Hi there, I’m looking for people’s experience of using the Qu-32 in a home studio set up. I’m currently using a Presonus 16.0.2 Studiolive desk which I’ve been pretty happy with but, as my set up has grown, I really need more inputs. I mainly work with hardware synths/sequencers but use Ableton for arranging/mixing etc. I realise the Qu range is primarily aimed at live use but the 32 is the only desk (AFAIK) within my budget with that amount of inputs so seems to fit the bill. One thing that puts me off is that I like to be able to process signals through external hardware (filters/fx etc) but I guess I can use the Mix outputs as Aux sends & return via an input.
Any views/advice would be highly appreciated - thanks in anticipation.
and your question is not very specific
consider the SQ series
the audio quality and flexibility is much better as on the QU series
and it’s easy to add input sockets with expanders if your needs grow
internal processing is 48 channels and 4 fully usable send effects
and it supports real hardware insert processing what the QU series does not
Thank you for your reply Steffen. I rarely need to use mic inputs, purely line inputs so it looked like the Qu-32 would be a more direct upgrade from my current set up in that it instantly more than doubles the inputs I have with the Presonus & with better internal FX. Whilst I can see that the SQ series is a further significant upgrade, it is also out of my budget. Any further thoughts welcomed. Best wishes.
Andy
Thanks Steffen, but the SQ5 only has 16 mic rather than line inputs so doesn’t really get me any further than my current set up (other than the higher sample rate).
If you want outboard fx then consider a used analog mixer.
Personally I would go all digital as it is much better cheaper easier to use.
OTOH I would find the Qu32 overkill for home as I can mix stems, from those sources you note , in the DAW without needing 32 outboard channels.
Thanks Steffen, but the SQ5 only has 16 mic rather than line inputs so doesn’t really get me any further than my current set up (other than the higher sample rate).
That's not completely true. The SQ5 have 17 MIC Inputs and three Stereo inputs which also can be used as 6 Mono inputs (ok, ST3 in is a little tricky). So you have at least 23 Inputs on that Console from the scratch. And you can extend it by using digital Stageboxes. And furthermore it is more flexible in case of routing. E.g. you can use the USB-Interface to connect the computer and use the hardware sockets to realize inserts for your channels. Something you can't do on the QU series.
SQ-5 has 17 XLR inputs, 4 jack inputs for line level and a mini jack for stereo line in
all in all 23 analog inputs on the desk itself
all patchable to any wanted channel
you can combine two channels to a stereo channel (one fader but L/R signals)
you have several layers to arrange your strips freely
it’s so damn flexible… choose the SQ-6 and you have 8 XLR sockets more and it’s a bit over the QU-32 price
Really? I didnt think any of the digital Allen Heath desks do that to keep all data totally phase?
Even now I still have a QU32 AND I use a QU16 simultaneously for surface area into my Imac.
And I know that eventually the way to go is 96K
However just think of… gosh it must be 30-40 years of recordings at 44K and Adats at 48K
I didnt think any of the digital Allen Heath desks do that to keep all data totally phase?
Nobody said that the signals will be in phase.
This is from the current reference manual:
The insert points on SQ can be used to route audio to and from any available I/O sockets, allowing analogue or digital processing to be inserted into the channel.
...
Inserts can also be used with the internal FX engines. See the FX engines section for more details.
But it is quite sure that using some effects on the channel insert, regardless whether it is an internal FX from the FX rack or an external effect, will add some extra latency.
Really? I didnt think any of the digital Allen Heath desks do that to keep all data totally phase?
On the top range consoles it is(was) a selling argument to be able to insert analog voice processing into the channel strip
or do some magic bus compression with real analog hardware, and even on the SQ you can use some Waves sound grid processing in inserts.
But this is not possible on the QU series, related to the architecture.
so far fewer inserts possible than an analog mixer with one insert on every channel input
to be precise…
on the dLive every channel has two inserts and every bus has one insert
additionally you already have EQ, gate and compressor on every channel and grafics EQ, PEQ and compression on all busses
64 Dyn8 processors and 16 FX are useable as inserts and you can patch all possible sockets on the system into the inserts
also all Dante, Waves or MADI in and outs
so analog inserts are only one possible solution
the SQ has only one insert on all input and bus channels but can route it to all sockets or internal FX
but the QU only has internal inserts, it has no hardware inserts available
I use a qu32. I had a qu16 but stumbled upon a 32 for only a little more than what I knew I could sell the qu16 for so went for it. It is a monster compared to the 16, which I don’t mind but some people might if you don’t have the desk space. I also struggled with having enough inputs and outputs. I hate messing with cables and found I also don’t like traditional pathways because in my experience after a few chains they are noisy and just more cable mess.
A while back I got an ab168 so I could Have enough inputs and outputs for an electronic drum set and just run an Ethernet cable to it. That worked great and since I have the qu32 on one desk and a bunch of equipment on another I though another stagebox would be nice so I can link the two desks with an Ethernet cable, so I got an ar2412. Ok so with both stageboxes and the physical inputs on the qu32 I can plug in a ton of stuff but I was not completely satisfied. I wanted more channels and I still wanted a lot of gear off a patchbay so I can route things to each other without Routing then through the mixer.
What I landed on to finish my setup is an old extron mav plus 3232a stereo matrix. It will matrix switch 32 stereo inputs and 32 stereo outputs. It can be network controlled and has buttons on the front to patch ins and outs. Best part is it was around $175 on eBay. That is absolutely absurd for all it can do. It also has attenuation and mutes and some other stuff, I haven’t fully explored it yet, but hat is awesome with this setup I now have something like 140 physical inputs and 80 physical outputs. I can easily connect all my gear and have tons of ins/outs still available. Granted I can only work with 38 inputs and 20 outputs on the mixer at once, but that is plenty for me. I can easily route anything in and out as I want without messing with cables. To link the stereo matrix to my qu32 I’m eating the group outputs so that gives me 4 stereo channels. And I’m eating 12 line inputs on the qu32 so that lets me bring in up to 6 stereo channels from the matrix. But that is a tiny fraction of my overall channels and I don’t think I really need to any more connections that that, but I could add some more if needed.
All this said if you do go sq you can use stage boxes, link multiple mixers, and use the AHM64. That would provide a ton of options but also cost a ton. The old extron audio matrix boxes do a lot of the same things for dirt cheap in comparison.
Anyway I really like my combo of AH qu32, ab168, ar2412, and extron mav plus 3232a. It finally gives me all the channels I need with plenty of room to grow.
I really like my combo of AH qu32, ab168, ar2412, and extron mav plus 3232a. It finally gives me all the channels I need with plenty of room to grow
Great post and info!
I have had a quick search on the extron mav plus 3232a
I do remember those from my AV days
Are they all terminals for audio on the rear?
Thanks