SQ Drive does not record correctly

SQ SQ Troubleshooting
1

I recorded a concert yesterday on my SQ5 with Dante. I recorded on two computers at 96k through a switch as well as running the SQ Drive in multitrack mode. The SQ recording is riddled with digital clicks. Izotope declick removed more that 30,000 of them in it’s basic mode for a 90 minute recording.

I have a Samsung T5 SSD drive onto which it was recording, recommended by one of the moderators.

I am of the opinion now, after multiple unsuccessful attempts to record musical performances on the SQ drive, that it actually doesn’t work. As I bought the desk specifically to allow me to do a backup recording on the SQ drive, I find now that it is unfit for purpose.

Is this something that is fixable in software, or is there a fundamental issue with the SQ drive?

I would like a moderator to respond.

2

Hi Greg,

For support related questions, please go to support.allen-heath.com to start a ticket or email support@allen-heath.com with this information. We can then look into this case further with you to determine what the cause is.

Thanks!

Alex

3

I’m having similar issues as well.

Outrageously fast SSD (Samsung T5 500GB) and every recording has clicks and strange digital ailiasing every few moments.

SQ shows zero errors, but the recordings are botched every time.

4

What firmware you are using? I had similar problems in 1.3 but after downgrading to 1.2, sq drive recording has worked fine. I did reformat the drive under 1.2 fwiw

5

I am using 1.3. Not inclined to go back to 1.2 as it may compromise the Dante performance

6

…I would like a moderator to respond…
I fully agree

7

“every recording has clicks and strange digital ailiasing every few moments.”

Me too. Tried 4 different drives now.

8

Have been informed by A&H support that it is a known problem and they are working on a solution for next firmware release. Can’t come soon enough

9

Issues this large should be worked on immediately and released as a x.x.1 type format.

This shouldn’t be pushed into the next firmware, they should be put right into the front of development and released as a “patch” on the current firmware. For example V1.3.0 should be V1.3.1 or V1.3.0a (only for users experiencing SQ Drive issues, no other changes have been made).

Fixing bugs that are creating a serious issue with one of the selling points and special features of this console (direct to USB recording) should be an immediate patch once it’s confirmed a bug.

10

(And again…) I fully agree, ianhind

11

@ianhind ,

This is exactly how we work! - There are major (feature) releases and maintenance/update releases.
The developers are currently working very hard on V1.3.1, which will be released as soon as it’s been thoroughly tested.

Thanks,
Keith.

12

Thank you for the update @Keith

In the future once a bug has been confirmed, an A&H spokesperson should mention its reproducible and currently being patched so we aren’t all in limbo and wondering what’s going on.

This is the first time I’ve seen or heard this bug being acknowledged by A&H and this has been a major issue since V1.3.0

13

I gave the SQ drive another chance this weekend and recorded three sets with no problem. It was a non-critical gig and only required 16 channels, otherwise I would have used a laptop via the USB-B connector on the rear.

The drive I used was a Seagate 1TB Backup Plus Slim model.

It’s certainly convenient to just carry a small USB drive, but the limitation of recording only 16 tracks rules out many shows.

14

So on version 1.2 recording on USB is no problem?

15

@Bob I also tried SQ Drive last weekend on 1.3, same rubbish as above

16

So I bought the same disc. Sorry to say, you where just lucky. Here, using a SQ 5 vrs 1.3 and the same Seagate Disc gives a disaster recording…

17

Given the seriousness of this problem, when can we expect an updated firmware set?

18

We are waiting also very hard for Firmware 1.3.1
We bought the mixer only 1 month ago and didnt manage to record multitrack without issues with many different Settings (win, mac, ubs-b, sq drive, logic, ardour, different sticks, Laptops, …)

19

I am really surprised that there is no response from A&H

20

Hi @gregthegrate ,

There are two responses from A&H representatives in this thread.
As in my previous post, this is something that we have been looking into, to see if and where improvements can be made for better compatibility with more systems and devices.
If you have registered your SQ, you will receive an email as soon as we have any announcement, and we usually drop in to notify the digital community of any updates too.

On your mention of Dante functionality between firmware revisions - it was introduced in V1.2.2, but works in exactly the same way in V1.3.0.

Thanks,
Keith.