The chrome edition of the Allen & Heath Qu-16C Digital Mixer & Stage Rack Bundleis a 16-channel digital mixer and USB audio interface designed for live and installed sound as well as studio use. The chrome edition adds high-contrast chrome rotary and fader knobs that improve visibility in dark conditions, as well as a number of software enhancements from the updated firmware (V1.8). It features 16 mic- or line-selectable inputs and 3 stereo line inputs. Its 16 anaLOGIQ microphone preamps have digitally recallable settings that can be saved and recalled for future sessions. The Qu-16 has a variety of output options, including 4 mono XLR mix outputs, 3 XLR stereo-pair mix outputs, an alternative TRS stereo-pair mix output, a TRS stereo-pair 2-track output, and a 2-channel AES digital output.

The Qu-16 has 16 buses as well as 4 stereo effect returns, and offers a variety of routing options and controls. It has a 5" 800x480 resolution touchscreen that displays your metering and RTA views, effects tracks, processing, routing, and saved scenes. The 16 tracks are controllable with the 16 100mm motorized faders. Built-in processing allows you to EQ, compress, gate, switch polarity, and apply delay to all 16 tracks. All of your settings can be saved as a scene and recalled later for quick setup.

Thanks to its internal convertors, the Qu-16 is also a USB audio interface and can record to any Core Audio-compatible software on your Mac. You can also record to and play back audio from an external USB hard drive. It is compatible with the Qu-Pad iPad app that allows you to control your mix with your iPad over a connected wireless network. The Qu-16 unit itself can be rackmounted or set up on a desk.

16 Mic/Line In and 3 Stereo In Mixer    16 In, 8 Out Stage Rack 48 kHz Interface    8 XLR Line Outs, Compatible with Cat 5e    USB Audio Interface    Touchscreen Interface    Motorized 100mm Faders    Recallable Preamps    Record/Playback with USB Drives    iPad Qu-Pad Control App    EtherCon Cable, Chrome Knobs and Faders

• Pro Factory Mic Presets codeveloped with leading microphone manufacturers including Shure, Sennheiser, and Audio-Technica
• Updated iPad app functionality
• Windows Daw Control app
• DAW Templates online for users of Cubase, Logic X, and Pro Tools
• And More

Qu-16's sixteen AnaLOGIQ total recall preamps feature zero-crossing detection and an advanced padless 1 dB / step gain stage, closely allied to the DSP for optimal gain accuracy and audio transparency. The analog signal is captured by 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 transparency, minimal distortion and a low noise floor, with a warm, musical sound

The 800x480, sixteen-million-color touchscreen and its dedicated data encoder form the heart of the Qu-16 interface, providing fast and 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

All your key processing tools are presented in a clean layout on the SuperStrip, with 1 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 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 features 17 motorized ALPS faders, 16 arranged over 2 layers, allowing instant access to all channels and masters in a compact space; plus, there is 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, and Mix masters can be assigned

Qu-16's dynamics and FX algorithms are derived from the FX used in Allen & Heath's iLive pro touring series. Qu-16 boasts 4 stereo iLive FX engines, featuring 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

True digital mixing is about being able to save and recall scenes (snapshots) at the press of a button. Qu-16 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 per-scene Recall Filters or a Global 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, channel or FX can be saved as Library presets. This lets you store your tried-and-tested EQ setting for your favorite 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-16

Qu-16's built-in interface streams multitrack audio to your Mac channel 1 to 16, the Main LR mix and 3 selectable stereo pairs. The returns from the Mac can be assigned to the 16 Mono channels plus stereos. The interface is class-compliant on Mac OS X - which means it's truly plug 'n play, with no need to install a driver. It will be recognized straightaway by any DAW supporting Core Audio, including Logic, Cubase, Reaper, and Pro Tools. Standard MIDI control is tunneled over the USB connection so you can easily map the faders to the tracks of your favorite DAW. Alternatively, a MIDI driver is available for use with the Ethernet port

The Qu-16 has an integrated multitrack USB recorder, providing 18 channels of 48 kHz / 24-bit recording and playback straight to and from your USB hard drive. Capturing multitrack recordings of your shows has never been so easy. A selectable stereo pair can be recorded alongside the 16 mono channels, and multitrack audio can be played back to the 16 mono channels plus ST1. On top of this, Qu-Drive also provides stereo recording, patchable from any pair of Mix outputs, the Main LR (pre, post, or summed to mono) or even the PAFL bus, with 2- track stereo playback to ST3

The Qu-16 is equipped with 5 cores of high-efficiency ARM core processing, with dedicated ARM cores running the touchscreen display and surface, USB streaming, Qu-Drive multichannel USB recording and 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 fast response. The mixer's DSP farm exploits next generation dual-core DSPs, giving 10 DSP cores, with 8 dedicated to the channel and mix processing alone. With so much DSP power under the hood the channel processing is only using a fraction of capacity, so Qu-16 is futureproofed, with ample room for updates and extra functionality. The Qu-16 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

Add the Qu-Pad iPad app to your Qu-16 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. Qu-Pad requires the connection of a Wi-Fi router or access point to the Qu-16 Network port

Qu-16 is fully compatible with the ME Personal Mixing System. Any number of ME-1 personal mixers can be chained from the dSNAKE port. Each performer can be given tailored control over their own mix, leaving the engineer free to focus on the audience experience

Related Questions and Answers

Q: 1. Hello;Could it be used as a midi controller with Pro Tools ?

A: The Qu-24C transmits and receives MIDI via USB or the Ethernet connection. It can be mapped to Pro Tools or similar DAW's for control.

Q: 2. Is there a way you can run this past the maxx distance of 120 meters?

A: i have seen the stage box run 500ft via fiber and media converters. works like a charm.

Q: 3. Would you recommend a power conditioner for the AB168 or can I just plug it in the wall on stage?

A: The Allen & Heath AB168 Portable AudioRack 16 x 8 Audio Interface Stage Box can be connected to a wall outlet or you can use a power conditioner like the Furman M-8x2 Merit Series 8 Outlet Power Conditioner & Surge Protector (B&H # FUM8X2).

Q: 4. when using a digital snake, will i have access to more than the 24 physical channels?

A: Yes.When using the Optional GLD-AR2412 you will have access to Ch. 1-24.In addition purchase the Optional GLD-AR84, use an ethernet cable between the expander port's on the 2412and 84.The additional eight inputs gives you access to Ch. 25-32.Hope this helps.

Q: 5. Can this be used with a software mixer? Or does it need hardware (eg Allen & Heath Qu-16C Rackmountable Digital Mixer)?

A: The Allen & Heath AB168 Portable AudioRack 16 x 8 Audio Interface Stage Box for GLD and Qu Digital Mixing Systems cannot be used solely with software. The AB168 Portable Audiorack connects to an Allen & Heath mixer over a single Cat5 cable using the company's dSNAKE protocol.

Q: 6. reference guide?

A: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/lit_files/774221.pdf

Q: 7. Can this be used with Zoomgov?

A: Yes

Q: 8. Can I use the tablet to Start/Stop Playback/Recording from USB drive/Sd card or Bluetooth?

A: Yes, you can control start/stop and playback/recording for the Allen & Heath CQ-18T Compact 18-Channel Digital Mixer's USB drive and for the SD card when using the app with an iPad. The controls for playback via Bluetooth are on the mixer.

Q: 9. Does this board have motorized preamps?

A: No, preamps are not motorized, the linear faders are motorized.

Q: 10. Can the Allen and Heath Qu32 mixer use a Cat5 cable to send/receive audio to and from a DAW? Thanks.

A: No. Only USB.