There’s always little differences I come up with, but can’t actually recognize what specifically it is. I just grabbed my MacBook Pro and went to work on the USB, not thinking it would be an issue.
I’ll give it a go with Windows reformat and report back. It’s certainly a possible reason why it’s not working right.
I had to format my USB stick with Linux because it didn’t work with Windows…
Would make sense, considering the A&H console OSes are allegedly based on a Linux build of some variant.
In the image below, in addition to the song I downloaded for test, there are four versions of the same old WAV file converted with different bit depths and sample rates.
The original WAV file downloaded from a CD time ago, with Windows (44.1K / 16 bit / stereo), although it worked perfectly on my old QU32, is not visible to QU5!
After the convertions of the original WAV file (I used Cubase pro 14) there are no more problems, as you can see in the image. Even the reconverted WAV to 44.1K / 16 bit works!!!
This means that the WAV format of the original file is no longer accepted by QU5 (I need to better understand what the difference would be between the original and the converted versions).
CONCLUSIONS…
The current QU Drive has essentially three problems:
Thanks, this would help pinpoint my problem. It seems to narrow down to possibly being the first format that I’ve done with Mac as the culprit.
The mixer seems to be looking for very specific file structure, and mine doesn’t have it at this time.
Despite this, I still love the Qu-5. It’s been running flawless. And I really like having physical mixer controls again, having used a rack mixer and web based control for the past 10 or so years.
Mine was formatted with Windows, I use these sticks
I had no problems with the audiofiles above (and any others until now).
My Qu-5 has the actual firmware
It seems that only some files ripped from CDs are having problems with QU5. My WAV files that didn’t work with QU5 (but work with my old QU32) had been copied from a CD years ago, using Windows.
I opened yesterday a ticket with Allen & Heath, and they just replied: “… This is likely a metadata related issue, which can be caused by various CD ripping software …”
As I already wrote, just need to open these files with Cubase (in my case) and save (export) them again to repair the metadata.
Hope will be useful to someone…
PS: “Allen & Heath Qu-Drive does not embed significant metadata into its recorded WAV files other than the standard BWF (Broadcast Wave Format) header, […], that includes information like the original source of the audio”.
I just had shared that one folder of an album. I’m not certain of the original media for that. All of my own album folders are ones I purchased as MP3 digital.
I still have to redo the USB format with Windows and the mixer. Also I’m to check the mixer firmware. Other things in life called for attention to delay this. I’ll be able to get both checked off by tomorrow evening.
Thanks to everyone for verifying things. I’m betting it’s the Mac format, but will wait and see.
OK, Windows format didn’t help mine. I’ll try the 32 GB, as this other USB was maybe too large.
I did get my Mac Mini M2 to send Apple Music playing into the Qu-5 USB channel though.
Noted my Qu-5 firmware, image below. 1.1 r3712.
So you have the latest firmware, which the other Two used to play your file.
Puzzle upon puzzle…
Please try the following:
I hope for a happy ending!
Sorry folks for having gone silent for a bit. I was/am dealing with some health issues, like going through back physical therapy. I’ve not yet got to the bottom of that playback issue with my files, I’m seriously just looking to bypass it and get an MP3 player that I’ll plug into a stereo pair of input XLRs on the mixer. I found a few players with line out connections, instead of relying on the headphone jack. I’ve got the room there to do this as my connections are 99% on the AB168 stage box.
Mixer is working excellent other than this one thing. No regrets on going with the Qu-5.
I have no idea if the following is of any help to you but here goes: I’ve had some trouble with a USB-stick that normally functions flawlessly after it had been in an M-series Mac. The trick for me was to erase if entirely, format it in My Qu-SB (again) and then use an Intel-based Mac for whatever I needed to do with the stick. (I don’t recall precisely what it was, might have been a firmware update)
Giga
Understood. I’ve tried 2 almost identical SanDisk USB drives, one a 32 GB and the other a 64 GB. Computer format which erases all data, then use my Qu-5 to format as well. Then add audio files, but they’re not Qu-5 generated recordings. Others can listen but I cannot with same files.
I don’t recall what the current Qu-5 firmware is. I have not yet updated the Mac Mini M2 to this new big update to Tahoe after Sonoma. Intentional delay on my part.
Anyway, thanks for the suggestion.
Was there ever concrete resolution on this issue for you? As someone who has had to write .WAV importers and exporters before, I’m more than familiar with the fact that the “standard” is a little loose and open to interpretation which can lead to incompatibility for devices that have a particularly strict interpretation of the file format.
If this is still an issue and I have some spare time, I can look into the differences between one of the .WAV files you have hosted and what the Qu records natively (I only have a CQ series device, but I’ll bet the use the same underlying code for this function.) My .WAV reader is littered with workarounds for some of the oddball files people have sent my way, and it’s also possible that even simple things like extra metadata can trip up a reader that isn’t expecting them.
For myself, I created an “MP3” stereo linked input from my empty input channels. I got an external MP3 player with line output. The connection cable is 2 XLR L/R into a stereo 3.5.
I route this stereo MP3 channels to my various mixes just like any other input. For the FOH LR I typically use the routing page to toggle it off, just sending to the other mixes.
If you read the entire long thread, you’ll see that, for example, the file “05 In The Garden.wav,” which @DeltaWhiskeyBravo14 couldn’t find or play, played without any problems on my SQ and also played on a QU-5 for users @tims and @wavestyle.
Therefore, I still assume it’s not a file problem, but rather user error.
Unfortunately, @DeltaWhiskeyBravo14 apparently never followed the recommended procedure to narrow down the problem:
I am appreciative of the directions to attempt to resolve that. I just got tired of formatting files, etc. I took a shortcut and bought an external MP3 player. Then I could move on to more fun tasks like tuning and routing my effects for Livestream. And now it’s sounding nicer. Another story for another thread…
