Digital mixer with analog features

Allen & Heath has spent many years building mixers, so they pay detailed attention to the ergonomics as well as to the electronics involved, and make sure their design will fit in naturally with your physical layout and musical work flow. Their Qu-16 16-channel mixer provides a full-featured analog-to-digital interface that's comfortable and intuitive to use for mixing both live and recorded music.

Allen & Heath Qu-16 inputs and outputs

16 in, 12 out

The Qu-16's 16 microphone inputs feature Allen & Heath's AnalogiQ™ preamps, which reproduce signals accurately and transparently while maintaining the warmth and musicality of the original sound. The 24-bit AD/DA converters transfer all signals seamlessly between the comprehensive digital processing system and the console's analog outputs. The Qu-16 puts out up to 12 separate analog mixes, for PA speakers, monitors, or outboard effects processors.

Total Recall featuring automated faders

The Qu-16 can store and recall up to 100 scenes of mixer settings, so you can always revert to the tried and true mixes that worked in the past. Just push a button, and the faders fly to their proper positions. You can also save settings onto a USB thumb drive, so you can have the mix ready to go for another night without needing a lengthy sound check.

SuperStrip signal processing

The Qu-16's SuperStrip digital processor controls each input and output channel's signal, offering one-knob-per-function operation that simplifies making adjustments. SuperStrip processing includes:

2tap Delay creates "slap-back" echoes — great for a snare drum or rockabilly guitar

Touchscreen control

In addition to clearly viewing your Qu-16's settings on the 800 x 480 pixel screen, you can make adjustments there by fingertip as well. Dedicated data entry keys help guide you quickly to the menus, tabs, meters, and settings you'll need to get the best sound possible. When you apply an effect, like reverb, the graphic display renders a classic control interface that looks like the hardware it emulates.

Digital effects and routing

You can engage up to 4 audio effects at the same time, using the FX algorithms developed by Allen & Heath for their top-of-the-line iLive Series mixers. Your choices include all the classic reverbs, delays, and modulation effects that remain so popular over the years because they sound so good. Each effect gets inserted into the mix by way of the SuperStrip processor. The Qu-16 also has four "SoftKeys" which can each be assigned to perform functions like muting channels, changing an effect's tempo, or recalling a mixer scene.

Recording interface

The Qu-16 comes ready to connect with your computer via USB, and directly stream multitrack audio for playback and recording, using your favorite DAW software. MIDI controls and instructions can also flow through this connection. In addition, the Qu-16 features a built-in multitrack recorder ("Qu-Drive") providing 18 channels of 48KHz/24bit recording and playback direct to your USB hard disc drive.

Qu-Pad app on an iPad

iPad® remote and a real-time analyzer

When you connect a WiFi router to the Qu-16's Ethernet port, you can mix remotely with your iPad running the Qu-Pad app. Available free from the App Store, Qu-Pad presents the Qu-16's controls and settings on your iPad so you can wander anywhere in a venue, for instance, and control the sound — even fix a monitor mix on stage. In its well-stuffed package of features, the Qu-16 also includes a real-time analyzer (RTA) which graphically displays your PA system's frequency response, so you can apply the equalization to properly balance the sound for the room.