Allen & Heath Qu-32 32-Channel Digital Mixer

The Allen & Heath Qu-32 is the 32-channel version of A&H's new digital console. It is the product of years of research protocol, and the culmination of their expertise in preamps, EQ, versatile routing and ADDA processing.

AnalogiQ Preamps
AnalogiQ total recall preamps feature zero crossing detection and an advanced padless 1dB step gain stage, closely allied to the DSP for optimal gain accuracy and audio transparency. The analog signal is captured by high-class, low-latency 24-bit analog to digital converters matched to high-quality 24-bit digital to analog converters to deliver the required outputs. The AnalogiQ design has been refined to offer superb transparency, minimal distortion and an ultralow noise floor, with a warm, musical sound that is missing from some digital consoles. Skeptics gather around. These are broad, warm, spacious and ultimately musical preamps with color and character that are a beautiful fit for any project.


The Mining Experience
Having massive processing power and advanced functionality is great, but if you can't access the controls you need quickly, who cares? Once you start using a Qu you'll appreciate the ergonomics and the hands-on mixing experience that the A&H team has drawn upon to deliver a natural layout and workflow. It's not about recreating an analog interface; it's about creating an experience that's fluid, comfortable and intuitive for novices, digital natives and old school road warriors alike, making all the benefits of digital mixing technology readily accessible to all.


Touch Control
Qu-32's 7", 800 x 480, 16-million color touchscreen and its dedicated data encoder form the heart of the Qu interface, providing super-fast, easy access to all settings. The user-friendly interface has been designed with clarity in mind. Dedicated keys and screen tabs quickly guide you to meter and RTA views, FX racks, channel processing, USB audio control, scenes, setup menus and much more.


The Superstrip
All your key processing tools are presented in a clean layout on the SuperStrip, with one function per physical control. The SuperStrip is complemented by an onscreen Touch Channel for intuitive access to full processing parameters without clutter or complex menu structures. Processing for Mono and Stereo inputs includes trim, polarity, HPF, gate, insert, 4-band PEQ, compressor and delay. The main LR and the Mono mixes have controls for Insert, 1/3 octave GEQ, compressor and delay. The Stereo mixes provide Insert, 4-band PEQ, compressor, delay and balance control.


Fader Automation
Moving faders started as an expensive option in the studio desks of the '80s, and later became the norm with the advent of digital technology. Nevertheless, some entry-level digital mixers lack this precious commodity which is a fundamental part of the Total Recall approach. Fader automation is essential for rapid mixing, especially when you're dealing with multiple monitor mixes—just press a mix key and the faders immediately fly to the send levels for that mix.

Qu-16, Qu-24 and Qu-32 feature 16, 24 and 32 motorized ALPS faders respectively, arranged over two layers, allowing instant access to all channels and masters in a compact space, plus a dedicated master fader which dynamically follows the mix selection. A third, Custom layer is available for ad-hoc user strip layout, where any combination of Inputs, FX Sends, FX Returns, Mix masters and MIDI strips can be assigned.


iLive FX
Qu's dynamics and FX algorithms are derived from the FX used in Allen & Heath's iLive Pro Touring Series. Some of the world's most respected audio engineers have chosen to use iLive's FX on tour in preference to top-end plug-ins and external FX units. All Qu models boast four stereo iLive FX engines, featuring lovingly crafted emulations of legendary classic reverbs, gated reverbs, delays, modulators, flangers and more.

The FX library has the ability to grow with future firmware releases. FX are returned to the mix on dedicated return channels, so you're not tying up your mono and stereo input channels. Each Stereo FX Return has a dedicated 4-band PEQ.


TOTAL RECALL
True digital mixing is about being able to save and recall scenes (snapshots) at the press of a button. Qu can store up to 100 full Scenes for recall at will. Channels and mixes can be made Safe from Scene recall. For example, if an instrument or mic gets swapped out after the soundcheck, the channel can be made safe to avoid settings being overridden by Scene recalls. Or if a broadcast feed or walk-in iPod is added last-minute before the show kicks off, that mix or channel can be made safe from any scene change. In addition, single parameter updates can be blocked using a Recall Filter. So if you tweak the graphic EQ to reflect the room response when the audience gets in, you can block this to prevent any overwriting at scene change.


Custom settings for each EQ, compressor or channel can be saved as Library presets. This lets you store your tried and tested setting for your favourite vocal mic or reverb pattern and apply it to other channels or shows. Libraries, Scenes and the complete Show configuration can be saved to a USB key, so you can carry the show with you, ready to use on another Qu mixer.


USB Audio Streaming
Qu's built-in interface streams multitrack audio to your Mac or PC via a flexible patching system: all Input channels and the Main L/R can be recorded at the same time, or you may choose to record something different such as FX returns or a pair of mixes.


The returns from the computer can be assigned to the Input channels. The interface is class-compliant on Mac OS X—and drivers are available for Windows systems. Either way, it will be recognized straightaway by any DAW supporting ASIO or Core Audio, including Logic, Cubase, Reaper and Pro Tools.


Qu-Drive
Forget sound card drivers and software setup, Qu has an integrated multitrack USB recorder, providing 18 channels of 48kHz, 24-bit recording and playback straight to / from your USB hard drive. Capturing multitrack recordings of your shows has never been so easy. Mixes and FX returns can be recorded alongside channels, and multitrack audio can be played back to the mixer for virtual sound-checks. An independent set of controls is provided for quick stereo recording of the main L/R or other mix outputs, and a 2-track USB return can be routed to ST3 for playback of stereo WAV files such as walk-in music.


Armed to the hilt
Qu mixers are equipped with five cores of high-efficiency ARM core processing, with dedicated ARM cores running the touchscreen display and surface, USB streaming, Qu-Drive multi-channel USB recording/playback, ethernet and fader automation. Between them the ARM cores provide state-of-the-art processing, working in parallel to deliver extensive control, instant-on operation, and lightning-fast response.


The mixer's DSP farm exploits next generation dual core DSPs. With plenty of DSP power under the hood, the channel processing is only using a fraction of capacity so Qu is future-proofed with ample room for updates and extra functionality.


The DSP architecture employs varied bit depths, tailored to specific algorithms, with 48 bits on critical EQ functions and a 56-bit accumulator on the mix bus where it really counts, allowing every nuance of the audio to be captured in the final mix.


The shape of things to come
Made from 18 gauge, cold-rolled Zintec steel, Qu's distinctive frame is designed for strength and rigidity. Allen&Heath done unspeakable things to that chassis in the lab and it's taken everything they've thrown at it—even being stomped on by Allen & Heath's resident ex-tank commander.


Silence is a precious commodity in the live or studio environment, which is why nobody wants those moments of stillness ruined by the whirring of fans coming from the mix position. Qu's sleek profile generates optimal airflow through the mixer, eliminating the need for any fans.


The shape has some unexpected benefits too. When Allen & Heath started taking Qu out to gigs, they soon found the space beneath it incredibly useful for keeping our USB drive, talkback mic, cue sheet and other clutter tucked out of the way. They even had engineers hanging the mixer from a handy scaffold bar and mixing vertically.


Qu-Pad
Add the Qu-Pad iPad app to your Qu setup and you're free to adjust the monitors on stage, roam around the venue whilst tweaking the PA, and then mix the show from the heart of the audience. Qu-Pad connects to the mixer over Wi-Fi and gives instant access to all live mixing parameters and settings.


ME Personal Mixing System
Qu mixers are fully compatible with Allen & Heath's ME Personal Mixing System. Any number of ME-1 personal mixers can be chained from the dSNAKE port (or from an AR2412 / AB168 AudioRack if you've got one connected to the dSNAKE port). Each performer can be given tailored control over their own mix, leaving the engineer free to focus on the audience experience.


dSNAKE
Qu mixers are self-contained, so if you've already got the analog cables you're good to go. If you're thinking of trading in the copper multicore for a Cat5 digital snake, Qu's dSNAKE port has you future-proofed, allowing connection to a combination of AR2412, AR84 or portable AB168 AudioRacks.


dSNAKE is A&H's proprietary networking solution, boasting a transport latency of only 105us over cable runs of up to 120 m/390'. So if you're mixing FoH you can place your I/O on the stage and run a single Cat5 cable back to the Qu mixer in the mix position.


SoftKeys
Qu-32 packs 10 SoftKeys for more user-assignable functions such as Mute Groups, Tap Tempo, Scene navigation or PAFL Clear.


The Matrix
Qu-32's Matrix has two further stereo outputs equipped with full processing to the console's extensive I/O. It is a "mixer within a mixer," fed from any combination of Group 1-4, Mix 1-10 and main LR. It can be used to provide a broadcast feed, a recording mix, or duplicate the main outputs for delay stacks and fill / zone speakers where independent GEQ and delay is applied.