The chrome edition of the Allen & Heath Qu-16C Rackmountable Digital Mixer Chromeis 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.

Chrome Knobs & Faders + Updated Firmware    Touchscreen Interface    16 Mic/Line Inputs and 3x Stereo Inputs    Motorized 100mm Faders    Recallable Preamps    USB Audio Interface    Record/Playback with USB Drives    iPad Qu-Pad Control App    16 Buses and 4 Stereo FX Returns    Built-In Processing and Effects

• 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. How long is the cord?

A: The manufacturer has not provided any specifications for the length of the power cord that is included with the Allen & Heath AR2412 24x12 Main Remote Stage Rack. We estimate that it is approximately 3- to 6-feet long. If you were referring to CAT5 cable, the maximum length that can be used is 328 feet.

Q: 2. I have the Zoom L-8. Connected to my computer via USB; cell phone connected to L-8's 1/8" TRRS jack using the supplied cable. The manual says the caller will hear the master mix, but the caller is not hearing the master mix; they're hearing me (via mic plugged into one of the six mic/line inputs) but NOT the audio coming from my computer (YouTube playback for testing). I'm hearing it on my headphones (master mix) but the caller is not hearing the full master mix. Is there something I'm doing wrong, or is the manual incorrect? (It says you can't use the Line In for channel 7 when using phone, but says nothing about USB in--and I CAN hear the USB in in the master mix). Thanks.

A: The audio also needs to be connected to the L8 in one of the mic inputs which are audio line inputs if no mic is being utilize. if you have the caller connected to line 7/8 mini jack dont connect nothing there only phone. its best to have a second device playing the audio connected to the L8

Q: 3. Does this recorder work with OBS for live streaming?

A: Because the Zoom LiveTrak L-8 Portable 8-Channel Digital Mixer and Multitrack Recorder can act as an audio interface into the computer over USB, it could indeed serve as an audio source within OBS in livestreaming applications.

Q: 4. Does this unit require any top or bottom ventilation when rack mounted?

A: No, the Allen & Heath DX168 Portable DX Expander does not require any top or bottom ventilation when it is rack mounted. The fans and ventilation ports for the DX168 are on the sides.

Q: 5. Is there a click track?

A: Yes it has a built in metronome. You can activate it and alter it via the instructions on page 51 - 55 of the manual. https://www.zoom-na.com/sites/default/files/products/downloads/pdfs/E_L-20_OperationManual.pdf

Q: 6. Is this mixer good for video live production to bring the audio to my switcher?

A: Yes, that would be a use for this mixer.

Q: 7. Can I use 6 individual in ear monitors directly from output 1 to 6 without a earphone amplifier (like the behringer powerplay)?

A: It is not recommended to connect in-ear monitors or headphones directly to a line output, like those on the Allen & Heath CQ-20B Ultracompact 20-Channel Digital Mixer, without the use of a headphone amplifier. While it will play audio, if you plug the headphones into the CQ-20B line outputs, you may experience issues with noise and distortion due to an impedance mismatch.

Q: 8. Does this board have motorized preamps?

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

Q: 9. Can you link two of the mono tracks in the setup to have additional stereo inputs from the 2 that are on the L20?

A: Yes, you can use any of the individual mono input channels to connect instruments, mics or other devices in order to create a stereo input. For example, if you are using a stereo microphone or connecting a keyboard that has two separate outputs for left and right, you can certainly connect each output to a different individual mono input on the L-20.

Q: 10. How good are the mic preamps?

A: They are as good or better than Mackie's mic pre's and that certainly is a good thing. Soundcraft is a quality product with an excellent reputation for providing quality and value and reliability at every price point. This mixer is no exception. Depending upon your application, this might be a great choice for you.