Description

The Allen & Heath Qu-16 is a digital mixer with 22 inputs and 12 outputs. The SuperStrip on each channel offers controls for the preamp, high-pass filter, parametric EQ, GEQ, gate, compressor, and Pan. 4 effects processors can be configured as inserts or sends from the channel or mix bus. The motorized faders operate on 3 layers to control channel volumes, output mixes, effects sends and returns, or monitor mixes with the custom option. The Qu-16 integrates a 24In/22Out USB audio interface, multitrack audio recording to USB mass storage devices, and preset and scene saving and recall functions. Remote control via the QU-Pad app (iOS) is also available.

Capture every detail with Allen & Heath Qu-16

Allen & Heath Qu-16 has been designed from the ground up to deliver professional sound quality from input to output. The Allen & Heath Qu-16 mixer features sixteen digitally controlled AnalogiQ preamps. The AnalogiQ preamp design has been perfected to offer transparency and minimal distortion, with extremely low background noise. All while maintaining a warm, musical sound that some digital consoles unfortunately lack. Input signal conversion occurs at 24-bit with high-end, low-latency converters. The same applies to digital-to-analog conversion to ensure the same output quality.

High-level effects and signal processors

The RackFX dynamics processors and FX algorithms of the Allen & Heath Qu series are derived from the iLive series. Some of the most renowned sound engineers have chosen to use RackFX during their tours for convenience and quality, preferring the onboard effects to external plug-ins or effects racks. The Allen & Heath Qu-16 boasts 4 stereo RackFX engines, carefully crafted emulations of legendary classic reverbs, gated reverbs, delays, modulators, flangers, and much more. The effects are returned to the mix on dedicated return channels; therefore, they do not occupy mono or stereo input channels, and each stereo FX return has a dedicated 4-band parametric EQ.

Channel strip

On the front panel, there are 16 faders for the mixer channels and 1 fader for the Master channel, all motorized. In the channel strip for channels 1 to 16, we find the fader and two buttons that allow us to choose between 3 function layers.

• Pressing the bottom button, our faders will correspond to the volume controls of the incoming mono channels.


• Pressing the top button, we will have access to the 3 stereo channels, effects returns and sends, and Master Mix.


• Pressing both simultaneously accesses the user-customizable layer, where we can assign the most useful function to our workflow to the faders.

Even further up, we have 3 LEDs that indicate signal presence, 0dB level, and Pk (peak) level, respectively, which warns us when we are 3dB from clipping.

Above that, we find the command to select Pre-Fader or After-Fader Level, to arm a channel, thus deciding which channel to modify parameters and effects on, while with the 'Sel' + 'Assign' combination, we can assign the channel to the desired mix, and finally, the Mute button. The Master fader by default controls the Main mix L/R, FX1, FX2, and the Mono Mix and Stereo Mix.

Main control layout ‘SuperStrip’

For greater ease of use, at the top of the mixer, we find the SuperStrip, where preamp, high-pass filter, parametric equalizer, gate, compressor, GEQ, and pan controls are grouped. To use them, we just need to select the channel we want to work on using the dedicated button found in its channel strip.

Touch Screen

The 5-inch touchscreen has an 800x480 pixel definition and provides quick access to all live mixing functions and configuration, memory management, and saving functions. The screen is essential for channel routing and patching effects.

Effects configuration

The Allen & Heath Qu-16 has 4 internal stereo effects processors. These are effects found in the flagship Allen & Heath iLive digital mixing system and are based on emulations of popular effects that have become industry standards over time. We can access signal path settings directly from the effect itself by opening the 'back panel' submenu. From here, we can open an additional drop-down menu to select the signal flow of our effects.

Mix>Return - Known as a “system effect”.

It uses a bus to send a mix of channels to an effect and a dedicated stereo FX Return channel to add the "wet" effect to the original "dry" sound. This is used for effects like reverb and delay. Choose which mix bus to use as input; for the Allen & Heath Qu-16, the dedicated buses for this are FX1 and FX2. If you want to use FX3 or FX4 as another system effect, you can patch the effect to an input of Mix1-10 buses.

Ch>Return – Similar to Mix>Return

System effect, but in this case, it is fed by a channel instead of a mix of channels. It uses the assigned Direct Output as the source. Examples include a delay on a vocal channel, a gated reverb on a snare drum, or chorus added to a guitar.

Insert – Here the effect is patched in-line with an input channel or master mix. It is inserted using the channel's Insert control. Effects applied with inserts have a Dry/Wet control to balance the effect with the original signal.

DCA Groups

The Allen & Heath Qu-16 allows us to create DCA groups to control multiple faders simultaneously. These groups can be muted, and the command to do so can be mapped to the 4 soft keys found on the main panel, in the section below the headphone input. It's also possible to access group masters from the home screen, which can be useful for assigning a mute or a DCA group to effect returns, providing a quick way to mute or reduce effects between songs.

Input and Output

The Allen & Heath Qu-16 has 16 inputs for line-level signals on ¼” TRS connectors or for microphone signals on XLR connectors, 2 stereo inputs on 4 ¼” TRS connectors, 1 stereo line input on a 3.5mm mini-jack connector, and an XLR input for Talkback. Regarding outputs, we have 10 mix outs on XLR connectors, 2 Main mix L/R XLR outputs, Alt outs on ¼” TRS connectors, 2TRK outs also on ¼” TRS connectors, an XLR for AES out, a dSNAKE port, a USB Type-B port for DAW connection, and an RJ45 network port.

Recording without a computer

The Allen & Heath Qu-16 features an integrated multitrack recorder, providing 18 channels of 48 kHz, 24-bit recording and playback directly to USB mass storage devices, facilitating the recording of shows or studio performances. A selectable stereo pair can be recorded along with the 16 mono channels, and multitrack audio can be played back on the 16 mono inputs plus ST1. In addition, Qu-Drive also provides stereo recording, patchable from any pair of Mix outputs, Main LR (pre, post, or summed to mono) or even the PAFL bus, with 2-track stereo playback to ST3.

AMM: Automatic Mic Mixer

AMM is highly functional in applications such as conferences and meetings where multiple microphones are open simultaneously. AMM works by reducing background noise, minimizing the risk of feedback, and maintaining all sound sources at the same level, ensuring that each speaker's contribution is heard clearly, thanks also to the D-Classic gain algorithm, inspired by industry-standard automixers.

Remote control app

The Allen & Heath Qu-16 is designed to seamlessly integrate with the full-featured Qu-Pad app, providing quick and easy access to all settings, including channel processing, meters and RTA, FX rack, scene management, USB audio control, menu configuration, and much more.

Musician-customizable monitor listening with the Qu-You app

Qu-You is an Allen & Heath app designed for musicians, allowing up to seven artists to control their monitor mixes via WiFi using an iPhone®, iPad®, iPod Touch®, or an Android device.

USB audio streaming and MIDI control

Want to live stream? Easy. Just send a stereo mix via USB, and your streaming software will do the rest. The Allen & Heath Qu-16 can be used as a multitrack interface with 16 audio inputs, Main Mix L/R output, and 3 stereo mix outs. The device will be recognized by all computers with ASIO drivers and the most commonly used DAWs, including Logic, Cubase, Reaper, and Pro Tools. Standard MIDI control is sent via USB connections and the network port, allowing us to map DAW faders using the Allen & Heath MIDI Control app, which provides easy setup and emulation of HUI or Mackie Control protocols.

Three-level security lock

For control security locking, three user profiles are available:

Admin - has access to everything. Can configure the mixer and set user permissions and passwords.

Standard - Can control the live mix but is cut off from system and configuration functions.

Basic - Can only control faders and mutes and may be excluded from some channels or limited only to the custom fader level.

Passwords can be set for each of these three users, which are required for access and surface locking. The Qu-Pad app follows the same user permissions. The administrator can set a separate password for Qu-You and Qu-Control users. Standard and Basic users can also be restricted to using selected scenes.

Robust and quiet

Made of cold-rolled 18-gauge Zintec steel, the Allen & Heath Qu-16 chassis has been designed and tested to ensure strength and durability. Silence is a precious commodity in both live and studio environments, and no one wants it ruined by hum from cooling fans. With this in mind, Allen & Heath designed a series of mixers capable of optimal air circulation without the need for fans.

Key Features of Allen & Heath Qu-16

• 4 stereo effects returns and 4 effects engines


• 4 customizable soft keys with user-assignable functions


• 5" 800x480 16-million color touchscreen


• On all inputs: trim, polarity, HPF, gate, insert, 4-band parametric EQ, compressor, and delay


• On all outputs: insert, 1/3 octave graphic equalizer, compressor, and delay on Main LR and Mono Mix output


• On all stereo outputs: Insert, 4-band parametric EQ, compressor, and delay


• Preamps: AnalogiQ 24-bit high-end with very low latency, ensuring extremely low distortion


• 4 stereo effects engines, effects bank derived from iLive professional effects


• Qu-Drive: 18-track and stereo track recording and playback directly from USB stick or external hard drive


• 24x22 USB audio interface: up to 24 selectable tracks can be streamed to a PC or Mac. PC or Mac returns can be assigned to input channels.


• Plug & play on Mac drivers, MDM and ASIO for Windows


• MIDI controller for computer music software via USB interface


• Audio offset for dSnake remote control via Cat5e cable for connection to an AB168, AR2412, or AR84 audiorack


• Compatible with the ME personal monitoring system: connection via the console's dSnake port or an AR2412 audiorack


• Qu-Pad application: remote control with iPad via Wi-Fi (Wi-Fi router not included)


• Qu-You application: personal monitoring controlled via iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, and Android.


• Qu-Control app: user-customizable wireless control interface on iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch

Technical Specifications of Allen & Heath Qu-16

Mic/Line Inputs: balanced, XLR and 1/4" TRS

Input Sensitivity: XLR -60 to +5dBu / TRS -50 to +15dBu

Analog Gain: -5 to +60dB, 1dB steps

Maximum Input Level: XLR +19dB / TRS +29dB

Input Impedance: XLR >5kΩ / TRS >10 kΩ

THD+N, Unity gain 0dB: 0.0005% -89dBu (20-20kHz, Direct Out @0dBu 1kHz)

THD+N, Mid gain +30dB: 0.001% -83dBu (20-20kHz, Direct Out @0dBu 1kHz)

Stereo Line Inputs

ST1, ST2 Connectors: 1/4" balanced TRS jacks, half-normalled

ST3 Connector: 3.5mm unbalanced stereo mini-jack

Input Sensitivity

ST1, ST2: +4dBu

ST3: 0dBu

Trim: +/- 24dBu

Maximum Input Level:

ST1, ST2: +22dBu

ST3: +18dBu

Input Impedance: >7kΩ

Mix1-10 and L/R Out

Connectors: XLR balanced

Output Impedance: <75Ω

Nominal Output: +4dBu = 0dB meter reading

Maximum Output Level: +22dBu

Residual Output Noise: -90dBu (muted, 20-20kHz)

Stereo Alt Out & 2Trk Out

Connectors: TRS ¼’ balanced jack

Source (Alt Output/2Trk Output): Patchable / L/R post-fade

Output Impedance: <75Ω

Nominal Output: +4dBu = 0dB meter reading

Maximum Output Level: +22dBu

Residual Output Noise: -90dBu (muted, 20-20kHz)

AES digital output: 2 channels, 48kHz sample rate, XLR, 2.5 Vpp balanced, 110 Ω terminated

dSNAKE

Inputs: remote source for CH 1-32, ST1, ST2, ST3

Outputs: patchable from Mix1-10, L/R, Grp1-8, MTX1-4

Compatible with AudioRacks AR2412, AR84, AB168

Compatible with ME mixing system

System: XLR balanced measured at XLR output, 0dB gain, 0dBu input

Dynamic Range: 112dB

Frequency Response: +0/-0.5dB 20Hz to 20kHz

Headroom: +18dBu

Internal Operating Level: 0dBu

dBFS Alignment: +18dBu = 0dBFS (+22dBu at XLR output)

Meter Calibration: 0dB meter = -18dBFS (+4dBu at XLR out)

Peak Meter Indications: -3dBFS (+19dBu at XLR out)

Signal Meter Indications: -48dBFS (-26dBu at XLR out)

Meter Type: Fast response (peak)

Sampling Rate: 48kHz +/-100PPM

ADC, DAC: 24-bit Delta-Sigma

Latency: 1.2 ms (XLR in to XLR out)

                    0.7 ms (XLR in to AES out)

Temperature Range: 0 degrees Celsius to 35 degrees Celsius

Power Supply: 100-240V AC, 50/60Hz

Input Processing

Source

CH1-32: local, dSNAKE or USB

ST1,ST2: local, dSNAKE or USB

ST3: local, dSNAKE or USB

USB Source: Qu-Drive or USB B Streaming

Stereo Link: odd/even input pairs

Link Options: preamp, polarity, sidechain, fader/mute, pan

Polarity: normal/inverted

High-Pass Filter: 12dB/octave 20Hz-20kHz

Insert: Assign FX1-4 to input channels

Delay: up to 85ms

Gate: sidechain/standalone

              Threshold / Depth  -72dBu to +18dBu / 0 to 60dB

              Attack / Hold / Release 50us to 300ms / 10ms to 5s / 10ms to 1s

PEQ: 4 fully parametric bands, 20-20kHz, +/-15dB

            Band 1: LF Shelving (Baxandall), bell

            Bands 2/3: bell

            Band 4: HF Shelving (Baxandall), bell

            Bandwidth: Q non-constant, variable from 1.5 to 1/9 octave

Compressor: sidechain/standalone

             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 option)

Source Selection (global): Post-Preamp, Pre-Eq, Post-Delay

Insert: Assign FX to Mix channels

Delay: up to 170ms

GEQ: Constant 1/3 octave, 28 bands 31Hz-16kHz, Gain +/- 12 dB

PEQ: 4 PARAMETRIC BANDS, 20Hz-20kHz, +/-15dB

            Band 1: LF Shelving (Baxandall), bell

            Bands 2/3: bell

            Band 4: HF Shelving (Baxandall), bell

            Bell Bandwidth: Q non-constant, variable from 1.5 to 1/9 octave

Compressor: sidechain/standalone

                                 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

FX

Internal Effects: 4 x RackFX engine, Send>Return or Insert

Audio Tools

Types: reverb, delay, gated reverb, ADT

                      Chorus, symphonic chorus, phaser, flanger

4 dedicated stereo returns: fader, pan, mute, routing to mix/LR, 4-band PEQ

PAFL: PFL or stereo in-place AFL, 0 to -24dB Trim, 85ms delay

Talkback: assignable to any mix, 12dB/octave HPF

Signal Generator: assignable to any mix, sine wave/pink noise/white noise/band-pass noise

RTA: 31 bands 1/3 octave 20-20kHz, PAFL source

USB Audio

Qu-Drive: USB A

Stereo Recording: 2 channels, WAV 48kHz, 24-bit, patchable

Stereo Playback: 2 channels, WAV, 44.1 or 48kHz, 16 or 24-bit, or to ST3

Multitrack Recording: 18 channels, WAV, 48kHz, 24-bit

Multitrack Playback: 18 channels, WAV, 48kHz, 24-bit

USB Audio Streaming: USB B, Core Audio compliant

Sends (upstream): 24 channels, WAV, 48kHz, 24-bit

Returns (downstream): 22 channels, WAV, 48kHz, 24-bit

Controls

Faders: 100mm, motorized

Touch Screen: 5" TFT, 800x480 resolution

Soft Keys: 4

Mute Groups: 4

DCA Groups: 4

Network: TCP/IP Ethernet for MIDI and iPad app

Weight and Dimensions

Mixer: 440x500x186mm

Rack-mounted: 483x472x190mm

Shipping Package Dimensions: 610x680x350mm

Mixer Weight: 10KG

Shipping Package Weight: 13.5KG