Allen & Heath Qu-SB: 18-input portable mixer with WiFi remote control

The manufacturer has expanded its series of compact digital mixers Qu with the new interface – Ultra compact Qu-SB mixer, designed as a solution in the form of a stage box and with all the features offered by this series.

Designed to be controlled from a tablet, so that the professional can mix from any point of the premises, the new QU-SB portable mixer from Allen & Heath has eighteen inputs and fourteen outputs with wireless remote control.

Qu-SB, marketed in Spain Lexon Distribution, is a solution for bands, music venues, model studies, schools and corporate events that need to have a professional sound and/or recording system with an extremely compact format.

This mixer without control surface can be used both installed in a rack and in desktop format. It has sixteen microphone inputs through XLR connectors; two line inputs and a total of fourteen outputs but, thanks to the fact that it has a powerful Qu-32 core, can be extended up to 32 microphone input channels, so that it can be connected or to an AB168 remote audio rack, AR84 and AR2412 with a single Cat5 digital cable.

Since the user interface has been removed in the mixer itself, all control over Qu-SB parameters is done through an app installed on a tablet. For added security, it is possible to set user permissions to block operator access to critical settings.

As Nicola Beretta explains, A product manager&H, "currently, engineers and musicians rely less on physical mixing surfaces. The new generations are already digital natives, so they are looking for very portable solutions and work with the interface of touch tablets, that is very familiar to them. Qu-SB is the perfect answer to this demand.".

Built-in Qu-Drive eighteen-channel recorder records and plays audio files in stereo and multitrack .wav format to a memory stick or other USB drive, so it is not necessary to use a computer in live sound applications.

The streaming interface 32×32 for Mac and PC, USB compatible, qu-sb also offers a perfect recording solution, monitoring and remixing in the studio. In addition, the system offers two solutions for personal monitoring: via the Qu-You app for iPhone or using ME-1 personal mixers.

Other features is the automatic mixing of microphones, controls via foot switches and iLive's renowned suite of effects.

Qu-Pad Mixing App

The Qu-SB mixer has been designed to integrate seamlessly with the Qu-Pad iPad app, providing extremely fast and easy access to all settings, including channel processing, RTA and meter display, FX racks, scene management, USB audio control, configuration menus, Etc.

Qu-Pad connects to the mixer via Wi-Fi and gives the professional the freedom to adjust the monitors from the same stage, or to move through the premises while adjusting the PA system and mixing from the center of the audience.

Analogiq Preamplifiers

Qu-SB's sixteen Analogiq full-recall preamps offer zero-pass detection and an advanced gain stage without attenuation, with step adjustment of 1 Db, closely associated with DSP, for optimal gain performance and fully transparent sound.

The analog signal is captured by advanced low-latency analog/digital converters with 24 Bit, associated with digital/analog converters also from 24 Bit, able to deliver sound with the required quality.

The design of these preamplifiers has been refined over many months to offer unprecedented transparency., minimal distortion and ultra-low noise floor, with a warm, natural sound that most digital consoles lack.

Qu-SB has a built-in USB multitrack recorder, which allows the user to finally forget about the sound cards and software configuration that often causes so many problems, immediately having recording and simultaneous playback of eighteen channels with resolution of 48 khz, 24 bits from/to a USB drive.

Multitrack recordings of performances is extremely easy. In addition, next to the tracks it is possible to record the mixes and FX returns, and it is possible to play multitrack audio through the mixer, allowing virtual sound checks. A separate group of controls is planned for fast stereo recording of the main LR or other mix outputs, and it is possible to address a return of two USB to ST3 tracks for playback of stereo WAV files, for example an introductory music.

iLive FX

Qu-SB's FX and dynamic processing algorithms come from those used in the iLive series. Many of the world's most respected sound engineers have chosen them on their tours., instead of using high-end plug-ins or external effects units.

Qu-SB features four stereo FX motors, including emulations of mythical classical reverbs, puerteadas, Delays, Modulators, Flangers, Etc.

Automatic microphone mixer (AMM)

A vital function in applications such as conferencing, meetings, and similar, where a multitude of microphones remain open simultaneously, reducing ambient noise and minimizing the risk of acoustic feedback.

AMM helps the engineer manage the levels of multiple microphone inputs, ensuring that all voiceovers are heard clearly. D-Classic dynamic gain algorithm is inspired by industry-standard automatic mixers. It is possible to mix up to sixteen microphone sources simultaneously, with priority adjustment on each channel, which determines its 'weight' in the total gain of the system.

Streaming de audio USB

Qu-SB's interface is capable of streaming audio to a Mac or PC computer through a flexible addressing system: it is possible to record simultaneously all input channels and the main LR output, or choose to record something totally different, such as FX returns or a couple of mixes. The return from the computer can be assigned to the input channels.

It is also compatible with Mac OS X and drivers are available for the Windows system. Anyway, will be immediately recognized by any DAW that supports Asio or Core Audio, including Logic, Cubase, Reaper and Pro Tools.

Qu-SB can be extended to have up to 38 inputs via dSNAKE, that allows an efficient connection to remote AudioRacks AB168, AR2412 or AR84. This is an Allen-exclusive networking solution & Heath that features a latency of only 105 us, with cable lengths up to 120 metre.

Other articles on Allen&Heath, Audio-Technica Iberia, Lexon