USB Audio

Q-SYS Level 1 Training : QSC Conferencing Solution
In the latest versions of Q-SYS Designer software, the "USB Endpoint" properties have been replaced with the "USB Audio Bridge," which you need to enable to create the USB input and output components. Some of the other properties may also be different than what is represented in this video, so be sure to open the Help file if you need assistance on this topic.

6 ) Audio Player & Media Drive

7m 11s

7 ) Basic Test & Measurement

15m 4s

9 ) QSC Conferencing Solution

21m 53s

11 ) Final Exam Overview

15m 59s

Video Transcript

USB Audio 4m 0s
0:08
"Bring Your Own Device" functionality is a must-have in today’s meeting
0:13
and USB audio is a huge part of this equation for the Q-SYS platform.
0:16
It lets the user quickly interface their own laptop and other devices with the room’s systems for presenting,
0:23
teleconferencing and more. The Core 110f, for instance, features a Type B USB connection that
0:30
lets you simultaneously stream up to 16 channels of USB audio in and 16 channels out to a single device.
0:38
To enable this ability, go to the Core’s properties panel and change the USB Endpoint Count from 0 to 1.
0:46
This creates input and output components that you can drag into your Schematic that will either receive
0:52
or send audio across the USB connection.
0:55
Your PC and any appropriate applications should see a new device called "Q-SYS CORE 110f"
1:02
with a connection label based on your settings.
1:05
You can actually have up to 4 different Endpoints running across this USB connection
1:09
for use by different programs, but most users will probably only need one or two.
1:14
One common use for this connection would be for teleconferencing.
1:18
You could run the audio of a PC program such as Skype or Lync to the Core to play your telephone call
1:24
over a conference room’s high quality loudspeakers, and use the Core to process
1:29
the conference room’s microphones before sending them back to the PC.
1:33
Basically you’d be turning your Q-SYS system into an external echo-canceling speakerphone for your laptop.
1:39
In fact, if you have this USB Endpoint’s type configured as a "Speakerphone,"
1:46
then this USB connection will be identified as a Speakerphone by your conference application.
1:51
If you select it in the PC audio configuration menu as the "Default Communications Device",
1:57
you’ll connect quickly and automatically.
1:59
Since this type of telephone audio will be in mono,
2:02
you’ll notice that the components only have one input pin and one output pin.
2:07
You’ll want to use an Acoustic Echo Canceler to process the audio of this conference call.
2:12
For an example of a simple AEC setup,
2:15
check out our Training Quickstart video on the Acoustic Echo Canceler.
2:20
The other type of connection is called "Soundcard".
2:24
In this example, the PC will identify the USB Endpoint as a Line Out or Aux In channel.
2:31
By default this will provide you with 2 channels for a stereo connection.
2:35
You can increase the number of channels up to 8,
2:38
but be aware that Windows has a limitation that prevents it from handling more than two channels.
2:44
Fortunately you can correct this by installing a universal ASIO driver.
2:49
You can find these drivers for free online, such as this website, www.asio4all.com.
2:56
You could also change the Soundcard’s Input Mode from Line to Speaker.
3:01
You would use this option if your room has, let’s say, a PC with a blu-ray player connected to the Core via USB.
3:08
If you selected "speaker" the Core’s USB connection will self-identify as a speaker output from your PC.
3:15
This allows you to specify a stereo, quadrophonic, 5.1 or 7.1 system
3:21
so that the PC will appropriately deliver surround sound audio across the USB channels.
3:27
In this mode, the USB output in Q-SYS will be seen as a USB Line In to the computer.
3:34
The most important thing to keep in mind when configuring your USB connections
3:38
is that the USB Input in Q-SYS is the Output for the PC,
3:44
and the Output component in Q-SYS will be an Input to the PC. Just remember that the
3:49
terms "Input" and "Output" in Q-SYS are from the Core’s point of view, and you’ll be fine.
3:54
Thanks for watching, and we’ll see you next time.

Lesson Description

USB Audio 4m 0s
This module will show you how to configure USB devices so that they can be used in Q-SYS as an audio input or output.

Tips and Definitions

USB Audio 4m 0s
  • A USB device can be configured as a speakerphone or as a soundcard.
  • Windows devices will need a universal ASIO driver to play more then 2 channels out of a soundcard.