mud rings vs. New constructions rings DSP-3 Is the DSP-3 hot swappable with QSC's dataported power amplifiers? My DSP-3 doesn't communicate with my laptop. What can I do? What type of cable do I need between my DSP-3 and computer? What external power supply requirements are necessary for my DSP-3 system? Can I drive multiple amplifier channels with my DSP-3? My DSP-3 doesn't come on. What could be the problem? What are the pin outs of the RS-232 connector on my DSP-3? What is the DataPort connector for? There seems to be an undesirable noise coming from the DSP-3 attached to my amplifier. What can I do to verify the DSP-3 is or is not the cause? How do I achieve a hard wired standby control through my DSP-3 while it's attached to my amplifier? DSP-4 Can I control multiple DSP-4s from one computer? What are the system requirements to run Signal Manager? Can I program a DSP-4 without a computer? My DSP-4 is not communicating through my com port? What is the 15-pin connector on the DSP-4 used for? My DSP-4 is not powering up, what could be the problem? Can the DSP-4 be used with other manufacture's amplifier? Why do I get red X's over the processor blocks, when I attempt to configure my DSP-4 through Signal Manager? How do I daisy chain my DSP-4's? What are the pin outs of the RS-232 connector on my DSP-4? DSP-30 What amplifiers is the DSP-30 compatible with? What kind of cable do I need to connect my computer to the DSP-30? My DSP-30 doesn't seem to pass signals. What could be wrong? My computer won't communicate with the DSP-30. How do I fix it? In Signal Manager, why do red X's appear over the processor blocks when I attempt to configure my DSP-30? I need to know how my DSP-30 is configured. Can I retrieve it into Signal Manager? The audio through my DSP-30 is distorted. What could be the cause? The signal seems a bit weak out of the DSP-30. What could be the culprit? Do I need a computer if I want to change the processing settings in the DSP-30? What are the pin-outs of the RS-232 connector on my DSP-30? QSControl What is the CM16a Amplifier Network Monitor? How does the control data get from the CM16a to the amplifier and how does the PC (System Controller) communicate with the CM16a? How many amplifiers can I control and monitor with a single CM16a? What if my CM16a (s) fails? Do I lose audio? What are the some of the functions that I can control and/or monitor using the CM16a? How do I update the firmware in my CM16a? Is the CM16a compatible with QSC's DSP products? Will the ISA work with CM16a? Is the audio in the CM16a digital or analog? Is the CM16a compatible with all amplifiers? My amplifiers have a red “X” over them in my System Manager tree – what does this mean? Can I put QSControl on a network with other computer traffic? What is the minimum recommended specifications for the system controller? Digital Cinema Monitors What amplifiers are compatible with the DCM series? What is the difference between the DCM-1, DCM-2, and DCM-3? What cable connects the amplifier to the DCM? The fault LED is on; what does that mean? I do not hear my highs or lows out of the monitor speaker on the front of the DCM? What should I power up first, the DCM or the amplifiers? What should I power down first? My system seems to be working fine but some channels show up as Disabled in Fault Diagnostics. Why? What is the difference between DCM Commander and DCM Manager software? My speaker is not in the speaker database; what can I do? My amplifiers do not come out of standby when there is an interruption in the AC mains. The front panel of the DCM freezes when power is restored. What is the problem? My surround channels do not show correct fault diagnostics; what is the problem? RAVE How do you determine and configure the audio resolution on RAVE products? Can a RAVE operate on an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) network? What is the maximum length of a single CAT-5 UTP segment in a RAVE network? How many audio channels make up one network channel or bundle on a RAVE (assuming the RAVE is configured with the factory default settings)? How many transmitting network channels can have a specific address? How many bits of audio resolution can a RAVE support? Why would one consider a repeater network for a new RAVE installation? How many bundles is the MIB browser capable of routing per RAVE? Can I assign multiple receivers to the same network address? Can I run RAVE units and an office LAN on the same network? POWER AMPLIFIERSIs it ok to run only one channel on my amplifier and can I mismatch loads? You may do both. Your amplifier can be loaded with a very wide range of speaker impedances. The minimum impedance is 2 ohms for stereo operation while it is 4 ohms for bridge mono operation. All QSC amplifiers are designed to operate safely into infinite load impedances (no speakers). Loading arrangements from one channel to the next can vary in any way you wish. In fact, you can load one channel with a distributed voltage load, using an output transformer, and use the other channel to drive a direct low impedance load. TOP What is the difference between parallel and bridged mono modes? The "Parallel" setting duplicates the effect of cross-patching the two inputs, using an internal switch to save the hassle of an extra cable. The two input jacks are connected together, so that a signal on either jack now appears in BOTH channels (therefore only a single signal should be connected). Each channel's Gain control regulates its volume as usual, and separate speakers are connected to each channel as usual. When using this mode, DO NOT combine the output of both channels into a single speaker; this is likely to damage the amp. The Parallel mode is useful when you want to drive several speakers with the same signal, but with two separate volume controls. Bridged Mono mode reverses the polarity of the signal going to Channel B, and matches its gain to Channel A. This makes the voltage between the two red speaker outputs DOUBLE the usual value, which allows several times the normal power to be delivered to a single speaker. This also increases the stress on the amp; this is not "something for nothing" but is a way to combine the 4-ohm ratings of both channels into a single 8-ohm load, or the combined 2-ohm ratings into a 4-ohm load. The Bridged mono setting is useful when you want to deliver the entire power of the amp to a single 8 or 4 ohm speaker. The proper position of the Gain control varies by model:
How do I set my amplifier into the Bridge-Mono mode? This depends on the amplifier you have. Generally, you will first turn the power off, set the bridge mono switch to the bridge position and attach your speaker wires onto the two red binding posts of each channel. It is then necessary to apply your input signal to channel one on your amplifier and adjust the gain as needed. For some amplifiers, the gain of channel 2 must be turned all the way down while others are required to be all the way up. Furthermore, with other QSC amplifiers, it does not matter where channel two's gain control is. TOP What is the warranty on my QSC amplifiers? In the off chance your product should need repair, QSC provides a 3 year warranty from the date of purchase. Additional warranty coverage for 6 years is available within the first three years of the original purchase. This extended warranty option converts your 3 year limited warranty into a 6 year full warranty. These warranties are fully transferrable. TOP Where should the gain controls of my amplifier be set? We recommend that the gain controls be set between half-way and fully up. The input sensitivity of QSC amplifiers is at about 0dBV or (1Vrms). Amplifier gain controls set at a lower position require input signals to be set to a higher level to obtain suitable power levels. There are other noise and gain alignment considerations. Particularly with unbalanced input lines, the hotter your signal is at the input of an amplifier, the more noise propogation you will have into your amplifiers. Also, the gain structure of your system may become such that you will reach the maximum gain travel of a fader, at your source device, before obtaining expected power within your amplifiers. TOP Why does QSC use tip negative and ring positive 1/4" TRS connections on most amplifiers? Since input circuits respond to the difference between the plus and minus signals, if only an unbalanced (single-ended) signal is available, the unused input terminal need only be grounded for normal operation, without loss of gain. The ability to reject cable induced hum and noise is lost, but this may not be needed in well shielded environments with short distances between audio components. Normally, an amplifier is expected to reproduce input signals in the same polarity, which is called the non-inverting mode, so that a drum beat, say, pushes the speaker out instead of in. However, if there is any leakage from high-power (speaker) circuits to the amplifier inputs, the amplifier is much more stable in the inverting mode, since the leakage then tends to add to the negative or stabilizing feedback. Using an inverting mode power amp is the opposite of normal practice, but we have observed many cases where "mystery problems" occurring in wide band amplifiers used in the non inverting mode are solved by switching to the inverting mode. Balanced line operation corrects this problem without regard to polarity, but is not always available. You can always reverse the red to black polarity to all the speakers to restore correct polarity even when using the "more stable" inverting mode. In any case, be sure to use the same polarity for all of the speakers so they work together. TOP What is the difference between Class AB, Class G, and Class H technology?
Why use SMTs? QSC is always looking for ways to make amps smaller, lighter, and more affordable. "Surface Mount Technology" is a new miniaturized method of placing parts on circuit boards without the usual wire leads. SMT parts have small metal bumps which are soldered to pads on the top of the board. This saves 50-75% of the space consumed by "thru-hole" components using wire leads, and eliminates the extra cost of attaching the leads to the parts. TOP Why don't you use an air filter for your fans? Air filters quickly clog with dust, blocking air flow and causing overheating. Although some dust collects internally without air filters, the spacing of the heat sink fins is much greater than the fibers in the air filter and much of the dust blows on through. The internal air flow pattern is designed to avoid dust buildup in critical places. Occasional cleaning is recommended in very dusty environments, but our experience is that "dust tolerant" designs cause much less trouble for customers than air filters. TOP Is it possible to change the input sensitivity within your amplifiers? In theory, yes, but only by changing certain resistor values, which requires opening the covers and exposure to dangerous voltages. This should be done only by qualified service personnel, or under the guidance of QSC Technical Services. TOP The power up synchronization between channels is off. Is this ok? Yes, certain amplifier models have completely independent muting circuits for each channel. It is normal for the turn-on delay to vary slightly. TOP What is the difference between the MX3000a and EX4000? The MX3000a uses critical sub-sections of the EX-4000 to deliver similar output power, but we reduce cost by eliminating features of the EX series which are only required by certain users. TOP The clip LEDs on my amplifier flash upon power up before the muting cycle ends. Is this normal? During the muting cycle, the "front end" of the amplifier is internally disconnected from the output transistors, ensuring that they are fully turned off in the event of overheating or during routine on/off muting. When disconnected from the feedback loop, the front end circuits may have enough stray signal to flash the Clip LED's. This is perfectly normal, and will stop as soon as the amp enters the normal "run" state. TOP Should the fan in my QSC amplifier run all the time? Almost all QSC amplifiers have 2-speed or variable speed fans that operate at low speed immediately upon power up. Two-speed fan designs reach the highest speed once a certain temperature is reached. Variable speed fans change rotation speed as amplifier operating temperatures change. The exceptions to this are the USA400 / Series One 1200 which are convection cooled amps. EX 2-space fans do not turn until a particular temperature is reached and from that point the fan speed varies with temperature. TOP Can I drive a 2 ohm load with my QSC amplifier in bridge-mode? The minimum rated impedance for an amplifier in bridge-mono is 8 ohms. A 4 ohm load is possible as this represents a 2 ohm per channel equivalent. Two ohm load precautions still apply, as it would with any amplifier, so supplemental cooling may be found necessary. It will also be important to watch for any impedance transients that arise from the speakers in use. Four ohm bridge-mono loading is the absolute minimum across the entire audio range (20Hz - 20kHz.) TOP Does your clip indicator represent true output clipping? Yes, the LED is driven only when the amplifier output fails to track the input. This condition normally results only from clipping, which occurs when the power amp reaches either its voltage or current limit. The LED begins to become visible at 0.1% distortion, and reaches fairly full brightness at 1-10% distortion, which is clearly audible. Therefore the brightness corresponds to the likeliness of hearing the distortion. TOP The output voltage on my amplifier measures from 0Vdc to 0.3Vdc. Is this normal? Small amounts of "DC offset" do not indicate a problem, although normally it should be less than 0.05 volts (50mv). At 0.3Vdc, we are dissipating 0.011 watts (11 mw) in an 8 ohm load which is clearly negligible. The 1400/USA 850/USA 900 models may measure several volts on the output if not loaded, but the voltage will promptly settle to zero if a normal load is connected. TOP I am getting a lot of hum and hiss from my system. Is there a quick way to tell if the amplifier is making the noise, or is it a problem with my system? The fastest way to tell if the amplifier is the cause of the noise, is to disconnect the input cables from the amp. If the noise is still there, it may be the amplifier; if it's gone, it's a source device inducing noise into the amplifier. If after removing the input connectors from the amplifier you find the noise still present, it will then be necessary to determine if the noise is coming from the AC line. This further isolation may be helpful. Try relocating the amplifier using a different AC service, if the same level of noise is present, the amplifier is likely to be the cause. If the noise is lower, the AC service may be the cause. TOP I would like to know the age of my amplifier. Can you tell me when the amplifier was built? Yes. If the amplifier was built before 1988, the first three letters of the serial number will tell you it's assembly date. Example: 047 = April 1987. If the amplifier was built after 1987, the first four letters of the serial number will tell you it's assembly date. Example: 0794 = July 1994. TOP AcousticDesign Series LoudspeakersCan a pole mount cup be added to the AD-s282H? Answer, yes and no. The i82H screw-in pole mount adapter should never be used with the 282 products. There is a plastic pole mount cup in the ISIS-i282H that can be added to the AD-s282H. This is not a stocked accessory and the replacement involves changing quite a few fasteners. It will work but it's an emergency fix only, it's not convenient. Can I suspend an AD-s82 or 82H using the brass inserts eyebolt? No, this is a bad idea. The brass inserts were never designed for suspension. AcousticDesign Ceiling SpeakersMud rings vs. New constructions rings What type of application are the mud rings used for with the ceiling speakers? What type of material should these be mounted into? How are they used? The new construction rings are completely flat, and feature holes for mounting to studs/joists in a wall or ceiling. The 'mud rings' are only used for sheetrock and plaster situations--they feature a raised flange, which helps in the plastering process and also makes it impossible to accidentally install sheetrock over the ring without first cutting a hole to accomodate the speaker. This allows the builder to install the mudrings to the framing or a building, which specifies exactly where the speakers need to be mounted, and not having to worry that the sheetrock contractor plasters over the speaker openings. TOP DSP-3Is the DSP-3 hot swappable with QSC power amplifiers? No. Attempting to mount or remove a DSP-3 located on a dataported amplifier could cause an internal amplifier fuse to open. This fuse is located between the 15V supply within the amplifier and the DataPort jack on the DSP-3. TOP My DSP-3 doesn't communicate with my laptop. What can I do? Under the Tools menu within your Signal Manager software, click Options and select the DSP tab. Ensure the correct COM port is selected. Also, check that no other programs or utilities are using the COM port to which the DSP device is attached. For example, HotSync (for Palm Pilots) is often set to automatically start when the computer is booted up, and must be manually exited before the PC can communicate with the DSP unit through the same COM port. Laplink and HyperTerm are two more examples of applications which "take over" the COM ports, preventing Signal Manager from accessing the port which is connected to the DSP device.For further details, refer to the DSP-3 Troubleshooting Guide. TOP What type of cable do I need between my DSP-3 and computer? The DSP-3, -4, and -30 do not use a null modem cable to connect to the PC. Instead, use a straight-through serial cable, which is quite common. This cable is often sold as a "serial extension cable", with a male connector at one end and a female connector at the other. You can purchase this serial cable off-the-shelf from any computer products store. Visit our online store for further options as well. The RS-232 pin-out is found in the appendix of the DSP Hardware Manual, or you may download a PDF version of the manual(s) from here: DSP-3 Hardware Manual. A pin out diagram can also be found here. If you still encounter problems connecting to the DSP device using a standard serial cable, check that the correct COM port is selected in the Signal Manager application. TOP What external power supply requirements are necessary for my DSP-3 module? The DSP-3 requires a 15V DC supply with a current capacity rating of at least 300mA. The output termination is via a 2.5mm barrel type (coaxial) connector. Center pin is positive. TOP Can I drive multiple amplifier channels with the use of my DSP-3? Yes! Each DSP-3 channel has an output terminal block for post DSP audio. This connection serves as a balanced output to drive additional power amplifiers which in turn might be connected in parallel with other amplifiers. TOP My DSP-3 doesn't come on. What could be the problem? The DSP device has a blue L.E.D. which illuminates to indicate the device is turned on. This may seem obvious, but power may have been disconnected. If the device is supposed to be receiving its power from a DataPort-connected QSC amplifier (such as a CX, PL2, or DCA amplifier), make sure the amplifier is turned ON (not off, or in Standby mode). If the device is using some other means of power (either an AC adapter for a DSP-3 and DSP-4, or a standard AC power cord for the DSP-30), make sure it is connected to a live AC circuit.If the DSP-3 is attached to a CX, PL2, or DCA amplifier, it is also possible that an internal amplifier fuse may be open. Click here for details. TOP What are the pin outs of the RS-232 connector on my DSP-3?  TOP What is the DataPort connector on my DSP-3 for? The DataPort connector is a 15pin HD female receptacle that serves as an interface between the DSP-3 and QSC's computer control and monitoring system.This connector may also serve as an alternative audio port provided no audio connection is placed at the terminal blocks of the DSP-3. TOP There seems to be an undesirable noise coming from the DSP-3 attached to my amplifier. What can I do to verify the DSP-3 is or is not the cause? To quickly determine if the DSP-3 is the source of noise, isolate an amplifier and DSP-3 pair from the system. With the gain controls of the amplifier in full position, attach the DSP-3 to the amplifier with AC power turned off. With the DSP-3 mounted, remove all source audio attached to the DSP-3 and attach small monitor loudspeakers to the amplifier's outputs. The DSP-3 and amplifier pair should be free standing with not input audio and loudspeakers attached to the power amplifier outputs.When the amplifier and DSP-3 pair are powered up, the noise floor should be relatively inaudible. If there remains an objectionable level of noise present, a fault condition may exist. Contact Technical Services at 800-772-2834 or tech_support@qscaudio.com. TOP How do I achieve a hard wired standby control through my DSP-3 while it's attached to my amplifier? Each end of a SPST contact switch may be connected between pins 2 and 6 of the female DataPort connector of a DSP-3 to achieve remote AC standby functionality. By shorting these two pins together, a dataported amplifier is placed into AC standby mode.  TOP DSP-4Can I control multiple DSP-4s from one computer? Using a serial RS-232 connection, only one DSP-4 can be configured before having to rewire the connection from the control computer to another DSP-4 module. Using the QSC CM16a as a network bridge, any number of DSP-4 modules can be accessed via a QSControl Ethernet network. As an added bonus, the CM16a delivers amplifier control and monitoring functions useful in setup and diagnostics of an audio system. The control computer must have the QSControl Software package version 4.0 or later installed, which includes a networked version of Signal Manager. TOP What are the system requirements to run Signal Manager? To use QSC Audio's Signal Manager software, you need the following hardware and software: · An IBM compatible 200 MHz. or greater Pentium Processor. · Windows 2000, Windows NT 4.0 (SP6 or greater), or Windows 98. · SVGA display at 800 X 600 resolution, 1024 X 768 recommended · CD-ROM drive · 32 MB or more of RAM · 10 MB or more of free hard disk space An available RS-232 serial communications port (COM port) capable of 38.4k baud, (or a 10BASE-T network card if running in network mode). TOP Can I program a DSP-4 without a computer? No, the DSP-4 is configured (programmed) by using the included Signal Manager software. The software must be installed on your PC and the PC must be connected to the DSP-4 using a 9-pin serial cable and an available COM port. Once programmed, the module can operate without any connection to the computer. Any time changes are needed to the DSP's configuration, the RS-232 connection must be active (cable connected). Software operation instructions are provided in the form of an in-depth Help file in the Signal Manager software. TOP My DSP-4 is not communicating through my com port? COM Port settings are set automatically by the software. However, if you cannot communicate with your DSP device, you may have to set them manually. Set the attributes of the COM port you wish to use. This can be done by going to the system Control Panel and selecting "Ports" (in Windows NT) or "System\Device Manager\Ports" (Windows 95/98). Set the attributes as follows: 38400 baud, 8 data bits, no parity, 1 stop bit, flow-control NONE. TOP What is the 15-pin (DataPort) connector on the DSP-4 used for? When using the DSP-4 module with QSC's amplifier network monitors, the audio input to the module can be delivered through the DataPort along with amplifier control and monitoring signals. This is the normal application of the DataPort. Connection from the module to the amplifier network monitor is made using a DPC-X receptacle-receptacle QSC DataPort cable. Alternatively, the DataPort connection can be used ONLY for control and monitoring, while the audio is input via the XLR inputs. If using the DSP-4 in this manner, do not apply audio via the DataPort as it will be mixed with the XLR audio input. TOP My DSP-4 is not powering up, what could be the problem? QSC's DSP-4 module has been designed to attach directly to the DataPort connector of QSC's CX, DCA and PowerLight 2 series amplifiers. When attached to CX, DCA and PowerLight 2 amps manufactured 08-99 and later, the module receives its power through the DataPort from the amplifier. Modules connected to earlier models of those just mentioned, all PowerLight amplifiers (the "non-2's") and non-QSC amplifiers require an external DC supply (DPX-1 15VDC 300mA).If the DSP-3 is attached to a CX, PL2, or DCA amplifier, it is also possible that an internal amplifier fuse may be open. Click here for details. TOP Can the DSP-4 be used with other manufacturer's amplifiers? Yes! DSP-4 can be used as stand-alone 2-channel digital signal processors. To accomplish this, you would need an external power supply (such as the QSC DPX-1) and we recommend a suitable mounting surface such as the DPX-4 Accessory Mounting Bracket. Both units provide line level balanced and unbalanced audio I/O. Simply patch the processors inline as you would typically use any signal-processing device. The RS-232 port is your gateway for controlling these processors from your computer. TOP Why do I get red X's over the processor blocks, when I attempt to configure my DSP-4 through Signal Manager? If a configuration contains any unconnected objects or ‘wires', the DSP will not accept a configuration set up. You will not be able to apply the configuration to the DSP until all objects and wires are connected. To check a configuration for unconnected ‘wires' and DSP objects, right-click on the program Workspace; a pop-up menu will appear, choose ‘Show Unconnected'. Unconnected ends of ‘wires' will be marked with a yellow X and unconnected objects will be marked with a red X. Delete erroneous ‘wires' and rewire the objects as required. TOP How do I daisy chain my DSP-4's? The DSP-4 has two XLR audio outputs, one for each channel. These outputs may be used for daisy-chaining the post-DSP signal to other amplifiers or for monitoring purposes. The XLR outputs may be used for daisy-chaining even when the DataPorts are used for input/output. Do not use Output Power Limiting when daisy chaining. To daisy-chain the DSP output, connect the output jacks of the DSP-4 to the input jacks of the next amplifier. Then connect the paralleled signal from the first amplifier to the second amplifier, and so on, up to a maximum of five amplifiers (including the output DataPort if connected to an amplifier). Make sure that all interconnecting cables are balanced and connected properly. TOP What are the pin outs of the RS-232 connector on my DSP-4? Note: PowerLight 6.0 and PowerLight 9.0 amplifiers require that pin #9 be removed from the remote mounting interconnect cable (DPX-2). Amplifier damage may result from use of cable that has pin #9 connections present. TOP DSP-30What amplifiers is the DSP-30 compatible with? The DSP-30 is essentially a stand-alone, rack-mount version of the DSP-3. It uses its own AC power, has XLR inputs and outputs and does not have a DataPort. Therefore, it is compatible not only with any amplifier, but with any line-level stage in an audio system. TOP What kind of cable do I need to connect my computer to the DSP-30? Use a standard RS-232 serial cable, which is available in many computer or electronics stores. The connector on the DSP-30 is a 9-pin female; the serial port on your computer might have either 9 or 25 pins, so make sure you have the appropriate cable or adapter. TOP My DSP-30 doesn't seem to pass signals. What could be wrong? If the blue LED on the front panel isn't lit, the DSP-30 isn't turned on or doesn't have AC power. If the DSP-30 is on, check the input and output cables, and make sure they are connected properly. Also check how the DSP-30 is configured; if you set up a configuration in the Signal Manager application and forget to complete the signal paths from inputs to outputs, or at some point along the signal paths you mute or greatly attenuate the signal, it will appear that the unit doesn't pass signals. TOP My computer won't communicate with the DSP-30. How do I fix it? Make sure that you have the latest version of QSC's Signal Manager application; the current one is 4.75. You can download it from www.qscaudio.com. In Signal Manager, select Options from the Tools menu, then click the DSP tab. Make sure you have the correct COM port selected. Also, check that no other programs or utilities are using the COM port to which the DSP device is attached. For example, HotSync (for Palm Pilots) is often set to automatically start when the computer is booted up, and you must manually close it before the PC can communicate with the DSP unit through the same COM port. Laplink and HyperTerm are two more examples of applications which "take over" the COM ports, which may prevent Signal Manager from accessing the DSP device. The Signal Manager application automatically adjusts the COM port settings, but you may have to set them manually if you have difficulties communicating with the DSP-30. Open the Windows Control Panel and double-click Ports (in Windows NT) or System\Device Manager\Ports (in Windows 95/98). Select these attributes: 38400 baud, 8 data bits, no parity, 1 stop bit, flow-control NONE. TOP In Signal Manager, why do red X's appear over the processor blocks when I attempt to configure my DSP-30? The X's indicate that the configuration is not valid, usually due to unconnected objects (blocks) or ‘wires,' and the DSP-30 will not accept it. You will not be able to apply the configuration to the DSP until all objects and wires are connected. To check a configuration for unconnected wires and DSP objects, right-click on the Signal Manager workspace. A pop-up menu will appear; click on Show Unconnected. Unconnected ends of wires will be marked with yellow X's, and unconnected with red X's. Delete erroneous wires and connect the objects as required. TOP I need to know how my DSP-30 is configured. Can I retrieve it into Signal Manager? Unfortunately, no—the DSP-30 can't do that. Whenever you create a configuration in Signal Manager that you might later want to reuse, review, or modify, you should save it as a file. You can back it up, e-mail it, copy it, share it with colleagues, etc. And you can load it into the DSP-30 as many times as you need. TOP The audio through my DSP-30 is distorted. What could be the cause? First, check the audio signals going into it. If they are distorted, the DSP-30 will not clean it up. Distortion could occur within the DSP-30 if the input signal levels are too hot, because they may clip the input stage. Open the configuration in Signal Manager and make sure you select an appropriate input sensitivity. Also, if you put too much gain in the DSP blocks of the configuration—whether in gain or EQ blocks—you'll get "digital clipping," in which the audio data exceeds the processor's bit depth; this type of distortion is extremely harsh and nasty sounding. TOP The signal seems a bit weak out of the DSP-30. What could be the culprit? The DSP-30 might be configured that way, with insufficient gain or less-than-optimum filtering in the signal paths. Use Signal Manager to check—and if necessary, correct—the situation. The DSP-30's inputs and outputs are active balanced. But if you run unbalanced interconnections between it and the other audio equipment, make sure that you use the non-inverting input and output terminals (pin 2) for the signal connection, and connect the inverting terminals (pin 3) to ground. You could lose some signal level if you don't do it correctly. TOP Do I need a computer if I want to change the processing settings in the DSP-30? The DSP-30 allows you to load up to eight different configurations into its memory. They are recallable as presets. You need a suitable computer and the Signal Manager software in order to create and load these presets, but once they are in the DSP-30, you don't need the computer; you can scroll through and select the presets by using the front panel buttons and display. TOP What are the pinouts of the RS-232 connector on my DSP-30?  TOP QSCONTROLWhat is the CM16a Amplifier Network Monitor? The CM16a Amplifier Network Monitor offers powerful amplifier management in a QSControl networked audio system, using Ethernet technology to communicate with the host system controller. The System Controller uses application software to operate the networked audio system, including the CM16a units and their amplifiers. TOP How does the control data get from CM16a to the amplifier and how does the PC (System Controller) communicate with the CM16a? The data is transferred between the CM16a and the amplifier using a HD 15 DataPort cable. Monitor data goes from the amplifier to the CM16a and the control data goes from the CM16a to the amplifier. Communication between the Controller (PC) and the CM16a is accomplished via a CAT5 cable with RJ45 connections. If a switch/hub is being used, a standard straight through cable is needed. However, if the CM16a is connected directly to the PC, a cross-over cable must be used. TOP How many amplifiers can I control and monitor with a single CM16a? The CM16a can handle up to 16 channels of audio using it's 8 dataports. Each DataPort cable carries 2 audio channels (audio pairs). So it is a function of the number channels, rather than the number of amplifiers. TOP What if my CM16a (s) fails? Do I lose audio? The CM16a comes with a bypass switch located on the front panel. If the unit crashes you can bi-pass the CM16a to allow audio to pass through. TOP What are the some of the functions that I can control and/or monitor using the CM16a? The QSControl system can monitor and control a variety of functions. ON/OFF/Standby, amplifier mode, Voltage/Current/Impedance, clip, protect, gain, temperature, and more. The CM16a also has 4 monitor ports for additional audio monitoring. TOP How do I update the firmware in my CM16a? See Service Bulletin CM160005b as it provides a detailed procedure on how to update your firmware. It is located on the QSC website Click here: CM160005 Service Bulletin to view the bulletin. TOP Is the CM16a compatible with QSC's DSP products? Yes. With the exception of the DSP-30 (non-DataPort), the CM16a is compatible with other QSC DSP products. TOP Will the ISA work with CM16a? No. The ISA has a “V2” DataPort and has limited functionality. TOP Is the audio in the CM16a digital or analog? The audio within the CM16a is in digital format. The CM16a converts the analog input to digital and back to analog for audio output. TOP Is the CM16a compatible with all amplifiers?No. The CM16a is designed as part of a system using QSC DataPort amplifiers only (excluding ISA models). TOP My amplifiers have a red “X” over them in my System Manager tree - what does this mean? Either the amplifiers are not ON or the CM16a is not online. TOP Can I put QSControl on a network with other computer traffic? It is not recommended that QSControl traffic be on the same network with other computer traffic. Use two physically separate networks or partition a single physical network into two virtual LANs using managed switches. TOP What is the minimum recommended specifications for the system controller?
TOP DCMWhat amplifiers are compatible with the DCM series? DCA amplifiers are fully compatible with the DCM series. All other QSC amplifiers with a DataPort are compatible with the DCM series but with a limited feature set; fault diagnostics are only available with DCA amplifiers. Also note that amplifiers with a Version 2 DataPort (ex. ISA series) will not go into standby when the attached DCM is turned off. Amplifiers without a DataPort (ex. older model QSC amplifiers or non-QSC amplifiers) are compatible with the DCM with a limited feature set. For these amplifiers, a DataPort adapter is necessary. QSC Technical Services Group offers two DataPort adapter accessories for the DCM series: DDI-1 and DDI-2. To purchase these accessories, visit the QSC store at www.qscstore.com or call Technical Services at 800-772-2834 (outside USA call 714-957-7150). TOP What is the difference between the DCM-1, DCM-2, and DCM-3? See the table below for model differences.
TOP What cable connects the amplifier to the DCM? You can use a QSC DataPort cable to connect an amplifier to the DCM. An advantage of a custom DataPort cable is that the audio pairs are shielded separately from the data lines. DataPort cables can be purchased by visiting the QSC store at www.qscstore.com or by calling QSC Technical Services Group at 1-800-772-2834 (outside USA call 1-714-957-7150). As an alternative you can use a standard 15-pin, male-to-male VGA cable where all the pins are wired through. VGA cables are available at PC retailers. TOP The Load Fault LED is on; what does that mean? The Load Fault LED is intended to notify an operator that the signal inputs to the DCM have not made it through the DCM, to the amplifier or to the speaker. To determine which channel has a fault, press and hold down the Diagnostics button. There are two types of indication: If the PROC LED and AMP LED are on, there is no amplifier detected at the DCM amplifier connector. This could be because the amplifier is off or the DataPort cable is disconnected. If the AMP LED is on, the amplifier at that output is measuring a short or open on its output terminals. For more information about the specific fault, go to the Fault Diagnostics tab in the DCM Manager software and click REFRESH. Note that a fault will not be detected unless there is input (at the FROM PROCESSOR OUTPUT connector) to the DCM. TOP I do not hear my highs or lows out of the monitor speaker on the front of the DCM? The individual frequency outputs (2-way or 3-way) are combined automatically for monitoring from the front panel. Therefore, the front panel monitor speaker always outputs a full range signal. TOP What should I power up first, the DCM or the amplifiers? What should I power down first? When the DCM is connected to DCA amplifiers, turning off the DCM puts the amplifiers in standby. Therefore, you only need to turn the DCM on and off. TOP My system seems to be working fine but some channels show up as Disabled in Fault Diagnostics. Why? DCM Manager (or DCM Commander) will show an amp as Disabled if the amplifier is not selected in the Amplifier Models tab of the Amp & Speaker Configuration window. In the following figure, the Left Low 1/2, Left Hi/Center High, and Center Low 1/2 ports have an amplifier selected and will display normal fault diagnostics. The remaining DataPorts (Right High, Right Low1/2, Sub 1/2, Sub 3/4, Sur1, Sur2, and Sur3) will have a Disabled status in Fault Diagnostics.Disabled simply means that there will be no fault diagnostics for those DataPorts since they have no amplifier assignments. Those disabled DataPort channels will operate normally and DCM Commander will just ignore faults if there are any.  TOP What is the difference between DCM Commander and DCM Manager software? DCM Manager is a new software interface for the DCM. The Graphical User Interface (GUI) has improved with DCM Manager. However, the functionality of DCM Commander and DCM Manager is largely identical. The speaker database has been updated to include new speaker models in DCM Manager. TOP My speaker is not in the speaker database; what can I do? If your speaker is not in the speaker database, visit www.qscaudio.com to check for the most current database revision or call Technical Services at 1-800-772-2834 (outside USA call 1-714-957-7150). If your speaker is not common or is very new, it may not be included in the latest speaker database. Use your speaker specifications to enter the correct parameters in the DSP Settings tab of DCM Manager. You can copy these settings to other channels that use the same speaker and you can save the settings in your custom speaker database. TOP My amplifiers do not come out of standby when there is an interruption in the AC mains. The front panel of the DCM freezes when power is restored. What is the problem? Turn off the DCM. Wait about 15 seconds and turn on the DCM. The front panel buttons should operate correctly and the amplifiers attached to that DCM should come out of standby. There is a procedure that corrects this power-on glitch; it is described in the DCM0001 service bulletin for the DCM-1. This service bulletin can be found at http://www.qscaudio.com/support/library/bulletin/bulletin.htm. TOP My surround channels do not show correct fault diagnostics; what is the problem? The indexing was incorrect for the Surround channels in DCM Commander. For example, if there is a physical fault on Sur1 Left, the fault is reported on Sur2 Right in Fault Diagnostics. All DCM front panel diagnostics information is reported correctly. It is only the software that misrepresents the fault. This bug has been corrected in DCM Manager and so the solution is to update your software to DCM Manager which is available at www.qscaudio.com. TOP RAVEHow do you determine and configure the audio resolution on RAVE products? "S-24" labeling for the analog units and "s" labeling for the digital units, both of which must have at least firmware version 2.8.5, identifies 24-bit capable RAVE units. RAVE products are shipped from the factory with audio resolution configured for 20-bit. RAVE transmitters populate a bundle with 8 channels of 20-bit audio while receivers decode a bundle with 8 channels of 20-bit audio as well. Audio resolution from the AES receivers or ADCs is always 24-bit. Audio resolution can be determined at the receiver or transmitter via software access to the management interface (MI) variables using SNMP.Configuration of audio resolution is available on a per channel basis by altering the MI "txSubFormat" variables at the transmitter. TOP Can a RAVE unit operate on an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) network? ATM has long proclaimed to be the solution to isochronous networks. This is due to cell-based switching which uses a fixed packet size. Theoretically, this should allow for predictable and fixed latency throughout the network. Unfortunately, ATM protocol implementations from one manufacturer may not provide for interoperability with another.Additionally, bridging of Ethernet packets to ATM may cause problems. However, QSC has successfully implemented RAVE on a few ATM networks. Note that RAVE products are supported by QSC Audio Products for use with Fast Ethernet repeaters, switches and approved media converters only. TOP What is the maximum length of a single CAT-5 UTP segment in a RAVE network? 100m or 328 feet TOP How many audio channels make up one network channel or bundle on a RAVE (assuming the RAVE is configured with the factory default settings)? Eight channels make up one network channel within a RAVE system. TOP How many transmitting network channels (bundles) can have a specific network address? One TOP How many bits of audio resolution can a RAVE unit support? The CobraNet protocol supports audio delivery over the network in word lengths of 16, 20, or 24-bits. QSC Audio's RAVE products began support of 24-bit audio delivery with CobraNet version 2.8.5 firmware. TOP Why would one consider a repeater network for a new RAVE installation? At one time this was one of the more common questions for new installations. Now that network switches are competitively priced with repeaters, the install base has moved almost entirely to switched LANs. Ethernet repeaters are still supported though and provide at least one benefit over network switches for small installations. Repeaters allow the use of more multicast bundles and do so more reliably. Each LAN or virtual local area network (VLAN) in a switched network design should limit multicast delivery to no more than 4 bundles. Repeaters allow at least 8 multicast bundles per LAN. If the system requirements call for no more than 64 audio channels that must be multicast to two or more destinations, a repeater network may still be a viable solution. TOP How many bundles is the MIB browser capable of routing per RAVE? There are 4 bundles per RAVE. TOP Can I assign multiple receivers to the same network address? Yes, if the system is set up for a multicasting configuration. TOP Can I run RAVE units and an office LAN on the same network? We strongly recommend that you keep your RAVE network separate from others. Normal LAN traffic is unregulated and non-deterministic, whereas RAVE network data adheres to a rigid time schedule and packet size. TOP |
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