DATAPORT to conventional or OLD QSC Amplifiers

[Juan Jose Garcia Calvo]

Hello!!.
I'm considering to buy a QSC DCP100 (or maybe 300) used audio processors, and I see they have DATAPORT (HD15) outputs for the amplifiers.
I searched for the DATAPORT pinout and I see that they have 2 chanel analog audio outputs each, but they have more signals like clipping, thermal, ect... signals.
They even detect the QSC amplifier model connected due an specific resistance value...

I'm don't know if these QSC DATAPORT outputs could work in absence of these other "auxiliar" signals (input and output), resistance value... , that's, with conventional amplifiers or QSC (older models with no DATAPORT inputs).

Any of you are experienced with these procesors?

Thanks!!!

PD: Attached here you are the DATAPORT Pinout I found



QSC DataPort Pinout.pdf

[Marco Giustini]

https://strong-tech.com/shop/audio/h...KhG1i5AebnNlim

The manual confirms that the INPUTS become OUTPUTS when used on a MultiSignal processor.
https://www.manualslib.com/manual/51...?page=5#manual

[Juan Jose Garcia Calvo]

Thank you Marco.
This accesory seems to have NO components other than a HD15 connector to screw clamps (with the correct pinout, I suppouse)
The question is if these DCP100 or DCP300 audioprocessors are like que QSYS hardware and let use the outputs in absence of the rest of QSControls signals...
Maybe can be configured in the setup of the processor...
I will look for a complete manual of these processor (I only have a quick reference manual...)

Thanks!!

[Marco Giustini]

I don't think they're anything fancy, they just used a VGA-style cable for ease of wiring. You could make your own adaptors I guess if they're being sold at $60 each!

[Juan Jose Garcia Calvo]

Of course!!!
It's easy to make my own HD15 to balanced XLR audio cables.
$60 x 6 = $360 (for a 5.1). $360 are better in my pocket...
I often say: There are mornings when I don't make this money! (maybe the funny is lost in translation)

They sell the complete HD15 to HD15 cables and they are not expensive, and QSC says that they are not conventional VGA cables. I read that the VGA cables have the all the grounds in one wire, while the original DATAPORT cables have a wire for each pin (and the audio lines are shielded)

[Steve Guttag]

The DCP line will output, regardless if it sees anything connected. However, without the proper communication, it won't know what it is sending the signal to. As such, when you go to its Dataport screen everything will remain grey as if nothing is connected. I don't recall if it even moves its meters in this condition or if it just keeps it all grey.

If you are handy with making HD15 connectors, you can certainly make your own cables, if you want to skip the adapter board. Odyssey boards are still being made by Dargco.

https://dargcocinema.wixsite.com/mysite

Mark (the owner) will also make custom cables with Dataport ends.

Genuine Dataport cables are indeed shielded on the audio pairs for noise immunity. All 15 wires are connected. VGA cables often take a shortcut that the middle row on the HD15 are all ground and they'll have a bar across all pins.

Screen Shot 2025-02-26 at 8.36.30 AM.png

[Juan Jose Garcia Calvo]

Thank you Steve!!

Ufff, I don’t wanna have grey VUmeters on the screen…
I think it’s a good visual way to check everything is ok, even if it’s not an acurate measure…

maybe us possible to let the processor think there is a DATAPORT capable QSC Amplifier with a resistance between PIN12 and ground (or maybe PIN12 and 15V).

regards!

[Tony Bandiera Jr]

Be warned: The monitor signals on the Dataport (Imon and Vmon) must NOT be directly connected to the speaker outputs on conventional amplifiers, you WILL severely damage the processor! (And possibly kill the amplifier too.)

Also, QSC was not kidding when they warned to NEVER use off the shelf VGA cables. I have a QSC CX 1202v where someone tried VGA cables, now both channels are locked in protect. (And it will take replacing six SMD transistors to fix it.)

Sam from QSC some years ago provided me with information on how to safely interface to conventional amplifiers (it was some resistors and a capacitor) and QSC used to make a board to allow their ISA line of amplifiers to connect via Dataport. I cannot provide that info as that note was lost a long time ago.

Bottom line is this: get the proper adapter boards (if you are going to utilize any thing other than just the audio outputs) or your trying to save money could kill the much more expensive processor. $360 is a LOT cheaper than damaging the processor or amplifiers. DO NOT try to cheat it with resistors at random as doing anything wrong will damage the processor. Or get some QSC DCA amplifiers, used ones are not horribly expensive online.

[Mark Gulbrandsen]

Be warned: The monitor signals on the Dataport (Imon and Vmon) must NOT be directly connected to the speaker outputs on conventional amplifiers, you WILL severely damage the processor! (And possibly kill the amplifier too.)

Also, QSC was not kidding when they warned to NEVER use off the shelf VGA cables. I have a QSC CX 1202v where someone tried VGA cables, now both channels are locked in protect. (And it will take replacing six SMD transistors to fix it.)

Aren't all VGA cables "off the shelf"? Perhaps them supplying a spec on the correct type of cable to use would be more helpful...

[Harold Hallikainen]

The correct cable to use is that supplied by QSC. It has individually shielded twisted pairs to carry the balanced audio. VGA cables are designed to carry three unbalanced video signals (RGB) plus unbalanced H and V sync signals. For example, the Dataport cable places balanced channel 1 audio on pins 1 and 7. VGA has pin 1 as red video and pin 7 as green video return. These are not a twisted pair, so you will get no protection against noise radiated by electric or magnetic fields.

[Juan Jose Garcia Calvo]

Thank you TONY for your warnings, but I'm not planning to use VGA cables, or make somekind of monitoring the amplifiers output...!!
I was only thinking out loud about make the processor believe there was a dataport capable amplifier connected with the adecuate resistor, only to see the vu-meters working...

Bottom line is this: get the proper adapter boards (if you are going to utilize any thing other than just the audio outputs) or your trying to save money could kill the much more expensive processor. $360 is a LOT cheaper than damaging the processor or amplifiers. DO NOT try to cheat it with resistors at random as doing anything wrong will damage the processor. Or get some QSC DCA amplifiers, used ones are not horribly expensive online.

As I said, I'm planning only to get out 6 simple balanced audio outs to attack conventional amplifiers. So... I'm sorry, but $360 is TOO expensive for 6 simple HD15 connector and their screw clamps boards, where I must to screw 6 balanced cables to XLR on my own.
These $60 adapters wont save me of a disaster
I even prefer soldering the balanced cables to the HD15 connector (I mean HD15 connector, not a VGA cable) instead to screw it to an adapter board. THis way you can also shield the whole connector from RF easily

Maybe is not a good idea to buy these processors with dataport at the end

Regards

[Tony Bandiera Jr]

Aren't all VGA cables "off the shelf"? Perhaps them supplying a spec on the correct type of cable to use would be more helpful...

Oh Mark, you little rascal. See Steve's post (#6)

[Marco Giustini]

What about something like this?

https://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/d-sub...O-_--_-6659620

It's basically the same QSC offers, without the QSC logo on it and the convenient labels

dataport.jpg

On the VuMeter, I've worked very little with the DCP series - enough to say I am not a fan - but I'd expect the OUTPUT Vu Meters would be working, it's the "amplifier" Vu Meters which would not?

[Carsten Kurz]

There are also 'VGA cables' on the market that are simply 1:1 HD15 cables with all pins connected, as they exist with DB9 or DB25 connectors Actually they are not meant to be used as video/VGA cables because they don't use coax lines for RGB, but there are some appliances that use HD15 as general data connection. It may of course be difficult to identity them as such when buying.