I picked up the QU-16 after it’s firmware has got to the point I was happy with, after a week of usage here’s some suggestions:
-The GEQ should pull up when engaging the button at anytime for whichever buss you’re currently in. So if you’re in your main LR, regardless what channel is currently selected (from 1-16) it should pull up the GEQ. As it is right now, it’s a 2 step process where you have to hit the Select button on the Master fader, then hit the GEQ button.
-QU-Drive record should be selectable for which channels you would like recorded. When recording multitrack, there should be a software switch on the touch panel for each channel as On/Off. It’s just strange you have to record all 18 channels regardless of active inputs.
-QU-Drive should also have a cue point system that splits the files. Instead of having to stop, then restart recording, this would allow a break in files without a gap between them. As it is now, the quickest you can stop/start is beyond impossible to make seamless.
-It would be nice to have a “Select shows processing” setting. Anytime a channel is selected, the touch screen would automatically pull up it’s processing page. As of now, it’s a two step process (Select, then Processing button) but this would obviously be the most used page when selecting a channel.
-Offline editor, either PC/Mac or iPad is an absolute must. The fact I have to turn the console on at home before a gig to setup my nights configuration is just weird considering it’s 2014.
-When using the Shutdown command, all faders should rise to the top for transportation and storage. It’s good practice to keep all faders at the top point as they’re furthest away from the edge of the console where they’re most likely to get bumped/bent during movement to/from a flight case.
-MMC doesn’t seem to light properly when in DAW control. This could be a configuration issue for myself, I’m not sure. But the touch screen buttons don’t follow the DAW (if you’re in play/record, the button doesn’t light up)
-On the iPad, it would be nice to have an “Input List” page. At the top where the Processing, Setup, Metering buttons are, an Input List button would be nice for a ME or stage hand to access. When FoH pulls up the next Scene, it would give them something easy to glance at for patching between switchover.
-Channel Source should be patchable between Qu-Drive and USB-B simultaneously. Currently, you can only use one or the other. It would be nice to have 1-16 Qu-Drive, and 17 and up USB-B for a laptop playing iTunes or streaming back DAW FX to ST1-ST3. This might be a hardware limitation, I’m not too sure.
-A master source group for preamps would be nice also. When doing a virtual soundcheck you have to select each channel and hit the USB preamp button. It would be nice to have something similar to a Mute Group for the preamp. You could easily switch all the 16 inputs from USB at once, not individually.
-Stereo FX inserted into a mono channel return into the LR as mono. I understand traditionally this makes sense, but with this being a digital board, a Gated Reverb inserted on a snare should hit the LR as stereo. A workaround I’ve been using is patching FX3 and FX4 onto the Mix 7-8 and 9-10. This is obviously eating up 4 of my XLR feeds, and isn’t the greatest workaround.
-While in the FX page, touching anywhere in the box should highlight that page. As of now, you have to touch an actual preset then scroll from there. It would be nice to be able to touch anywhere inside it’s box and have the first preset highlighted.
-USB-B MUST be setup in the Audio/Midi panel on a Mac using the Multichannel page. When configuring it inside the Stereo page, nothing will go to anything but 1 and 2. This is very weird, and it took me almost an hour to figure out this workaround.
-iPad would benefit from having access to the Signal Generator for checking drivers pre/post show.
Overall, I’m quite happy with the console after a weeks usage. It has a great sound, it works well, and I’m not nitpicking here, just making what I feel is good suggestions to refine this already great console!
I’ve been patching my Waves MaxxBCL onto the AES and it’s really bringing this console to life. I haven’t used the built in DAC for mains yet, but I’m sure it’s still great.
This console is giving me mixes that are translating to a console in the $10k range, obviously the MaxxBCL is really helping, but I’m quite surprised by this small board. Great job A&H!