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Section 1: Introduction- Overview
The QSC CM16a Amplifier Network Monitor provides power-
ful amplifier management and zone paging capability in a
QSControl networked audio system using Ethernet network-
ing technology to communicate with the host computer/
system controller.
The host computer uses the QSControl application software
to operate the networked audio system, including the CM16a’s
and their amplifiers. The software operates on the Microsoft
Windows NT® version 4.0 operating system and can be
customized using Microsoft® Visual Basic Professional Edi-
tion.
This manual outlines the capabilities of the CM16a as well as
its installation and connections. The operation of the CM16a
is accomplished using QSC’s QSControl software. Note that
not all hardware features may be supported by the current
software revision. Please refer to the software’s documenta-
tion & help file for information regarding software features,
usage and functions.
Each CM16a performs control and monitoring functions for up
to 16 amplifier channels. This could be up to eight 2-channel
or four 4-channel amplifiers (or some combination of these) at
the time this document was printed. The amplifiers supported
by the CM16a are the PowerLight, PL2, PL2A, DCA, and CX
series of QSC amplifiers that have a built-in Data Port. Models
that do not have a built-in DataPort or models that have a DP-
1 option or “V2” DataPort (such as the EX, MXa, & ISA
series)
are NOT supported by the CM16a.
The DataPort connections are made with ordinary VGA
computer monitor-type cables (HD-15 male-to-male).
These cables are the same type that are used on personal
computer systems to connect the monitor to the computer.
This allows you to use commonly available cabling for
interconnecting amplifiers to the CM16a. Each DataPort
connection supports the control and monitoring functions
for two audio channels. When using the CM16a with
amplifiers that have more than two channels (such as the 4
channel cinema amplifiers) additional DataPort connections
are required.
The CM16a is a control and monitoring device that relies on
software to do its job. The functions and capabilities pro-
vided in the design of the CM16a can only be realized with
proper software implementation. Keep in mind that this
manual’s intent is to outline these capabilities and provide
a reference for properly installing and interconnecting the
CM16a to the networked system’s host computer, the audio
inputs and the amplifiers to be controlled and monitored. A
thorough knowledge of the control software’s features and
operation will provide the best possible results for the end
user.
From all of us at QSC Audio Products, thank you for your
purchase.
Note:
PL2A amplfiers have programmable filters and
crossovers. This makes gain “reporting” to the host unreli-
able as the frequency content relates directly to reported
output levels. Since the output level is used to calculate
gain, it is not possible to gaurantee accurate gain reporting
when the PL2A is set for any of its various frequency boost/
cut/crossover modes.
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