Axia Quasar Instruction Manual

QUICK-START INSTALLATION GUIDEQUICK-START INSTALLATION GUIDE
Axia®Quasar
AoIP Mixing Console
Welcome to Axia Quasar
Setup of a networked audio mixing console, though we have made it as easy as possible, is challenging
to condense into a few pages. The following material is intended to help the busy engineer get up and
running in a few minutes.
This Quickstart Guide assumes a few things:
•That the reader has some knowledge of network basics and terminology,
•That the reader is familiar with other Axia Livewire products,
•And that the reader has a correctly configured network switch
We will take you through the basic steps to configure your new Quasar and have you up and running in no
time. But before we get started, let’s make sure you are familiar with the Quasar System anatomy.
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Example of simple Studio configuration. Connection of the optional TBP-IO module is included in this drawing.
Items you need to supply:
•A Quasar Engine mixing engine
•Switch configured for Axia network
•PC with access to your Axia network
REQUIRED EQUIPMENT, CABLES, AND ACCESSORIES:
There are a few additional items required for a successful installation. Check the list below and make sure
you have what you need.
Included items:
•Quasar Control Surface
•Quasar Mains Cable(s)
•CAT5 Ethernet Cable
Then, let’s check your installation type and make sure you have what you need.
Installation type:
You could be installing a Table-Top or Flush-Mount console, with single or split frame. Only the Quasar
Engine can be connected to the Quasar Surface. This consists in an industrial rackmount server platform,
with redundant PSU and fans, so it will have to go in a machine room. Other mixing engines such as the
fanless Axia Studio Engine, or Axia Powerstation, cannot be used with Quasar.

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Steps to complete in order to get audio from the console:
1. Quasar Surface - Physical connections
2. Quasar Surface - Network configuration
3. Quasar Surface – Modules discovery & configuration
4. Quasar Engine – Installation & network configuration
5. Checking Connection to the Quasar Engine
1. Quasar Engine – Audio outputs configuration
2. Surface Layer Configuration
3. Input Source Creation and Configuration
4. Assign Sources to Input Channels
5. Program assignment & monitoring
Quasar Surface - Physical connections
1. Connect one Ethernet cable to the primary network port labeled “PORT #0”(A) on the Quasar
Console Rear I/O board, connect the other end to a configured Gigabit Ethernet switch.
A B
2. Optionally, it is possible to also use the secondary ethernet port, labeled “PORT #1” (B) to create
a redundant connection link. This will require a specific configuration of the switch ports. Please
refer to the user manual for details about this option.
3. Connect an Ethernet cable to the Livewire port (F) on the Quasar Engine, and connect the other
end to a configured Gigabit Ethernet switch.
C
Initial Setup
Console Configuration

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4. Connect the Quasar surface Power Supply Unit (or Units, if you have more than one installed in
your frame) to AC Mains (C) using the Axia Power Supply power cable (or cables) provided. If you
have more than one power supply installed and choice of standard and uninterrupted mains in
your studio, it is a good idea to connect each PSU to a different type of Mains supply.
5. Make Sure your AC Mains are properly grounded! The Quasar (like every other professional device)
is grounded through the AC Mains cables, and does not require a separate chassis ground.
6. Continue to Network Configuration with your Axia Quasar surface modules.
Quasar Surface - Network configuration
Once the console is started up, the Quasar Master Touchscreen Module (MTS Module) will present you
with its Home page, were a round clock is displayed. Above the clock you will notice a warning message:
“No Connection to Engine”. This is normal.
Now you need to access the System Setup page: push and hold for 5 seconds the Monitor Options key
(labeled “MON OPT” and located between the two Control Room volume pots). Here you will need to
assign an IP address to your console, as well as the Network Mask, and bind the surface to the engine.

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Below you can associate your Quasar Engine to the surface, by entering the Engine’s IP address.
Addresses can be entered directly from the touchscreen, or by using the rotary encoders below the
display. A configured gateway is optional, and not required for normal console operation in a closed
network.
Press the “Save and Reboot” button when done.
Once the Master Module IP address is set, you can now access the console Web UI to configure each fader
module’s IP address.
Quasar Surface –Modules’discovery & configuration
Using a PC connected to your studio network, launch a web browser and enter the IP address you
previously assigned to the MTS into the browser’s address bar. When prompted for authentication enter
user name “user”, and leave the password field blank.
In the left column, click on Console Discovery menu. There you will find all Fader modules connected to
the Master, listed by their MAC and IP addresses, which will be pre-assigned at the factory. If the pre-
assigned addresses fits your networking scheme, then you can skip to the next step.
In case you need to change these addresses according to your network scheme, you can assign a new IP
address to each module, by selecting it with the radio button, entering the desired address in the box at
the bottom and pushing the “Do It!” button.

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Tip: We recommend choosing for the Master module an IP address with the fourth octed ending with a 0
(zero), and an address with the fourth octet ending with 1,2,3,….etc for the first, second, third, Fader module
in your surface and so on. This will make easier to remember each module’s IP address for fast UI access.
Once all addresses have been set, please check access to each fader module by
entering its IP address in your browser and by navigating each module’s Web UI. You can also click the IP
address directly from the list you see in the Console Discovery.
The default access credentials will be the same used for the MTS Module: user – no password.
Quasar Engine –Installation & configuration
D
E
1. Install your Quasar Engine platform in a suitable environment, like an air conditioned machine
room. Please make sure there is one empty position in your rack above the engine, and one below,
in order to let the air flow inside from the front panel. Please refer to the user manual for details
about the engine installation.
2. Connect mains cables to your Quasar Engine. Push the ON/OFF (D) button on the front panel. At
the end of the boot process, the four LEDs to the left of the front display could indicate errors due
to missing sync, console not yet connected, or connection of a single Power Supply only. This is
normal. An IP address is needed.
3. Push the button (E) on the front panel to access the main menu. Select Engine IP settings using
the arrow buttons, then Push again the button to select.
4. Push the UP/DOWN arrows buttons to select Net Address field, and Push the button to enter.
5. Use the LEFT/RIGHT arrow buttons to select each digit, the UP/DOWN arrows buttons to
increment or decrement the value, and the button to enter.
6. Move the cursor to the righ and select the  symbol. Push the button to confirm the setting.
7. Repeat for Netmask as needed.
8. Once on the Engine IP settings are entered, move cursor down to [Apply] and Push the button to
select.
9. The engine will prompt you with a request to reboot. Select OK and Push the button. Confirm
your choice in order to reboot the engine with the new settings.

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Checking connection to the Quasar Engine
OK!
Using a PC connected to your studio
network, launch a web browser
and enter the IP address assigned
to the Engine into the browser’s
address bar. When prompted for
authentication enter user name
“user”, and leave the password field
blank.
Let’s double-check the connection to
the Surface from the Quasar Engine
Web UI, by going to the Network
menu.
In Console info, make sure that the
Network Address field shows the
IP address of you Quasar Master
Touchscreen module and the
Connection Status is “connected”.
Now please double-check that the
warning message above the clock on
the MTS Home page is disappeared.
OK!
NOT OK!
The Quasar Surface is now recognized by the network and linked to the Quasar Engine.
Now you can proceed with configuring your System.

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Quasar Engine - Output bus configuration
1. Using a PC connected to your studio network, go to the Engine Web UI home page
2. In the left column, select Program and Monitor outputs.
3. Enter the planned channel numbers for Quasar Engine (Livewire Sources) outputs.
4. Enable the streams you need to be active on the Engine
5. Click the “Apply” button.
Tip: We recommend choosing a
Channel ID which has the first 2 or 3
digits corresponding to the last octet
of the Engine IP address.
In this example, the engine has IP
address 192.168.2.101
This will make easier to spot the right
Engine channels when browsing a
large network.
Don’t forget to assign the CR Monitor
and CR Headphones streams to the
Destinations (outputs) of the xNode
you connected to your speakers and
HP Amp. Or you will hear no Sound!

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Surface Layer Configuration
Layers are useful when you need to access a number of DSP input channels on your engine which is
larger than the number of faders (or phisical channel strips) available on your Quasar surface.
Since any fader on any module could access any input channel on the Quasar Engine, every Fader
module will need to be configured to access the correct input channel, for each of the four layers
available.
1. Using a PC connected to your studio network, launch a web browser and enter the IP address
assigned to the first (leftmost) fader module into the browser’s address bar. When prompted for
authentication enter user name “user”, and leave the password field blank.
2. In the left column, in the Module Manager section of the menu, select Layer Setup
Enter the number of the Engine input channel you want to assign to each physical fader, for each of the
four Layers.
The table shown in the picture shows which input channel, of the 64 available in the Quasar Engine,
will be loaded on the four channel strips each time the LAYER 1, 2, 3, 4 buttons will be pushed on the
Master Touchscreen module.

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In case you don’t need to use Layers, just make sure that layers are disabled.
You can disable Layers by navigating the Master Module Web UI and selecting the Customize menu.
This will switch off the Layer buttons on the Master module.