# Allow multitrack playback / recording simultaneously **URL:** \ **Category:** CQ Feature Suggestions\ **Created:** [19 September 2023 21:08 UTC](https://forums.allen-heath.com/t/allow-multitrack-playback-recording-simultaneously/13646 "2023-09-19T21:08:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![davesharp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a4c791/32.png) [@davesharp](https://forums.allen-heath.com/u/davesharp)\ **Post date:** [15 October 2024 08:04 UTC](https://forums.allen-heath.com/t/allow-multitrack-playback-recording-simultaneously/13646/21 "2024-10-15T08:04:35Z")
Heartily agree… I also acquired a wonderful CQ 18T as an alternative to the L12. I was disappointed to discover that overdubbing is not available within the unit itself without going to Protools. I get that the CQ has amazing features for live work, much better than the L12. 'm not sure what’d be involved in improving the CQ recording side of the unit to make overdubbing “in the box” possible but if it were possible it’d make a lot of folks very happy indeed. ---
**Author:** ![editorman1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e274bd/32.png) [@editorman1](https://forums.allen-heath.com/u/editorman1)\ **Post date:** [23 January 2025 17:13 UTC](https://forums.allen-heath.com/t/allow-multitrack-playback-recording-simultaneously/13646/22 "2025-01-23T17:13:48Z")
I have been looking for the same thing/option. I have the cq18t, records up to 24 tracks at once, but I cant go back in and playback some tracks while recording simultaneously. Any traction or responses that pertains to the A&H, not zoom? ---
**Author:** ![donmartio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a87d85/32.png) [@donmartio](https://forums.allen-heath.com/u/donmartio)\ **Post date:** [16 February 2025 11:17 UTC](https://forums.allen-heath.com/t/allow-multitrack-playback-recording-simultaneously/13646/23 "2025-02-16T11:17:52Z")
I’m really missing this too. This is the one thing i really need if i’m alone in the music cave. Please, everyone, vote for this on the top left. ---
**Author:** ![Guitarman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d9b06d/32.png) [@Guitarman](https://forums.allen-heath.com/u/Guitarman)\ **Post date:** [25 July 2025 18:37 UTC](https://forums.allen-heath.com/t/allow-multitrack-playback-recording-simultaneously/13646/24 "2025-07-25T18:37:08Z")
Any update on this? The more gigs I play with the CQ18T, the more I miss this feature from my Zoom L20. Use case - I often do a multitrack recording of my bands’ gigs. With one band I use 8 tracks, with the other I usually use 12 or 13. I would love to be able to fire up the mixer at home and add some tracks while playing back the recorded tracks. For example, I’m the only guitar player and live with the band cranking, one guitar works fine, but when listening to the recording, when the guitar is playing a solo there is no rhythm track and it sounds empty. I would love to record a rhythm track while playing back the recorded tracks to make the recording sound more full. Or maybe add some backing vox or something like that. And no, I don’t have a DAW set up at home and I don’t really want one. My “DAW” used to be the Zoom L20 but because the CQ18T is so much better as a mixer, I don’t use the Zoom anymore. I don’t need anything fancy like playback from USB while recording to SD, just simple playback on a couple of the SD tracks while recording to another SD channel. Can anyone explain if there is a hardware limitation preventing A&H from adding this to the CQ line or is it just a software thing that they can implement pretty easily? BTW, this request is almost 2 years old and I haven’t seen anyone explain whether it can or can’t be done. If it can, please please please make it happen!! ---
**Author:** ![Santa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@Santa](https://forums.allen-heath.com/u/Santa)\ **Post date:** [18 August 2025 23:26 UTC](https://forums.allen-heath.com/t/allow-multitrack-playback-recording-simultaneously/13646/25 "2025-08-18T23:26:30Z")
Great idea! thank you! ---
**Author:** ![Burpy](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/forums.allen-heath.com/burpy/32/7095_2.png) [@Burpy](https://forums.allen-heath.com/u/Burpy)\ **Post date:** [2 November 2025 14:24 UTC](https://forums.allen-heath.com/t/allow-multitrack-playback-recording-simultaneously/13646/26 "2025-11-02T14:24:58Z")
Overdubbing a stereo recording with the USB is allready possible (i accidently noticed ;-). But obviously this is just 2 in 2 out so not that much data. If implementing this on SD card with multiple channels comes to a hardware/card limitation, than maybe create it in such way too see how many channels in total can be played/recorded with current settings (48/96Khz, type of card). [Previous page](https://forums.allen-heath.com/t/allow-multitrack-playback-recording-simultaneously/13646.md?page=1)