Allen & Heath QU-16 Digital Mixer

Allen & Heath have gained quite a reputation when it comes to digital mixing with iLive and GLD systems. Live audio engineers have now also realised that they cannot ignore digital technology, and therefore Allen & Heath have extended their product line with this compact 16-channel mixer, which will make its mark in live environments as well as the studio. The QU-16 will be combating other compact, digital live mixers in this price range, while enjoying the advantages of motor faders, a dSnake connector and the built-in iLive FX library!

Total recall with the QU-16!
This small powerhouse features total recall of settings, including 17 motor faders and the digital AnaLOGIQ preamps. The new digital studio/live mixer is equipped with 16 mono inputs (line as well as XLR). Using the SuperStrip, you can adjust each channel’s gain, high-pass filter, parametric EQ and pan, as well as the gate and threshold of the compressor. The high-resolution touch screen provides you with access to more extensive settings per channel, including routing options, effects settings and setup/system settings. Allen & Heath’s QU-16 features the QU-Drive USB interface, which allows you to stream a stereo signal (if you’re using a Mac computer, you can even stream multiple channels) or create two-track WAV recordings and store these directly on a USB drive. It’s also used to transmit system information, like scene and library files, and the updating of firmware. Like every self-respecting digital mixer, the QU-16 can be remotely controlled via the free Qu-Pad iPad app.

dSnake and ME Personal Mixing System
The Allen & Heath QU-16 is based on the much larger and more extensive GLD-80, and therefore also uses the dSNAKE protocol. You can connect expansion racks via an Ethernet cable, and operate personal monitoring systems like the ME system by Allen & Heath. This system consists of ME-1 Personal Mixers and a 10-way Monitor Hub, which allows every musician or band member to adjust their own monitor mix. The signals are transferred via a single Cat 5 cable, ensuring a low-latency audio connection – no more messing about with jumbles of interference-sensitive cables.