Allen & Heath QU-32C

Allen & Heath QU-32 - Digital Mixing Reshaped!

In a new, fully equipped Chrome Edition, the Qu-32 reimagines digital mixing, pairing innovative design with exceptional functionality to deliver an outstanding, professional mixing experience. Equipped with all the features you'd expect from a top-tier digital console and leveraging the technology of the GLD and iLive digital systems, the Qu-32 has the power and pedigree to deliver first-class audio performance.

Features of the QU series include multitrack recording direct to USB, Automatic Mic Mixing, ProFactory mic presets and a growing ecosystem of apps, accessories and remote I/O.

Whether you're switching from analog gear or upgrading your digital desk, it's time to experience the new digital era with the Qu-32!

QU Ecosystem

The QU offers far more than a typical mixer. It provides a complete ecosystem with remote AudioRacks that allow I/O to be placed wherever it's needed. ME Personal Mixers expand monitor mixes and enable fast, local control that saves time; Qu apps offer full remote setup and wireless mixing onstage or elsewhere; ProFactory mic presets speed up setup and ensure the best sound; plus USB recording and DAW integration deliver powerful workflow optimization from one central device.

AnalogiQ TM Preamps

The Qu-32 features 32 digitally controlled AnalogiQ TM preamps with advanced zero-crossing detection and a padless 1 dB-step gain control tightly integrated with the DSP to achieve optimal gain accuracy and audio transparency. The analogue signal is captured by high-quality 24-bit A/D converters with low latency and reproduced by 24-bit D/A converters to deliver the high fidelity required. The AnalogiQ TM preamp design has been refined to offer exceptional transparency, minimal distortion and an extremely low noise floor with a warm, musical tone that some digital consoles lack.

The Mixing Experience

Massive processing power and advanced features mean nothing if you can't get immediate access to the controls you need. The true-color touchscreen with 800 x 480 pixels and the accompanying encoder form the heart of the Qu-32 interface and provide ultra-fast access to all settings and parameters. Dedicated buttons and screen tabs take you quickly to meter and RTA views, FX racks, channel editing, USB audio control, scenes, setup menus and more. The touchscreen is complemented by the SuperStrip — a row of single-function controls for instant access to gain, HPF, 4-band PEQ, gate, compressor, GEQ and pan. The screen overview also follows the control that is currently being adjusted.

One Channel - One Fader

The Qu-32 provides one physical fader per mono input channel plus a couple of fader layers for a simpler, faster workflow. Some digital mixers don't offer dedicated physical faders for the actual inputs, meaning you must switch to an additional fader layer to control those channels — which can be confusing and time-consuming. Because every mic input has its own fader for quick, straightforward control, the Qu-32 is the ideal mixer for first-time analog-to-digital conversions and for users who don't want to juggle multiple fader layers.

Digital Memory

True digital mixing means saving and recalling scenes or snapshots at the press of a button. The Qu can store up to 100 complete scenes for recall to protect channels or mixes from being overwritten. The Qu-32 also features 33 motorized ALPS faders — 32 of them provide instant access to all input channels and masters across 2 layers; the remaining fader is the dedicated master and follows the selected mix dynamically. A third user-customizable layer is available for the ad-hoc strip layout and can be assigned any combination of inputs, FX sends, FX returns, DCAs and mix masters.

Rack FX

The Qu-32's dynamics and FX algorithms are derived from those used in Allen & Heath's pro touring consoles. Some of the world's most respected engineers have chosen RackFX on tour instead of top-end plug-ins and external FX units. The Qu-32 offers 4 stereo RackFX engines with lovingly crafted emulations, from legendary classic reverbs and gated reverbs to delays, modulators, flangers and more. Effects are returned to the mix on dedicated return channels so you don't need to bind your mono and stereo input channels. Each stereo FX return includes a dedicated 4-band PEQ.

Groups

The Qu-32 provides 4 stereo groups that can be used as subgroups for the LR main mix to group and process signals — for example, compress a full drum kit or tame multiple lavalier mics with a single graphic EQ. Groups can also be switched into Mix mode to provide additional outputs for monitor mixes.

The Matrix

The Qu-32 adds 2 further stereo matrix outputs, each fully processed and integrated into the console's extensive I/O. A matrix is a "mixer within a mixer" fed from any combination of Group 1-4, Mix 1-10 and Main LR. It can be used to create a broadcast feed, a recording mix, or main outputs for delay stacks, fill or zone speakers where independent GEQ and delay are required.

The Qu-Drive

The Qu-32 features an integrated multitrack USB recorder that provides 18-channel, 48 kHz/24-bit recording and playback directly to and from your USB stick or hard drive. Multitrack recording has never been this simple. A selectable stereo pair can be recorded alongside the 16 mono channels and multitrack audio can be played back to the 16 mono inputs plus ST1. In addition, Qu-Drive also offers a stereo recording that can be patched from any mix output — from Main LR (pre, post or summed-to-mono) or even from the PAFL bus — and 2-track stereo playback to ST3.

Automatic Microphone Mixer (AMM)

AMM is essential for applications such as conferences, meetings and panel discussions where multiple microphones are open simultaneously. The automatic microphone mixer reduces background noise and minimizes the risk of feedback. It helps the engineer control the levels of multiple mic inputs and ensures each speaker's contribution is clearly heard. The D-Classic Dynamic Gain Sharing algorithm is inspired by industry-standard automixers. Up to 16 microphone sources can be mixed at once, with each channel featuring a priority setting that determines its "weight" in the system gain.

Mac OS and Windows DAW Integration

The built-in audio interface of the Qu-32 streams up to 32 selectable tracks to your Mac or PC. Returns from the computer can be easily assigned to input channels. The interface is class-compliant on Mac OS X, making it truly plug-and-play and immediately recognized by any DAW that supports Core Audio, including Logic, Cubase, Reaper and Pro Tools. An ASIO- and WDM-compatible driver is available for Windows computers. Standard MIDI control is tunneled over the USB connection, allowing you to map the faders to tracks in your favorite DAW. A driver for DAW control is available to simplify setup and emulate HUI or Mackie Control protocols on Mac OS X and Windows systems.

dSNAKE Remote Audio Racks

The Qu-32 is a self-contained mixer, so you can still use your existing analog cabling if you want. But if you're thinking about converting a copper multicore to a Cat5 digital snake, the Qu-32's built-in dSNAKE port gives you a future-proof link to a remote AB168, AR2412 or AR84 stagebox. dSNAKE is our proprietary network solution with just 105 µs transmission latency over cable runs up to 120 m / 390'. So if you're mixing FOH, you can put your I/O on stage and run a single Cat5 back to the Qu-32 at the mixing position.

ME - Your Personal Mixing System

The Qu-32 is fully compatible with our ME Personal Mixing System. The ME-1 expands available monitor mixes and gives each performer the ability to control their own mix, so the engineer can focus on the audience. Any number of ME-1 personal mixers can be chained via the dSNAKE connection (or via an AR2412 or AB168 stagebox connected to the dSNAKE).

Digital Mixing Redesigned

The distinctive frame of cold-rolled 18-gauge Zintec steel is engineered for strength and rigidity. We've tested it thoroughly — thrown things at it and even run a tank over it — this console simply stands up to everything.

Silence is a precious commodity in live or studio environments, so nobody wants to ruin those moments with noise from the mix position. The Qu's sleek profile encourages optimal airflow through the mixer, eliminating the need for additional fans.

Packed With Everything You Need

The Qu-32 is powered by 5 high-efficiency ARM cores. The ARM cores provide state-of-the-art processing and operate in parallel to deliver comprehensive control, instant operation and lightning-fast response across the dedicated cores that run the touchscreen and surface, USB streaming and Qu-Drive multichannel record/playback, Ethernet control and fader automation. The mixer's DSP farm uses next-generation dual-core DSPs and provides 10 DSP cores, 8 of which are dedicated exclusively to channel and mix processing. The Qu-32 DSP architecture uses different bit depths tailored to specific algorithms. With 48-bit processing for critical EQ functions and a 56-bit accumulator on the mix bus where it really counts, every nuance of the audio can be preserved in the final mix.

Get Ready — The Future Starts Now!