We experienced this today and wondered if anyone can offer suggestions (or sympathy!).
We have had our SQ5 for about 4 years. We have digital (ethernet) links to two stage boxes and thence to powered monitor speakers from several auxiliary channel outs and also several analog outs to power amplifiers local to the desk. This morning we lost all analog outputs although the digital outputs were working as normal. In the heat of the moment, setting up for the morning service, it took a while to realise what had happened. All inputs, analog and digital, were working correctly. Investigating afterwards I did the “obvious last resort”; power down and restart and YES that fixed the problem in that it all worked properly. I am very worrried that it might happen again or is indication of an approaching failure. Has anyone experienced similar please? Any comments welcome. Thanks. Kim.
Can you provide a backup of the showfile?
Hello. Thank you for replying. I am sorry but I do not understand your question. My knowledge is very limited. This is a fixed installation in our church. We simply have a number of scenes for different services. The input and output patching is the same for every service, the differences are mainly preset gain and volume levels to both main and various auxiliary outs. This is to cater for quiet services and noisy ones with guitars and drum kit etc. having identified the problem (no analog output to the power amplifiers) I tried calling up different saved scenes. The problem was the same on every scene. It only went away when I powered off and back on, presumably re-booting the desk.
Kim
Do you remember looking at the status icon (top of screen (looks like a rj45 jack)? Did it show an error?
By “digital outputs,” you are evidently referring to the analog outputs on your stage boxes.
Regardless of which boxes and how you connect them, the crucial thing is that the audio clock source is set correctly - usually to “Internal” in most standard scenarios (see picture).
I find it hard to imagine that clocking issues or incorrect settings would cause your stage boxes to keep working while the local outputs fail, but who knows …
If this problem suddenly appeared out of the blue in a standard setup with otherwise reliable settings, of course a technical fault in the console itself certainly cannot be ruled out.
To avoid having to wave the white flag should this happen again, I would patch all critical PA outputs to spare outputs on the stageboxes as well, and temporary run an XLR cable (or analog multicore) back to the console from each output one for redundancy.
That way, in an emergency, you would simply need to move the connections to the power amps.
Thank you for your very helpful suggestions. I will go along to church later today and check the clock source setting. I will also look for the status icon; I had even been aware of such a thing!
I had (surprisingly) worked out that a work-around would be to run analog outs back to the power amps from the stage boxes so that all outputs from the desk can be digital if necessary. That could even be the permanent arrangement except that with the power amps in the same cabinet as the desk (inherited from the previous arrangement with our old analog desk) it seemed logical to use local analog outs to them rather that run long XLR cables the length of the church. I could consider making that a “permanent” arrangement using one dedicated “emergency” scene, although as you say we would still need to swop the power amp input connections.
The slightly worrying part is that the returns will all be from the 16/8 stage box that suffered a power supply failure a few months ago. Fault-finding and repairing that was well within my capability, but I am still in fear of it failing again!
Anyway; thank you again.
Kim
A SHOW file is a complete backup of your SQ desk configuration. You HAVE got a backup of your SQ desk configuration- haven’t you?!
What happens if the desk completely fails and you need to purchase another one? You will have to MANUALLY recreate your Church configuration.
At our Church, we have the SQ7 desk configuration both on paper (well, electronically in a Word Document on a PC and printed out for immediate reference) and the SQ7 SHOW file backed up so that we can reload it again should this be necessary.
By not understanding what a SHOW file is, gives me cause for concern…
At our Church we also have a disaster recovery procedure in case a critical item (e.g. the SQ7 audio desk) fails. This ranges from using a much simpler (and smaller) portable A&H desk from another part of the Church down to plugging microphones into the foldback monitors and placing these on stands.
Again, this is a documented procedure, so it doesn’t require us ‘techs’ to be present at the time.
Of course, a mains supply failure is outside of our disaster recovery procedure - but the Church has this issue covered!
Back to your problem… It could just be a one-off glitch, or someone has been ‘playing’… But it could also indicate the onset of an internal power supply problem. Backing up your SQ desk configuration should, therefore, be on the top of your list.
If you need any further help (or more explanation) just ask.
Dave
Thank you for that one as well.
Yes I must create a SHOW file. I will put my ancient brain to doing so. I might scream for help.
In terms of a back up plan, it is a case of what could be done in the limited time available. Using front powered monitors gave us something useful.
I have just switched on to try out. All has started as normal, so hopefully a one-off glitch.
Audio clock source is on Internal.
Thank you all again.
Best wishes
Kim
You can do this in one of two ways (or both to be safe!).
- Plug a compatible USB drive into your SQ console and use the console to archive/export the current show to the USB drive. There is an A&H document on their website detailing how to do this.
- Use the Mix Pad application on a Mac or Windows PC. Connect the PC to your SQ desk and pull the show from the SQ desk to your PC. Read the MixPad documentation.
A bit of reading required…
Dave
Here is the SQ to USB document you need to read:
I have just run up MixPad, and the online help details how to PULL a SHOW from the SQ to MixPad. You have to also access the SQ desk to perform this task.
Dave
Just a quick note regarding the correct terminology:
All outputs on your SQ and your 168 stageboxes are always analog.
The only digital output on your SQ is the AES Out.
Incidentally, you could (should) even use this if your Main LR PA-system happens to have a corresponding digital AES input.
Assuming your SQ is functioning correctly, which is the standard expectation, using the stagebox outputs would offer no advantages in your case.
Likewise, you shouldn’t expect to encounter power supply issues with your stagebox again.
A&H cannot afford a situation where users have to hope their gear survives the event.
A stagebox or mixer failure would damage the company’s reputation and is likely an extremely rare occurrence.
If you are experiencing a pattern of such issues, you should have the venue’s power supply checked.
Or perhaps the problem lies at another higher level …
The problem has not been repeated so I am hoping it was a never-to be repeated glitch.
I have created a back up show file on a USB stick.
The “higher level” comment, if meant as I have interpreted it, is quite possible. We know that we have been under attack.
Kim
Oh - if you are living in a war zone (and perhaps were even attacked without cause), you have my utmost respect!
One can only hope that this terrible time comes to an end for you soon and that your life returns to normal! 
Thank you and bless you, but no we do not have that misfortune.