Video Transcript
Q-SYS Overview-
7m 23s
00:07
Let’s start off with the big question: What is Q-SYS?
00:11
Well, if you’re watching this video you probably have a general idea,
00:15
but let’s make sure we’re on the same page because you might not be aware of everything that Q-SYS can do.
00:20
Q-SYS is an cloud-manageable audio, video, and control platform built around a modern, standards-based IT architecture,
00:28
which was designed to enable an Ecosystem of partners, that is also completely open for integration.
00:35
It starts with an OS, that drives and manages a multitude of Q-SYS products within the platform.
00:41
Additionally, its modern IT architecture and a set of development tools (called “Q-SYS Open”) enable an entire Ecosystem of third-party integrations developed by approved
00:51
and endorsed Q-SYS Partners as well as a worldwide community of Q-SYS programmers and developers.
00:57
I know, there’s a lot to unpack there, so let’s take a look at each of those pieces. It all starts with the Q-SYS Operating System.
01:06
The Q-SYS OS is a software-based foundation for Q-SYS that makes everything possible, and it’s built off of a unified, standards-based IT architecture.
01:16
We used industry-standard principles and mission-critical technologies like IEEE standard networking protocols, Intel processing, Linux,
01:25
and conventional programming languages to make it as flexible, scalable and performance driven as possible.
01:32
It includes a robust audio engine, video engine and control engine providing processing at the software layer,
01:39
with a robust OS administrative layer that operates holistically, rather than requiring an integrator to spend time separately programming and integrating audio, video and control.
01:50
One of the main jobs of the OS is to drive a single blueprint or design, for your individual system.
01:57
The main focus of this course will be to teach you the basics of how to build this design using Q-SYS Designer Software, which is one of the tools available.
02:07
The size and scope of designs can vary wildly.
02:10
But whether you’re building a small design that might manage no more than the stereo background music of a coffee shop,
02:16
or a massive design like an airport that manages hundreds of audio channels, controls countless third-party devices, and incorporates complicated scripting,
02:25
your design will still be built within the same Q-SYS Designer software.
02:30
As you can guess, Q-SYS can be used for a wide variety of applications. Much of this course will highlight high-value spaces for collaboration like boardrooms
02:39
or conference spaces that require the integration of UC platforms and video platforms, but don’t let that trick you into thinking that’s all Q-SYS is used for.
02:49
Q-SYS can be used in any number of applications for entertainment, collaboration, and commercial AV.
02:56
Q-SYS is used in higher ed institutions for lecture halls, public address, and video distribution.
03:02
It’s used in hospitality venues like hotels, convention centers, and cruise ships.
03:08
Cinema, theme parks, government chambers, stadiums, transportation, restaurants, houses of worship, you name it! Any high value space that needs audio, video and control.
03:21
Practically speaking, the Q-SYS OS needs a processor, which is where the Q-SYS Core comes in .
03:27
If the Q-SYS OS is the brain of your system, then the Core processor is the HEART.
03:32
There are a variety of models of Q-SYS Cores that vary in the amount of processing power they offer, the number of network audio channels they can handle,
03:40
as well as differences in their available onboard I/O.
03:44
For instance, some models have onboard audio inputs and outputs, others don’t.
03:49
Some are better suited for centralized processing while other are better for in-room processing.
03:54
Knowing which Core is right for you will depend on the needs of your system, but what’s important is that all Cores run the same Q-SYS OS,
04:02
and offer all the same software-based functionality, and run designs from the same design tool, Q-SYS Designer software.
04:10
In fact, the first thing you’ll probably do when creating a design is to choose which Core you intend on deploying it to with a simple drop-down menu with Designer
04:19
(although you could easily change that later if you realize your processor demands have evolved).
04:25
The needs of the system are going to dictate what kinds of devices that you are going to drive with your design.
04:31
QSC offers an extensive portfolio of native Q-SYS hardware devices, services, and software that were designed to be driven directly by the OS.
04:41
This ever-growing portfolio includes Q-SYS conference cameras, amplifiers, loudspeakers, touch panels, software licenses, IO devices,
04:50
and of course the vast resources of digital signal processing, control processing, and video routing components that connect all of this together.
04:59
Using native Q-SYS Products makes your integration much easier, as every one of these devices is designed with drag-and-drop functionality within the software,
05:09
and has been rigorously tested against everything else in the Q-SYS Platform.
05:14
However, we have no illusions of thinking we can manufacture every single imaginable peripheral or endpoint that you might need in your particular installation.
05:23
That’s why we have Q-SYS Partners.
05:25
Q-SYS Partners create software, services and hardware that integrate into the Q-SYS Ecosystem and have been fully vetted and endorsed by QSC.
05:35
The solutions that they develop can be integrated into the Q-SYS OS and operate alongside native Q-SYS Products.
05:42
Q-SYS Partners collaborate with QSC teams to develop and verify their solutions upfront, and then continue to work with QSC in their support and maintenance for our mutual customers.
05:54
Later in the training, we’ll show you how to integrate plugins that give you the control of these third-party devices within your Q-SYS design,
06:01
giving you the confidence that comes with these fully-vetted, benchmarked integrations.
06:07
We mentioned earlier that Q-SYS allows for open integration, and we meant it.
06:11
The reality is that there are plenty of manufacturers out there with whom we don’t have partnerships… yet…
06:17
which is why we built Q-SYS Open so Q-SYS Partners and non-Partners alike can ALL enable third-party development within Q-SYS.
06:26
The Q-SYS Open tools take full advantage of the industry hardened Q-SYS OS, namely its utilization of open industry standards and protocols,
06:35
along with a collection of available developer tools for integration like Lua, HTML5, CSS, as well as an open API.
06:44
Finally, don’t let all that talk of being “open” make you think we haven’t designed Q-SYS with security in mind.
06:51
Q-SYS also employs world-class security measures, encryption, cryptographic code signing, and more to keep your systems safe.
07:00
And you can also monitor and manage your installations remotely from the cloud by using our Q-SYS Reflect Enterprise Manager platform.
07:08
So, that’s Q-SYS in a nutshell.
07:11
When you’re ready, move on to the next video, and we’ll start to discuss the basics of a Q-SYS signal path, hardware peripherals, and how to add them to your design.
Lesson Description
Q-SYS Overview-
7m 23s
A high-level overview of everything in a Q-SYS system, from the OS, native products, third-party partners and open integration tools.
Downloads and Links
Q-SYS Overview-
7m 23s