Allen & Heath’s SQ-6 digital mixer is built for professionals in demanding live sound applications. XCVI 96kHz FPGA engine provides unrivalled power and audio fidelity with high resolution audio and ultra-low latency. The SQ-6 offers the tools you need for any mixing needs from AV and corporate events to live events and houses of worship.
Mixer is equipped with 24 onboard preamps and 8 stereo FX engines with dedicated return channels and access to the RackExtra FX library. In-ear monitoring setups are supported with the 12 stereo mixes, while multi-mic environments work well with Automatic Mic Mixing.
Powerful processing lets you create your best mix. All 48 inputs have HPF, a super-fast gate with sidechain and filter, 4-band parametric equalizer, and Peak/RMS compressor. Mixes have a parametric and 28 band graphic EQ along with compressor as standard. XCVI core allows every compressor in the SQ-6 to have its own parallel path without having to worry about phase or coherency.
Design is centered around a touchscreen, framed with high-grip illuminating encoders to create a blend of visual feedback and hands-on control. Drag and drop channels and mixes to any strip and customize naming and color coding on strip displays to build a personal mixing setup. Three tier all metal chassis and extruded aluminum light bar keep the mixer protected in tough environments.
Advanced automatic mic mixers (AMMs) are fully integrated in the mixer with no added latency. These ensure the mixer meets the needs of mixing conferences, panel talks, and TV shows.
Allen & Heath SQ-6 Features
- 19" rack mountable Compact Digital Mixer for Live, Studio and Installation
- Compatible with ME personal monitoring range
- 32x32 USB audio interface
- Sufficient onboard I/O for standalone operation
- 36 Total Busses
- 12 Stereo Mix (Aux or Group) + Main
- PAFL Bus
- SLink EtherCON connection for remote audio using dSnake/ME, DX or GigaACE/GX protocol (128x128 channels)
- I/O Port for Option Card, such as 3rd party protocols – Dante/Waves (not included)
- 8 Stereo FX with dedicated FX Returns
- DEEP Processing Ready
- RackFX Effects suite
- 7" color touchscreen
- 16 Assignable SoftKeys
- 4 Assignable Soft Rotaries
- Dedicated physical controls for channel processing (Gain, HPF Frequency, Gate Threshold, Compressor Threshold, Pan, EQ Gain/Frequency/Width)
- 24+1 Faders with 6 Layers for 144 assignable Channel Strips
- Motorised faders for sends on faders, GEQ fader flip and mix recall
- 24 Backlit LCD Channel Strip displays
- Chromatic Channel Metering
- Integrated Surface Illumination
- Single/Dual Footswitch Control
- Input channel pairs switchable mono/stereo
- Patchable Insert points
- DEEP Automatic Mic Mixing
- 2 31/61 Band Real Time Analysers
- Quick copy/paste/reset for parameters
- User Permissions to restrict operator access
- 300 Scene memories per show
- Channel Safes, Global and per Scene Recall Filters
- FX, processing, and channel Libraries
- SQ-Drive for stereo and multitrack recording/playback direct to USB drive
- USB transfer of Scenes, Libraries, Shows
- 32x32 channel USB streaming to/from Mac/PC
- MIDI via USB or TCP/IP, including DAW control options
- Remote mixing apps for iPad, Android, Mac and PC
- 96kHz FPGA processing
- 17 faders / 6 layers
- 3 stereo matrix
- SLink port for remote audio / expansion
- 64ch I/O port for audio networking
- Integrated SQ-Drive for direct recording to USB
- Chromatic channel metering
- Integrated LED illumination
- Dedicated physical controls
- Channel LCD displays
- SQ-6 Digital Mixer1
- One Year Limited Manufacturer Warranty1
- Inputs
- Mic/Line Inputs: Balanced XLR, fully recallable
- Input Sensitivity: -60 to +0dBu
- Switchable Pad:-20dB
- Analogue Gain: 0dB to +60dB, 1dB steps
- Maximum Input Level: +30dBu
- Input Impedance: >5kΩ
- THD+N, Unity gain 0dB: 0.002% -92dBu (20Hz-20kHz, AES Direct Out, @0dBu 1kHz)
- THD+N, Mid gain +30dB: 0.003% -91dBu (20Hz-20kHz, AES Direct Out, @-30dBu INPUT 1kHz)
- Phantom Power: +48V (+3V / -2V)
- Stereo Line Inputs
- ST1, ST2 connectors: Balanced, 1/4" TRS jack
- ST3 connector: Unbalanced, stereo 3.5mm Mini Jack
- Input Sensitivity (ST1, ST2 / ST3): Nominal +4dBu ST1, ST2 / 0dBu ST3
- Trim: +/-24dB
- Maximum Input Level (ST1,ST2 / ST3): +22dBu / +18dBu
- Input Impedance: >7kΩ
- Outputs
- XLR Outputs: Balanced, XLR
- Outputs A and B: Balanced 1/4" TRS Jack
- Source: Patchable
- Output Impedance: <75Ω
- Nominal Output: +4dBu = 0dB meter reading
- Maximum Output Level: +22dBu
- Residual Output Noise: -90dBu (muted, 20Hz-20kHz)
- AES Digital Output
- Balanced XLR 2 channel,
- 96kHz sampling rate (Default with SRC Bypassed)
- Switchable output sample rates,44.1kHz/ 48kHz/ 88.2kHz/ (96kHz)
- 2.5Vpp balanced terminated 110G
- Slink
- Connection: Neutrik EtherCON (RJ45)
- dsnake mode (48kHz devices): 40 input 20+40(ME) output channels
- dx mode (96kHz devices): 32 input 32 output channels
- gigaACE/GX (96kHz devices): 128 input 128 output channels
- Inputs: Fully Patchable
- Outputs: Fully Patchable
- Sync/SRC: Assignable as master audio sync for all modes, SRC 64 channel
- I/O Port
- Inputs: Fully Patchable
- Outputs: Fully Patchable
- Sync/SRC: Assignable as master audio sync
- System
- Measured balanced XLR in to XLR out, 0dB gain, 0dBu input
- Dynamic Range: 112 dB
- Frequency Response: +0/-0.5dB 20Hz to 20kHz
- Headroom: +18dB
- Internal operating Level: 0dBu
- THD+N, Mic/Line routed to Main L/R Out: Unity gain faders@0dB, 0.006%, -84dBu (20 - 20kHz)
- dBFS Alignment: +18dBu = 0dBFS (+22dBu at XLR output)
- Meter Calibration: 0dB meter = -18dBFS (+4dBu at XLR out)
- Main Meter Type: 2 x 12 segment, fast (peak) response
- Channel Meter Type: Chromatic Channel Metering, fully programmable colour/brightness
- Peak Indication: -3dBFS (+19dBu at XLR out), multi-point sensing
- Sampling Rate: 96kHz
- Bit Depth: Uses XCVI core custom bit widths in algorithms, up to 96bits
- Latency: <0.7mS, Local Mic Input to Main L/R
- Operating Temperature Range: 0 deg C to 40 deg C (32 deg F to 104 deg F)
- Mains Power: 100-240V AC, 50/60Hz
- Max Power Consumption: SQ-5/SQ-6/SQ-7 75W / 90W / 110W
- Control
- Faders: 100mm motorised
- Touch Screen: 7" Capacitive, 800 x 480 resolution, 24 bit RGB
- SoftKeys: 8 (SQ-5), 16 (SQ-6, SQ-7)
- SoftRotarys: 4 (SQ-6), 8 (SQ-7)
- Mute Groups / DCA Groups: 8 / 8
- Network: TCP/IP Ethernet for MIDI and Control
- MIDI: TCP/IP and USB-B
- Footswitch: Single or Dual, Momentary or Latching
- Input Processing
- Source
- CH1-48: Fully patchable
- USB Global Source: SQ-Drive or USB B Streaming
- Polarity: Normal/Invert
- Trim: -24 to +24dB
- High Pass Filter: 12/18/24dB per octave 20Hz – 2kHz
- Insert (Pre EQ/Comp): Fully Patchable
- Delay: Up to 341ms
- Gate: Patchable Sidechain
- Sidechain filter: Hi-pass (20-5k), band-pass (120-10k), Lo-pass (120-20k)
- Threshold / Depth: -72dBu to +18dBu / 0 to 60dB
- Attack / Hold / Release: 50µs to 300ms / 10ms to 5s / 10ms to 1s
- PEQ: 4-Band fully parametric, 20-20kHz, +/-15dB
- Band 1, Band 4: Selectable Shelving (Baxandall), Bell, HPF/LPF 12dB/octave
- Band 2, Band 3: Bell
- Bell Width: Variable Q, 1.5 to 1/9th octave
- Compressor: Patchable Sidechain, DEEP options
- Sidechain filter: Hi-pass (20-5k), band-pass (120-10k), Lo-pass (120-20k), Q=1
- Threshold / Ratio: -46dBu to 18dBu / 1:1 to infinity
- Attack / Release: 30µs to 300ms / 50ms to 2s
- Knee: Soft/Hard
- Detector response: Peak/RMS switchable
- Parallel Path Compression: dry/wet -infin to 0dB
- Channel Direct Out: Follow Fader, Mute, Mute Group, DCA (global all ch)
- Source select: Post-Preamp, Post-HPF, Post-Gate, Insert Return, Post-PEQ, Post-Comp, Post-Delay trim -infin to 10dB per channel
- Mix Processing
- Insert (Pre EQ/Comp): Fully Patchable
- Delay: Up to 682ms
- GEQ: 28 bands 31Hz-16kHz, +/-12dB Gain, Constant 1/3 oct, DEEP options
- PEQ: As Input PEQ
- Compressor: As Input Compressor
- FX
- Internal FX: 8 x RackFX engine, Send>Return or Inserted (4 dedicated fx bus)
- Types: SMR Reverb, Stereo Tap Delay, Gated Reverb, ADT, Blue Chorus,Symphonic Chorus, Flanger, Phaser
- 8 dedicated Stereo FX returns: Fader, Pan, Mute, Routing to Mix/LR, 4-Band PEQ
- Audio Tools
- PAFL: PFL or stereo in-place AFL, 0 to -24dB Trim, PAFL Delay Up to 682ms
- Talkback: Dedicated input, Assignable to any mix, Gain, Pad, 48V, 12dB/oct HPF
- Signal Generator: Assignable to any input or mix, Sine/White/Pink/Bandpass Noise
- RTA's: 2x 31-Band 1/3 octave (Stereo) or 61-Band 1/6 octave (Mono) 20-20kHz. PAFL/Selected Channel or Fixed Source
- USB Audio
- SQ-Drive: USB-A
- Stereo Record: 2 channel, WAV, 96kHz, 24-bit, source fully patchable
- Stereo Playback: 1/2 channel, WAV, 44.1, 48, 96kHz 16,24-bit, source fully patchable
- Multitrack Record: 1-16 channel 96kHz, 1-32 channel 48kHz, 24-bit, WAV, fully patchable
- Multitrack Playback: 1-16 channel 96kHz, 1-32 channel 48kHz, 24-bit, WAV, fully patchable
- USB Audio Streaming: USB-B, Core Audio compliant, ASIO/WDM for Windows
- Send (upstream): 32 channel, 48/96kHz, 24-bit
- Return (downstream): 32 channel, 48/96kHz, 24-bit
- AMMs
- Configuration: 2x 24ch or 1x 48ch, freely assignable
- Type: Gain Sharing
- Sidechain Filter HPF / LPF: 12dB/octave 20Hz – 5kHz / 120Hz - 20kHz
- Priority: -15dB to +15dB per channel
- Add-ons
- DEEP Preamps: Tube Stage
- DEEP Compressors: Opto, 16T, 16VU, PeakLimiter76, Mighty
- DEEP GEQ's: Proportional-Q, DiGi-GEQ, Hybrid
- RackFX units: De-Esser, DynEQ4, MultiBD3, MultiBD4, Bucket Brigade, Echo, Hypabass
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.