QSC BASIS-722-AZ Owners manual

BASIS 722az

8x8 Control and Monitoring Signal Processor
Hardware Manual

*TD-000145-00*

TD-000145-00 rev.A

IMPORTANT SAFETY PRECAUTIONS & EXPLANATION OF SYMBOLS

The lightning flash with arrowhead symbol within an equilateral triangle is intended to alert the user to
the presence of uninsulated “dangerous” voltage within the product’s enclosure that may be of sufficient
magnitude to constitute a risk of electric shock to humans.

The exclamation point within an equilateral triangle is intended to alert the user to the presence of
important operating and maintenance (servicing) instructions in this manual.

SAFEGAURDS
Electrical energy can perform many useful functions. This unit has been engineered and manufactured to
assure your personal safety. Improper use can result in potential electrical shock or fire hazards. In order
not to defeat the safeguards, observe the following instructions for its installation, use and servicing.

CAUTION: To reduce the risk of electric shock, do not remove the cover. No user-serviceable parts inside.
Refer servicing to qualified service personnel.

WARNING: To prevent fire or electric shock, do not expose this equipment to rain or moisture.

1- Maximum operating ambient temperature is 50°C (122°F).
2- Never restrict airflow through the device fan or vents. Please insure that the air intake and exhaust
vents are unobstructed.
3- When installing equipment into rack, distribute the units evenly. Otherwise, hazardous conditions
could be created by an uneven weight distribution.
4- Connect the unit only to a properly rated supply circuit. The BASIS 722az is suitable for connection to
100 - 240 VAC, 47 - 440 hertz, with no special considerations other than the appropriate IEC power cord.
5- Reliable Earthing (Grounding) of rack-mounted equipment should be maintained.

LITHIUM BATTERY WARNING
THIS EQUIPMENT CONTAINS A NON-RECHARGEABLE LITHIUM BATTERY. LITHIUM IS A CHEMICAL
KNOWN TO THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA TO CAUSE CANCER OR BIRTH DEFECTS. THE NON-RECHARGE­ABLE LITHIUM BATTERY CONTAINED IN THIS EQUIPMENT MAY EXPLODE IF IT IS EXPOSED TO FIRE OR
EXTREME HEAT. DO NOT SHORT CIRCUIT THE BATTERY. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO RECHARGE THE NON­RECHARGEABLE LITHIUM BATTERY.

FCC INTERFERENCE STATEMENT
NOTE: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a class B digital device,
pursuant to part 15 of the FCC rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against
harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio
frequency energy and if not installed and used in accordance to the instructions, may cause harmful
interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in
a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television recep­tion, which can be determined by switching the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to
correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:

- Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.

- Increase the separation between the equipment and the receiver.

- Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected.

- Consult the dealer or an experienced radio or TV technician for help.

© Copyright 2004 QSC Audio Products, Inc. QSC® is a registered trademark of QSC Audio Products, Inc. “QSC” and the QSC logo are registered

with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. All trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

2

Introduction

The BASIS 722az provides the signal processing, control and status monitoring facilities needed to bind a group of amplifiers and loud­speakers into an integrated functioning system. In conjunction with QSControl.net software, the BASIS 722az enables the user to
design, test and deploy professional audio reinforcement and distribution systems.

Each QSC power amplifier connects directly to a BASIS 722az via one of its four QSC DataPorts. All mission-critical elements of the
BASIS-driven sound system are monitored. User-selected events are logged and loudspeaker protection features unique to BASIS such
as QSC's power limiter are made possible through the DataPort functionality.

A standard Windows computer is the principle user-interface for controlling the overall BASIS/QSControl system. However, the BASIS
722az also offers a front panel interface for accessing a few critical functions.

A single QSControl server computer can support several clients running QSC's latest Venue Manager software. Thus, the sound system
can be operated via several computers, roaming wireless laptops, tablets, etc., all at the same time, from anywhere a connection to the
QSControl network is available.

The QSControl network can also be managed from a single computer running both the client and the server. Once all devices in a system
are configured, a computer is no longer required on that system’s network. All basic functions of the BASIS 722az continue to operate
with or without a control computer connected to the network.

Audio enters a BASIS 722az through analog line inputs, is processed per your custom DSP configuration, and output via the DataPorts.

Unlike other configurable DSP boxes, the intrinsic processing latency of the BASIS 722az is both short and fixed at 0.396 milliseconds.
When analog input and analog outputs are used, the total delay is 2.354 milliseconds. The delay does not change regardless of the DSP
configuration, unless the configuration intentionally adds more delay.

Both software and firmware can be easily updated over the network. In the future, QSC will be adding new capabilities to both BASIS
and QSControl.net. Our latest code releases and access to up-to-date information on BASIS and QSControl.net are available at
www.qscontrol.net. We invite you to visit us there.

We've applied our many years experience in supporting high-end installed sound with our previous system-building products such as
RAVE, QSControl, CM16a, DSP-3, DSP-4, and DSP-30. The BASIS 722az brings all that technology together in one compact, powerful,
easy to use system. We are confident that your new BASIS 722az will provide years of dependable service and we hope it will help you,
the system designer and implementer, to express your creative audio system ideas.

1- Power indicator
2- Diagnostic indicator
3- Network status indicators
4- Port connection status indicators
5- Multi-function push buttons
6- Display
7- Rotary select/accept knob
8- Reset push switch (recessed)
9- DataPorts

10- Analog inputs
11- Monitor chain in/out
12- Relay outputs
13- Logic outputs
14- Omni inputs
15- RS-232 port
16- Network status indicators
17- QSControl 10BaseT receptacle
18- IEC power inlet

See page 9
for detailed
descriptions.

3

Block Diagram

Introduction - Networking the BASIS 722az

The BASIS 722az includes an RJ-45 network connection port on the rear panel, which is labeled "QSControl". All data communications
between the BASIS 722az and a control computer, such as a PC running the QSControl.net server or client application, takes place via this
rear panel QSControl port. The QSControl port supports connection to a 10BASE-T Ethernet network via industry-standard unshielded
twisted pair cabling (UTP) rated at category 5 or better.

Notes on Network Systems Design:

As with any communications system, the reliability and performance of a local area network is intimately related to the designer's skill and
knowledge in implementing a topology that is robust, efficient and standards-compliant. Proper network design is even more critical in dis­tributed multimedia systems. Therefore, it is important for the system designer to realize that some conventional network practices may not
be well suited for network implementations that include a BASIS 722az. Although each network design is unique and may carry its own per­formance requirements, compliance to the following two points will assist in building an audio management network that is trouble free and
efficient.

First, data communications between the BASIS 722az and any computing devices (QSControl.net server or client applications) should not
share the same LAN or VLAN with other forms of traffic. This is especially applicable with audio and video content. QSC always recom­mends that all QSControl and QSControl.net data content remain isolated from all other network communications. Doing so will ensure a
network with predictable behavior and one that offers the highest level of confidence and long-term reliability.

Second, the BASIS 722az and QSControl.net system are targeted at network switch deployments. The consumer costs of Ethernet switches
have continued to fall over the last several years and are now comparable with repeaters on a per-port basis. In addition, the sophistication
and scalability of network switches make them ideal for new installations. However, we do realize that designers may wish to add BASIS
products to existing QSControl installations that are built on repeater LAN topologies. This applies primarily to existing 10BASE-T networks
designed for QSC’s CM16a products. For this very reason we continue to support connectivity to network repeater hardware with the BASIS
722az. However, the system designer must realize that repeater technology has bandwidth and network management limitations that may
reduce the performance of the BASIS 722az or reduce the number of devices that can coexist reliably on the same network.

To learn more about network design rules and system compliance visit the QSC network resources page at http://www.qscaudio.com/prod­ucts/network/resources.htm.

Audio management over Ethernet may seem daunting if you are new to networking. However, it all boils down to connecting a few simple
cables between various networking devices. Most of the time it "just works". QSC was the first in our industry to offer amplifier control and
monitoring over standards-compliant Ethernet. Our CM16 and CM16a products paved the way for audio management via Ethernet and they
continue to operate trouble free in systems all over the world.

The following example will help get you started, but they just scratch the surface of what can be achieved with advanced networking…

4

Example 1- QSControl.net X-over mode:

This example illustrates the simplest connection you can make between the BASIS 722az and a computer. You simply use a CAT-5
crossover cable connected between the BASIS 722az rear panel QSControl port and a computer's network interface card, (NIC). Note
that the computer’s NIC must support 10BASE-T Ethernet (nearly all do). No network switch or repeater is required with this simple con­nection scheme. With QSControl.net server and client software running on your computer, you can completely set up and monitor your
BASIS 722az.

QSControl Port

BASIS 722az

CAT-5 Crossover Cable

QSControl.net

NIC

Example 2- Unmanaged Switch:

This example illustrates an unmanaged Ethernet network. An unmanaged switch is used to provide a dedicated QSControl network for
the BASIS 722az and all other QSControl devices, including a management PC running the QSControl.net server or client application.
As many BASIS devices may be connected to the network as there are switch ports available. All BASIS units will be able to communi­cate with the computer. Larger networks can be created by interconnecting multiple switches, so long as appropriate design rules are
administered.

BASIS 722az

Unmanaged Switch

QSControl Port

CAT-5 Cable

QSControl.net

CAT-5 Cable

NIC

5

Example 3- Managed Switch (configured with multiple VLANS):

This example illustrates a managed Ethernet network. An managed switch is used to partition the network into two domains; one for
QSControl traffic and one for all non-QSControl traffic. The partitioning provides a dedicated virtual local area network (VLAN) for the
BASIS 722az and all other QSControl devices, including a management PC running the QSControl.net server or client application. As
with example #2, as many BASIS devices may be connected to the network as there are switch ports available. All BASIS units will be
able to communicate with the computer. Larger networks can be created by interconnecting multiple switches, so long as appropriate
design rules are administered.

QSControl Port

BASIS 722az

CAT-5 Cable

VLAN #1

QSControl.net

VLAN #2

Managed Switch

CAT-5 Cable

CAT-5 Cable

non-QSControl Data

NIC

6