Hi everyone, I’m new to the QU series but have experience with other digital and analog mixers.
I’ve been a happy Allen & Heath analog user, so I decided to trust the brand and try the QU-16 for my studio setup. However, I’m quite disappointed with the apparent limitations of USB streaming. I hope I’m missing something—can you help?
The manual states: Qu-16:
° 16 Mic/Line channels
° 3 stereo channels
° 24 sources to the mix
° 12 mixes (4 mono, 3 stereo, LR)
° 4 FX (2 send buses) ° 24 out, 22 in USB streaming
But are these 24 outputs and 22 inputs simultaneous? Or am I misunderstanding something (more likely, I hope…)?
For example:
If I use 10 line inputs 1–10 and stream them to the computer via USB to inputs 1-10 (which, as I understand, are fixed to inputs 1–10 and cannot be reassigned, right?), does that mean I lose USB outputs 1–10, cause they are already “occupied” by the console’s inputs?
What if I use all 16 input channels? I’m left with only three stereo USB outputs from the computer (ST1, ST2, ST3).
And what if I also use the three stereo inputs, out of the advertised 24 outputs, how many USB outputs would actually remain? Basically none (or maybe just 2 out of 24 due to the offset related to… to QuDrive?).
So my question is: What kind of audio interface is this? Why does Allen & Heath advertise “24 out, 22 in USB streaming” when it seems like it’s actually 24 outputs OR 22 inputs? In every other “nn input / nn output” audio interface I’ve used, using an input doesn’t automatically cancel out an output unless clearly specified.
**I’d love for someone to tell me I’m an idiot and explain how to actually get the advertised USB flexibility—without needing to connect additional A&H consoles via dSnake (because this mixer doesn’t support ADAT or any expansion other than dSnake, and you’d be forced to buy another Allen & Heath hardware unit to extend my I/O).
Looking forward to your insights (and hopefully not just disappointment)!
Thank you, Steffenromeiss,
your response is comforting… but not at all useful or clear.
Would you be so kind as to explain what I am doing wrong in the example above?
Basically, I want to transfer my 16 inputs from the mixer to the DAW via USB, assigning them to tracks 1 to 16, and at the same time, I want to stream about 10 different audio tracks from the DAW to the mixer.
Can you give me some guidance?
You would be really kind, and your help would be truly appreciated.
The USB interface can (or maybe could) do it, but the mixer can’t… It’s kind of like saying my car could fly, but it’s the body without wings that’s keeping it on the ground.
So, trying to keep it serious and not say anything dumb, if I got it right, regardless of whether it’s because of the mixer or the USB interface (which doesn’t really make much of a difference in the end), this product can’t stream a channel via USB from a computer without losing one analog input. Am I right?
Hi, I have used a Qu-16 in my studio for some time and for live use and have found it pretty good to use with my DAWS.
When I first setup my Qu-16 I had similar confusion but got over it. The principals of the unit are it takes 16 mic inputs plus ST1, ST2 and ST3 inputs (all stereo with L & R inputs) making 22 inputs. It also has 2 returns for FX, on mine I run a delay and a reverb which are arguably inputs also. This now makes 24 inputs.
On my qu-16 I have enabled USB streaming outputs to my DAW on 16 ports. I could also USB stream ST1, ST2 and ST3 making 22 possible outputs. The catch is if you choose to use ST1,2 or 3 to USB stream, you may reroute these and be unable to play from them ie plug in mp3 source and play music to your PA.
Additionally in configuring my Qu-16, I chose to only enable ports 17 and 18 as inputs to my mixer and as outputs from my DAW so could seamlessly playback and record (with 16 tracks) with my mix going back to the mixer for output to monitors. I believe you can route back via your ports 1 to 16 if you choose but this may mean to use your Qu-16 in a live context you will have to change your routing back to local.
As for streaming 10 tracks back to your mixer this is possible I think if you config your physical inputs including ST1,2 & 3 as USB inputs and up to 4 of your 16 channels (meaning they won’t be usable for mic inputs) and leaving you with 10 mics.
Basically you have some routing choices and trade offs.
From the threads of your messages, I am not sure of what exactly you are trying to do. In my studio setup with the Qu-16 I make use of a headphone amp that support 4 mixes and use of the output mixes built into the Qu-16 as the basis for individual mixes to musicians I record. I have 4 stereo mixes which I can tailor individual mixes when recording a band live much like I would when mixing a live band with individual fold-backs, each fold back channel has its own mix.
Hopefully you can get an alternate view from this.