I have a Allen & Heath CQ-12T that is giving me problems on the USB output. The audio sounds crushed when I use USB audio after the ASIO codec is installed and when try to connect it as a USB audio device (not selecting ASIO).
I have done my best to isolate the issue, which has taken me several days on my main production laptop that required restoring the laptop to factory settings several times.
Starting from a clean install. When I connect the CQ-12T to my Alienware M16 R1 via USB and add it as an audio input in vMix, the audio sounds good. I select the only available input option of CQ-12T Line.
When I install the CQ ASIO drivers and try to add the same unit using the same option, the audio is clipped and compressed. At this point, even if I uninstall the ASIO drivers, the audio using this input option always sounds compressed and clipped.
If I add the CQ-12T using the CQ ASIO Driver option it sounds good. So something changed that prevents me from using the CQ-12T as a USB audio device. This option is still useful when connecting to Zoom, MS Teams, and Google Meet. I testing this workflow to isolate away from vMix and the audio is sounds awful when I select CQ-12T Line (ASIO is not available) for video conference services.
I also tested with a CQ-18T and there is no issue adding it on this laptop using the CQ-18T Line option. I’ve changed the USB cables. I also tested on a second laptop (Alienware M17 R4) and I don’t have any issues with the CQ-12T using the CQ-12T Line method.
The difference in the first and second laptops is the first one has Dolby Access. I can’t turn it off. But this doesn’t affect the CQ-18T.
So my theory is that there is something different in the CQ-12T or there is a bug there that only affect it with Dolby Access laptops.
I do have a second CQ-12T that I intend on testing with but I don’t have access to it right away.
Hi there, this may not be related but there is an issue with the CQ-12T not maintaining a solid USB connection with a Mac. This only applies to the CQ-12T (the CQ-18T is fine), the workaround is to downgrade the firmware to 1.2.0, may be worth a go in case there is a related bug in the latest firmware? Obviously make sure you back up your files etc on the CQ-12T first.
I got my second CQ12T back in the studio for testing. It has the older 1.2.0 firmware on it. Unfortunately it has the same issue.
So while it is possible there is an issue with my laptop, because I have factory reset it and it works fine with the CQ-18T, I’m thinking the issue is with the CQ-12T.
Got my CQ-12T delievered today. I am facing the exact same issue. Upgraded it to 1.2.1. In my case, the behaviour is happening when switching Scenes. It crashes the audio on my Mac (I can’t play a Youtube video when it crashes). A reboot of the Mac doesn’t fix it. The CQ-12T must reboot to fix it until next Scene switch. The fix was to downgrade the firmware to 1.2.0. Not a single crash even though switching multiple times between scenes. So, at least, I know it is not hardware related. As a side note, when downgrading the firmware using a USB, the pop up says ‘‘There is a new firmware’’ while it should say something like ""Are you sure you want to downgrade? and blah blah’'. My 2 cents. Other than that, the CQ-12T is the best mixer I’ve ever owned.
Not working
Mac Studio M1 Ultra running Sequoia 15.2
USB B to USB C
CQ-12T Firmware 1.2.1
Each Scene is getting the Mac audio out through USB
Working
Mac Studio M1 Ultra running Sequoia 15.2
USB B to USB C
CQ-12T Firmware 1.2.0
Each Scene is getting the Mac audio out through USB