CQ18T not sending input audio to DAW/DAW not registering audio of inputs

[LintonC]

I just bought a CQ18T and am having issues with my DAW not registering/hearing the inputs.

I’m on MacOS Sonoma 14.8.1 (M1 Pro chip) using Ableton 12.3.2 and have upgraded the firmware of the CQ18T from V1.2.1 to the latest V1.2.2. I also tried doing a factory reset, but it didn’t help.

All inputs are in Analogue mode as the input source (also switched to USB/SD with no success). I’ve activated 48V phantom power for my condenser mic on input 9 and have a Roland drum kit on stereo pair input 11 & 12 and a zoom recorder on stereo pair input 13 & 14. I have set gain and levels appropriately and in this mode I can see the meters being triggered for each track on the CQ18T touchscreen and can also hear the audio coming out of my monitor speakers running XLR out of Main LR 23/24 when I test each input source. So each source “works”, the cables for each source input work and the USB cable works. In order for me to get any audio playback from my laptop through the CQ18T and into my monitors (-ie- audio playing apps and youtube) I set inputs 1/2 as stereo link and have input source set to USB/SD. It doesn’t work however when I set ST IN 17/18 to USB/SD.

I have tried changing each input source to USB/SD and don’t get anything registering on the CQ18T meters or coming through my monitors. I have also tried all of this with inputs 1-8 (both input source modes) and still no solution.

I have selected the CQ18T as the audio input device and the audio output device within Ableton and routed the Main Out of the Master in Ableton to 17/18 on the CQ18T (set to USB/SD as the input). In the Config section under the USB/SD settings of the CQ18T the sample rate is set to 48khz (same as Ableton) and the source point is Post Preamp and stream mode is in Multitrack mode. I have activated all channels within the input config and output config section of Ableton’s Audio settings. I have selected and routed each input to a separate track in ableton and armed each track and have tried both “In” and “Auto” as the monitor mode of each track receiving input from the CQ18T.

Separately, I can hear audio through my monitors and see each track’s meter registering audio when I play back samples through each audio track that has a CQ18T input routed to it within Abelton. Also, I have opened other projects and when I press play in Ableton I can hear audio through my monitors. So Ableton is sending audio through the USB B cable to the CQ18T and it is coming out of the Main LR and into my studio monitors. I have also tried different USB B cables, but the same problem persists regarding inputs not being able to be registered and recorded through Ableton.

I’ve read the manual, read through the forums and every relevant post with the same problem on Allen & Heath website relating to the CQ and watched videos on youtube…but nothing has worked yet…kind of at my whits end with it and wondering if there’s something I’m missing or if it might be a faulty unit?!?

I notice that there are a number of similar threads here that don’t seem to have any answers/satisfactory answers…

USB Out not working on CQ-18T

I have a CQ-18T connected to my PC via USB. I have it configured for stereo stream mode at 48 khz. I’ve tried various Source Points. When I play something from the computer, I can see the levels on the USB input and hear it on the PA which I have connected to Aux 5-6. I have microphones set to output to LR Mains at unity. When I talk in the mics, I can see the levels on LR Mains and hear it on the PA. However, no audio appears on the mic input on the PC. I have tried audacity and zoom and…

Channel I/O Routing Abelton Live

Just got my CQ-12T yesterday and having trouble understanding the two-way USB-B communication from the mixer to Abelton. I have (2) connected XLR mics in inputs 7 & 8 and I have a 1/4 TRS coming out of input 6 for a guitar. On the mixer I have the USB/SD option enabled, with source point as Post Preamp, Sample Rate 96 (Same in Abelton) Stream Mode Multitrack. On the inputs tab of the mixer I have the inputs for 6,7,8 set to USB as the input source. The output tab, the XLR mains run to my studio …

Cheers for any help

[frenchie]

Under system setting/ audio, did you select de CQ18T as the device for input and output ?

[daver2]

Are you absolutely sure you have followed the steps exactly as specified in the A&H CQ User Guide under the heading Send Audio from the CQ to a DAW?

Dave

[LintonC]

Yes, as mentioned in my post above, I have done that…both within mac system settings for sound and within the DAWs audio settings as an input and output. Thankyou for your reply.

[LintonC]

100%, I have gone through these steps multiple times. Thankyou for your reply.

[LintonC]

Well, turns out it was something little that I was missing and literally the last thing that I thought of. Having mostly used older MacOS’s (deliberately not upgrading due to older music gear no longer having updated drivers supported) I forgot about having to go into System Settings → Privacy & Security and then having to manually enable Ableton to receive microphone inputs…after I did that the problem was solved.

[daver2]

Glad you got it working.

Dave