Allen & Heath CQ-20B Digital Mixer With Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Connectivity

No stranger to designing innovative mixing consoles, Allen & Heath turns up in a big way with the ultracompact CQ-20B mixer. A wise choice for beginner and seasoned pro engineers alike, the A&H CQ-20B features intuitive hands-on control with your tablet device of choice via Wi-Fi, extensive I/O, sample rates of up to 96kHz, and all the functionality you’d come to expect from a conventional live mixer. Plus, handy bells and whistles, like USB and Bluetooth connectivity, multiple storage and recording options, and more, make it easier than ever to dial in and make the most of your audio. No need to break your back loading a bulky mixer in and out—the CQ-20B is small enough to fit in your backpack.

Set Your Stage

Mixing confidently is easy with the rackmountable, stagebox-style CQ-20B, thanks to its streamlined interface via your own Wi-Fi-enabled tablet (sold separately). Use your tablet as a remote control via 2.4 or 5GHz Wi-Fi (use 2.4GHz for longer distances and 5GHz for close-range control), so you can walk around the stage or venue while setting up and massaging your mix. The CQ-20B’s remarkably condensed form factor is perfect for those looking to minimize their footprint while simplifying in-depth adjustments.

Sound Smart

No matter your level of audio engineering expertise, the CQ-20B has you covered with its suite of smart controls and smart processing tools. Preamp Gain Assistant gets your mic and line levels set up quickly, and Feedback Assistant ensures you avoid that dreaded squeal during the show. Instrument-based Quick inputs get your mix to a good spot quicker than ever, while more experienced engineers can switch each channel to a Complete input as needed for more customized adjustments. The CQ-20B also boasts four built-in Smart-FX engines. Browse from easy-to-use reverbs, delays and modulators that are signal conscious and designed for the instrument you’re mixing.

Get In and Rock Out

The CQ-20B plays host to 10 mic/line (eight XLR + eight XLR/1/4" combo—two of which are Hi-Z) inputs, plus two stereo 1/4" TRS line in. But there’s more. Via the pair of USB-A and USB-B sockets, you’ve got access to a 24x24 USB audio interface, as well as audio and data storage—making multitrack and mixdown recording a breeze. An SD card slot also provides 24x24 recording and playback. And speaking of playback, you can easily cue up a reference track via the CQ-20B’s stereo Bluetooth input. Opposite the input side of the panel, the CQ-20B offers six mix TRS outputs, a pair of XLR main outs, two assignable A and B 1/4" jack outputs, single or dual footswitch and a headphone output. An Ethernet jack connects to your external control interface or router, and a built-in Wi-Fi antenna folds down for easy, safe transport.

Mix (Multi-)Purposefully

The ultimate mixing chameleon, the CQ-20B can be used as an audio interface and as a means to perform virtual soundchecks, mix front of house and/or monitors, record live shows and rehearsals, and much more. Whether you’re a full-fledged live sound engineer in search of a streamlined and recording-friendly mixer, a musician looking for an easy mixing solution with room to grow on the technical side, or even a studio engineer looking to mix outside the box, the Allen & Heath CQ-20B delivers the goods.