I don’t typically defend companies, but I have a different experience and perspective.
A&H provides this forum, the referenced list and test drives that seem popular enough to spend time testing.
I’d suggest Drives that work for one will work for others, given all circumstances beeing the same (same firmware, really the same drive, formatted and used the same way, etc…). I suspect there may be some differences in the A&H hardware, just as there are differences in all hardware versions/iterations. I’ve had some drives that don’t work yet several that do, including a hard drive (not SSD). I think much of the discrepancy in user experience is based on misinformation, misunderstanding or not following directions (eg, not reformatting for every session).
I always record to my tested drive,s and then transfer to whatever the band brings. I would of course do the same if recording directly to laptop.
I don’t do anything with playback so…but I’ll have to try. It just occurred to me that I could use a recording to fix some problems it is hard to fix in the middle of a show, so we’ll see how that goes. Very excited to try.
I’ve done tech support for computer users and aI can assure you user error, lack of training, reading manuals, etc. is the cause of the vast majority of problems users run into.
Peter
All that said, it would both be nice if A&H would grab this bull by the horns and just contract with a manufacturer to provide reliable drives, but I can imagine there are a slew of reasons they don’t, least of all being (my experience) if you choose one of the drives listed, and use it as directed, you are very likely to have no problem.
Now, I would really like to hear from those using Hard Drives (SSD or otherwise) and hear if they can partition the drive so they can use the balance of the drive for something else, or does it even matter (can you just keep adding to the drive, including external files, and it still keeps working? Can we load it up with shows, and sound check files??
Whilst I agree with some of what you said, Im a software engineer with just over 29 years experience of developing C,C++, assembler, & java. 've worked on Embedded SoC (System on chip) and I designed and was part of the development (and managed the team!) of the anti-virus kernel modules and was the project lead & lead developer on that team for the world’s 4th largest anti-virus company.
Part of my earlier SoC included work on the USB kernel code. These chips I worked on were found in devices such as Western Digital’s NAS.
Whilst you may defend A&H all you want (and I would love to do so) the fact of the matter is the code/hardware has a serious issue. A&H are not even prepared to acknowledge this.
So, whilst your tech support life may give you some insight. I can tell you, absolutely and categorically the reason this is pretty simple in essence. There is a bug - either in the h/w or the software - but there is a bug. A&H either did not test adequately or have released knowing the problem.
So given my background - are you telling me that the reason I have 5 sticks that wont work and 1 that did is because of “user error”??? Perhaps this would explain why every single one of those sticks worked readily on all the systems I had available to me (around 7 different types of hardware)on both USB2 & USB3 systems, 32bit & 64bit running everything as far back SuSe 9 through to the latest Manjaro (oh and windoze).
PS. Out of 6 sticks 3 I have chosen from the list and have had 2 with unresolvable problems - the other 2 were punts on newer models of stick than were on the list but from the same product line, 1 was a punt in the dark. You have made a mistake in your statement. You are assuming that the issue in the A&H is not chip sensitive (which it appears to be), and that manufacturers always use the same chips throughout the lifetime of a given product (based on model number which is what the list is based on - we cant see hardware revision numbers on the USB stick boards and the manufacturers do not provide that information). This is not always the case. Hardware can be substituted for numerous reasons.
OK, you are likely an exception, but then it sounds like you might be as old as me, and I know I’m not as smart as I used to be, or at least my boys let me know that.
I assume part of the problem is related to simply dumping a bunch of data on a drive quickly, and not all hardware can handle that. Just like my computer bigs down if I try to do too much at once.
And I don’t assume the thumb drives are all the same just because the model number; in fact I agree that is a potential problem with the list, but what else can you do?
Anyway, it is good that most of us have found a solution that works, and I agree that A&H should be more active in providing answers and solutions. Too many companies just don’t seem to care how much of our time they use up. A&H is certainly not the only one.
My experience is similar to Barry’s. Like him, I’m an old EE with plenty of hardware experience, and I’m pretty good at reading directions. But more to the point: I have tried several of the units that are listed as good - matching down to the detailed part number - and on my board they simply are not recognized. I have spent hours on the phone with A&H tech support so I don’t think I’m missing an obvious step. I’ve tried formatting with every possible file system from both Mac and Windows machines. The bottom line is that, at least on my particular mixer, the vast majority of thumb drives are completely unusable - not only by me, but by A&H’s techs. It has nothing to do with “dumping a bunch of data on a drive quickly”. The drive is NOT RECOGNIZED. Not formattable, not readable. Regardless, as I said, of how and where it is formatted.
I know that everyone is having different symptoms. That is precisely the point. A&H have developed something that is highly unpredictable and highly unreliable, and they are not admitting it and are not supporting their users nor (apparently) doing anything to fix the problem.
I’ve no answers but thought I’d add that the first USB stick that worked for me was a cheapo advertisement stick for our local CO-OP (my drummer works there and brought one with data for a funeral service). He left after the funeral - said they have a bunch left over. Lo, and behold - I plug it into our Qu-32, format it and have been using it to record our stereo traditional service for the local radio station. It is only 2GB so no room for an hour of 16 tracks but perfect for about 1:55:00 Stereo!
I just bought a Qu-Sub and this is the first time posting. I thought that I’d done my due diligence and bought two USB flash drives that were approved on the list but neither worked for multi-tracking:
So I guess those can come off the list. I was really trying to find one that was metal so when it was sticking out the front it couldn’t have the connector broken off by accident. No luck yet. Has there been any metal USB flash drives that many people have had success with?
It would really help if A & H would make the spreadsheet sortable again.
There are 4 listings of the Transcend JetFlash 710s 32GB, and only one is listed as working with multitrack (see attached); the one listed as working and tested by A & H has a duplicate listing, completely not working.
There are 2 listings of the SanDisk 64GB Cruzer Force Flash Drive; only one is listed as working and the other completely not (see attached). Neither is tested by A & H.
Thank you. Any of those really small ones would be amazing. I just wish there was a reliable way of knowing what will work, short of just buying them and trying them. I’ll try the sorting though and hope for the best, I guess.
Now I want to try the PNY Elite Fit X 128GB. Amazing what they can pack into such a little thing for ~$35
I recall buying a monster 100 MB (yes, 100 megabytes) external hard drive for over $1000 for my Mac II (first color capable Mac).
FYI, on my Qu 16 I have successfully tested a SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD 250 GB. Model number SDSSDE60-250GB.
45 minutes of multitrack recording without a glitch.
I recently started working at a church, and they have a QU-24 soundboard that I want to add an iPad to for controlling outside of the soundbooth. I got it connected to the network, and visible in the app, but apparently the firmware has never ever been updated on this thing, so the app won’t connect to it.
So, I’m trying to only update the firmware, not do recording (we use a computer with DAW software for that). I have a SanDisk Cruiser Glide 8Gb, which is on the approved USB device list. I put the USB stick in the Qu-Drive slot, and it says the filesystem is unsupported (to be expected). I try to format it in the soundboard, and it sits there for an eternity saying “Formatting…” and eventually stops and says “No USB disk present”. After that it won’t recognize the USB stick at all until I do a hard reset on the soundboard. After the hard reset, it again says that the filesystem is unsupported. So, it doesn’t seem to be able to format my USB stick. I REALLY wish it was either capable of just recognizing multiple filesystems (even if it could only record on one specific filesystem) or even better, be able to transfer firmware files directly over the network from my computer, or over the Internet from the Allen & Heath site directly (Can it do any of that?!). But I digress…
Any suggestions? I would rather not have to go buy another USB stick (not knowing if it also might not work) just to update firmware. Thanks!
Mike, sounds like you’re experiencing exactly the same thing I did with my Qu16. Airickess’ suggestion did not help me. Neither did hours on the phone with A&H tech support help. Bottom line is, and even A&H support admit this on the phone, there is no reliable solution to getting USB devices to work in the Qu16 USB port. Some people get lucky; others don’t. It appears to be pretty random. I’m getting a little bit tired of the lucky ones telling the rest of us that there’s no problem :-/
Anyway, while it won’t help you with audio recording, what I found was that old, small USB drives worked okay for firmware. I was able to find an old 512MB thumb drive that the Qu16 would recognize, and I used that drive to upgrade the firmware and then to back up all the mixer settings.
No Forum for this, but can anyone help with advise on external drives for the ICE 16. I would like to have 16 track 48k/24bit recording, but I’m finding it difficult to find out what exactly is compatible.
Unfortunatley the ICE-16 is USB2, so only 400ms transfer rate, but it can support firewire at 800ms. So I’m looking for a firewire 800 drive that is compatible. I have had some good advice on this already from a forum monitor who was kind enough to help, but if anyone out there is using the ICE-16 for 24bit/48k, 16 track recordings, then please do let me know what drive you are using.
