Was able to purchase a new QU-SB rack unit and I went for this over the QU-16. I love the fact it’s compact and can fit in a rack unit and the idea of using the iPad to control it sounds great. My only concern with it is it’s only ipad control only. I knew this before going for it but how reliable is this? I am not worried about the iPad reliability but it’s more the connection between the router and desk. I got a TP link Archer router, so a fairly decent router.
I play in a wedding band, so it’s mostly marquees and different venues each week. The thought of battling with a router every week is now scaring me a little. Have I made the right choice? Thanks in advance!
If you are have difficulties with reliability of connection it is far more likely to be related to the network setup and router you are connecting the Qu into.
I have never seen or heard of a problem that was between the mixer and the router.
The first things to check would be the physical connection, so the cables and sockets (check for ingress or damaged pins).
If this is all fine, then ensure you have good wireless coverage and no interference from other equipment. For example, it is well known that some 2.4GHz wireless packs or microphones can interfere with other wifi connections. Ensuring you are using the correct channel (or using auto channel) can help in situations where there may be lots of other wireless devices too.
Other things that can cause problems are security settings or firewalls in the router, or if not using a dedicated router and there is other traffic on the network taking up bandwidth.
If you’re still having trouble, please contact us using support.allen-heath.com with details on the router and setup and we can look into it with you ?
I recently gave my QUsb to my Grandsons for their remote garage band activities. It is much easier to transport than their QU16 and the obvious latency issues between I-Pad commands and resulting SR changes, that drove me crazy, are not of great concern for my boys. A “set and leave it” protocol perfectly fits the QUsb: however tactile controls are a “must have” for most all of the many other SR protocols.
Hugh
Only use the 5g WIFI and turn off the 2.4 broadcast.
Put the router up so you have a somewhat line of site path to the iPad.
Hide the SSID name broadcast.
I also do not enable security on the WIFI, do set up passwords on the mixer.
Get a WIFI scanner app that list other WIFI networks in the area so you can
see if your WIFI channel is already being used, change your channel if needed.
The apps are not perfect but they give you a general idea what else is out there.
Set a static IP address on the mixer, make sure it’s not in the routers DHCP range.
Set up a small range of DHCP hand out addresses on the router.
I use TP Link routers as well. What model is it, have you checked for firmware updates?
I almost always keep a laptop hardwired to any iPad-controlled mixer as a backup controller.
You might want to spring for a high-powered access point from Ubiquiti or Engenius.
Always scan for clear wifi channels. If you have trouble later, scan again. Things might have changed.
As for some of the other advice here?
If the channels are clear, 2.4 gHz has a much longer range than 5 gHz.
Hiding the SSID does nothing. Devices can still see that there’s an access point, and will poll it to see if it’s one they know.
Always secure the wifi. Anyone in your wifi will use your bandwidth for pointless requests, looking for the internet.
As for some of the other advice here?
If the channels are clear, 2.4 gHz has a much longer range than 5 gHz.
Hiding the SSID does nothing. Devices can still see that there’s an access point, and will poll it to see if it’s one they know.
Always secure the wifi. Anyone in your wifi will use your bandwidth for pointless requests, looking for the internet.
While 2.4 has long range that bandwidth is full and there are only three channel that don’t overlap and they are always filled.
With line of sight’ish 5g will get me to 150 feet easy.
True, hidden SSID’s are still pinged from devices but there not populating your everyday phone users WIFI list keeping them from trying to connect.
At the extremes I found without encryption I get a more solid connection.
As for high power access points / routers they also have to have a good receive side as access point/router has to be able to “see” the Ipad broadcast.
I don’t actually have the unit yet it was more a case of how reliable the connection with the mixer is as this solely relies on an iPad.
Also, how can I go about playing the likes of Spotify through the QU-SB? For the likes of music in between our sets. Can I play this off the iPad or would I need to physically connect my laptop to the st1 of the Qu-SB?
It’s as reliable as you’re network is.
WiFi environments change, not just from location to location but also when people arrive after set up - so I would always recommend to be prepared with a hardwired backup such as a cheap laptop direct to the router at least!
The iPad only controls the mixer, no audio is passed, so you will need to get audio to the desk using a cable (or some other means).
Just in case you aren’t aware, the last time I checked Spotify isn’t licenced for commercial use. No one seems to care and I see it everywhere, but technically it’s not allowed.
Thanks for that Dave. I have wasn’t aware of that with Spotify so thanks for pointing that out, I guess it does make sense.
In regards to the cheap laptop back up, I carry one at the minute anyway for the Spotify music. Could you explain to me in more detail about how this would act as a backup in regards to the QU SB?
Thanks for this, if I look at getting an adapter for charger, Ethernet and extra USB C point so I then can run RCA cables to st1 on the QU SB for my playback music. Would that be a good option?
Is this the kind of thing I need to hardwire the iPad with the Ethernet and could I also stream music off the usb c to RCA into ST1 in the QU-SB?
Edit: for reason I can’t attach pics but it’s an adapter that lets you not only charge the ipad but has an Ethernet port and a usb c input of my RCA cables
I own a QU16, QU PAC and QU-SB. I can honestly say that whilst remotely mixing, I have never experienced latency that has in any way prevented me from making fast changes to the board. The biggest issue as mentioned here can be wifi drop out so solve that with some of the suggestions made and you’ll be fine.
At shows I use a Ubiquiti bullet as my WAP which has NEVER let me down and I also set up an old iPad mini I have hardwired to the mixer which sits on top (of my QU PAC 4u rack) ready to go if and when I need it. It also means I can keep it charging and use it whilst on stage for adjustments - line check etc to save on battery usage on my wireless iPad.I can then switch that on just before sound check and save battery.
Just to update…the only time I have ever dropped and all but failed to maintain connection to my QU Pac was just last Friday.
System worked fine all day, last band of the day fires up their on stage IEM system
and I my WIFI connection is all but gone.
First thought was their WIFI control was on the same channel as mine, not the case, then
I noticed that some of their IEM systems transmit right in the middle of the 5g WIFI band, I normally only use 5g for my connection and I recognized the make and model of their IEM’s and know that they operate in the 5g WIFI band from an experience with
them at a service call for a church install.
With my router sitting directly next to my iPad I was able to get into the router set up and turn on the 2.4 broadcast, that was during the first song and a half sound check /start of the show. I was doing some fast figured front panel mixing and router set up all at the same time.
Hi,
I use a lightning to USB/RJ45 adaptor which gives me back-up should wireless fail.
Cheap Amazon Fire Pad with Google Play store Android hack. running MixPro app about $5.00 when I purchased again I can run a usb to RJ45 adaptor.
Monitoring wirelessly I run a bluetooth adaptor on my QU-SB to send to my headphones. (Being bluetooth the range is not amazing and although just for monitoring it can introduce a little latency). I have not tried to stream from my iPad or other device to the QU-SB ST1 using this arrangement again there is no reason this will not work with the limitations I have previously mentioned. I have yet to get and try BT 5. however my present set-up is fine for the small venues I work at.
As a long time QU-PAC user (multiple units) since launch, I’ve just bought my first QU-SB:)
Now without a screen to fall back on, I bought a Lightning to ethernet adapter off Amazon just in case!
After a bit of trial and error and few tweaks, it works great!
Here’s the adapter name:
IVSHOWCO Lightning to RJ45 Ethernet Lan Network Adapter for iPhone [Apple MFi Certified]
If you know how to set it up already please ignore the rest of this message!
The tweaks were:
On the QU-SB.
Whilst connected via wifi, in the network settings:
Disable the DCHP button and make a note of the unit IP and subnet settings (192.168.1.xx and 255.255.255.0 on my unit)
Gateway setting noted but not used in my setup.
Apply settings and reboot.
On the iPad/iPhone:
Plug in the ethernet adapter.
In the settings menu Disable wifi and you’ll see a new “Ethernet” setting.
Open that tab and change it from default “automatic” to “manual”
Now type in an IP address in the same range as the QU unit - I added ten to the last set of digits. (DON’T USE THE SAME IP ADDRESS AS YOUR QU UNIT!)
Set the subnet mask the same as on the QU.
Leave the last column blank and “apply”.
Once Qu-PAD was up and running, initially I had to connect via “Other” using the QU IP address - subsequently it comes up automatically:)
Bingo, sweet QU-Pad (and Qu Control) joy!!
I hope that all sounds correct to the network educated, it’s definitely given me a great backup if the wifi blows up!
Regarding the earlier question about PC/Mac software to control Qu Mixers:
There is third-party software available, e.g. Mixing Station.
Regarding iPad accessories I have no idea what does or does not work with which iOS version.
I use a bluetooth receiver connected to Qu for playing music from iPad/PC/Android phone.
Might be cheaper and more flexible than original iPad adapters.