QSC Audio S series manual

1 RA VE “S” series Digital Audio Router USER MANUAL ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ RA VE 80s (8 AES3 outputs) ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ RA VE 81s (8 AES3 inputs) ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ RA VE 88s (4 AES3 inputs + 4 AES3 outputs) ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ RA VE 160s-24 (16 analog audio outputs) ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ RA VE 161s-24 (16 analog audio inputs) ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼[...]

2 © Copyright 2002 QSC Audio Products, Inc. All rights reserved. “QSC” and the QSC logo are registered with the U.S. Patent and T rademark Office. RA VE™ is a trademark of QSC Audio Products, Inc. CobraNet™ is a trademark of Peak Audio, Inc. EXPLANATION OF GRAPHICAL SYMBOLS The lightning flash with arrowhead symbol, within an equilateral t[...]

3 RA VE “ S ” Series Digital Audio Router User Manual Warning Notices ................................................................................................................ ................................. 2 Introduction ..................................................................................................................[...]

4 RA VE™ Digital Audio Router products provide a means of transporting CobraNet™ audio signals over a Fast Ethernet network. Using standard network hardware and physical me- dia, a RA VE system has a maximum capacity of 64 audio chan- nels on a 100BASE-TX repeater segment and the ability to support hundreds of audio channels on a switched Ether[...]

5 Power LED Bundle assignment selector switches (behind cover) Network status LEDs Audio signal level LEDs Front view of a RAVE 161s-24; other models are similar Rear view, from top: RAVE 160s-24, RAVE 188s-24, RAVE 161s-24, RAVE 80s, RAVE 88s and RAVE 81s INTRODUCTION: Illustration of RA VE units IEC connector (AC power) and fuse holder Ethernet c[...]

6 AES 3 — A digital audio format specification approved by the Audio Engineering Society and European Broad- cast Union for inter -device conveyance of a dual- channel (stereo) digital audio signal. Also called AES/EBU. This specification is periodically revised and amendments are published by the AES. Bundle — The basic network transmission un[...]

7 Repeater — Network repeaters are commonly referred to as Ethernet multi-port hubs. A data signal arriving in any port is reproduced out all other ports on the hub. A repeater hub does not buffer or interpret the data passing through it. An Ethernet network is typically wired in a star configuration and the repeater hub is at the center . Repeat[...]

8 Ethernet networks are used most often for data communica- tions, such as with file or print sharing on an office LAN (Lo- cal Area Network). A typical application might include a num- ber of PCs or workstations, servers and shared printers all connected to common Ethernet hardware. Messages (Ether - net frames) are communicated between devices on[...]

9 In default mode, the signals from the first 8 audio channel in- puts will be grouped together in a bundle whose “ network iden- tifier ” number is specified from the front-panel hexadecimal switches or through the management interface. The bundle will then be sent over the network to the destination devices that are configured, or set to rece[...]

10 Channel Routing A RAVE network handles routing in bundles of up to eight audio channels. Each bundle of audio transmitted on the network oc- cupies a unique identifier , or number . In stand-alone mode, each RA VE device handles two bundles — two sent, two received, or one of each. For example, a RA VE 161, with 16 analog audio inputs, support[...]

11 PRE-INST ALLA TION PREP ARA TION: ANALOG AUDIO SIGNAL LEVELS (RAVE 160/161/188 ONL Y) CAUTION: Detach the power cord before removing the top cover. Dangerous voltages within the enclosure may be of sufficient magnitude to constitute a risk of electric shock to humans. To remove cover, first detach the AC power cord, then remove screws from top, [...]

12 • First, locate the input sensitivity-selection jumper headers, which are in a row of small groups of pins (6 in each group) on the topside of the circuit board, somewhat midway between the front edge of the board and the rear edge. Yo u ’ ll see a row of 16 headers on a RAVE 161, or eight on a RA VE 188 – one for each input channel. • D[...]

13 RACK MOUNTING (ALL MODELS) A RA VE unit is 1 RU (1 rack space) high and mounts in any standard 19-inch wide equipment rack. The top cover of the chassis must be in place and properly secured with screws before you can mount the RA VE unit. • Rack mounting is optional. • Use four mounting screws to fasten the front ears of the RA VE unit to t[...]

14 ANALOG AUDIO CONNECTIONS The analog RA VE models (RAVE 160 /161 and 188) use normal analog balanced audio inputs and outputs, with three terminals per channel: Hi (+), Lo (-) and Shield.. Analog audio inputs and outputs connect using detachable terminal strip headers on the rear panel of the RA VE unit. These detachable headers allow for pre-wir[...]

15 Channel numbers and connector pinouts are labeled on the rear of the unit, as shown in the illustration above. The actual channel assignment depends on the model. DIGIT AL AUDIO CONNECTIONS The digital RA VE models (RA VE 80/81/88) use the AES3 (also known as AES/EBU) digital audio standard. Each AES3 XLR jack carries 2 channels of digital audio[...]

16 2A 250V 20 x 5 mm FUSE (2 required) • The detachable AC power cord connects to the RA VE at the rear-panel IEC connector . • There is no power switch; the AC disconnect device is the detachable power cord. • A RA VE operates on line voltages from 100 to 240 VAC, 50 to 60 Hz. No user setting is required. Replace only with the same type fuse[...]

17 REDUNDANT CONFIGURA TION (hardware setup) T o slave one RA VE unit to another , connect a male-to-male BNC jumper cable from the sync output of the master unit to the slave input of the redundant unit. Select the same bundle assignment(s) on the slave unit as are selected on the mas- ter unit. Bundle assignments and additional parameters availab[...]

18 The RAVE “ s ” series AES/EBU input models provide some additional means for synchronizing the CobraNet network and deriving on-board clocks. In addition to the on-board PLL and external synch inputs available on all models, the AES/EBU input models allow the user to synchronize the network to a 48 kHz AES/EBU input stream. The 48 kHz stream[...]

19 Connections: Synchronizing the CobraNet Network to an AES/EBU Stream Method 2: Use the recovered AES 48 kHz clock as an “ external clock ” source. When the jumper at header J37 is set to “ AES ” , the CobraNet interface uses the recovered 48 kHz clock at the first XLR connector (inputs 1 and 2) as the external synchronization clock. This[...]

20 The eight status indicator LEDs display the operating condition of the RA VE unit and its connection to the Ethernet network. They are color coded such that green LEDs, when illuminated, signify a good or normal condition, while red LEDs signify a problem. The “ Conductor ” LED is yellow and simply indicates whether the unit is providing sys[...]

21 Tx This LED illuminates green for at least 50 milliseconds while the unit is transmitting Ethernet data. This indicator will blink when transmit activity is present. The activity of this indicator is dependent on the RA VE model and bundle type. This is a physical layer indicator and does not guarantee that data is being transmitted properly fro[...]

22 When powering up a RA VE with CobraNet version 2, the major and minor release of the firmware is displayed on the two 8-channel groups in binary format. The left group displays the major release and the right group displays the minor release. For example, if the CobraNet version in the RAVE is 2.8.5, the left group would display a binary 8 and t[...]

23 ERROR REPORTING Operation: Audio Signal Level Indicators One of the most useful features of the metering LEDs on RA VE products is that they indicate CobraNet connectivity infor- mation by providing “ bundle activity ” status. An active or valid bundle assignment is indicated by illuminating the associ- ated 8-channel group of metering LEDs [...]

24 A RAVE network routes audio signals in bundles of up to 8 channels. Behind the removable cover on the front panel are two pair of hexadecimal switches for assigning bundles to the 8-channel audio groups. Note that the following discussion only applies to front panel configuration of RA VE devices (stand-alone or “ hardware ” mode). The left [...]

25 Switches set to “ 10 ” through “ FE ” hex assign unicast bundles. Switches set to “ 01 ” through “ 0F ” hex assign multicast bundles. Switch settings “ 00 ” and “ FF ” hex are reserved for special functions. “ FF ” hex puts the unit into utility mode for programming and also forces software kill. “ 00 ” hex disabl[...]

26 There are a number of ways to design a CobraNet LAN. Sev- eral resources such as device specifications, Architect & Engineer ’ s specifications, topology references, lists of ap- proved network hardware and design guidelines are avail- able on the Peak Audio website (www .peakaudio.com). Addi- tionally , QSC Audio Products ’ website (www[...]

27 When a switch is shared with non-CobraNet data, it should be configured so that CobraNet audio is isolated from conventional data communications. Partitioning is usually accomplished by enabling multiple VLANs. Co- braNet data should be given the highest network prior - ity in order to prevent the loss of audio. LAN, node, port and data or packe[...]

28 REPEA TER NETWORKS • RA VE supports operation on network repeaters. These repeaters should be 100 Mbps class II devices. Collisions are prevented through CobraNet ’ s propri- etary “ order persistent ” media access scheme. RA VE invokes this access scheme by auto-sensing its link partner (network hardware). In order to reliably connect t[...]

29 Specifications GENERAL AC Line V oltage: 100V to 240V , auto-configuring AC Line frequency: 50 Hz to 60 Hz, auto-configuring Maximum AC Line Current Draw: 600 mA @ 100V Thermal Operating Range: 0 ° C to 65 ° C ANALOG INPUTS Connector T ype: 3-pin Phoenix (euro-style), detachable terminal block Audio Resolution (Tx): 16, 20, 24-bit (software co[...]

30 Specifications ANALOG OUTPUTS (continued) Output Impedance: < 200 ohms (electronically balanced) Frequency Response: 20 Hz to 20 kHz, ±0.5 dB Dynamic Range, typical: 102 dB FS @ 997 Hz Dynamic Range, worst-case: >100 dB FS @ 997 Hz Idle Channel Noise (A-weighted): 104 dB FS (20 Hz to 20 kHz), typical THD+N @ 997 Hz: .001 %, typical THD+N [...]

31 AUDIO BUFFERING 256 samples (5.333 microseconds) NETWORK Protocol: 100 Mbps FAST Ethernet (FE) Configuration: Network repeaters OR switches Audio Channel Capability: 64 channels maximum PER repeater LAN, scalable for network switches Management Protocol: SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) Auxiliary Feature Support: Serial data support of [...]

32 ETHERNET CABLING This diagram shows the pinout for standard unshielded twisted-pair (UTP) network cable. Both ends of the cable are wired identically. RJ-45 pinout for a standard Ethernet patch cable (both ends identical) 1 Tx + 2 Tx – 3 Rx + 4 not used 5 not used 7 not used 8 not used 6 Rx – 1 Tx + 2 Tx – 3 Rx + 4 not used 5 not used 7 no[...]

33 Appendix: Resources QSC RA VE resources: http://www .qscaudio.com - Visit our website regularly for up-to-date RA VE information such as: T echnology papers Configuration procedures Management aids Internet links to other networked audio information sources Client list (venues utilizing RA VE) Articles and reviews pdf versions of product documen[...]

34 How to Contact QSC Audio Products Address: QSC Audio Products, Inc. 1675 MacArthur Boulevard Costa Mesa, CA 92626-1468 USA T elephone Numbers: Main Number (714) 754-6175 Sales Direct Line (714) 957-7100 Sales & Marketing (800) 854-4079 (toll-free in USA only) T echnical Services (714) 957-7150 (800) 772-2834 (toll-free in USA only) QSC Audio[...]

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36 QSC Audio Products, Inc., 1675 MacArthur Boulevard Costa Mesa, California 92626 USA PH: (714) 754-6175 FAX: (714) 754-6174 RAVE is a trademark of QSC Audio Products, Inc. “ QSC ” and the QSC logo are registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office[...]