Using CXD-Q Amplifiers

In Q-SYS Designer version 4.0 and beyond,

there’s a new inventory item that’s worth taking a moment to look at.

This is the CXD-Q Series of networked amplifiers.

To add one to your design, simply click on the Plus icon in the Inventory Panel,

select Amplifiers, and then select one of the three models.

Even though they’re found under amplifiers,

they would also be just as comfortable in the Peripherals section .

You see, these new amplifiers are unique

because in addition to amplifying the signals to the loudspeakers,

they also serve as remote input connections to the system.

CXD-Q amplifiers are based on QSC’s revolutionary CXD Series of amplifiers,

but these ones have been specially modified to integrate with Q-SYS.

On the rear panel of each amplifier you’ll find Mic/Line Inputs,

which means that this device has the functionality of both a DataPort amplifier

and an I/O Frame with a Mic/Line Input Card.

You can drag the Input component into your design and treat it just as you would any other IO Card,

and route audio anywhere you like within your design.

The Amplifier block works much the same as an IO Output Card,

except that its output pins would go directly to your loudspeaker components.

Its control panel offers you all the same monitoring information

and control of a QSC DataPort amplifier,

as well as a few extra buttons that lock out controls on the device’s front panel.

These devices have some additional components in common with the I/O Frame,

including the ability to turn on phantom power

for any of your channels, and it also has its own GPIO terminal.

The three models of CXD-Q amplifiers have different power ratings,

which you can review in the inventory menu.

The CXD-Q 4.3 and 4.5, for instance, can provide 70V power,

while the 4.2 cannot. Regardless of which model you select,

they operate the same way in the Designer software.

In their Properties panel you have a new field called Channel Configuration,

that allows you to combine channels in both parallel

or bridged modes based on QSC’s Flexible Amplifier Summing Technology, known as FAST.

For more information on FAST as well as the CXD Series,

check out the PLD/CXD Training Course on qsctraining.com.

Whenever you change the channel configuration of your amplifier,

which you may need to do when you first deploy your design,

you will need to confirm the CXD-Q Channel configuration change manually on the front panel.

Changing the channel configuration will also mute all four channels,

which you can unmute by either tapping the power button

or by selecting this button in the control panel.

Then after that, you only need to do that if you change the channel configuration again.

So if you’re using Q-SYS and you need both an amplifier and a few inputs situated near that amplifier,

the CXD-Q is the ideal solution. Thanks and we’ll see you next time.