Hi Allen & Heath team,
I’d like to propose a feature that would significantly expand the automation and safety capabilities of the QU/SQ series (and potentially other A&H consoles):
Request:
Please add a way to subscribe to real‑time audio levels (meters) of channels, busses, … via MIDI or a similar external protocol.
Why this would be extremely valuable
Currently, MIDI provides access to fader positions, mutes, and other control parameters — but not the actual audio levels. Having access to real‑time meter data would unlock a wide range of automation and safety features for integrators, broadcast setups, installations, and event workflows.
Example use cases
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Advanced automation: Companion, control surfaces, broadcast systems, or custom integrations could react dynamically to actual audio activity—not just fader positions. For example, microphones could be automatically disabled when active outside their predefined time slot in the event queue.
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Automatic safety muting:
If a channel suddenly produces audio outside a defined range (e.g., unexpected noise, feedback, or silence), an external controller could automatically mute it or trigger alerts. -
Event supervision:
During unattended or semi‑attended events, an external system could continuously monitor all inputs and outputs to ensure everything stays within expected levels.
A simple subscription model would be enough, for example:
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MIDI NRPN or SysEx stream with periodic meter updates
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Or a lightweight TCP/UDP protocol
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Or an extension of the existing MIDI “Get” system to allow continuous updates
Even low‑frequency updates would already be extremely useful.
Why this matters
The QU/SQ ecosystem is powerful, but the lack of accessible meter data limits what integrators and automation systems can do. Adding this feature would dramatically expand the console’s usefulness in modern automated workflows — without affecting existing functionality.
Thanks for considering this request!
Gruß Alex