QSC PLD Series User manual

1
PLD Amplifier
Quick Start Guide
EXPLANATION OF TERMS AND SYMBOLS
The term “WARNING!” indicates instructions regarding personal safety. If the instructions are not followed the result may be bodily injury or death.
The term “CAUTION!” indicates instructions regarding possible damage to physical equipment. If these instructions are not followed, it may result in
damage to the equipment that may not be covered under the warranty.
The term “IMPORTANT!” indicates instructions or information that are vital to the successful completion of the procedure.
The term "NOTE" is used to indicate additional useful information.
The intent of the lightning flash with arrowhead symbol in a triangle is to alert the user to the presence of un-insulated "dangerous"
voltage within the product's enclosure that may be of sufficient magnitude to constitute a risk of electric shock to humans.
The intent of the exclamation point within an equilateral triangle is to alert the user to the presence of important safety, and operating
and maintenance instructions in this manual.
NOTE: This Quick Start Guide is based on the basic configuration as the amplifier comes from the factory. Four separate inputs, and
four separate outputs. For detailed instructions for custom configurations refer to the PLD User Guide (TD-000368).
Rack-Mount the Amplifier
1. Secure the amplifier in the rack with eight screws (not supplied), four in front,
four in back.
— Figure 1 —
TD-000351-00-B
*TD-000351-00*

2
Connections
Inputs
1. Wire the audio line-level source to four male XLR connectors. You may use either
balanced inputs (Figure 2) or unbalanced inputs (Figure 3).
2. Plug the male XLR connectors into the appropriate receptacles (Routable Inputs 1,
2, 3, 4) Figure 4. If you are daisy-chaining inputs with another amplifier, plug the
female XLR connectors, from the other amplifier, into the XLR's on the bottom row
of the Routable Inputs.
3. Connect the IEC power cord to the AC receptacle on the rear of the amplifier. (Figure 5)
WARNING!: Do not turn the amplifier on at this time.
Outputs
When the output configuration of the amplifier changes, the Outputs to the loudspeakers change accordingly. Connect the loudspeakers to the NL4
twist-lock connectors as shown in Figure 6 thru Figure 8. After connecting the Outputs to the Loudspeakers, you may turn the amplifier on.
Separate Channels (A B C D)
— Figure 2 — — Figure 3 —
— Figure 4 —
— Figure 5 —
— Figure 6 —
Use two 4-wire cables, connect to:
• 1+/1- for CH A and 2+/2- for CH B
on connector #1
• 1+/1- for CH C and 2+/2- for CH D
on connector #3
Use four 2-wire cables, connect to:
• 1+/1- on connectors #1 thru #4
1
3
2
4
5
6
For Four Separate Cables
For Bi-amp Operation
A
8.0
625
625
B
8.0
625
625
C
8.0
625
625
D
8.0
625
625

3
Bridged (A+B) and Separate (C D ) Channels
Parallel Channels (ABCD)
PLD Amplifier Signal Flow
— Figure 7 —
8.0
1250
1250
A+B
8.0
625
625
C
8.0
625
625
D
For A+B (Bridged)
Use two 2-wire cables connect to:
• 1+/1- for CH C on connector #3
•1+/1- for CH D on connector #4
For C & D (Separate)
Bi-amp operation, use one 4-wire cable connect to:
• 1+/1- for CH C on connector #3
• 2+/2- for CH D on connector #3
8.0
1250
1250
A+B
8.0
1250
1250
C+D
Use one 2-wire cable connect to:
• 1+/1- on connector #5
1
3
2
4
5
6
— Figure 8 —
A B C D
8.0
2500
2500
1
3
2
4
5
6
Use one 2-wire cable, connect to:
• 1+/1- on connector #1, #2, 3#, or #4
For One Loudspeaker
Full power to one loudspeaker
Use up to four 2-wire cables, connect to:
• 1+/1- on connectors #1 thru #4
For Multiple Loudspeakers
Full power for multiple loudspeakers in parallel
— Figure 9 —
Input Settings Output Processing
1
2
3
4
RMS / Peak
Limiter
Amp Configuration
Delay
Delay
Delay
Delay
Mute
Mute
Mute
Mute
Source
Select
Source
Select
Source
Select
Source
Select
RMS / Peak
Limiter
RMS / Peak
Limiter
RMS / Peak
Limiter Meter
Meter
Meter
Meter
Sensitivity
Switch
5-band
PEQ
5-band
PEQ
5-band
PEQ
5-band
PEQ
Gain
Gain
Gain
Gain
Button
Actuated
Crossover
Gain /
Polarity
Highpass
Filter
Lowpass
Filter
Gain /
Polarity
Highpass
Filter
Lowpass
Filter
Gain /
Polarity
Highpass
Filter
Lowpass
Filter
Gain /
Polarity
Highpass
Filter
Lowpass
Filter
Sensitivity
Switch
Sensitivity
Switch
Sensitivity
Switch
Meter
Meter
Meter
Meter
Set by Wizard
A
B
C
D

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Amplifier Control
Off Mode
• Rear power switch is off, the amplifier is not operable. The power
switch is the AC Mains disconnect.
• The power button is not illuminated.
• Turn the power switch to on. The amplifier enters the Run Mode.
• The power button is illuminated blue.
Run Mode
• From Standby or Mute All modes, press and release the power button
on the front panel.
• The power button is illuminated blue.
• The amplifier is fully operable; audio can pass.
Standby Mode
• From Mute All or Run modes, press and hold the power button on
the front panel.
• The power button illuminates solid red.
• The amplifier is not operable; audio will not pass.
Mute All Mode
• From the Run Mode, press and release the power button.
• The power button flashes red.
• The front panel and DSP functionality are fully operable. Any changes
you make are saved and take effect in the Run Mode.
Master Control Knob
• Scrolls up/down and right/left to select menu items and parameters
• Adjusts parameters
ENTER Button
• Navigates into the menu structure
• Enters the edit mode for adjusting parameters
• Confirms the changes you make
EXIT Button
• Navigates out of the menu structure and parameter selection.
• In the edit mode, pressing EXIT reverts the value back to its prior
state, and exits the edit mode.
HOME Button
• If you are on the Home screen, pressing HOME displays the alternate
Home screen. Pressing HOME again returns you to the primary
Home screen.
• If you are on a navigation screen, pressing HOME takes you to the
home screen.
• If you are on an edit screen, pressing HOME will confirm any value
being edited and take you to the Home screen.
GAIN Button
• Pressing the GAIN button from any screen takes you to the output
gain screen for the most recently accessed output channel.
• Pressing GAIN again confirms the gain change and returns to the
screen you were on when you pressed GAIN.
SEL Buttons
• Use these buttons to navigate between input channels or output
channels. For example, if you are adjusting output gain on channel A,
pressing the channel B SEL button takes you to the gain adjustment
for channel B.
• The SEL buttons are active only when the LCD screen is on an input
or output parameter adjustment screen.
ENTER
EXIT
HOME
GAIN
SEL
Menu Tree
— Figure 10 —
*For QSC Line Arrays only
Presets
Preset Wizard
Preset Recall
Preset Save
Inputs
Input Sensitivity
Input Gain
Outputs
Source Select
Processing
Limiter
Delay
Save Speaker
Load Speaker
Array Correction*
PEQ
Crossover
Utilities
Display
Status
Amp ID
Password
Lockout

5
Screen Types
Presets
The PLD amplifiers are preset driven, so to get the most out of the amplifiers an understanding of how presets work is essential. A Preset, in the
context of the PLD amplifiers, is a combination of amplifier configuration and DSP processing; as a preset is recalled it can change the output routing
and wiring and/or any DSP processing.
Preset Creation
A preset can be created in two ways, the first is to modify an existing preset, then save this as a new Preset; the second is to use the Preset Wizard to
create a Preset from scratch.
Preset Wizard
The Preset Wizard simplifies the preset creation process, and allows the user to create a preset from the ground up. The Wizard provides a mechanism
for the user to select his desired power and load. Based on these selections, the best amplifier configuration is selected and the user is then allowed to
select and assign loudspeakers to each output.
— Figure 11 —
Informational
Informational screens, like the HOME screen, are
designed to provide you with a good amount of
useful information at a glance.
F1: Config - A B C D
Full
+1.5 dB
A - FR
+1.5 dB
C - FR
Full
+1.5 dB
D - FR
Full
121 V 7.2 AAC Voltage: AC Current:
Home (Press HOME for more information)
+3.5 dB
B - FR
Full
Amp Status: OK
Preset # and Configuration
Location and breadcrumbs
Channel Configuration
and Gain
AC Voltage and Current
Amplifier Status
— Figure 12 —
Preset Recall and Save
Menu
PRESETS
INPUTS
F1: Config - A B C D
Preset # and Configuration
Location and breadcrumbs
Current Menu Selection
Empty area indicates no
selections above (CCW).
Next Menu selection below
(CW)
Navigational
Navigational screens provide the means to move
around and select menu items. Use the Master
Control knob, ENTER and EXIT buttons for navigation.
This is an example of one type of navigational screen,
there are others.
— Figure 13 —
Parameter Editing
Parameter Editing screens allow you to select, edit,
and confirm changes for various system parameters.
Use the ENTER button to edit and confirm changes
to parameters. Use the Master Control knob to select
parameter, and make adjustments. Use the EXIT
button to exit the edit mode without saving changes.
Gain
-7.0 dB
Gn/Pol
F1: Config - A B C D
Polarity
POL+
Output
A
20 dB
-60 dB
Gain
-7.0 dB
Parameter being edited
Parameter not selected
Parameter selected

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To start the Wizard: HOME > PRESETS > PRESET WIZARD > ENTER
STEP 1 — Adjust Impedance and Power
OUTPUTS SPEAKERS SAVE
AB CD
Output:
8.0 - - - - - -
Imped:
25 - - - - - -
Power:
Remaining Power Available: 1875 W
Enter Load Profile (Impedance and Power)
To confirm, press
Adjust Impedance
Default = 8 Ω
Default = min. for amp
Adjust Impedance based on the total loudspeaker load connected to the channel.
ENTER
Adjust Power
— Figure 14 —
Modes:
A B = Separate Channels
A+B = Bridge Mode
AB = Parallel Mode
A B + C D
8.0
2475
A B C D
8.0
2500
8.0
625
A
8.0
625
B
8.0
625
C
8.0
625
D
8.0
1250
A+B
8.0
625
C
8.0
625
D
8.0
1250
A+B
8.0
1250
C+D
Possible Output Mode Combinations using the Preset Wizard
STEP 2 — Select Output Channel for Speaker Assignment
OUTPUTS SPEAKERS SAVE
Assign AssignAssign
Output:
ADCB
Imped: 8.0 8.08.08.0
Spkr: - - - - - - - -- - - -- - - -
Assign
Power: 625 625625625
Loudspeaker assignment is optional.
To Assign a loudspeaker, press
Optional: Scroll to desired Output channel
ENTER
STEP 3 — Select Speaker Type for Channel
OUTPUTS SPEAKERS SAVE
Output: A
CONFIRM
2-Way LF
Speaker:
80 Hz
Band:
WL2102 BiLFNS
Filter:
Band and Filter
selections are based
on the Speaker.
Scroll to select Speaker type
To edit Speaker, press
ENTER
Scroll to edit Band then Filter
To exit edit mode and confirm, press
ENTER
STEP 4 — Save Wizard Preset
Edit preset number or press EXIT
User Preset Number: 21
SAVE
New Preset Name
Con f i g - A
OUTPUTS SPEAKERS SAVE
Scroll to the Save screen
To name and save the preset,
Complete steps 1 thru 3 under
“To Save a New User Preset”
To edit User Preset number, press
ENTER

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Saving Presets
Presets can be modified and saved using the Save Preset menu. You can start with a Factory Preset (F<n>: <name>), make modifications, then save
it as a User Preset (U<n>: <name>). You cannot overwrite Factory Presets. There are two ways to save Presets, Overwrite an existing User Preset, or
Save a new User Preset.
To Overwrite a User Preset, HOME > PRESETS > PRESET SAVE > ENTER
To Save a New User Preset, HOME > PRESETS > PRESET SAVE AS > ENTER
Overwrite Preset
Press ENTER to save preset
U1: Config - A B C D
SAVE
To save, press
To exit without saving, press
EXIT
ENTER
To confirm the save, press
ENTER
STEP 1 — Select and Edit Preset Number
Edit preset number or press EXIT
U1: Config - A B C D
User Preset Number: 21
SAVE
New Preset Name
Con f i g - A
Scroll to desired number (1 thru 50)
To confirm User Preset number, press
ENTER
To edit User Preset number, press
ENTER
STEP 2 — Name the Preset
Press ENTER to edit preset name
U1: Config - A B C D
User Preset Number: 21
SAVE
New Preset Name
Con f i g XA
Indicates more positions
Up to 21 characters, A - Z / a - z / 0 - 9 / _ / - / space
Indicates New Preset
Name selection
Indicates editing
Scroll to desired position
Scroll to New Preset Name
Press
ENTER
Press
ENTER
STEP 3 — Save Preset
Press ENTER to save preset
U1: Config - A B C D
User Preset Number: 21
SAVE
New Preset Name
Con f i g X A
Press
ENTER
When you are finished naming, press
EXIT
Scroll to SAVE
SAVE
To confirm Save, press
ENTER

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Recalling Presets
Recalling a Preset changes the configuration of the amplifier. You can recall factory or user-defined presets. To Overwrite a User Preset,
HOME > PRESETS > PRESET RECALL > ENTER
Utilities
The Utilities section provides the following amplifier information and functionality:
• STATUS
• ID
• Serial Number
• LOCKOUT
• PASSWORD.
Please refer to the PLD User Manual for complete details.
STEP 4 —
1A2B3C4D
Full
F1: Config - A B C D
F1: Config - A B C D
Full Full Full
Indicates more Presets
Input Sub MF FullHFLF
Scroll to desired Preset
20 Factory, up to 50 User-dened
STEP 5 — Confirm Selection
LF
F1: Config - A B C D
F18: Triamp - A+B C D
MF HF
Press ENTER to confirm selection
1A+B 3C4D
To Conrm the selection, press
ENTER
Bottom message changes to: “Recalling Preset now...”
You may hear relays clicking
To select the Preset conguration, press
ENTER

9
Mailing Address:
QSC Audio Products, LLC
1675 MacArthur Boulevard
Costa Mesa, CA 92626-1468 USA
Telephone Numbers:
Main Number: [phone]
Sales & Marketing: [phone] or toll free (USA only) [phone]
Customer Service: [phone] or toll free (USA only) [phone]
Facsimile Numbers:
Sales & Marketing FAX: [phone]
Customer Service FAX: [phone]
World Wide Web:
www.qsc.com
E-mail:
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
© 2013 QSC Audio Products, LLC. All rights reserved. QSC and the QSC logo are registered trademarks of QSC Audio Products, LLC
in the U.S. Patent and Trademark office and other countries.
All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Patents may apply or be pending.
If you would like a full copy of the PLD User manual, visit the QSC Audio Products website at www.qsc.com, or contact
Customer Service [phone] or toll free (USA only) [phone] to receive a copy by mail.
Si desea obtener una copia completa del manual del usuario de la PLD, visite el sitio web de QSC Audio Products en www.
qsc.com, o póngase en contacto con el Servicio al Cliente al [phone] o sin costo (sólo en EE.UU.) al [phone]
para recibir una copia por correo.
Pour obtenir un exemplaire complet du manuel d’utilisation de la PLD, allez sur le site Web QSC Audio Products à www.
qsc.com ou contactez le service clientèle au [phone] ou au [phone] (numéro vert - USA seulement) pour
recevoir un exemplaire par courrier.
Ein vollständiges Exemplar des Benutzerhandbuchs für die PLD finden Sie auf der QSC Audio Products-Website unter www.
qsc.com. Sie können sich unter [phone] oder unter der (nur in den USA) gebührenfreien Nummer +1 (800) 772-
2834 auch an den Kundendienst wenden, um sich ein Exemplar zuschicken zu lassen.
如果您需要 PLD 产品用户手册的完整副本，请访问 QSC 音频产品网站 www.qsc.com，或致电客户服
务部门 [phone]，或拨打免费电话（仅限美国）[phone] 通过邮件获取副本。