Effortlessly transition from analog to digital mixing with the Qu-16 chrome digital mixer from Allen & Heath. Combining innovative design and exceptional functionality to create a superb professional mixing experience, the Qu-16 incorporates technologies pioneered on the GLD and iLive digital mixing systems to deliver class-leading audio performance.

The Qu-16 is an ideal digital mixer for users who are used to analog. It includes a fader per each mono input channel and fewer fader layers for a streamlined workflow, while its intuitive layout—including True Colour Touchscreen and dedicated rotary encoder—makes it effortless to adjust settings and parameters, while a SuperStrip set of physical controls give you tactile precision over gain, HPF, 4-band PEQ, gate, compressor, GEW, and pan. Navigate and modulate using dedicated keys and screen tabs to meter and RTA view, FX racks, channel processing, USB audio control, scenes, setup menus, and more.

Qu-16 features 16 AnalogiQ™ preamps that are digitally controlled and have advanced zero-crossing detection and a padless 1dB-step gain stage, which have been closely allied to the DSP for optimal gain accuracy and audio transparency. High-class, low latency 24bit analog to digital converters capture the analog signal and are matched to 24bit digital to analog converters to deliver the required high-quality output. The AnalogiQ™ preamps are designed for pristine transparency, minimal distortion, and an ultra-low noise floor, delivering a warm, musical sound.

Allen & Heath’s Qu series features multitrack recording direct to USB, Automatic Mic Mixing, ProFactory mic presets, plus an ever-growing ecosystem of apps, accessories, remote I/O, and so much more.

Beyond the mixers themselves, Qu is a comprehensive setup with features that include:

Remote AudioRacks allowing I/O to be placed where it's needed
ME Personal Mixers expanding monitor mixes and enabling time-saving local control
Qu Apps for complete remote setup and wireless mixing on stage or anywhere else in the venue
ProFactory Mic presets to speed up preparation time and ensure the best sound
USB recording and DAW integration for powerful workflow optimization from a central device

Allen & Heath Qu-16 Features

19" Rack-mountable Digital Mixer for Live, Studio and Installation
Compatible with the Allen & Heath ME personal mixing system
5” (800x480 pixel) color touch screen for quick control
4 Stereo FX with dedicated FX Returns
16 Busses
4 SoftKeys
dSNAKE Cat5 snake for remote audio using AR2412, AR84 or AB168
AnaLOGIQ™ total recall analogue preamps
Effects ported from the flagship iLive console
Dedicated stereo FX return channels
Master strip for quick access to mix levels and processing
Input channel linking for stereo sources
Input processing – Preamp, HPF, Gate, PEQ, Compressor, Delay
Automatic Mic Mixing
Output processing – PEQ, Graphic EQ, Compressor, Delay
31 Band Real Time Analysis and Spectrogram
Motorized faders for sends on faders, GEQ fader flip and mix recall
Quick copy and reset of processing, mixes and scenes
100 Scene memories
Channel Safes, Global and per Scene Recall Filters
FX, processing and channel User Libraries
Qu-Drive for stereo and 18-track recording/playback to USB hard drive
USB streaming to/from an Apple® Mac or Windows™ PC computer
MIDI DAW Control driver for Mac (converts to HUI or Mackie Control)
USB transfer of Scenes, Libraries, Shows
User assignable Custom Layer
Qu-Pad engineer’s mixing wireless remote app for iPad
Qu-You personal monitoring app for iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch
User Permissions to restrict operator access
Fan optimized with airflow design for silent operation
7 Monitor Mixes (4 mono + 3 stereo)
2 dedicated FX Sends / Returns
24—22 USB Audio Interface
17 Motor Faders
Trim, polarity, HPF, gate, insert, 4-band PEQ, compressor, delay on all Inputs
Insert, 4-band PEQ, 1/3 octave GEQ, compressor, delay on all Outputs
Channel Ducker on all Inputs
ProFactory Mic Presets
RackFX Library
Built-in Signal Generator
RTA with Peak Band indication
Spectrogram to aid feedback elimination and room acoustics
Qu-Drive Direct Multitrack Recording / Playback on USB drives
DAW MIDI Control
Qu-Pad iPad App
Qu-You iPhone / Android personal monitoring app
Qu-Control customizable iOS app for simple wireless control
Compatible with ME Personal Mixing System
High contrast metallic finish controls, matching premium GLD Chrome series

Qu-16 Chrome Digital Mixer1
One Year Limited Warranty1

Inputs
- Mic/Line Inputs
- Stereo Line Inputs
Outputs
- Mix1-10 and LR Out: Balanced, XLR
- Group and Matrix Out (not Qu-16): (1/4" TRS Matrix Out on Qu-SB)
- Output Impedance: <75Ω
- Nominal Output: +4dBu = 0dB meter reading
- Maximum Output Level: +22dBu
- Residual Output Noise: -90 dBu (muted, 20-20kHz)
- Stereo Alt Out & 2Trk Out (not Qu-SB): Balanced, 1/4" TRS jack
- Source (Alt Output / 2Trk Output): Patchable / LR post-fade
- Output Impedance: <75Ω
- Nominal Output: +4dBu = 0dB meter reading
- Maximum Output Level: +22dBu
- Residual Output Noise: -90 dBu (muted, 20-20kHz)
- AES Digital Output (not Qu-SB)
dSNAKE
- Inputs: Remote source for CH1-32, ST1, ST2, ST3
- Outputs
System
- Dynamic Range: 112dB
- Frequency Response: +0/-0.5dB 20Hz to 20kHz
- Headroom: +18dB
- Internal operating Level: 0dBu
- dBFS Alignment: +18dBu = 0dBFS (+22dBu at XLR output)
- Meter Calibration: 0dB meter = -18dBFS (+4dBu at XLR out)
- Meter Peak indication: -3dBFS (+19dBu at XLR out), multi-point sensing
- Meter Signal indication: -48dBFS (-26dBu at XLR out)
- Meter Type: Fast (peak) response
- Sampling Rate: 48kHz +/-100PPM
- ADC, DAC: 24-bit Delta-Sigma
- Latency
- Operating Temperature Range: 0 deg C to 35 deg C (32 deg F to 95 deg F)
- Mains Power: 100-240V AC, 50/60Hz
- Maximum Power Consumption Qu-16/24/32/Pac/SB: 82W/120W/150W/55W/49W
USB Audio
- Qu-Drive: USB A
- Stereo Record: 2 channel, WAV, 48kHz, 24-bit, patchable
- Stereo Playback: 2 channel, WAV, 44.1 or 48kHz, 16 or 24-bit, to ST3
- Multitrack Record: 18 channel, WAV, 48kHz, 24-bit, patchable
- Multitrack Playback: 18 channel, WAV, 48kHz, 24-bit
- USB Audio Streaming: USB B, Core Audio compliant
- Send (upstream) Qu-16/24/32/Pac/SB: 24/32/32/32/32 channel, WAV, 48kHz, 24-bit
- Return (downstream) Qu-16/24/32/Pac/SB: 22/30/32/32/32 channel, WAV, 48kHz, 24-bit
Control
- Faders Qu-16, 24, 32: 100mm motorised
- Touch Screen Qu16, 24, Pac: 5" TFT, 800x480 resolution
- Touch Screen Qu-32: 7" TFT, 800x480 resolution
- Soft Keys: 4(Qu-16), 10 (Qu-24, 32), 15 (Qu-Pac)
- Mute Groups / DCA Groups: 4/4
- Network: TCP/IP Ethernet for MIDI and iOS apps
Input Processing
- Source
- Stereo Linking: Odd/even input pairs
- Polarity: Normal/Reverse
- High Pass Filter: 12dB/octave 20Hz – 2kHz
- Insert: Assign FX1-4 into Input channels
- Delay: Up to 85ms
- Gate: Self-key Sidechain
- Threshold / Depth: -72dBu to +18dBu / 0 to 60dB
- Attack / Hold / Release: 50us to 300ms / 10ms to 5s / 10ms to 1s
- PEQ: 4-Band fully parametric, 20-20kHz, +/- 15dB
- Band 1: Selectable LF Shelving (Baxandall), Bell
- Band 2, Band 3: Bell
- Band 4: Selectable HF Shelving (Baxandall), Bel
- Bell Width: Non-constant Q, variable, 1.5 to 1/9th octave
- Compressor: Self-key Sidechain
- Threshold / Ratio: -46dBu to 18dBu / 1:1 to infinity
- Attack / Release: 300us – 300ms / 100ms - 2s
- Knee: Soft/Hard
- Types: Peak Manual, RMS Manual, SlowOpto, PunchBag
Mix Processing
- Channel Direct Out to USB: Follow Fader, follow Mute (global options)
- Source select (global): Post-Preamp, Pre-EQ, Post-EQ, PostDelay
- Insert: Assign FX into Mix channels
- Delay: Up to 170ms
- GEQ: Constant 1/3 oct, 28 bands 31Hz-16kHz, +/-12dB Gain
- PEQ: 4-Band fully parametric, 20-20kHz, +/- 15dB
- Band 1: Selectable LF Shelving (Baxandall), Bell
- Band 2, Band 3: Bell
- Band 4: Selectable HF Shelving (Baxandall), Bel
- Bell Width: Non-constant Q, variable, 1.5 to 1/9th octave
- Compressor: Self-key Sidechain
- Threshold / Ratio: -46dBu to 18dBu / 1:1 to infinity
- Attack / Release: 300us – 300ms / 100ms - 2s
- Knee: Soft/Hard
- Types: Peak Manual, RMS Manual, SlowOpto, PunchBag
Internal FX4x RackFX engine, Send>Return or Inserted
Audio Tools
- Types: Reverbs, Delays, Gated Reverb, ADT, Chorus, Symphonic Chorus, Phaser, Flanger
- 4 dedicated Stereo FX returns: Fader, Pan, Mute, Routing to Mix/LR, 4- Band PEQ
PAFLPFL or stereo in-place AFL, 0 to -24dB Trim, 85ms Delay
TalkbackAssignable to any mix, 12dB/oct HPF
Signal GeneratorAssignable to any mix, Sine / White/Pink/Band-pass Noise
RTA31-Bands 1/3 octave 20-20kHz, follows PAFL source

About Digital Mixers at Sound Productions

Digital mixers connect to digital devices, and typically offer a host of personalization features and premium functionalities not available with the more straightforward analog mixer. These features may include onboard sound effects, enhanced signal processing, multi-track recording, customizable settings, and much more! Additionally, digital mixers are compact and portable, and some models even offer wireless connectivity, making them a great option for mobile audio setups where you want to avoid cable clutter.